Reading transmission temps with Torque app

[CamJam1]

I have this posted in the Allison section, but haven't received any responses. I'm hoping someone here might have the answer.

Has anyone managed to get the Torque app to read transmission fluid temps on the 5-speed Allison? I've tried the PID $1940 (or 221940) that Oemy recommends, but the value never changes. I've spent a bit of time reading on this and it looks like maybe the problem is Torque, as some other methods such as Scan Gauge seem to work fine.

If you've managed to do this I'd love to hear the PID and equation you used to make it work.

I do have the additional GM PIDs downloaded already and the engine temps etc all seem to work fine.

Thanks in advance!

Cam

[Mike8253]

I can't speak to the Allison transmission, but I do use TorquePro on my Ford and do monitor the transmission temp. There is a Torque Forum that you can have a look at (although it's a little dated) where you might be able to find some message traffic regarding GM. The URL is https://torque-bhp.com/forums/?wpfor...iewforum&f=1.0. I'll tell you upfront that's it's a bit of an exercise to Search on this Forum, but give it a try. If nothing else you might get a lead to another resource.

[CamJam1]

Originally Posted by Mike8253

I can't speak to the Allison transmission, but I do use TorquePro on my Ford and do monitor the transmission temp. There is a Torque Forum that you can have a look at (although it's a little dated) where you might be able to find some message traffic regarding GM. The URL is https://torque-bhp.com/forums/?wpfor...iewforum&f=1.0. I'll tell you upfront that's it's a bit of an exercise to Search on this Forum, but give it a try. If nothing else you might get a lead to another resource.

Thanks for the response. I did check out the site. Didn't find anything there but did get some more details from a Toyota forum of all places. Between that and some earlier posts I found on this forum I am able to get the sensor to return a a value, but the number never changes as the vehicle warms up so something is not right. It seems the problem is with Torque, since Scan Gauge works fine using the same values apparently. I don't want to pay $150 just to read transmission temps, so unless I find another inexpensive app that will work I'll just forget about it.

[Mike8253]

Torque does have quite a number of existing PID's available for potential use, but that doesn't mean they necessarily all work on your (or my) particular application. I've had two Ford applications and not all the PID's from the 1st worked on my current 2016. As I recall, I had to create, with a lot of help, the TransTemp PID for my current MH. Point is, you might have to figure out your own gauge. I did find some 2016 message traffic on the subject of a Workhorse TransTemp PID, but nothing that provided a solution. Possibly if you pinged some of the principals of those discussions, you might get some updated info. Sorry I can't contribute anything more.

[CamJam1]

In earlier threads, forum member Oemy has provided a PID for the Allison 1000 (221940), and that is the one that returns a value for me, so I'm reasonably sure it is correct. From what I've read elsewhere, it may be a limitation of the ELM327 bluetooth adapters and/or Torque. I'll try another app and if that doesn't work I'll just live with what I've got. Torque does provide all sorts of useful information from the Vortec, just nothing related to the Allison transmission.

[Full-Timers]

Be sure you let us know if you find an app that works. I have the VEEP Bluetooth adapter and use Torque Pro and can't even read any Mode 6 pids

[Mike8253]

Originally Posted by CamJam1

. I've spent a bit of time reading on this and it looks like maybe the problem is Torque...

From what I understand about OBDII and Torque (or ScanGauge), there is either a sensor transmitting data, or there's not. If there is sensor data, then it's a matter of finding the correct means to portray that information in the form of a display, however you choose to show it. Given ScanGauge seems to have broken the code to display TransTemp, there is data out there to translate sensor information into a gauge. So there's nothing wrong with Torque. It's just that no one yet has found the correct formula to display it. If anyone out there has both ScanGauge and OBDII knowledge, I'd try to seek them out to get a collaboration going.

[CamJam1]

Originally Posted by Mike8253

From what I understand about OBDII and Torque (or ScanGauge), there is either a sensor transmitting data, or there's not. If there is sensor data, then it's a matter of finding the correct means to portray that information in the form of a display, however you choose to show it. Given ScanGauge seems to have broken the code to display TransTemp, there is data out there to translate sensor information into a gauge. So there's nothing wrong with Torque. It's just that no one yet has found the correct formula to display it. If anyone out there has both ScanGauge and OBDII knowledge, I'd try to seek them out to get a collaboration going.

Yes, finding someone who had experience with this already is the reason I started this thread.

True that if I'm getting data that should be the hard part. Where I'm at now is that I do appear to be receiving the data-- a test query returns a value and no error messages-- but the value never changes, even after letting the engine run for several minutes. I did read somewhere that sometimes it takes several minutes of actual driving for the temps to update correctly, so it's possible that it might eventually come right. I'll take the moho for a drive on the next couple days and report back if that fixes things.

In the meantime, if anyone has tried this before me, please feel free to jump in here.

[Eskimo128]

I'm trying to figure this out too. There shouldn't be any reason that the Scan Gauge can read the temp but Torque can't.

[CamJam1]

I never did get it to work and gave up on it. Scan Gauge seems to be the only solution, but I don't want to spend the money for that when all want is transmission temps.

[Mike8253]

I don't know if this is going to help you or not, but following are the 3-PIDs I have listed in Torque for TransTemp on the GM:

"[GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 1)","Trans.Fl.Tmp","0x221940",
"A-40",0,200,"°C","Auto","null","null",”Does Not Override Any PID”
Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 1) –
PID – 221940
Long Name (used in menus) - [GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 1)
Short Name (used in gauge display) – Trans.Fl.Tmp
Min Value – 0.0
Max Value – 200
Scale Factor – x1
Unit Type – C°
Equation – (A-40)/0.75
OBD Header – Auto

"[GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 2)","Trans.Fl.Tmp","0x221940",
"A-40",0,200,"°C","7E2","null","null",”Does Not Override Any PID”
Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 2) –
PID – 221940
Long Name (used in menus) - [GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 2)
Short Name (used in gauge display) – Trans.Fl.Tmp
Min Value – 0.0
Max Value – 200
Scale Factor – x1
Unit Type – C°
Equation – A-40
OBD Header – 7E2

"[GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 3)","Trans.Fl.Tmp","0x221949",
"(A-40)/0.75",0,200,"°C","Auto","null","null",”Does Not Override Any PID”
Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 3) –
PID – 221949
Long Name (used in menus) - [GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 3)
Short Name (used in gauge display) – Trans.Fl.Tmp
Min Value – 0.0
Max Value – 200
Scale Factor – x1
Unit Type – C°
Equation – (A-40)/0.75
OBD Header – Auto


For the above to find Fahrenheit, change the Unit Type to F° and substitute the following formula: (A-40) * 1.8 + 32. You'd also have to adjust the MAX Value to ?? for each as well.

When I was having trouble getting a specific PID to work on my Ford, I was advised to try "Auto", "7E2" and "TCM" in the Headers on the available pre-defined PIDs to see if any would work. "TCM" might not be the correct acronym for a GM product, but give it a try. You could also leave it blank.

Separately, I'd Google "Allison or GM Transmission Temperature OBD2 PIDs" to see if you can find any useful discussion on the topic. You might just find something. Good hunting.

[CamJam1]

Originally Posted by Mike8253

I don't know if this is going to help you or not, but following are the 3-PIDs I have listed in Torque for TransTemp on the GM:

"[GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 1)","Trans.Fl.Tmp","0x221940",
"A-40",0,200,"°C","Auto","null","null",”Does Not Override Any PID”
Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 1) –
PID – 221940
Long Name (used in menus) - [GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 1)
Short Name (used in gauge display) – Trans.Fl.Tmp
Min Value – 0.0
Max Value – 200
Scale Factor – x1
Unit Type – C°
Equation – (A-40)/0.75
OBD Header – Auto

"[GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 2)","Trans.Fl.Tmp","0x221940",
"A-40",0,200,"°C","7E2","null","null",”Does Not Override Any PID”
Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 2) –
PID – 221940
Long Name (used in menus) - [GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 2)
Short Name (used in gauge display) – Trans.Fl.Tmp
Min Value – 0.0
Max Value – 200
Scale Factor – x1
Unit Type – C°
Equation – A-40
OBD Header – 7E2

"[GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 3)","Trans.Fl.Tmp","0x221949",
"(A-40)/0.75",0,200,"°C","Auto","null","null",”Does Not Override Any PID”
Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 3) –
PID – 221949
Long Name (used in menus) - [GM]Transmission Fluid Temp (GM Method 3)
Short Name (used in gauge display) – Trans.Fl.Tmp
Min Value – 0.0
Max Value – 200
Scale Factor – x1
Unit Type – C°
Equation – (A-40)/0.75
OBD Header – Auto


For the above to find Fahrenheit, change the Unit Type to F° and substitute the following formula: (A-40) * 1.8 + 32. You'd also have to adjust the MAX Value to ?? for each as well.

When I was having trouble getting a specific PID to work on my Ford, I was advised to try "Auto", "7E2" and "TCM" in the Headers on the available pre-defined PIDs to see if any would work. "TCM" might not be the correct acronym for a GM product, but give it a try. You could also leave it blank.

Separately, I'd Google "Allison or GM Transmission Temperature OBD2 PIDs" to see if you can find any useful discussion on the topic. You might just find something. Good hunting.

Thanks, Mike. It's been a few months now but I Googled the heck out of this previously and tried every combination of methods, PIDs, headers etc. I could find on this forum and various GM sites. I got the transmission to return a value, but the number would never change, even after extended drives. I might take a stab at it again using the settings you've mentioned as I used so many combinations previously I can't be sure I tried what you have listed here or not. Oemy had values for the ScanGauge listed in his web site, but they didn't work for me either.

[Mike8253]

Have you used Torque Scan as an add on to scan for potential PIDs? Just wondering.

[CamJam1]

Originally Posted by Mike8253

Have you used Torque Scan as an add on to scan for potential PIDs? Just wondering.

Yes, I have.