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Tranny Temp Gauge Not Working

B

Bradburry

Full Member
Joined
Nov 14, 2002
Messages
216
Location
Amarillo, TEXAS!!!!!
Hello all.

I had some trouble with my instrument cluster (the cruise control light wouldn't come on). This morning, the cluster was replaced under warranty.

I picked up my truck after the dealer had closed. When I got in and looked at the cluster, I was suprised to the the tranny temp gauge (which I had not had before). I fired the thing up and drove home. My cruise light worked just fine ;D.

However, during my 5 mile drive home, the needle on the tranny gauge never moved. So now I'm wondering what the deal is. I think the dealer ordered the wrong cluster, as I believe the gauge comes on the 3/4 ton, and I have the 1/2 ton. BUT, I thought that if you plugged in a new cluster with the gauge (i.e. a new Denali cluster) it would work, as the wiring was already there. Maybe it isn't there?? Or is the temp just REALLY cool (less than 100).

I'm a little dissapointed as I was all ready to upgrade to the Denali just so I could have this gauge. I'm hoping it will work. I suppose if it won't, then I'll be heading back to the dealer for the 1/2 ton cluster.

What do y'all think?

Chris
 
Back in the old days....all gauges had to have a sending unit. Even if the gauge is plugged in you still may not have one. Hopefully someone else who knows for sure will reply. :B:
 
The tranny temp sending unit is supposed to already be there, adding to the mystery of why the General didn't give all of us 1500 owners the damn gauge to begin with! ???
 
Steelheadchaser said:
The tranny temp sending unit is supposed to already be there, adding to the mystery of why the General didn't give all of us 1500 owners the damn gauge to begin with! ???
Click to expand...
Given the nature of the cluster, the gauge should be active upon installation - I believe that many have done this swap with functioning tranny gauge.

The lack of the gauge in the 1500 has to do with the lower towing weights and a long standing bias that 1/2 ton trucks don't haul things ;D
 
People with '02 trucks who have put in '02 clusters with tranny gauges have reported that the gauge works properly.

I have always been under the impression that this is true for '03 also. Has anyone else done this with an '03 cluster in an '03 truck? Does your new gauge work? Is this yet another difference between '02 and '03?

For the record, everything that I have heard says that the '02 and '03 gauges are not interchangeable with other years, in either direction. They physically won't fit, and they are wired differently. There can be no chance that the wrong year cluster was installed, it simply won't fit. The year of the cluster and the truck must be the same.

The tranny temp sender unit should always be installed in every truck. This is because even if there is no gauge, there is still the high transmission temperature warning that appears in the message center, and the computer must know the tranny temp in order to display this message.

-- SS
 
Chris,
I put a Denali cluster in my 02 and found that 5 miles is not enough to make the gauge move. Got to drive more miles for the oil to get over 100 degrees to register. The sending unit and wiring is already in place.
 
Well,

I drove the truck for about 15 miles this evening enroute to a fine New Years Eve Party@!!!!

The tranny temp gauge began picking up after about 7 miles. It peaked at about 120 degreees! So it does work!!!

|Overall, I'm happy with this. I wanted the Denali, but mostly for the gauge. The colored lights didn't impress me that much.

So all you with a 1500 looking for a new mod might want to try out the 2500 cluster to get the tranny gauge, but keep the stock look.

I LIKE IT IT!!!

Chris

 
Very cool "free" mod Chris.

This would be another mod to add if the price is right.


"D-man" ( Happy New year 2003 :cool: )
 
The tranny does run really cool. You have to drive a good ways for the gauge to actually move, or just do a couple burnouts and the gauge will move.
All the sensors are in place.
Sounds like the dealer may have had a 3/4 ton gauge sitting on the shelf and instead of ordering a direct replacement, he just gave you that one. Sweet!!!
Gotta love it when the dealer GIVES you a mod.
 
I've installed a Denali instrument faceplate on my 1500 04' so I could get the look and the tranny temp guage.  A friend had an extra cluster that we took a gauge from and soldiered into the cluster.  The problem is the needle moves slightly when the key is turned on, so I know it's getting power but has never registered any movement when I drive.  I just pulled a 30ft camper this week-end with no movement.  Does any one know if the 04' comes pre-wired with the sensor installed?  ???
 
Just order the trim parts you want from Jason.. Now that you have that cluster.. Your lucky day!
 
tft-c said:
I've installed a Denali instrument faceplate on my 1500 04' so I could get the look and the tranny temp guage.? A friend had an extra cluster that we took a gauge from and soldiered into the cluster.? The problem is the needle moves slightly when the key is turned on, so I know it's getting power but has never registered any movement when I drive.? I just pulled a 30ft camper this week-end with no movement.? Does any one know if the 04' comes pre-wired with the sensor installed?? ???
Click to expand...
Uh...I think Sperry is trying to respond to the wrong post...let me take a stab at your question.

The '04 Av has everything in it...ready to run a tranny temp gauge if you buy a cluster that has a tranny temp gauge.
It is absolutely PLUG AND PLAY.

As to whether your friend and you did the modification to your cluster with parts from another cluster correctly...I dunno.
 
Nope! Yup!

This was an ancient topic... Those dates get me sometimes.. :E:

I was referring to his interest in a Denali cluster. All he would need is some parts (Bezel and/or escutcheon) and he would have that. Here are some Faces and Bezels.
 
Steve...he has already installed a face/bezel...the Denali one...then they modded the stock cluster by taking a cluster tranny temp unit from another cluster and soldering it into his refaced cluster...but it doesn't work...he says.

So...since we can't tell whether or not they did the install correctly...

I/we...are just reassuring him that the '04 has everything to make a tranny temp gauge work...if you have a cluster with one...that it is just plug and play.

 
But you were correct.. I was looking at the first post of this topic.. But obviously not at the date. :2: I was answering him!.. That was why the reply didn't make any sense. :E:
 
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