Automatic Fluid Temperature Gauge

[sacred cow Member Find all posts View Profile Close sacred cow]

As I tow a very heavy caravan close to the Prado's limit, it is very important that I don't overheat the automatic transmission fluid. I am also unsure as to whether towing in overdrive on flat roads is going to do any long term damage. Therefore I would like to monitor the temperature of the transmission fluid.

Can anyone recommend an automatic transmission fluid temperature gauge for a D4D, please? Where is the sensor installed?

The instrument panel has a warning light when the gearbox fluid exceeds a particular temperature. What is this temperature? Is the temperature sensor simply an on/off type or is a variable voltage send to the engine's computer system?

Regards
Glenn

[MTpockets Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MTpockets]

Hi Glenn,
There is a thread about this very subject over at the Lcool forum. You may want to check it out HERE
You may have to become a member, not sure.
cheers
Les

[MTpockets Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close MTpockets]

Thanks Matt, Funny how the same subject pops up on 2 different forums the same day :shock:

[Chuck Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Chuck]

Looking at the Scanguage II web site you may be able to veiw transmisson temp on the Scanguge.

[fishnut Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close fishnut]

bump...

I got a the ATF warning light while trying to climb a sand hill on Tuesday (see WA wilbinga thread). I had made 4 or 5 runs at it and it was very soft. The old diesel just couldn't get enough speed in the soft stuff on the flat and when she hit the slope just ran out of momentum. Then with the revs going as Chippy was winching me over the top, the light came on and stayed on for quite a while after that (I gave the next hill climb a miss and took the chicken route to cool it down). I'm guessing the trannie was buried in sand at the time, so perhaps it just set up a little incubator.

Any others had this issue (not while towing)?
Any suggestions for doing something different? before or after?

[- awaiting all the smartar$es to tell me to get a petrol or a d4d or manual etc etc - or perhaps I need a white prado? :lol: ]

[leachy_9 Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close leachy_9]

Fishnut,

over the Christmas break I was down at Cape Arid National Park and it was 47 degrees. The Prado was loaded up, in soft sand and I was giving it heaps for hours on end. After hearing of some other people having issues with auto fluid temp I was expecting the warning light to come on but it didn't.
It doesn't help explain why others have had issues but it does show that the auto (at least the 5 speed) can take a fair bit of torture. So people experiencing overheating should be looking for a cause rather than just accepting it as normal. From your description I'd say the lack of cooling air flow and the insulation of the sand while when being winched have cause the over temperature.



leachy

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

I'm guessing the trannie was buried in sand at the time, so perhaps it just set up a little incubator.

Any others had this issue (not while towing)?
Any suggestions for doing something different? before or after?

[- awaiting all the smartar$es to tell me to get a petrol or a d4d or manual etc etc - or perhaps I need a white prado? :lol: ]

Well the white prado is a given - it's the logical starting point.

The official rule is: White is to Prado as red is to Ferrari...

I've been stuck in sand at Stockton (a couple of times) and got the light trying to get the thing out (backwards and forwards rocking). Was buried to the running boards at the time... took quite a while for the light to go out... :?

No real solution here - I found the best solution was not to get stuck and carry a bloody great shovel too!