Tranny Temp Gauge Recommendation

Hi,
I'm looking to install a transmission temperature gauge in my '06 Tacoma. I heard good things about ISSPRO... and have read some concerns about AutoMeter.

So right now I'm leaning toward ISSPRO.

The only issue I have with them is that their standard backlit is green! They are already expensive as it is and to have them put in a red led will costs $25 more.

So I'm wondering if there's another line of gauges that perform just as well as ISSPRO.

Thanks.

 

We do offer the black face gauges in white backlighting as well. As noted, we will change to red LEDs for $25/gauge. As surface mount LEDs require significant handling precautions (you have to pre-bake them to remove moisture before soldering to the board, unless you are running mass production from a freshly opened reel), it probably costs us more than the $25 to do custom units! We do have a side project to experiment with colored films in conjunction with the white LEDs, but we are several months away from knowing if this will work.

Regards,
Michael Pliska
ISSPRO Engineering Manager

 

You can also use the Torque Android App if you have an Android.

 

ScanGauge or Ultra will get you trans temps and more and a close background color. I hemmed and hawed and was going to go with two gauges one for batt and one for trans but after a while felt the extra features albiet not used much might be nice on the Scangauge.


Cypher

 

memario1214... I just bought a 3700 lb popup - so yes, it's for towing. And I live in CO, so I'll have my share of mountain passes and steep climbs.

Cypherian... That's what I'm doing right now... hemming and hawing... and I'm getting sick of it. I'm hung up on...

1. Quality and Accuracy
2. Bezel Color ... I'd something to match the silver trimmed OEM dash
3. Backlight ... red, again to match the OEM dash

I did some more researching and found that there's actually two types of gauges...

1. Air Core
2. Stepper Motor

The latter is generally much more accurate than the former. And so I know the ISSPRO EV line are steppers. I just wonder if people has been comparing that to other air core types, like say from AutoMeter. So may be the comparison has not been exactly "apples to apples" and may have been misled me to believe ISSPRO has the edge on quality above AutoMeter. AutoMeter does have a several lines of gauges that are Stepper Motor.

AutoMeter Elite Series has a great look, Bezel looks very close to the Taco dash trim and has all kinds of programmable features, including choosing a red backlight. So I'm considering this one.

But let me know if the word on the streets really is to stay away from AutoMeter. I doubt it though for as many users I'm seen in posts.

The price does significantly go up when you get into these long sweep, stepper motor type. But I may just have to bite the bullet if I'm going to be sensitive about this issue.

ScanGauge and all these OBD-II types sounds all good and pretty hassle free to do it. My problem with it is it's based on the stock temp sensor, which I've read is just taking temps from the fluids in the pan. Problem with that is fluids in the pan is post-cooler.

And I've read a couple schools of thought on this... fluid in the pan provides a general sense of the tranny fluid health. Needle is fairly even keeled and steady.

But if you use an external sensor/sending unit and placed it in the hardline 6" from the fluid exits the tranny (before it goes to the cooler), then you can measure the highest temp levels of the fluid. In this case, the needle will be more volatile and move a lot, especially when the torque converter locks and unlocks. But at least you see how hot your fluids got. And if it did reach super high thermals... it could be a sign to flush sooner than later as higher thermals cuts fluid life exponentially (so I've read).

So I think I'm a believer for the latter school of thought and why I'd NOT option the ScanGauge types.

Anyway... I'm still looking for some feedbacks.

Right now... I'm seriously considering the AutoMeter 5658 Tranny Temp Gauge. It's pricey for sure $172 at one website. May $60 more than the ISSPRO after all said and done with swapping out backlights, etc. But the 5658 has memory recall and all kinds of cool programmability. Aesthetics wise, I think it fits the Tacoma much better (especially if you use Craven's FlexPod to mount the unit: http://www.tacomaworld.com/gallery/data/500/medium/DSCN0738.JPG).

The only thing holding me back is... the price. I'd love hear what you know about this particular unit.

Am I being overly cautious and is this unit overkill? The popup is the largest it comes - highwall and very heavy. Stats on paper shows I have enough to tow it... but the margin is not very much. So I wanna be confident I can monitor the tranny temps and can rely on a solid, accurate unit - that's why I'd really prefer the long sweep, stepper motor gauges.

But you guys feel free to tell me I'm completely off or something. All I know is what I've read so far in forums like these.

 

Check your pm I have the craven pod and going to check on the autometers I bought but never used or installed .