Newbie here, so please forgive me if this has been answered before...
I have a 2017 Longhorn 4x4 with the 5.7. Runs beautifully, but I've noticed the transmission temperature gauge shows about 1/3 up the scale when dead cold. It shows just a tick above halfway once everything is warmed up. I had the local dealer look at it and they said the sensor is reading correctly (I already knew this was likely from my own investigation) and dismissed it as normal. They did not try to explain why the gauge itself behaved differently from the coolant and oil temp, both of which show at the bottom of the scale when dead cold as one would expect.

This behavior is identical for the small gauge that always shows and the larger one on the status page. Since these gauges are digital, my suspicion is the software that drives it is computing the wrong value below a certain sensor value. So, my question becomes is it normal for this truck for the transmission temp gauge to show so much higher when cold? If not, does anyone know of a TSB or something I can show the dealer so they know what to look for to correct it?

 

is this on the 8 speed tranny ?

 

My question would be, what is the temp range the gauge is supposed to reflect? If the gauge is designed to show temps below 30 degrees or so, and it's about 30 outside, then the gauge won't be at the bottom of the range at those temps.....

 

Yes, the truck has the 8-speed tranny.

 

That's certainly a valid question. But, considering every other temp gauge on the cluster shows at the bottom of the respective scale when cold, I find it odd Dodge would have this one gauge behave differently. It might be normal; I don't know, which is why I'm asking the question. It just doesn't 'feel' normal.

 

I would tend to agree with your assessment.

 

Here are a couple of photos that show the condition in question. The 'warm' one was taken last night after ~30 min. of driving. The 'cold' one was taken this morning before starting the engine.

Cold start condition. Note how far up the scale the temp gauge shows compared to the water and oil temps.


Warm condition after driving ~30 min.

 

Ok, that would imply that the gauge will read down to some very cold temps. -30 or so?

I think it is working as intended.