Been lurking for about a year, finally posting for the first time. I live in Austin, TX and I have an 05 CRD with 180k (actually 160k on the current engine, one I bought it the turbo threw a pin and put a hole in the engine, got a used one from california) and I am going through the process of keeping it going in good shape, love it, want it to last like a diesel should. I've pretty much completed the NOOB guide ( A few questions coming) and I am currently having some transmission temperature issues. Here goes.

What I have done so far/WIP:
New MAP sensor
New Fuel/oil/air/transmission Filters (5k ago)
Fumoto drain valve
Samco Hoses
Mopar Torque Converter en route
GDE Eco & Trans tunes en route

Questions:
If the GDE tune will bypass the EGR do I still need to do anything else to it? Unplugged MAF? Anything?
How important is the Elephant Hose Mod?

Current problem:
Trans Temp light coming on after about an hour of regular city driving (some stop & go), having trouble shifting into 3rd (I think going from 30-40) once hot. It never has problems in cooler weather, even through some stop & go, tends to only happen in weather that requires AC. Thoughts?

I had an aftermarket transcooler but it was mounted on the skid plate, it did not seem to help much and it did not last very long.

Could this be an issue with the TC, or will the GDE tunes help at all? I was definitely late on the trans fluid change (just did it, probably 80k after second engine install) and the fluid is still pretty nasty after I changed it, planning on doing fluid and filters (drained pan, no compressed air through the system) again when the new TC gets here. The magnet in the pan was goopy, but the shavings looked pretty fine to me... I'm probably just being optimistic though.

Other suggestions I have seen involve disconnecting and flushing the trans cooler, basically I really don't want to have to get a rebuilt or new tranny, what do my chances look like?

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2005 Liberty CRD
Noob Guide Completed
Samco Hoses
GDE Trans and Eco tunes

-You don't want the EHM, stock is safer for main seal.
-Nothing else mandatory with GDE tune, but there are some nice adds like Weeks kit.
-IF that tranny is overheating and shifting poorly you'd be crazy to pull it for new torque converter and not have it rebuilt, or better yet, get a cheap one from a junkyard.
-You probably need rockers and ARP head studs when you do the next timing belt (I assume there was a new one at 100k?), which if the first one was changed a little early might be near the 100k. Timing belt is easy, pulling the top sucks pretty bad, dropping a valve because your rockers are toast equals a new engine sometimes.

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05 CRD: H.D.S2 stat,WW Ironrock trilink&LCA's, OX rear,ARB front, 4.10's, ARB bumper, Suncoast,OME 3.5, JBA UCA,rock rails, Moabs&265/75 Duratracs, GDE tunes ,FFD fan,ARP's, 2 micron fuel, new valves,sasquatch battery tray & grid heater, tensioner relocated
Mech fan, VH & AC delete