MaximumHP Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 I'm a little worried my auto tranny might be on it's way out. Seems to slip a little when taking off. It does it maybe 10 percent of the time, more so when cold I think. Anyway, just looking for suggestions on what I should try to keep it from totally self destructing (although failure may be imminent) Searching around on here, found some good info, but any other advice is welcome. Not sure I want to take it to a tranny shop. I'm a big fan of doing stuff myself if I can keep the problem at bay. I tend not to trust anyone working on my vehicles. If it does go, not sure I'd want to tackle that project. Sounds like a lot of work from reading on here just to get it out. Here's what I was thinking of doing: Get the fluid power flushed by a shop. Put some good fluid in (any suggestions? I was thinking redline ATF) Maybe pull out the screen filter and replace?? Re-set the auto tranny computer It just had a new tranny 10k miles ago, looks like the guy picked a real dandy to throw in there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nycxice13 Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 Tranny cooler, best way to go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Precise1 Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 All that you mentioned cant hurt, and DEFINITELY a tranny cooler !! B Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 (edited) can anyone suggest a good tranny cooler? Edited May 24, 2006 by John Boy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nutz Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 (edited) [quote Get the fluid power flushed by a shop.] If you get it flushed, don't go to Jiffy Lube. Just saw a story on the news here in So. Cal, they busted 5 out of 8 Jiffy Lube shops for charging customers for work (including AT power flushes!) without actually doing the work. Seems that the problem is not just a few bad nuts, but corporate policy requiring unreasonably billing per vehicle. One employee (whistle-blower) said they actually trained them how not to get caught by undercover reporters using hidden cameras. This was the 3rd such bust in 3 years in the LA area. Go to a reputable shop and watch them do it. Edited May 24, 2006 by Nutz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumHP Posted May 24, 2006 Author Share Posted May 24, 2006 I should have mentioned that there is a tranny cooler on there, but it looks like something out of the 50's. I might upgrade to something with the frontal area of Texas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vengeful Posted May 24, 2006 Share Posted May 24, 2006 can anyone suggest a good tranny cooler? The biggest one you can find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 The biggest one you can find. LOL I meant what brand. LOL I meant what company. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MaximumHP Posted May 25, 2006 Author Share Posted May 25, 2006 I was going to get one from summit, you can buy theirs or they stock others as well. Like: http://tinyurl.com/kgyv6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vengeful Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 LOL I meant what company. They're all pretty much the same. You can get a good one at Advance/Checker/Shucks/etc. That's where I got mine, cost me all of $45. Cheap compared to the cost of a new/rebuilt transmission! Oh yeah!....when you're installing the cooler, it would be convenient to do a Drain-Fill on your transmission at the same time, since you'll be losing some fluid anyways....don't forget to buy tranny fluid before you start like me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrimGreg Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 If you go with a "slightly used" (ie Junkyard one) make sure to get it from a larger V6 or V8 vehicle. A couple of us are using ones from Ford Exporers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted May 25, 2006 Share Posted May 25, 2006 Thanks guys I'm picking up a 95 pathfinder tommorrow and the tranny cooler may be one of the first things I do. NYC can be hard on a tranny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electrifyliak Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 (edited) I read in a few places online that in 95 the pathfinder got a plate-style cooler for the tranny that works a lot better than the tube and fin types from the previous years and isn't as prone to clogging. Is this a typo and they meant 96 and up or is this true? If it is true, would I be ok with my 95's cooler or would you still suggest swaping it out for an explorer one or something like that? Quote talking about a 93 pathfinder from http://www.nissanperformancemag.com/projects/pathfinder.php : "The stock transmission cooler is prone to clogging up with clutch fiber. This starves the rear planetary gears of oil resulting in a ruined transmission. It also transfers a lot of heat to the radiator coolant, which can contribute to overheating. We solved this problem by eliminating the stock transmission cooler replacing it with the stock transmission cooler from a 1995-present Pathfinder. This cooler is a bar and plate type much like a racing oil cooler." Thanks for any help in advance. Edited May 26, 2006 by Electrifyliak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 Dead link, but a good question. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electrifyliak Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 (edited) sorry, fixed the link but the quote is all that's really pertinent to this question, click on the introduction link towards the bottom and scroll towards the bottom of that page for the quote. But it looks like an interesting build to look at if you want to tow heavy stuff with your pathy or just improve it in general. Edited May 26, 2006 by Electrifyliak Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 sorry, fixed the link but the quote is all that's really pertinent to this question, click on the introduction link towards the bottom and scroll towards the bottom of that page for the quote. But it looks like an interesting build to look at if you want to tow heavy stuff with your pathy or just improve it in general. I read the article and I hope what he says is true as that will save me from having to install a external tranny cooler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pathoffroad Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 They didn't get external coolers until 96, sorry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electrifyliak Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 So mine is in the tranny? How would I upgrade that? Are there hoses I can just extend to a new cooler in the front or something? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedPath88 Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 Yours should be in the radiator.. and best (according to reports) to be left out of the loop when a new external cooler is installed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88pathoffroad Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 Yours is inside the radiator. All you need is hose, hose clamps, a cooler, cooler mounting kit and extra fluid to install one. It's fairly simple and straightforward. Place a catch pan under the radiator on the passenger's side. Remove the old cooler lines from the radiator(both hardline tubes on the passenger's side by the overflow bottle). Let the trans fluid drain out of the radiator and lines for a bit. Remove the fan from it's pulley but leave the pulley on the water pump so you don't have to retension the belt. After taking the fan off, put two nuts back on to make sure the pulley stays there. Slip/clamp hoses onto the cooler line ends(if the fittings slide back far enough) or just plain trim the flared end off the hardline and clamp the hoses on. Using a mounting kit, mount the new cooler on the back side of the radiator(I can't remember how much clearance there is between the fan and the rad, but I'm pretty sure it was plenty), route your hoses to it and clamp them on. Zip tie the hoses together and out of the way of any moving parts. Put the fan back on. Make sure everything is tight. Watching for leaks, start it, let it warm up and then check the fluid level. Add fluid to fill as necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Electrifyliak Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 Thanks, nice write up, sounds like it's not too difficult. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Boy Posted May 26, 2006 Share Posted May 26, 2006 Thanks alot it does sound straight forward. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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