Sorry for this newbie post, but I have a quick question surrounding my transmission fluid "temp" gauge in my truck. This is my first truck, and it's an 09 F150.
I have noticed that the transmission fluid gauge on the truck is normally at the exact same position as the standard coolant temperature gauge (after the truck has been driven for awhile). The transmission fluid gauge seems gets to the normal temperature position quicker.
My question is that I noticed a few times when driving in the city, e.g. stop and go, the transmission temperature didn't go up and all, and stayed down (even after driving 10 or so minutes until I got on the highway). However, other times (driving in similar conditions in the city, stop and go, the transmission gauge was at the normal position). I live in the city, so I have to drive out to get to the highway.
Is this normal, or should the transmission "temp" gauge be in the normal position as long as the truck is moving? It doesn't happen often, but have seen it more than enough that makes me wonder if there is a problem with the gauge.
Sounds like the trans temp gauge is just like the other gauges in late model Ford trucks.... Nothing more then an 'idiot light' with a needle on it.... The only time you'll see the stock gauges actually 'move' beyond their 'normal' position is when it's overheating.. Just about the same time the real 'idiot light' comes on!!
Ever notice that your oil pressure gauge never moves... "real" oil pressure gauges will show a higher reading when cold, then gradually lower as the engine warms up.. Idle when it's warm, and it'll drop to around 30-40 psi or so.. Get back up in the revs and it'll go back to it's 'normal' 70-80 psi depending on your particular engine (I'm just going from memory when I had 'real' oil pressure gauges in some old vehicles a long time ago...)
The water temp and even the volt gauge is the same way! My alternator died on me one day and the only reason I knew it died was the RED idiot light came on.. The damn 'gauge' needle didn't even move... Well, maybe it was a tic lower then 'normal', but I didn't notice it, just the RED light!
I have aftermarket Water and Trans temp gauges and when the stock 'gauge' reaches it's 'normal' position, my real gauge is up to only about 150* The stock 'gauge' doesn't move while the real gauge goes up just past 180*... I've had my real gauge up to 210* towing the trailer and the stock 'gauge' was still showing 'normal'... Which is fine, because 210* is by no means critical or anything, but it's nice to monitor at any rate..
My real trans temp gauge has it's sensor on the trans output line, so it moves quite a bit.. In the Winter, it barely gets over the 100* mark cruising down the hwy for many miles... Get in the city and stop and go traffic, and it'll creep up to 150* if the TC is unlocked a lot.. Get back up to speed, and the temp drops back down again. In the Summer, it'll run about 150-180* cruising on the hwy, towing or not..
Anyway, what all this boils down to is your stock 'gauges' won't tell you anythings wrong until it's critical.... Get yourself a 'scan gauge' that plugs into the com port under the dash, and that will monitor 'real' temps and pressures and such... Or get 'real' gauges and mount accordingly..
Agreed, get a scangauge. You can monitor all kinds of things with at, all read from the trucks computer. The factory gauges are "dummy gauges". As Mitch said, they just tell you that "something" is happening, that you're temperatures are not super hot or super cold. If they were accurate, they would fluctuate, and every soccer mom would come to the dealership thinking their truck is broken. So they just make them all look normal
The scan gauge will read trouble codes, can tell you coolant/air intake/transmission temps, instant mpg, voltage, pretty much anything you may want to monitor. The "x-gauge" feature allows you to add other things that can be monitored that are not on the standard screen. Plus they are pretty cheap for the amount of information you can get from it.
Mine is normally set to show coolant temp, transmission temp, instant mpg, and voltage.
i hate ford gauges. why cant they use real gauges like the chevy's???
This is why:
Quote:
Originally Posted by brianjwilson
If they were accurate, they would fluctuate, and every soccer mom would come to the dealership thinking their truck is broken. So they just make them all look normal
Originally Posted by brianjwilson
If they were accurate, they would fluctuate, and every soccer mom would come to the dealership thinking their truck is broken. So they just make them all look normal
chevy dealerships or toyota dealerships would have that problem too!!
I'm saying that's why Ford dumbed down the gauges. I made no reference to the intelligence of the drivers, or if Ford was right in their assessment of the intelligence of their owners.
i know, im just that all the other car manufacturers do it, why couldnt ford do it.
I guess its a moot point, since there is nothing you can do about it except buy gauges or edge or scangauge.
I have actually read articles about people modifying their ranger gauges to work more, but you still don't have actual temp/pressure readouts, the need just swings more.
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2001 F150 5.4 ext. cab 4X4, 6" RCD susp. lift, PA body lift, 35" Nitto Mudgrapplers, Superchips Tuner, 3.55 gears
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