Leaking coolant from one of the transmission lines? Help!

[jstim]

So I was making my way to get my B&M 70264 transmission cooler put in. Got it all mocked up, and mounted to satisfaction, ran the new lines down through the hole in the passenger side like many other people have done. From there I climbed under the truck, and tried to pull the passenger side line off. I couldn't get it to pull off, so I removed the fitting it was attached to, and out came cherry juice. Wasn't really surprised, and pretty much expected it. Tried removing the rubber hose from the metal line attached to the transmission and couldn't get it, so I figured I would move on and just remove the other hose and let the 1 quart of cherry juice that was going to run out do so. That way I could then just focus on dealing with getting the hoses off the metal transmission lines and getting the new hoses connected. Well as I pulled the other fitting off with the hose still attached, the fitting started pouring out cherry juice, again no surprise, but the radiator started pouring antifreeze out of the same hole. This is where I had started with concern. The first fitting had transmission fluid running out of the radiator and the fitting, the other had antifreeze coming from the radiator, and transmission fluid coming from the fitting.

I am really at a loss right now, not too sure what to do with it all, or what exactly to think. Transmission fluid looks normal on the dipstick too, not the milky ish color in the pan that is under the truck right now.

Pictures are in order of how I disconnected it too, and thats how clear the trans fluid on my fingers is. I am all ears for ideas and or anyone that wants to show me how to fix it.

 

[SilverRidgeRunner1]

Welp from what u have provided I don't think your grave is dug just yet, but maybe your part list may have grown instead, I would pickup a new radiator and have a trans flush done.

 

[HammerHead]

When you go to flush just get a 5 gallon bucket of fluid it will be cheaper. Just cycle new fluid and have the old go into an empty bucket. That should be enough fluid to clean it out.

 

[Drcoffee]

You are one lucky guy. It looks like you broke the radiator when you removed the fitting. The ATF looks old but not contaminated. Buy a new radiator and flush the tranny fluid. Its due.

One lucky guy!

 

[jstim]

I am guessing thats where I am at with this thing. Order a new radiator, and drop it in, and put the trans cooler on when I drop it in. Flush the trans, and change the filter at my first chance I can.....thoughts?

 

[Unner]

You are one lucky guy. It looks like you broke the radiator when you removed the fitting. The ATF looks old but not contaminated. Buy a new radiator and flush the tranny fluid. Its due.

One lucky guy!

That's exactly what it sounds like. You did indeed get very lucky. I'm glad I bypassed my stock radiator and put my cooler in. It gives me peace of mind. It seems like this issue is becoming more common as the trucks get older, which should be expected.

 

[rockyMTNvagabond]

I had a similar issue when when to put on my transmission cooler. As I was pulling the transmission hoses off of the bottom of the radiator and one of the fittings just popped completely out of the radiator due to the corrosion inside and coolant came pouring out. I was right on the verge of the Pink Milkshake and I probably just barely dodged that bullet. Per other posts put a new radiator in. I just bypassed the new radiator all together

 

[jstim]

Ok, any suggestions on a new radiator? OEM, or I think the other one I am seeing that is popular is Kyoto? Suggestions?

 

[LittleCaesar]

Wow, that is luck. You need to play the lotto soon.

That fluid looks pretty healthy.

Koyo if money is tight. Koyo may now come as TYC. If you have another $100, buy an OEM one. From someone who bought a Koyo I wish I would have spend an extra Benjamin back in 2009. Get a new OEM cap as well. Camelback should be your best bet on pricing.

 

[jstim]

1996-2002 Toyota 4Runner KOYO Radiator A1998 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 | Go-Parts » (877) 321-PART

This is the one that I have been looking at, trying to find an OEM online to order, because the local stealership is $289.00 for genuine Toyota parts. Where does everyone buy there red/pink Toyota longlife coolant from?

 

[Drcoffee]

Check out rockauto.com. Its about $100 there

Find the current discount code to get 5% off. Google is your friend

 

[jstim]

Check out rockauto.com. Its about $100 there

Find the current discount code to get 5% off. Google is your friend

Thanks, hey just a thought to put out there, and get some feelers on it. If I put a radiator from a manual trans in there, do you think it will work? It just shouldn't have the fittings on the bottom right? I am still going to be putting the B&M in there with the new radiator.

 

[HammerHead]

Get the coolant from amazon or other online parts place, camelback Toyota.

Camelback Toyota Parts - Genuine OEM Parts - Free Shipping

 

[jstim]

So I am going to order from Camelback it looks like, is there a difference between the manual trans radiator and the automatic? I am still putting the trans cooler on still? Trying to get a warm and fuzzy before I start ordering ish.

 

[csp]

The manual radiator won't have the trans cooler built into it.

 

[jstim]

Thats what I thought, wanted a second opinion before I did something I regretted. Thanks.

 

[berock]

Hi guys, new member here.

This exact thing happened to me yesterday. Had a slow drip from the fitting where it connects at the rad. Saw the fitting was loose, gave it a light tug and the whole fitting just popped out like rockyMTN mentioned.

At first it drained a little bit of clean trans fluid out, tried to see if i could re-insert the fitting and it just started pouring out coolant mixed with the trans fluid in the cooler, same color as shown in jstim's pic.

What I find odd though is that after I let it all drain out from the fitting, I opened up the petcock valve to see if everything had drained and I got about 1/2 qt of perfectly clean coolant drain out into a separate container.

My dipstick for the trans is clean as well and so is the overflow tank. Like jstim said, I'm at a loss, especially after seeing clean coolant drain out afterwards.

 

[jstim]

Hi guys, new member here.

This exact thing happened to me yesterday. Had a slow drip from the fitting where it connects at the rad. Saw the fitting was loose, gave it a light tug and the whole fitting just popped out like rockyMTN mentioned.

At first it drained a little bit of clean trans fluid out, tried to see if i could re-insert the fitting and it just started pouring out coolant mixed with the trans fluid in the cooler, same color as shown in jstim's pic.

What I find odd though is that after I let it all drain out from the fitting, I opened up the petcock valve to see if everything had drained and I got about 1/2 qt of perfectly clean coolant drain out into a separate container.

My dipstick for the trans is clean as well and so is the overflow tank. Like jstim said, I'm at a loss, especially after seeing clean coolant drain out afterwards.

So, what happened to me is the radiator was going bad, and I caught it just in time pretty much. I put a new radiator in, and added the trans cooler with the new radiator.

 

[berock]

So, what happened to me is the radiator was going bad, and I caught it just in time pretty much. I put a new radiator in, and added the trans cooler with the new radiator.

Did you drain and fill your trans fluid or flush? If so, any signs of coolant in it? I ordered a Denso radiator and just waiting on it to come in. I really don't want to drain my trans fluid because I had just dropped the pan and replaced the fluid around 2500 miles ago and it still looks clean but I guess it's cheaper than a new trans!

 

[jstim]

Did you drain and fill your trans fluid or flush? If so, any signs of coolant in it? I ordered a Denso radiator and just waiting on it to come in. I really don't want to drain my trans fluid because I had just dropped the pan and replaced the fluid around 2500 miles ago and it still looks clean but I guess it's cheaper than a new trans!

I didn't replace the trans fluid because it was all clean. I didn't have any issues with the fittings on the cooler line until I pulled it all apart. I would say, though, replace the upper and lower hoses, and the thermostat as well. I replaced all of that, new radiator cap and all. Its about a 2 hour job if you have all the parts on hand. Really easy to get out the radiator surprisingly. If you have any questions just let me know man, it was pretty easy.