this week's trip

[profdant139]

The Scangauge plugs into that same port, I think?? Let us know if the app does the trick -- that sounds like a useful thing to have!

[Hilda]

I called Verizon hum and "at this time" they don't have any additions to the app that would give a reading on transmission temperature, which is disappointing. Then I got on a chat session with a dodge person, who assured me that although the dash computer readout does not show tranny temps, there is a light that comes on if your transmission temperatures are climbing into the danger zone. I guess I'll believe them...

[profdant139]

Yeah, there is a colloquial name for that light -- the "idiot light." By the time you see it, the transmission is cooked, or so they say.

Did the Dodge guy say that there is in fact a heavy duty transmission cooler in that van?

[Hilda]

in a manner of speaking, yes. something like the engine cooling and transmission cooling are heavy duty. but when I look at the specs for our vin # it looks like "heavy duty" is also "standard". A mechanic said it looked like it was heavy duty it to him. I'm skeptical because I don't know how you would tell by looking.

I'm taking it to a new shop on thursday because I don't trust the shop we took it for for the first transmission "service". when questioned by DH the mechanic said he didn't drop the pan, his service manual said not necessary at this milage. so he didn't change the filter either. Now we are having it done properly. first $$ down the drain, but I'd rather be safe than fry the tranny. And I know it should have had the pan dropped and the filter changed. maybe that's why I felt paranoid on the trip.

so this shop is expensive but very good reputation and their transmission specialist will be at least overseeing the service. I will ask them about the factory tranny cooler, the aftermarket cooler and other things we think of by then.

thanks for the help!