Trans Temp Indicator: Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2004 Dodge Pickup and 2004 Dodge Cab & Chassis. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The transmission over-temperature indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator when the transmission fluid temperature is excessive, which may lead to accelerated transmission component wear or failure. This indicator is controlled by a transistor on the instrument cluster circuit board based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the cluster from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) over the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus. The transmission over-temperature indicator Light Emitting Diode (LED) is completely controlled by the instrument cluster logic circuit, and that logic will only allow this indicator to operate when the instrument cluster receives a battery current input on the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit. Therefore, the LED will always be off when the ignition switch is in any position except On or Start. The LED only illuminates when it is provided a path to ground by the instrument cluster transistor. The instrument cluster will turn on the transmission over-temperature indicator for the following reasons:

Bulb Test - Each time the ignition switch is turned to the On position the transmission over-temperature indicator is illuminated for about two seconds as a bulb test.
Trans Over-Temp Lamp-On Message - Each time the cluster receives a trans over-temp lamp-on message from the PCM indicating that the transmission fluid temperature is 135° C (275° F) or higher, the indicator will be illuminated and a single chime tone is sounded. The indicator remains illuminated until the cluster receives a trans over-temp lamp-off message from the PCM, or until the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first. The chime tone feature will only repeat during the same ignition cycle if the transmission over-temperature indicator is cycled off and then on again by the appropriate trans over-temp messages from the PCM.
Actuator Test - Each time the cluster is put through the actuator test, the transmission over-temperature indicator will be turned on, then off again during the bulb check portion of the test to confirm the functionality of the LED and the cluster control circuitry.

The PCM continually monitors the transmission temperature sensor to determine the transmission operating condition. The PCM then sends the proper trans over-temp lamp-on or lamp-off messages to the instrument cluster. If the instrument cluster turns on the transmission over-temperature indicator due to a high transmission oil temperature condition, it may indicate that the transmission and/or the transmission cooling system are being overloaded or that they require service. For further diagnosis of the transmission over-temperature indicator or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls the LED, (Refer to DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING - INSTRUMENT CLUSTER ). For proper diagnosis of the transmission temperature sensor, the PCM, the PCI data bus, or the electronic message inputs to the instrument cluster that control the transmission over-temperature indicator, a DRBIII(R) scan tool is required. Refer to ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES .