my factory cooler is clogged.. what should I do? I am putting in a small one [don't know the rating], I just know a small one, that I am going to mount somewhere under the car, with a few 120mm fans.. with ducting to grab cold air. Sound like i'm going to run into trouble? I know this is in the 92-99 forum.. I just figured i'd hijack it for the time being.


-justin

If your trans cooler is clogged, you're going to smoke your trans today. You have no circulation.

Replace it ASAP. By factory cooler, you mean the radiator, right?

yuppidy yup. When I first start the car, a little ATF comes out, and I feel pressure on one line, and very little on the other. It could be just me, but I am believing it to be clogged. The car has been like this for several months [when my mom was driving it still], so maybe it isn't clogged. But my FSM didn't say anything about replacing anything if it is clogged. I'm going to re-read that, for some reason I think I may have mis-comprehended it.


-justin

It could simply be a weak pump in your trans.

wouldn't suprise me.. or my crappy fluid is thick.. and when i'm checking it, it is very cold, and not warmed up. If all else fails, it is $35 for the cooler I want.. i'll throw my money at that thing after my rebuild comes through. That, and a really big bottle of seafoam engine, tranny, and penetrating oil..


-justin

point of clarification...

did 97 SEs come with a tranny cooler from the factory? was it an available option? i'm not sure if i have one... i always thought i did. i have my main cooling fan behind the radiator, then a smaller fan right next to it. i assumed this was a tranny cooler. am i wrong?

No auxiliary cooler in 97, especially on an SE. I think 95 was the last year for that? You should have a 2-core radiator for coolant and trans, and also an AC condensor up front. An aux tranny cooler would be installed in front of the radiator.

hmmm, i feel dumb. so what are the two fans? and with my mod level do i need to add an auxiliary cooler?

Do you have a 4T60E or 4T65E? Have you actually looked at your trans pan to check? If it'* a 4T60E, go ahead with an aux. If not, forget it.

The two fans are for the radiator and AC condenser. They work in concert, two speeds.