01 SLE tranny cooler lines, which is the return?
 

I've searched but didn't find anything. Perhaps my searches suck, I dunno. Anyway, which direction does the tranny fluid flow to the cooler, into the top and out the bottom, or into the bottom and out the top?

I've got a tranny cooler to install due to a lot of hilly driving with the carpool crowd and the tranny has been shifting harder when it gets hot.

Found it in the flow charts of the 95FSM. Should be the same considering most of our trans are the same. Looking at the lines on the radiator itself, the BOTTOM line is your SUPPLY, and the TOP one is the RETURN.

Should have the same flow as the engine coolant. Hot goes in the top, and cold comes out the bottom. Although I can't say for sure because I didn't see in my the trans service manual. Guess I better look again.

OK, I found it and double checked. From trans, hot oil goes to the bottom fitting on radiator, cooled oil comes out top fitting and returns to transmission. Just the opposite of the engine coolant flow.

Thanks, guys. I did some googling and found similar info, top it is. Now, anyone have a tip for getting that top fitting off? After looking at it briefly Saturday I'm not sure there's room to get a wrench on it.

f you pull the fan you should have good access to it.

Thanks, Bill. I'll pull the fan if I have to. I can get a box end wrench on it if I disconnect the overflow hose at the radiator cap. Not much room to move it, but it may be enough. Took some wrenches out last night and tried it, but none of them fit. What size wrench do I need? I've seen tranny cooler line disconnect tools, do I need one of those or will a box end work? I know y'all know what the connector looks like, and to me part of it looks like it would take a wrench (a thin one that would slip in behind that round 'collar' part of the connector). Advice before I dive into this project some evening this week?

It is done, and I don't want to do it again.

Line was the easy part. Disconnect overflow hose to coolant reservoir. Pull the plastic 'collar' back off the fitting where the return line comes out of the radiator, sliding it back along the return line pipe until out of the way. Remove the retaining pin holding the pipe in the fitting and pull the pipe back and out. Easy peasy. My adventure begins there, having to make two trips to the parts store before getting the correct size replacement fitting (barb fitting, the one in the kit was too small in diameter and too long). The toughest, most aggravating part of all was hanging the damn cooler itself in front of the condenser. I have skinny arms but there was no way I was going to reach between the condenser and the radiator to get the zip strap tight. Even my skinnhy little 9 year old son couldn't reach them. So, I stuffed some ripped up padding from beside the radiator along the edges of the cooler, pulled the hoses snug to help hold it, and left it. Took it out for a spin and no leaks when I returned, and it didn't appear to have moved at all.

I think I need to invest in some really long forceps to reach those damned zip straps, not sure how I'd even get the retaining discs on them even if I could get to them with forceps, though. :confused: