I take no responsibility for anything you do, do this under your own accord
This DIY will start with the gauge taken out and taken apart (there are guides for this already on line)

truck:
04 silverado rcsb 4x4

Tools needed:
soldering iron
some way to remove heated solder (i used a solder sucker)
solder/cleaner


Parts needed:
gauge face with a trans temp diagram
1 small gauge needle
1 instrument cluster stepper motor
1 light bulb (not shown in this install due to the fact im converting the cluster to leds)

 

this is the area the trans temp gauge should occupy and the area we will be working in


a closer look


flip the board over and unsolder theses 4 areas


after unsoldering the areas install the new instrument cluster stepper motor (it can only go in one way) and solder the 4 connections


the front with the newly installed stepper motor


*now reassemble the gauge cluster with your new gauge overlay but leave off the needles and front plastic
*take the gauge cluster and plug it back into the truck and start it (staring it zeros out all the stepper motors) and let it run for 20 secs then shut it down.
*remove cluster and install all the needles at zero being very very careful not to twist then when pushing them into place(if you twist them you will not have a celebrated gauge and you will need to repeat the previous step)
*reinstall the gauge in the truck and start it up, if all the gauges are in the correct places then congrats your done the hardest part

the last thing your going to need to do (if you buy the same gauge overlay as i did) is put a small hole in it for one of the pins on the front cover


the finished cluster ready to be reinstalled

this is as fair as i got because it got dark and cold out and i didn't want to do anymore, i will re install tomorrow and test

 

I can tell you right now the trans temp gauge is not going to work

 

Why not?

 

That's what I'm wondering too!
I've seen this write up twice and the additional gauge has worked for them.

 

subscribed to see if it works. These trucks r pre wired for it.

 

If anyone local to me (Denton, TX) would like to try this mod I will donate the HD face, stepper, and needle, if it works you can keep the parts. I have tried this mod myself and the trans gauge will power up, self test, but never show any temp.

 

yep that's what happened, dose anyone have an idea what tool is used to reprogram a cluster

 

I gave up after about a year (back in 05) of trying to figure out how to make my existing clusters work, gave up and bought SS clusters for my trucks.

 

How do you know that your trans temps ever got hot enough to move the needle? Were you towing a trailer, loaded heavy, or do you have an aftermarket converter? A mostly stock setup will not build a lot of heat in the transmission, and trans temps will be really low.

I'm just asking for the sake of asking. IDK if the cluster needs flashed or something silly like that.