tranny temp hookup? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

willett · 07-14-2009, 12:05 AM

hey guys i have a th400 and im wondering how one goes about hooking up a tranny temp guage.

i noticed a 2 prong plugin that isnt attached to anything on the driverside sort of near the t-case, does that have anything to do with it?

** this thread is ongoing, check my lowest post before you answer this one.
thanks guys
- spencer

babyJay · 07-14-2009, 07:10 AM

That is for the kickdown. There should be a wire close by, unless your truck didn't come with the 400.

Alex1 · 07-14-2009, 07:26 AM

You will either have to buy a pan that has a bung or drain hole in it, then thread in a sensor - or weld a bung. As previously mentioned, the plug you're refering to is for the kick down. If you dont have the hook up for it, Lockar sells a kit that is cable/electric. That's what I use and it's super easy to hook up.

babyJay · 07-14-2009, 10:48 AM

look under your gas pedal to see if you have a switch similir to a brake lite switch that would be on your brake pedal. Alex is right about the bung and thread-in sensor. I am unaware of any kits that put the sensor on the external cooler or lines.

smashingchuck · 07-14-2009, 10:51 AM

I've always put it inline in the tranny cooler line that is going to the cooler.

HookedOnReefing · 07-15-2009, 05:29 PM

I would do what the last poster suggested and that is to put it inline with line that goes to the cooler. If you put the sensor in the pan, you will not get an accurate reading of the system temperature. It will read at least 30 degrees cooler if installed in the pan. Unless you keep that in mind, you should not go by that temp. reading.

willett · 07-20-2009, 02:09 PM

okay, thanks guys.
i do have a kickdown switch, i will try to locate the cab-end of the prong.....

i already have a tranny cooler in there, i was just thinking about putting a pillar guage set in my truck in the future!

willett · 08-02-2009, 09:54 PM

okay i was looking again today.
just above the tranny pan there is an orange wire that is plugged into the tranny. Is this one the kickdown?

the other lead i was referring to appears to be 2 wires, blue and white. i felt it above the tranny and it feels like it goes up to the cab floor somewhere.

does anyone have any input here?

Igotachevyor2 · 08-03-2009, 01:18 PM

the temp gauge i had on my 86 k5 was mounted to an external trans filter on a cooler line

willett · 08-03-2009, 09:24 PM

what color is your kickdown lead?
is it one wire or multiple wires going into the tranny?

07-14-2009, 12:05 AM	#1
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	tranny temp hookup? hey guys i have a th400 and im wondering how one goes about hooking up a tranny temp guage. i noticed a 2 prong plugin that isnt attached to anything on the driverside sort of near the t-case, does that have anything to do with it? ** this thread is ongoing, check my lowest post before you answer this one. thanks guys - spencer __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square" Last edited by willett; 08-03-2009 at 09:23 PM.

07-14-2009, 07:10 AM	#2
babyJay Arrived on a Pale Horse Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SnagTown Indiana Posts: 2,524	Re: tranny temp hookup? That is for the kickdown. There should be a wire close by, unless your truck didn't come with the 400. __________________ Jason 87 V30 350TBI/400 White w/Boss V-plow 89 R3500 CC SRW

07-14-2009, 07:26 AM	#3
Alex1 Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Ottawa Ontario Canada Posts: 1,156	Re: tranny temp hookup? You will either have to buy a pan that has a bung or drain hole in it, then thread in a sensor - or weld a bung. As previously mentioned, the plug you're refering to is for the kick down. If you dont have the hook up for it, Lockar sells a kit that is cable/electric. That's what I use and it's super easy to hook up. Last edited by Alex1; 07-14-2009 at 07:27 AM.

07-14-2009, 10:48 AM	#4
babyJay Arrived on a Pale Horse Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: SnagTown Indiana Posts: 2,524	Re: tranny temp hookup? look under your gas pedal to see if you have a switch similir to a brake lite switch that would be on your brake pedal. Alex is right about the bung and thread-in sensor. I am unaware of any kits that put the sensor on the external cooler or lines. __________________ Jason 87 V30 350TBI/400 White w/Boss V-plow 89 R3500 CC SRW

07-14-2009, 10:51 AM	#5
smashingchuck It'd be alot cooler if you did Join Date: May 2003 Location: Three Rivers, MI Posts: 2,345	Re: tranny temp hookup? I've always put it inline in the tranny cooler line that is going to the cooler. __________________ 78 Build Thread 4Runner Build

07-15-2009, 05:29 PM	#6
HookedOnReefing Registered User Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: West York, IL Posts: 9	Re: tranny temp hookup? I would do what the last poster suggested and that is to put it inline with line that goes to the cooler. If you put the sensor in the pan, you will not get an accurate reading of the system temperature. It will read at least 30 degrees cooler if installed in the pan. Unless you keep that in mind, you should not go by that temp. reading. __________________ 83 Chevy C20 Silverado 454 ci 85 GMC Sierra 2500 350 ci 01 Ford F250 SD Crew 6.8L V10 Shouldn't have a Ford in the mix, but hey, I like them too

07-20-2009, 02:09 PM	#7
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: tranny temp hookup? okay, thanks guys. i do have a kickdown switch, i will try to locate the cab-end of the prong..... i already have a tranny cooler in there, i was just thinking about putting a pillar guage set in my truck in the future! __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

08-02-2009, 09:54 PM	#8
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: tranny temp hookup? okay i was looking again today. just above the tranny pan there is an orange wire that is plugged into the tranny. Is this one the kickdown? the other lead i was referring to appears to be 2 wires, blue and white. i felt it above the tranny and it feels like it goes up to the cab floor somewhere. does anyone have any input here? __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

08-03-2009, 01:18 PM	#9
Igotachevyor2 Apache Club Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Goodlettsville,Tn. Posts: 1,294	Re: tranny temp hookup? the temp gauge i had on my 86 k5 was mounted to an external trans filter on a cooler line __________________ 58 CHEVY APACHE I 74 CHEVY C-10 I 78 K-10 donor truck I 89 SONOMA My Trucks Apache Sitting Idle MySpace Project Dad's Truck (74 C-10 to K-10 conversion) .

08-03-2009, 09:24 PM	#10
willett Another Day, Another Dollar Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: North Vancouver, BC Posts: 1,316	Re: tranny temp hookup? what color is your kickdown lead? is it one wire or multiple wires going into the tranny? __________________ -78 K20 Cheyenne 454 long box, 4" lift, 35" MT's, '84 cab, '80 box "its hip to be square"

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