Tranny temp reading -13*F this morning!

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Newramguy260

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2018
Posts
6
Reaction score
6
Location
Michigan
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 hemi
So, I went out to start my '18 2500 Tradesman this morning. While letting it warm up a bit, ( there was a tinge of wet frost on the windshield, and 37* outside temp! Winter is coming! ) I noticed the Tranny temp was -13 F . After letting it run for 10 minutes, it still only read 5*. There is only 587 miles on this truck. It has already been in the shop for a transmission temp sensor issue that lit up the check engine light. Now it's on again. The service department says it's safe to drive as long as the light isn't flashing.
Thoughts, opinions, experiences, would be appreciated. Thanks!
 

McBroom

U.S.Marine Veteran Retired 88-2000
Military
Joined
May 25, 2017
Posts
5,860
Reaction score
7,392
Location
Denison Tx
Ram Year
2018
Engine
Hemi 6.4L
So, I went out to start my '18 2500 Tradesman this morning. While letting it warm up a bit, ( there was a tinge of wet frost on the windshield, and 37* outside temp! Winter is coming! ) I noticed the Tranny temp was -13 F . After letting it run for 10 minutes, it still only read 5*. There is only 587 miles on this truck. It has already been in the shop for a transmission temp sensor issue that lit up the check engine light. Now it's on again. The service department says it's safe to drive as long as the light isn't flashing.
Thoughts, opinions, experiences, would be appreciated. Thanks!

********! It needs looked at. Go to a different dealership


I Love my 18 Ram 2500HD 4x4 CC
Blue Streak Pearl off-road
 

RoadRamblerNJ

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2017
Posts
2,256
Reaction score
2,390
Location
Knoxville, TN
Ram Year
2017
Engine
392 Hemi
It seems they didn't fix the problem on your first visit. I'd be going back to the (any) dealership asap.
 

17CrewCab1500

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2017
Posts
874
Reaction score
635
Ram Year
2017
Engine
Hemi 5.7
There is a communication issue between the two. I would take it back or take it to another dealership for sure.
 

Ratket

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2014
Posts
3,571
Reaction score
1,300
Location
Arizona-
Ram Year
2018 1500
Engine
Hemi 5.7
There are probably “Safe guards” that limit the truck until that tranny temp comes up to operating temperature, and it is prolly not helping anything or running correct with it reading a -13* temp, I would get it looked at ASAP.
 

Jimmy07

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 23, 2017
Posts
3,249
Reaction score
2,904
Ram Year
2017
Engine
6.4 Hemi
Definitely something wrong with the temp sensor or the way it’s being read. The threshold on mine is 35F. It won’t read any lower than that. There is a safeguard for the trans for low temps. The torque converter won’t lock up and trans won’t shift into 6th until the trans temp reaches 65F.
 

RamCares

Senior Member
Joined
Jan 21, 2016
Posts
3,782
Reaction score
1,513
Location
Michigan
Ram Year
n/a
Engine
n/a
Thank you everyone! The dealer i bought the truck from can't get me in until the 8th, So I will be taking it to another RAM dealer on Monday.
Hi Newramguy260,
We're glad to see that you are having a dealer look into this. If you would like any extra assistance or have any questions or concerns while your truck is being serviced, you can send us a private message and we would be happy to help.
Lydia
Ram Social Care Specialist
 
OP
OP
Newramguy260

Newramguy260

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2018
Posts
6
Reaction score
6
Location
Michigan
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 hemi
Hi Newramguy260,
We're glad to see that you are having a dealer look into this. If you would like any extra assistance or have any questions or concerns while your truck is being serviced, you can send us a private message and we would be happy to help.
Lydia
Ram Social Care Specialist
Thank you.
 
OP
OP
Newramguy260

Newramguy260

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2018
Posts
6
Reaction score
6
Location
Michigan
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 hemi
Brought my truck into the dealer tonight. This time they say "It must be the battery" and they are going to put in a new one. I'm not a certified technician, but it would seem to me that a -13 degree reading would point to a faulty sensor. Are they just d@#$ing me around because its a time consuming fix? Guess I'll find out tomorrow!
When I started it up tonight to bring it to dealer, tranny temp read -2. It was 57* outside...
 

RoadRamblerNJ

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2017
Posts
2,256
Reaction score
2,390
Location
Knoxville, TN
Ram Year
2017
Engine
392 Hemi
Well, they'll know right away if it was the battery. Don't see how it could be. You're on the right track looking into the trans temp sensor. I hate computerized vehicles.
 

RoadRamblerNJ

Senior Member
Joined
Aug 26, 2017
Posts
2,256
Reaction score
2,390
Location
Knoxville, TN
Ram Year
2017
Engine
392 Hemi
Seriously? The friggin' battery? 12 volts is 12 volts. You either have it or you don't.
Hey, maybe, just maybe you still have the Summer air in the tires and we've passed the Fall equinox already. Wrong tire air is probably affecting your trans temp.
 
OP
OP
Newramguy260

Newramguy260

Junior Member
Joined
Sep 26, 2018
Posts
6
Reaction score
6
Location
Michigan
Ram Year
2018
Engine
6.4 hemi
Alright, So update time. Turns out there was a loose pin in the 23 way Wire connector. So the dealership replaced the entire thing. Bonus: The salesman slipped up and mentioned they had to jump start the truck when they brought it around, So the installed a new battery as well!

Drove her home tonight. Tranny temp started out at 120* and 25 highway miles later, was 158*. Hopefully problem solved and I get log some miles that don't involve going back to the dealer!

P.S Pray for snow! I can't wait to start pushing with this baby!
 

GsRAM

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2016
Posts
2,929
Reaction score
2,743
Ram Year
2017 Dodge Ram 2500
Engine
Hemi, 6.4L
Glad to hear they figured it out. To the others who were so quickly dismissive of the battery as a potential cause, next time don't be so quick to pass judgement. Today's vehicles are very sensitive to battery voltage and amperage. If it's not right they can do some pretty quirky things, yet otherwise start the engine and seem otherwise ok. I've seen it many times
 
Top