tow vehicle

[RockyMtnRay]

[quote author=camperboy link=board=20;threadid=1712;start=msg13050#msg1305 0 date=1082043110]
Ray, I'd love to hear more about your temp sensor install. How you mounted the sensor in the pan. Where inside your cab did you mount the gauge? I had been looking at a pillar gauge pod with space for three gauges.
[/quote]

The project isn't finished so can't yet give a final report with pics....the sensor has been installed but the A-pillar pod & gauge haven't yet been installed.

As for mounting the sensor in the pan, I managed to talk a local independent Toyota repair shop into taking on the job. There were several issues: (1) dropping and re-attaching the pan isn't trivial because the pan is sealed to the engine on my truck with a form-in-place gasket using a special Toyota transmission pan sealant; (2) only with the pan dropped is it possible to exactly ascertain where the sensor & its mounting bushing should be put so that there is no interference with parts of the transmission that are within the pan area; and (3) to do the job properly, the sensor's bushing must be brazed/silver soldered into the pan (attaching the bushing to the thin metal of the pan with thread sealant or epoxy is just not a reliable method); (4) a corrolary of item 3 is that when done, there must be a very good ground from the sensor through the bushing through the pan to the vehicle's frame so that the gauge will read accurately. The shop that undertook the job wound up taking the pan and bushing to a highly experienced welding shop to get the bushing brazed (I think with high temperature silver solder rather than a brass braze). All in all, it cost me just over $200 for the job (including an oil/filter change and driveline lube I had them do while it was on their rack). Tad pricey but they did a very careful and very neat job...even put a grounding wire from one of the pan bolts to the truck's frame.

Now that the sensor is properly installed, the next step is to run the wires into the cab, remove the A-pillar trim and mount the gauge in its pod to the trim, then close everything back up again. I've been awaiting warm weather for this as I'm also installing an autodimming rearview mirror (with outside temp display and compass) while I have the A-pillar trim removed (the wiring to this mirror goes up the A-pillar and then under the headliner). Hope to do these steps starting on Sunday.

[fcatwo]

Ray

Thanks for responding. That one answer was worth far more to me than TMO membership costs. Just for info, http://www.westach.com has a sender on pg 35 of their online catalog that attaches to the end of the trans dip stick and goes down the tube with it. I didn't go that way but did talk to them about it. They said they sell lots of them and only know of a couple of instances where one has come off in the pan and neither case caused a problem. They said both washed out with the next fluid
change. As I said, just for info.
--------------------------------------

Camperboy

The Odyssey locks up in 3,4 & 5 like your Ford and I've found that by holding a steady speed and watching the tach I can control what it's doing by just slight movement of the pedal as described above. I can also verify how fast the temp rises when to torque converter is unlocked. I can almost see the needle move. Something else that really surprised me is how fast the trans temp goes up when sitting in-gear while stopped in traffic. I'll bet a lot of trans problems could be prevented by just kicking em out of gear during long waits. I pull mine out before it gets to 200f but I suspect it would go off the scale if I didn't.

Frank

[Bill]

[quote author=fcatwo link=board=20;threadid=1712;start=msg13059#msg1305 9 date=1082056212]The Odyssey locks up in 3,4 & 5 like your Ford and I've found that by holding a steady speed and watching the tach I can control what it's doing by just slight movement of the pedal as described above. I can also verify how fast the temp rises when to torque converter is unlocked. I can almost see the needle move. Something else that really surprised me is how fast the trans temp goes up when sitting in-gear while stopped in traffic. I'll bet a lot of trans problems could be prevented by just kicking em out of gear during long waits. I pull mine out before it gets to 200f but I suspect it would go off the scale if I didn't.[/quote]

Frank -

Good info - thanks. I kind of suspected that, but had no real info.

By the way, my wife, who is not particularly technical but has a lot of patience, has made a game of the "slight movement of the gas pedal" that you describe. She watches the tach, which runs about 2100 RPM in 5th gear with the TC locked. The object of the game is to keep the tach from kicking up, while maintaining speed as well as possible. Her goal is increased gas mileage, not lower transmission temp, but either way, it works for me!

She challenged me to do the same. She is much better at it than I am.

Bill

[fcatwo]

Hi Bill

My game is similar to what your wife does. The Odyssey doesn't allow locking out 5th without locking 4th out as well. Realistically, that means it's either 2000rpm at 70mph in 5th or3800 rpm in 3rd. I try to see how long I can hold it locked up in 4th (2800rpm) before it shifts up or down. With a slight head wind or climb I can hold it for a couple of minutes. I would gladly pay someone $500.00 to find a way to lock out 5th only. Honda is rumored to be fixing that problem in their next generation Odyssey due out this year.

You are probably wondering why I bought the thing so I'll tell you. We ordered it near the end of the 01 model year thinking it would be an 01 with the 4sp trans. It came through as an 02 with the 5sp and more HP and I elected to go with it--- big mistake for towing. Both the 4 & 5 speed Odyssey transmissions have had problems, as all large minivan's have I suppose. Some feel it's a packaging problem. Just not enough room under there for an adequate transmission.

Frank

fcatwo, I just heard on the news that your Ody had been recalled due to transmission problems. There were others also but I missed them, the Ody is the only one I heard. Maybe they will fixed the problem for you.

[fcatwo]

Windbreaker, the others are the Honda Pilot and Acura MDX. Those are the only others using that 5 speed. They have apparently had only 10 out of 600,000 fail to the point of lock-up which isn't many unless your's is one of them. They can view the internals with a scope through the fill hole so it should go quickly. Mine is working fine at 28K so I'd be surprised if it needs fixing.

As for not being able to hold in 4th, I suppose it would have cost them another $0.49 per vehicle to provide that so it likely didn't make the cut when competing with more important stuff like 1-1/2 cup holders per possible occupant.

Frank

I'm going to gamble that my 2003 Montana AWD will tow a 2720SL without too much trouble - only problem I see is in mountains. I received my video and brouchure from Trailmanor today. Seems to me that the floor plan pictures are not to scale as there seems to be too much room between the couches or the chair and couch. The video doesn't show that much room.
John

P.S. Maybe I'll have to trade up if the van causes problems, but that will not happen for a couple years. The van listed at over $40,000 canadian and now, after eight months, the book value is $24,600 - hard to fathom..

I'm smack dab in the middle of Canada - only mountians might be the Rocky Mountains on the way to Vancouver.

John:

From one Canuk to another.

I would be interested in your experience when you finally get on the road. As I have mentioned, I have a Chev Venture which is essentially the same as the Montana, and though the TM material seems to say it is OK, most of the postings indicate it is risky.

I don't anticipate any Rocky Mountain travel but there are a few good hills between the Montreal area and Florida.

Good Luck

John

[quote author=fcatwo link=board=20;threadid=1712;start=msg13119#msg1311 9 date=1082264150]


As for not being able to hold in 4th, I suppose it would have cost them another $0.49 per vehicle to provide that so it likely didn't make the cut when competing with more important stuff like 1-1/2 cup holders per possible occupant.

Frank
[/quote]

I couldn't understand why they didn't allow to lock 5 wihtout 4 until I read somewhere that 4 is an overdrive gear also.