Does anyone have gauges installed? I have a tranny temp gauge I want to hook up to my aftermarket tranny cooler. Any ideas or suggestions on where to install the gauges in the vehicle/how to tap in to the tranny cooler?

The tranny cooler is connected directly to the stock lines using standard tubing & totally bypassing the radiator/stock cooler.

 

Scan Gauge II. Can be programmed for trans temp. Mine is mounted on the Daystar Dash Panel.

With every trans cooler I ever installed, I always connected it to the radiator exit of the existing cooler lines. Never even seen one done with complete OEM bypass on a street vehicle?

 

Actually Doc, there are peeps who have had the dreaded Coolent/Trans Fluid mix due to the radiator internal separation that have gone to a separate dedicated trans cooler in order to circumvent the ill effects of having it happen agian (trans rebuild/replacement cost is big $). Some others that have not had the issue but are fearful of the fluids mixing and trashing their trans and other components have also performed the OEM Trans Cooler delete/circumvent.

OP, It all depends on the type of trans cooler you have in your rig currently. Some of the Trans coolers have a bung already set up for a temp sensor. If not have a compitent trans shop weld a bung and place a temp sensor into the trans pan. Where you place the gauge is a personal choice. I will suggest an A pillar type mount like below. But some don't like them.

trans temp gauge install - Google Search

 

Also be aware that the rad tranny cooler is also a tranny heater to keep it hot in winter or just stabilized. Someone reported trouble being too cool in winter or very slow to heat up with just the ext cooler and no engine heating thru the rad.
Seems that everything works best when hot.

 

While I do agree that in colder climates this may be an issue with a "tube and fin" style. Any decent "stacked plate" trans cooler (B&M, Tru-cool, Hayden) worth it's weight will have what is known as a bypass. Explained below. This will allow the cold fluid to "bypass" the cooler when the viscosity is thick (cold fluid).

"The coolers assembled with a unique bypass feature allowing a controlled amount of ATF to bypass the stacked plate core when the fluid is cold. This is beneficial in cold climate areas to guard against lube system failure. Controlled by viscosity, fluid is returned directly to the lube circuit through bypass openings in the stacked plate core. As the temperature increases, more ATF is directed through the core. This highly efficient design combines improved protection against lube system failure with the required levels of optimal heat transfer."

 

Go with the scangauge...

Most velcro it on top of the steering column.

 

Sorry Guys, I should've provided more details. I already have a trans cooler, bypassed the internal cooler, as it is a total P-O-S. The whole radiator design is totally pathetic in the h3s. Forgot to mention I had the issue with the top of my radiator being cracked. Cost me $3000 to have the transmission repaired and the radiator replaced, so yeah.... I definitely would not recommend anyone with larger wheels and tires utilize the internal tranny cooler. Also, I am in texas so the tranny fluid not getting warm enough will never be a problem. In the very slim chance that it does become a problem, I would just drive another vehicle.

I forget the exact model aftermarket cooler, but a lot of members on here run it. Bought it from jegs, and it has a a cooling fan on it that I hooked up to a basic relay. Comes on when I turn the truck on.

I actually already have a digital gauge. Doc, Do you have a pic of where you mounted your's in the daystar? I have one as well.

 

Oil presure, tranny temp , exhaust temp.....AND yes....the rearview mirror is an AZENTEK SMARTMIRROR with GPS, BLUETOOTH, MAPS, NAVIGATION MEDIA PHOTO, MEDIA VIDEO on and on...great set up.