I know it was a little warmer than usual today, 90*,but give me a break... Normally my trans temps, sender in the hot line, run 140-150 cruising freeway speeds and will clinb to 190-195 during city and stop -n-go traffic. This evening all of a sudden my trans temps are 210-215 in stop-n-go traffic. This is empty, no trailer empty bed etc. Never got that hot last summer, whats up??
Drilled out the check ball in the trans cooler line when I got home just in case it was sticking and restricting flow but somehow I don't think it was. Didn't seem to be binding up any when I pushed on it to drill it out.

Was just talking to Tim Holt a week or two ago about rebuilding my trans with laminated flex plate, 3 disk low stall converter, billit input, bands, anchors, clutches & steels, seals, bushing etc. but need a couple months to get the funds right. thes things aren't cheap for sure. Guess i'll be turning the SMARTY down to level 3 and see if I can keep it a little cooler for awhile. 58K miles, its due for another fluid/filter change. Wasn't going to do it as i'm planning on a rebuild in a couple months. Guess maybe I'll do it after all.. anyone think it will help any?



Ken

 

Well after removing the check ball in the cooler line yesterday, temps were still up from normal today. So, stopped at the dealer today and picked up a Trans filter, $30.00, but was in a hurry so I paid for convenience. Then to Walmart to get the ATF+4, apparently they don't carry the MOPAR brand anymore?? All they had was SuperTech brand. Maybe its just me but never liked to use supertech although I don't know why. Anyway when you don't plan ahead you use what you can source. Changed the filter and fluid tonight. Surprisingly little clutch dust in the pan and NO.. visible metal fragments.

So whys my temp gauge running 20-30* higher than normal? Could the Isspro trans temp gauge be acting up? How would you tell if it was? Temps aren't erratic or anything, just higher than normal. Guess I'll see tommorow if the filter/ fluid drops them any. From what I saw in the pan I'm not gonna bet on it..

Ken

 

What is the engine temp at when your tranny temp is high?

 

as long as it doesn't exceed 250 degrees you're OK

 

Water temps are 200*-205*, normal operating temps. EGT's are also normal. After changing filter and fluid temps are still higher than normal. Think I'll check wiring conections to the gauge when I can. Don't think that will be it either though , I would expect eratic reading if it was a loose connection. Don't know if a temp sensor or amplifier box degenerates after time. all temps are just 20*-30* higher than i'm used to whether TC is locked or not. although locked they don't seem quite as much higher than normal compared to not locked.

 

Last time I saw something like that it was trans rebuild time. Smarty plus stock trans equals rebuild in near future.

 

So are you saying turning Smarty up to level 7 and TM3 about a month ago was a bad idea???

Turned it way down now to level 3 and TM2, like stated in earlier post,i'm planning on getting the transmission built but could really use another couple months on this one.. Didn't see anything in the pan that looked alarming..

"Last time I saw something like that it was trans rebuild time" What in that tranny was hurt, and am I going to really tear something up if I go another couple months with it?

Thanks,
Ken

 

Smarty #3 TM2 will eat a stock trans, its only a matter of when.

The TM is what really hurts things as it puts a lot more power thru on the shift points. What generally happens is it starts slipping the direct clutches due to the lack of holding power of the low line pressures.

When you dropped the pan did you reach up on top of the VB and check for deposits? Wiping your finger across a top surface of the VB will get a black smear if you are eating clutches. Clutch material tends to stay suspended in the pan as its always circulating. On top of the VB it will collect out of the circulaton.

My advice is get a shift kit in as soon as possible. That will minimize the slippage and keep things from coming completely apart. It took about 30k of raod miles to hurt mine but I was really careful. More stop and go drivng is going to hurt it faster.

 

Check for a bad ground on your temp gauge/sender.