Pad heater on manual transmission?

James9100

James9100

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
May 3, 2021
Messages
439
Location
Saskatchewan, Canada
Has anyone tried putting a pad heater on a manual tranny for the real cold days?
Or wouldn’t it really do a whole lot?
My NV3550 is just so stiff some cold mornings so it’d be nice to help it out a little bit.
Just put in Royal Purple Synchromax before winter hit, and yes I shift nice and easy.
 
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When I had manual trannies in the extreme cold an easy solution was to put the transfercase in neutral and leave the tranny in 2nd or 3rd gear while letting the engine warm up. Spins all the tranny internals to get the fluid warmed up. They always shift nice and smooth afterwards. Once the engine has warmed up a bit it may be necessary to shut if off to get the transfercase back in gear though.
One other thing I discovered on the TJ NV3550’s was the shifter boot would be really stiff when cold and cause the gears to grind. A simple fix was to release the boot trim plate where it fastens to the console and let it float around, huge improvement.
 
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i didn’t run a pad heater on my manual diesel in Fairbanks. it was definitely stiff.

block heater, oil pan heater. schumacher battery tender, not the silly battery heater pad (worthless).

and on the really cold days. a space heater in the engine bay with a thermal blanket on the hood. 😂
 
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Vinman said:
When I had manual trannies in the extreme cold an easy solution was to put the transfercase in neutral and leave the tranny in 2nd or 3rd gear while letting the engine warm up. Spins all the tranny internals to get the fluid warmed up. They always shift nice and smooth afterwards. Once the engine has warmed up a bit it may be necessary to shut if off to get the transfercase back in gear though.
One other thing I discovered on the TJ NV3550’s was the shifter boot would be really stiff when cold and cause the gears to grind. A simple fix was to release the boot trim plate where it fastens to the console and let it float around, huge improvement.
Click to expand...

I've done the same thing in Colorado those few times when it get bullshit cold on CH 465 Chevy truck transmissions. X2 on the shifter boot , on my 99 AX-15
I removed the outer "boot" entirely it shifted better than new without that heavy corrugated vinyl piece of junk fighting your every shift.
 
Vinman said:
When I had manual trannies in the extreme cold an easy solution was to put the transfercase in neutral and leave the tranny in 2nd or 3rd gear while letting the engine warm up. Spins all the tranny internals to get the fluid warmed up. They always shift nice and smooth afterwards. Once the engine has warmed up a bit it may be necessary to shut if off to get the transfercase back in gear though.
One other thing I discovered on the TJ NV3550’s was the shifter boot would be really stiff when cold and cause the gears to grind. A simple fix was to release the boot trim plate where it fastens to the console and let it float around, huge improvement.
Click to expand...
Came across this trick in a few different threads, will definitely try it.
I’ve also seen some guys recommend a leather shift boot rather than the OEM accordion style?
 
So from what you guys are saying so far a pad heater on the tranny pan probably isn’t the answer?
Best I can do is good fluid, remove shift boot bezel and/or shift boot, and throw it in 2nd w/ the tcase in neutral?
 
Hit up a feed store and pick up a 250 watt brooder bulb and the metal holder like they use for chickens. Take a 12x12 piece of plywood or? and 2x4 screwed to it on its edge and clamp the light to it. That outta keep it nice and toasty. You can tell the neighbors you installed night ghetto underside lighting. :cool:
 
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This is easier... it lasts through the night.

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