It is a TH-700R in an '89 RS. After driving for 30 mins in *50 weather the fluid is warm but I can hold the dip stick with trans fluid all over it no problem. The water is hot, the oil is hot, but the fluid is only warm not hot - is this normal? The fluid level is correct. ???

 

If everything is working ok, I would not give it a second thought. The transmission temperature sounds ok for the condition you described.

 

Normal operating temperature of tranny oil is 175-225F. At 250F varnish starts to form. At 275F seals start to harden. At 300F the oil degenerates enough that clutches slip. As you can see, heat is the major cause of tranny failures.

Running too cool isn't that good either but without a proper tranny temp gauge you won't know what the oil temp really is.

 

I just bought a tranny temp gauge. So where should I install the sender:

1) Pan,
2) Cooler line before cooler, or
3) Cooler line after cooler?

Willie

 

id say install it before the cooler line becuz that way u will get the temp comming out of the tranny. and before it goes into the cooler to well be cooled. and i think in the pan might be another way but wont get a good reading. i guess between the hot fluid in there and then the cooler fluid comming in, it wont give u a good reading. i may be wrong but who knows, im taking a stab at this.