When you install your OBDLink® adapter and connect to the OBDLink app, several dashboard screens with important gauges are displayed, including engine RPM, vehicle speed, oxygen sensors, and others. The default gauges display Parameter IDs (PIDs) that are common to most OBD-II compliant vehicles and are included in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standard.

This article contains several detailed examples of how to display a vehicle’s transmission temperature. This PID is defined by the vehicle’s original equipment manufacturer (OEM). OEMs are not required to use the same PID name, therefore it may be confusing to find a certain OEM’s PID for transmission temperature. The OEM PID reference section lists details for several OEM transmission temperature PIDs that have worked for OBDLink customers. This article includes examples for Ford, GM, and Toyota PIDs.

OEMPID Name
FordTransmission Fluid Temperature (°C, °F)
GMTransmission Fluid Temp
ToyotaA/T Oil Temperature 1 (°C, °F)


Note: We recently updated the OBDLink app and made improvements to its features and how it looks. The icons on the app's home screen now have a yellow accent instead of blue (iOS) and green (Android) accents. This revised article matches the updated app’s screens and features. Download the latest version of the OBDLink app from the App Store (iOS) or Google Play (Android) to take advantage of the updated app's features and performance. 


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Note: This article is focused on the OBDLink® MX+ adapter, because enhanced diagnostics for many vehicles are included free of charge in the OBDLink app with your purchase. Add-ons that are exclusive to OBDLink MX+ include: GM; Honda, Acura; and Hyundai, Kia. If you have another OBDLink adapter model, then you can purchase add-on diagnostics, but they are not guaranteed to access all OEM-specific PIDs/DTCs. For example, if you have an OBDLink LX adapter and a Ford vehicle, you can purchase the Ford add-on, however, you will not be able to read certain Ford PIDs that come from the MS-CAN network.

If you have questions that aren’t answered by this article, contact Support using the OBDLink app by tapping Settings > Contact Support.


Example 1: 2012 Ford Escape using iOS device

Before you begin, be sure to:

  • Start your vehicle.
  • On your phone/tablet, open the OBDLink app and connect to your OBDLink adapter.
  • Make sure your phone/tablet is not streaming to any other Bluetooth/BLE devices.
  1. Confirm that your phone/tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter.
    iOS screen with Connected highlighted.

  2. In the OBDLink app, navigate to Settings > Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons.
    Note: Enhanced OEM Add-Ons are only for vehicles sold in North America.
    If you already installed Enhanced OEM Add-Ons, skip to step 3.
    iOS Settings screen with Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons highlighted.

    1. Select your vehicle OEM, select the trouble codes for your model year, and tap Get.
      For our example, we selected Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Ford 2012 Enhanced Diagnostics to install enhanced trouble codes for a 2012 Ford Escape vehicle.

      iOS screen showing Get Enhanced OEM Add-ons options. The Ford, Lincoln, Mercury option is highlighted.iOS screen with Ford 2012 Enhanced Diagnostics highlighted.


    2. After the enhanced OEM add-ons are installed, your OBDLink adapter will be disconnected.

      In the Home screen, tap Connect to connect to your OBDLink adapter.

      iOS Home screen with the Connect button highlighted.


  3. From the app's Home screen, confirm that your adapter is Connected and tap the Dashboards icon.

    iOS Home screen with the Dashboards icon and Connected both highlighted.

    1. Tap Menu (iOS) or 3 vertical dots (Android) in the upper right corner.

      iOS Dashboards screen, with the Menu option highlighted. Android Dashboards screen, with the Menu option highlighted.


    2. Tap Add Display to add a new gauge to the current dashboard page.

      iOS Dashboards screen showing Menu options. The Add Display option is highlighted.Android Dashboards screen showing Menu options. The Add Display option is highlighted.


    3. Select the gauge type on the Display Type menu, then tap Next.
      Select the gauge color on the Style menu, then tap Next.

      iOS Display Type menu. The Digital Gauge option and Next button are highlighted.iOS Display Style menu. The Light option and Next button are highlighted.



    4. On the Display Configuration menu, tap PID to open the Select PIDs menu.
      On the Select PIDs menu, tap Ford, Lincoln, Mercury.

      iOS Display Configuration screen with PID value highlighted.iOS Select PIDs screen with Ford, Lincoln, Mercury highlighted.


    5. Tap Powertrain Control Module, select Transmission Fluid Temperature (°F), and tap Done.

      iOS Select PIDs screen with Powertrain Control Module highlighted.iOS Powertrain Control Module screen with Transmission Fluid Temperature highlighted.


    6. You can edit the gauge title if you’d like, then tap Done.

      iOS Display Configuration screen with Done button highlighted.



  4. You will see the new gauge displayed on the dashboard. Tap and hold the gauge to open the Edit Display menu and tap Drag and Move to move the gauge on the dashboard screen.

    iOS Dashboard with Transmission Temperature gauge highlighted.


If the gauge shows no data or 0.0, see the Troubleshooting section.


Example 2: 2012 Chevrolet Malibu using Android device

Before you begin, be sure to:

  • Start your vehicle.
  • On your phone/tablet, open the OBDLink app and connect to your OBDLink adapter.
  • Make sure your phone/tablet is not streaming to any other Bluetooth/BLE devices.

Note: Step 2 below is optional because you don’t need OEM enhanced add-ons to read Built-in PIDs. However, we recommend that you complete this step now because you’ll need them to read Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) for your vehicle.

  1. Confirm that your phone/tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter.
    Android screen with Connected highlighted.

  2. (Optional but recommended)
    In the OBDLink app, navigate to Settings > Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons.
    Note: Enhanced OEM Add-Ons are only for vehicles sold in North America.
    If you already installed Enhanced OEM Add-Ons, skip to step 3.
    Android screen with Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons highlighted.

    1. Select your vehicle OEM, select the trouble codes for your model year, and tap Get.
      For our example, we selected GM and GM 2012 Enhanced Trouble Codes to install enhanced trouble codes for a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicle.

      Android screen with GM highlighted.Android screen with GM 2012 Enhanced Trouble Codes highlighted.


    2. After the enhanced OEM add-ons are installed, your OBDLink adapter will be disconnected.

      In the Home screen, tap Connect to connect to your OBDLink adapter.

      Android Home screen with the Connect button highlighted.


  3. From the Settings menu, tap User-Defined PIDs and tap OK after you read the Warning message.
    Tap the Menu icon (3 vertical dots Android) or Menu (iOS) in the upper right corner, then tap Import built-in PIDs.
    If your adapter has been connected to another vehicle from a different OEM, select the OEM and tap OK.

    Android screen with User-Defined PIDs highlighted.Android User-Defined PIDs screen. The OK button on the warning message is highlighted.
    Android screen with Import Built-in PIDs highlighted.Android screen showing GM option and the OK button highlighted.


    Scroll down to Transmission Fluid Temp, tap the check box to select it, then tap OK. You will see the PID you just added in the list.

    Android screen with Transmission Fluid Temp highlighted.Android screen with Transmission Fluid Temp PID highlighted.

    Tap the Back arrow (<) two times to return to the Home screen.

  4. From the app's Home screen, confirm that your adapter is Connected and tap the Dashboards icon.

    Android Home screen. The Connected message and Dashboards icon are highlighted.


    1. Tap Menu (iOS) or 3 vertical dots (Android) in the upper right corner.

      iOS Dashboard screen with Menu option highlighted. Android Dashboard screen with menu option highlighted.  


    2. Tap Add Display to add a new gauge to the current dashboard page.

      iOS Dashboard screen with Add Display option highlighted.Android Dashboard screen with Add Display option highlighted. 


    3. Select the gauge type on the Display Type menu, then tap Next.
      Select the gauge color on the Style menu, then tap Next.

      Android Display Type menu with the Radial Gauge and Next button highlighted.Android Display Style menu with the Light option and Next button highlighted.



    4. On the Display Configuration menu, tap PID to open the Select PIDs menu.

      Android screen with Item highlighted for the Select PIDs menu.


    5. Tap User-Defined PIDs, select Trans Fluid Temp (GM), and tap DONE.

      Android screen showing the Select PIDs menu and User-Defined PIDs highlighted.Android screen with Trans Fluid Temp for GM highlighted. The Done button is also highlighted.


    6. You can edit the title if you’d like, then tap OK.

  5. You will see the new gauge displayed on the dashboard.
    Tap and hold the gauge to open the Edit Display menu and tap Drag and Move to move the gauge on the dashboard screen.

    Android screen showing a gauge with Transmission Fluid Temp highlighted.

If the gauge shows no data or 0.0, see the Troubleshooting section.


Example 3: 2010 Toyota Camry using Android device

Before you begin, be sure to:

  • Start your vehicle.
  • On your phone/tablet, open the OBDLink app and connect to your OBDLink adapter.
  • Make sure your phone/tablet is not streaming to any other Bluetooth/BLE devices.
  1. Confirm that your phone/tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter.
    Android screen with Connected highlighted.
  2. In the OBDLink app, navigate to Settings > Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons. When you connect to a new vehicle, the app automatically provides a link to this setting.
    Note: Enhanced OEM Add-Ons are only for vehicles sold in North America.
    If you already installed Enhanced OEM Add-Ons, skip to step 3.
    Android Settings screen with the Get Enhanced OEM Add-Ons option highlighted.

    1. Select your vehicle OEM, select the trouble codes for your model year, and tap Get. 

      For our example, we selected Toyota, Lexus, Scion and Toyota 2010 Enhanced Diagnostics to install enhanced trouble codes for a 2010 Toyota Camry vehicle.

      Android screen with Toyota, Lexus, Scion highlighted.Android screen with Toyota 2010 Enhanced Diagnostics highlighted.


    2. If OEM Live Parameters (described in the OEM-Specific Enhanced Diagnostics Support Coverage PDF) are supported for your vehicle, the first time you connect to an enhanced network, the OBDLink app will scan your vehicle for supported enhanced Parameter IDs (PIDs). This scan may take 1-2 minutes. The scan results are saved so that you do not have to repeat the scan the next time you connect.

      Tap Yes to allow the OBDLink app to start scanning for enhanced PIDs.

      You may not see the example Scanning message shown below because the scan happens quickly.

      Android screen showing Warning message about scanning for PIDs. The Yes button is highlighted.Android screen showing PID scanning progress.


    3. After the enhanced OEM add-ons are installed, your OBDLink adapter will be disconnected.

      In the Home screen, tap Connect to connect to your OBDLink adapter.

      Android home screen with the Connect button highlighted. 


  3. From the app's Home screen, confirm that your adapter is Connected and tap the Dashboards icon.

    Android Home screen. The Connected message and Dashboards icon are highlighted. 

    1. Tap Menu (iOS) or 3 vertical dots (Android) in the upper right corner.

      iOS Dashboard screen with Menu option highlighted.Android Dashboard screen with menu option highlighted.  


    2. Tap Add Display to add a new gauge to the current dashboard page.

      iOS Dashboard screen with Add Display option highlighted.Android Dashboard screen with Add Display option highlighted. 


    3. Select the gauge type on the Display Type menu, then tap Next.
      Select the gauge color on the Style menu, then tap Next.

      Android Display Type menu with the Digital Gauge option and Next button highlighted.Android Display Style menu with the Light option and Next button highlighted.


    4. On the Display Configuration menu, tap PID to open the Select PIDs menu. Then tap Toyota, Lexus, Scion.

      Android screen with Item highlighted for the Select PIDs menu.Android Select PIDs menu with the option Toyota, Lexus, Scion highlighted. 


    5. Tap Electronic Controlled Transmission, tap A/T Oil Temperature 1, and tap Done.

      Android Select PIDs screen with Electronic Controlled Transmission highlighted.Android screen with A/T Oil Temperature 1 highlighted. The Done button is also highlighted.


    6. You can edit the gauge title if you’d like, then tap Done.

  4. You will see the new gauge displayed on the dashboard. Tap and hold the gauge to open the Edit Display menu and tap Drag and Move to move the gauge on the dashboard screen.

    Android screen showing an A/T Oil Temperature gauge.

If the gauge shows no data or 0.0, see the Troubleshooting section.


Troubleshooting 


If a gauge shows no data

If you have added a Built-in GM or Built-in Ford PID from the User-Defined PID menu and the gauge shows no data or 0.0, edit the PID Number.

  1. From the Settings menu, tap User-Defined PIDs. 
  2. Tap the arrow by the Transmission Fluid Temp PID to open the PID editor.
    Android screen showing the User-Defined PIDs menu. The arrow to the right of the Transmission Fluid Temp is highlighted. 

  3. You will see the User-Defined PID Editor screen.
    Android screen showing the User-Defined PID Editor screen.

  4. Scroll down to the OBD INFORMATION section and edit the PID Number value.
    Android screen showing the User-Defined PID Editor screen. The OBD Information section is highlighted.
    1. For GM vehicles only: Remove 01 at the end of the PID Number and see if the gauge returns data. For example, we changed 194001 to 1940 for a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.
      Android screen showing the User-Defined PID Editor screen. The PID Number value is highlighted.

    2. In this example, we changed 1674 to 1E1C for a 2012 Ford Escape.
      iOS screen showing the User-Defined PID Editor screen. The PID Number value is highlighted.

If the gauge data seems wrong

If you have added a PID from the User-Defined PID menu and the gauge shows data that seems wrong, edit the Module/Header.

  1. From the Settings menu, tap User-Defined PIDs. 
  2. Tap the arrow by the Transmission Fluid Temp PID to open the PID editor.
    Android screen showing the User-Defined PIDs menu. The arrow to the right of the Transmission Fluid Temp is highlighted.

  3. Scroll down to the OBD Information section and edit the Module/Header value.
    Android screen showing the User-Defined PID Editor screen. The OBD Information section is highlighted.
    1. For GM vehicles, change ECM to 7E2. We made this change for a 2012 Chevrolet Malibu.
      Android screen showing the User-Defined PID Editor screen. The Module/Header value is highlighted.

    2. For Ford vehicles, change TCM to ECM. We made this change for a 2012 Ford Escape.
      iOS screen showing the User-Defined PID Editor screen. The Module/Header value is highlighted.

If you can't select a common OEM PID to display

When you install Enhanced OEM Add-Ons, you may also see a dialog asking to select a vehicle diagnostic network. 

The default option for Enhanced Network is Prompt, which allows you to choose a diagnostic network each time you connect to your vehicle. The Generic OBD2 network option will provide access to many PIDs, but some PIDs are only available on a specific network.

For example, if you have a Toyota vehicle and you want to view Tire Pressure Monitor PIDs, you must select the Tire Pressure Monitor network. If you selected Generic OBD2 or Network A, you will not be able to access Tire Pressure Monitor PIDs.

To connect to a different diagnostic network, navigate to Settings > Vehicle Editor > Enhanced Network > Tap Select.

iOS screen showing Vehicle Editor menu. The Enhanced Network section is highlighted.


If you can’t find a specific OEM PID

  • If you can’t find the OEM PID you want, try searching a forum for your vehicle and see if other users have posted tips or recommendations.
  • Learn more about user-defined PIDs.


OEM PID reference

If your vehicle’s make is in the list below, we recommend that you check the free add-on that comes with OBDLink MX+ for the following vehicle manufacturers: FCA, Ford, Mazda, Toyota, Nissan, Mitsubishi 

The free add-on lets you use certain built-in PIDs, which is a simple process described in Example 2: Chevrolet Malibu and Example 3: Toyota Camry above.

If your vehicle’s make is not one of the free add-ons, you can try some of the options listed below. We can’t include the complete details for every OEM-defined PID, however, this section contains a few transmission temperature PIDs that have worked for OBDLink customers. You can also try searching a forum for your vehicle and see if other users have posted tips or recommendations.

Follow these steps to add a new PID:

  1. Start your vehicle. 
  2. On your phone/tablet, open the OBDLink app and connect to your OBDLink adapter.
  3. Confirm that your phone/tablet is Connected to the OBDLink adapter.
  4. From the Settings menu, tap User-Defined PIDs and tap OK after you read the Warning message.
    iOS screen showing the User-Defined PIDs screen. A Warning message is displayed.
  5. Tap the Menu icon (3 vertical dots Android) or Menu (iOS) in the upper right corner, then tap New.
    iOS User Defined PIDs menu with the New option highlighted.
  6. Enter information for the PID fields. When you’re done, tap Test.
    The OBDLink app reads the PID and displays its value in a Result message.
    iOS screen showing the User-Defined PID Editor screen. The Test button is highlighted.iOS screen showing the User-Defined PIDs screen. A Result message showing "Succeeded" is displayed.
  7. Tap OK to close the notification.
    Tap < several times to return to the Home screen.


Note: If you see an Error message saying “No data was received”, check the following:

  • You may need to change the PID Number or Module/Header value. See the Troubleshooting section.
  • Be sure there are no extra spaces before the first parenthesis symbol ( ) in the Equation.
    iOS screen showing the User-Defined PIDs screen. A Result message showing "No data was received" is displayed.

Acura transmission temperature

The vehicle in this example is a 2011 Honda Odyssey. 


INFORMATION

Name: Your custom name

Description: Your custom description

Category: Engine

Manufacturer: Acura


UNITS

Metric Units: C

English Units: F

Metric to English Scale Factor: 1.8

Metric to English Offset: 32


MIN/MAX

Min: -40

Max: 300

Number of Decimals: 2


OBD INFORMATION

Module/Header: ALL

OBD Mode: 22

PID Number: 2201

Priority: Medium


EQUATION

AA*(9/5)-40


Mazda transmission temperature

INFORMATION

Name: Your custom name

Description: Your custom description

Category: Engine

Manufacturer: Mazda


UNITS

Metric Units: C

English Units: F

Metric to English Scale Factor: 1.8

Metric to English Offset: 32


MIN/MAX

Min: -40

Max: 300

Number of Decimals: 2


OBD INFORMATION

Module/Header: ALL

OBD Mode: 22

PID Number: 1E1C  (See Note below)

Priority: Medium


EQUATION  (See Note below)

((A*256+B)*63/10)/100  


Note: If the gauge data seems wrong, try these alternative values: 

  • PID Number: 1674
  • EQUATION: (A*256+B)*5/72-18


Toyota transmission temperature

There are two Toyota PIDs that may be useful for measuring transmission temperature: A/T 1 Pan and A/T 2 Torque.


A/T 1 Pan


INFORMATION

Name: Your custom name (for example, A/T Pan) 

Description: Your custom description

Category: Engine

Manufacturer: Toyota


UNITS

Metric Units: C

English Units: F

Metric to English Scale Factor: 1.8

Metric to English Offset: 32


MIN/MAX

Min: 0

Max: 300

Number of Decimals: 2


OBD INFORMATION

Module/Header: ALL

OBD Mode: 21

PID Number: 82

Priority: Medium


EQUATION

((((A*256)+B)*(7/100)-400)/10)

 


A/T 2 Torque


INFORMATION

Name: Your custom name (for example, Torque Converter) 

Description: Your custom description

Category: Engine

Manufacturer: Toyota


UNITS

Metric Units: C

English Units: F

Metric to English Scale Factor: 1.8

Metric to English Offset: 32


MIN/MAX

Min: 0

Max: 300

Number of Decimals: 2


OBD INFORMATION

Module/Header: ALL

OBD Mode: 21

PID Number: 82

Priority: Medium


EQUATION

((((C*256)+D)*(7/100)-400)/10)


Ford transmission temperature

INFORMATION

Name: Your custom name

Description: Your custom description

Category: Engine

Manufacturer: Ford


UNITS

Metric Units: C

English Units: F

Min Value: -20

Max Value: 300

Metric to English Scale Factor: 1.8

Metric to English Offset: 32


MIN/MAX

Min: -20

Max: 300

Number of Decimals: 2


OBD INFORMATION

Module/Header: ECM

OBD Mode: 22

PID Number: 1E1C

Priority: High


EQUATION

(((signed(A)*256)+ B)*(9/8)+320)/10


Next steps

  • Customize the default gauges and dashboards using the steps in the Add and Edit Dashboard Gauges article. 
  • In the OBDLink app, tap Settings > Help > Dashboard Management to learn how to set up custom dashboards for different vehicles and reorder dashboards to suit your needs.


Learn more


Need more help?

OBDLink Support Forum 

Submit a Support Ticket



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