GrimGreg Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 I'm in about the same climate as you...got mine in that spot, no issues unless it it REALLY cold (like the past 2 days). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 *grins* Cold as balls lately eh? I only hate it cause of how dry it makes my nose feel geh! But yeah, sounds good to me - the cooler came with approx 2.5 feet of extra tubing - think that's enough? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 (edited) *grins* Cold as balls lately eh? I only hate it cause of how dry it makes my nose feel geh!But yeah, sounds good to me - the cooler came with approx 2.5 feet of extra tubing - think that's enough? Mine took almost 6 feet of tubing, routing the new lines to the metal hoses from the tranny which ends under the water pump about. You've got to route them up low enough to not hit the fan, then up alongside the radiator, then around the radiator and supports, then to the cooler. Same for both lines. I didn't run mine in series though, I did away with the radiator completely. So if you're going to be running the new cooler in parallel or series with the stock cooler, 2.5 ft might be enough, but I doubt it. And in taking those pics just now I found I have another coolant leak... Where the metal tranny lines meet rubber Alongside the radiator Where I had to feed the lines through the radiator support thing (tranny cooler is mounted to the left side of the radiator Edited January 16, 2009 by kingman92010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 Mine took almost 6 feet of tubing, routing the new lines to the metal hoses from the tranny which ends under the water pump about. You've got to route them up low enough to not hit the fan, then up alongside the radiator, then around the radiator and supports, then to the cooler. Same for both lines. I didn't run mine in series though, I did away with the radiator completely. So if you're going to be running the new cooler in parallel or series with the stock cooler, 2.5 ft might be enough, but I doubt it No, i won't be using the old cooler at all... but if it's just in front of the rad, shouldn't it be fine with a short bit of extra tubing? Or should I re-run all new lines? That... would suck to do 0o' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 No, i won't be using the old cooler at all... but if it's just in front of the rad, shouldn't it be fine with a short bit of extra tubing? Or should I re-run all new lines? That... would suck to do 0o' Like i said, I ran all new lines, so I didn't have to worry about connecting the stock rubber lines that run from the metal line to the radiator leaking and all that. It wasn't hard to do at all, just disconnect the old rubber tubing and make sure you have something to catch the old fluid, route the new rubber lines through the radiator supports and then connect then with a few hose clamps. I had to use 2 as you can see to stop the slight leaking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 16, 2009 Author Share Posted January 16, 2009 Think I could get extra tubing and connectors from Auto Zone? Also - just cut this stuff with a knife, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 16, 2009 Share Posted January 16, 2009 (edited) Think I could get extra tubing and connectors from Auto Zone? Also - just cut this stuff with a knife, right? 3/8ths rubber tubing, yup. The should have bundles of it in the back, I got mine from Baxter's. You couuuuld pull the scam I did, "hello, I bought a transmission cooler from you guys yesterday, and I'm installing it today and I noticed the rubber hose isn't in the package." "Okay, come on buy and we'll get you taken care of!" Went in, the guy asked me how much I thought I would need, I told him 6 feet and he gave me it and sent me on my way Edited January 16, 2009 by kingman92010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 17, 2009 Author Share Posted January 17, 2009 Well, I dive in in approx 1 hour... any last minute tips or tricks I should know? Should I get spare bolts for anything? Do I need to do anything to the tranny-pan gasket other then rub fresh tranny fluid on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 17, 2009 Author Share Posted January 17, 2009 Aighty, stupid question - how the hell do I get the tranny cooler in there? Do I have to take the fan shroud and the front grille off? It seems to get the grill off I need to take the headlights out, which means I need to take the corner lights out, which means I need to all but take my bumper off 0o' How in the heck am I supposed to get access to it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 17, 2009 Share Posted January 17, 2009 Aighty, stupid question - how the hell do I get the tranny cooler in there? Do I have to take the fan shroud and the front grille off? It seems to get the grill off I need to take the headlights out, which means I need to take the corner lights out, which means I need to all but take my bumper off 0o' How in the heck am I supposed to get access to it? Easiest is to take the grill off, yeah. Mine couldnt come off because of the bullguard and since it was wrecked the bolts were twisted to where it would never go back on. So, I went up from the bottom. There should be enough space to slide it in without hurting the vains too much. I had to have a friend hold it in place while I pushed the nylon sticks through the radiator and AC condenser. It all varies though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 I managed to get my spark plugs done (with a few bloody knuckles) but all in all, it's running better... Though... I feel bad... The old plugs... the gap was AT LEAST .065... it's supposed to be between .031 and .035... I know it's greater than .065 ebcause that's the highest my spark plug gapper goes up to 0o' New plugs and wires, check. Tranny will have to wait... grill is a pita to get off, garage is approx 35* atm, and I'm not in the mood to muck with it much more tonight - might try again tomorrow, or I'll simply have my mechanic do that for me 0o' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I'm in about the same climate as you...got mine in that spot, no issues unless it it REALLY cold (like the past 2 days). What issues do you have with the auto tranny/cooler when it is really cold?? B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 Only problem I have is that the truck is a bit sluggish to respond till the fluid heats up *shrugs* Shifts slightly rough the first 2-3 gear changes in single-digit temps, but that's expected I think Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 LOL, that question was for GG as you don't have an external tranny cooler mounted yet... The old plugs... the gap was AT LEAST .065... it's supposed to be between .031 and .035... And you wonder why it doesn't run well??? B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Yeah, our autos don't like too much heat, but they don't run well if the fluid is too cold either. There is no thermostat on it, so you are cooling the cold fluid when you drive off on a cold morning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 (edited) Only problem I have is that the truck is a bit sluggish to respond till the fluid heats up *shrugs* Shifts slightly rough the first 2-3 gear changes in single-digit temps, but that's expected I think The hard shifts I think are fairly normal for a lot of transmissions when they're cold The old plugs... the gap was AT LEAST .065 Edited January 18, 2009 by kingman92010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 Yeah, I know - I should have checked them, but until I joined here I knew NOTHING about the truck... and I had it for approx a year and a half before I joined here. Most of that year and a half was... well, I commuted to and from college every weekend or every other weekend... so I probably put 25,000 on the truck in under a year... at least 50k by the time I left that unaccredited POS school and moved back in with my parents, then finally in with my fiance where I am now... so yeah. Truck has seen a fair bit of miles while I was an uneducated nooblet. She runs 100% better now... even though I did drop a little @!*% in the plug holes trying to clean them out. The old plugs are just... well... I'll have to take pictures for you to understand. Some of em, there isn't anything really LEFT of the electrode... 0o' I think next time I save up some money, I'll check the coil and see if I need to replace it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Yeah, I know - I should have checked them, but until I joined here I knew NOTHING about the truck... and I had it for approx a year and a half before I joined here. Most of that year and a half was... well, I commuted to and from college every weekend or every other weekend... so I probably put 25,000 on the truck in under a year... at least 50k by the time I left that unaccredited POS school and moved back in with my parents, then finally in with my fiance where I am now... so yeah. Truck has seen a fair bit of miles while I was an uneducated nooblet. She runs 100% better now... even though I did drop a little @!*% in the plug holes trying to clean them out. The old plugs are just... well... I'll have to take pictures for you to understand. Some of em, there isn't anything really LEFT of the electrode... 0o' I think next time I save up some money, I'll check the coil and see if I need to replace it. Im sure mine were just as bad before i replaced them for the first time... You dont need to replace the coil until it goes bad. They generally either work or they dont, not one of those things where they get weak after time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Also, coils run about $25 or so. Since Nissan uses about the hottest spark you can get from a factory vehicle, theres not much need for anything fancy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 Update - Ran my truck on some errands today, and when I pulled into the first stop (first drive more than a mile since the plug change) my CEL came on... it went out as soon as I parked. Popped the hood thinking I may have missed reconnecting the loose vacuum line at the #6 plug, and a big puff of smoke came up - apparently, engine oil was leaking onto my exhaust headers... it seemed to be bubbling up out of my dipstick 0o' Checked the oil, level was fine, no foam, bit dark but it didn't smell weird or anything... drove it the rest of the errands, ran fine, no CEL... no more smoke... no leak I could find, and it only stumbled ONCE, and that was accelerating uphill from a near stop in 2nd gear (stumbled before downshifting). Tonight I'll put her in the shop and have my mechanic do the tranny for me (don't have time and it's gotten COLDER here... and it's snowing... and my garage heater is out of propane... ugh) but I have a question: Stock, how many radiators should I have? I am assuming the primary raiator for the coolant loop... but I have one in front of that - is that the AC condenser? I have one large one and one small one... but the small one LOOKS like a tranny cooler - is it possible that it came with one already installed??? I'll have to check the lines (or ask my mechanic to check them for me).... but yeah, weirdness... unless I have the wrong idea as to what an AC Condenser is... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 (edited) Update - Ran my truck on some errands today, and when I pulled into the first stop (first drive more than a mile since the plug change) my CEL came on... it went out as soon as I parked. Popped the hood thinking I may have missed reconnecting the loose vacuum line at the #6 plug, and a big puff of smoke came up - apparently, engine oil was leaking onto my exhaust headers... it seemed to be bubbling up out of my dipstick 0o' Checked the oil, level was fine, no foam, bit dark but it didn't smell weird or anything... drove it the rest of the errands, ran fine, no CEL... no more smoke... no leak I could find, and it only stumbled ONCE, and that was accelerating uphill from a near stop in 2nd gear (stumbled before downshifting). Tonight I'll put her in the shop and have my mechanic do the tranny for me (don't have time and it's gotten COLDER here... and it's snowing... and my garage heater is out of propane... ugh) but I have a question: Stock, how many radiators should I have? I am assuming the primary raiator for the coolant loop... but I have one in front of that - is that the AC condenser? I have one large one and one small one... but the small one LOOKS like a tranny cooler - is it possible that it came with one already installed??? I'll have to check the lines (or ask my mechanic to check them for me).... but yeah, weirdness... unless I have the wrong idea as to what an AC Condenser is... Thats your AC condenser. There's only 2 lines coming from the tranny for the oil, and if they're BOTH hooked up to the radiator, that rules out having another cooler already installed. Unless there's not any lines going to the radiator...but I'm pretty sure you would have mentioned that already The stock tranny cooler is a little 2" tall by 14" wide piece in the very bottom of the radiator. Edited January 18, 2009 by kingman92010 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 The AC condenser is... huge 0o' Aighty, well, can I wiggle the tranny cooler between the two? There's no room in front of the condenser, and none behind the radiator 0o' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kingman Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 The AC condenser is... huge 0o' Aighty, well, can I wiggle the tranny cooler between the two? There's no room in front of the condenser, and none behind the radiator 0o' Well how big is the tranny cooler you got? And how involved do you want to get? I'd imagine you can put the cooler between the two, but that, to me, seems like too much work. If you cant find a way to put it in front of everything, you could put it on the engine side of the radiator as long as it doesn't touch the the fan. Mine, taken from directly in front of the truck: Taken from underneath, where you can see I had room to slide it up. It's between my bull guard and the bottom part of the grill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kittamaru Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 (edited) My condenser is almost directly against the grille at the front. Maybe I have a half inch To put it behind the rad, I'd have to remove my fan shroud - it's HUGE. Edited January 18, 2009 by Kittamaru Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted January 19, 2009 Share Posted January 19, 2009 Mine is between, nice little place to hide it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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