[sandnut]

I bought some new gauges & as I was replacing the temp sending unit in the tranny, it broke off, leaving the 'head' part stuck inside the test port. I thought that I remembered seeing the head inside the tranny when I changed the OE filter a few months ago, but when I pulled off the pan last night, I saw I was wrong. I didn't want to take off the valve body without knowing that I would be able to get to the broken part & get it out. Can anyone tell me if I can remove the valve body & get to the broken part of the sending unit to remove it? If I can't do that, I think my only option would be to weld a bung to the tranny pan & put the new sensor there (& hope that the old one never loosens up). Will I get an accurate reading from there, and is there any specific location that is best? I'm thinking if I have to go that route that I would put it in the pan directly below where the test port is.
Thanks.

 

[CSIPSD]

Have you tried an ez out? Pan would be fine too.

 

[sandnut]

I thought about an EZ out, but I don't think I'm quite smart enough to use one . In my experience, they are anything but easy. I might try it, but going to the pan seems easier. The OE pan is stamped steel, not aluminum, right?

 

[CSIPSD]

Yup, get a weld in bung, there is not enough meat there to tap.

 

[Strictly Diesel]

If it's just the hollow brass "cup" that makes up the tip of the sending unit, it shouldn't be too hard to remove. IIRC, there is nowhere it can go, it's too big to move anywhere. The problem is seeing it and working on it.

Something that is tapered with a little bite like an ezout would be ideal. Insert it by hand and just get it into the cup enough to grip it. Then twist it slightly by hand while pulling it out...you just need it to hold onto the piece, not deform it or anything like that.

You could also use a VERY SHARP small drill bit to start a hole in the middle of it, and then start a long screw (like a 3" drywall screw) into the hole and pull it out. Of course, you'd have to worry about shavings and such.

Look around, you may have some other tool laying around you're not thinking of that will work. I've only had to remove one sensor tip and it wasn't bound up in anything, it came out easily once I got something figured out to actually hold it.

 

[444-4D]

I bought some new gauges & as I was replacing the temp sending unit in the tranny, it broke off, leaving the 'head' part stuck inside the test port.

Did the threaded part come out and leave the tip in the hole or did the hex part twist off leaving it still threaded in the hole?

 

[69W900A]

If only the non threaded part is left trying starting the truck up and see if the hydraulic pressure will push it out - this will make a mess though. Otherwise go get yourself a 90* drill motor and some left-handed drill bits. In most cases the bolt/sender will winder itself out when you are drilling it. If not then use your easy-out. Just be careful you are drilling in straight and not into the trans case.

 

[jtharvey]

Something that is tapered with a little bite like an ezout would be ideal. Insert it by hand and just get it into the cup enough to grip it. Then twist it slightly by hand while pulling it out...you just need it to hold onto the piece, not deform it or anything like that.

I had one break off several years ago and used this method to get it out. The key is slow and steady. I pulled the VB off to see if I can get to it, and unfortunately, there's not a way to get to it from the bottom side.

Try the ez-out, or drywall screw like Dennis mentioned. That's a pretty good idea. It should come out pretty easy once it free from the bind in the tapered hole.