I was in Ohio this weekend and the outside air temp was 30 with a wind chill of 28. My Tranny wouldn't shift into OD. Trans temp was running 120 - 130. I put cardboard over the trans cooler and brought the temp up to 150 and after a few miles it shifted into OD. Other than cardboard any other ideas on getting trans temp up or is there another problem going on? Also I've noticed here lately it is slow to shift between 3rd and 4th even when it's warm.

 

Sounds like you need to have someone service the tranny.

 

Just had a full service 8,000 miles ago.

 

My 93 does the same thing, granted its a different setup, Is the temp sender in the pan or line out? other than keeping the cooler covered probably not much you can do. Sure the shop used the right fluid?

 

The temp sensor is in the line. They had the right fluid listed on the bill. Even in warm weather pulling the TT (15,000 lbs loaded) the trans temp under normal conditions only runs 150-170. Pulling long hills with steep grade it will get up to 180-200. I was reading some other post and found a cold weather grille cover on Cabela's, so I'll give that a try. When I had it turned up 10,000 mi. ago the mech. said the tranny was in good shape and I don't have any slip. Just cold natured I guess. With 238,000 on it I can't complain if it dosen't like the cold, I don't like cold eaither. Thanks

 

Thats pretty good from what Ive seen for temps, my 93 350 had both coolers and I could still hit 220 + empty up hills. trans was probably somewhat tired but still worked good. That sounds awful low for line temps, specially towin, What does it run empty after its warmed up good?

 

Normal running empty 150 never gets over 180 even sitting in traffic for long periods. Don't have any idea why it runs that cool. Have new guages, autometer's from geno's garage so they should be good.

 

Where is your factory temp sender if the after market is in the output line?
If they're both in a tee on the output line it won't work because the end of the probe is out of the fluid flow. This will also make the aftermarket gauge read low. Disconnect the factory sender's wire connector and jump the leads to the pcm with a 1k (1000) ohm resistor. This will trick the pcm into thinking the tranny is warmed up and will cause no damage. This the only way you can use the outlet line port on a '94-'96
Next time your tranny is drained remove the tee and put the after market sender right in the line and get rid of the factory probe.

 

If you do the 1kOhm resistor trick be careful while driving until the tranny has warmed up.
There won't be a tranny temp light anymore with the resistor.
You can also wrap the tee on the output line with some insulating material, going some length in both directions to reduce the influence of the cold air passing by on your readings. (If the metal parts are cooled you'll read much lower than your actual tranny temp )

Just my 2c

AlpineRAM

 

As far as I know Paul removed the factory sensor and replaced it with the after market. I'll have to check it out to be sure. I don't know if he jumped the leads on the factory sensor or not. If not that would make the pcm think it wasn't getting warm. I do know he said the idiot light wouldn't work any more.

 

I went though the low temp issue with Bill K at DTT, he assured me no damage would be caused by running the tranny with cold fluid.

 

It would never go into OD if he didn't jump it and the factory sender was removed.

 

No I don't think it will do any harm at low temps, but it just doesn't shift like it should. Slowwwwwwww.

 

He must have jumped the leads then because it will go into OD after it gets warm enough.

 

Thanks Alpine I'll try the wrap and see what that does.