Looking for help in Columbia or Charleston SC (Radiator swap/tranny cooler)

[RedMenace293]

Hey guys

Still kind of new to the forum, but I was hoping someone here might be able to help me. Just bought my '99 4runner 2.7 4cyl a couple of weeks ago and just hit my first maintenance snag/oppertunity... Radiator has a major leak and its time for a new one. Already bought the new one but thinking it might be a good idea to install a tranny cooler while I have the cooling system dissasembled and the grill off.

Anyways, feel pretty confident I should be able to handle the radiator swap by myself, but it looks like the transmission cooler could be a bit more of a challenge and still a bit fuzzy on the proper way to burp the system... Was hoping to find another member in the SC area (I live in Columbia but work in Charleston) who might be able to lend me a hand.. I'm new to the area (wife in air force) and am used to doing most of my car maintenance with a couple buddies back home. Trying to avoid paying shop fees but could totally work something out to compensate you for your time, I could just use an extra hand/ someone a little more mechanically experianced to get me through the cooler mounting and rerouting of ATF lines.

If nothing else any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

 

[Robb235]

I lived in Columbia for about 6 months while my job had me out there. I lived in the Shandon neighborhood on Bratton street, right off of Millwood. I really liked it. My wife and I loved going to Charleston on the weekends too. We live just north of Atlanta now.

As far as the trans cooler goes, I think that would be even easier than the radiator swap. Just mount the cooler flush against the A/C condenser, cut hoses to length, hook 'em up, and you're set. No bleeding was required.

 

[RedSled]

Hey guys

Still kind of new to the forum, but I was hoping someone here might be able to help me. Just bought my '99 4runner 2.7 4cyl a couple of weeks ago and just hit my first maintenance snag/oppertunity... Radiator has a major leak and its time for a new one. Already bought the new one but thinking it might be a good idea to install a tranny cooler while I have the cooling system dissasembled and the grill off.

Anyways, feel pretty confident I should be able to handle the radiator swap by myself, but it looks like the transmission cooler could be a bit more of a challenge and still a bit fuzzy on the proper way to burp the system... Was hoping to find another member in the SC area (I live in Columbia but work in Charleston) who might be able to lend me a hand.. I'm new to the area (wife in air force) and am used to doing most of my car maintenance with a couple buddies back home. Trying to avoid paying shop fees but could totally work something out to compensate you for your time, I could just use an extra hand/ someone a little more mechanically experianced to get me through the cooler mounting and rerouting of ATF lines.

If nothing else any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Search is your friend, Type in trans. cooler install at top right of page.

 

[poleclimber63]

Hey guys

Still kind of new to the forum, but I was hoping someone here might be able to help me. Just bought my '99 4runner 2.7 4cyl a couple of weeks ago and just hit my first maintenance snag/oppertunity... Radiator has a major leak and its time for a new one. Already bought the new one but thinking it might be a good idea to install a tranny cooler while I have the cooling system dissasembled and the grill off.

Anyways, feel pretty confident I should be able to handle the radiator swap by myself, but it looks like the transmission cooler could be a bit more of a challenge and still a bit fuzzy on the proper way to burp the system... Was hoping to find another member in the SC area (I live in Columbia but work in Charleston) who might be able to lend me a hand.. I'm new to the area (wife in air force) and am used to doing most of my car maintenance with a couple buddies back home. Trying to avoid paying shop fees but could totally work something out to compensate you for your time, I could just use an extra hand/ someone a little more mechanically experianced to get me through the cooler mounting and rerouting of ATF lines.

If nothing else any advice you guys have would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

This is an easy job but I understand that if you've never done it it can seem complicated! You have 2 options: 1) replace the rad and just re-connect the transmission lines back up to the new rad (assuming your replacement rad has the internal cooler) or 2) install a replacement external cooler.

option 1 is really a 45min job including a beer break! Remove the fan, fan shroud, drain cooling system then remove hoses, cooler lines (only a tablespoon of tranny fluid dripped out-- have a couple of plugs standing by) and remove the 4 bolts holding the rad. That's it. When removing the lines, wrap a cloth around the hose before you twist the hoses with pliers to "break" them free. reverse to install. Replace the clamps.

option 2 all of the above, a popular cooler is "B&M 70268 SuperCooler Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler".. some use the larger 70266 but it requires a little more room... anyways there's tons of info on this site wrt debates as to the choices.... buy some more hose for the cooler (they never give enough) and run the lines through the openings to the side of the rad mount. ensure you look at the instructions as to the correct mounting orientation for the cooler and which hose to which port. you can mount this cooler to the ac condenser before you install the rad or use the zaps and pads to go through the condenser and rad. If you have the rad out, i'd probably just zap to the condenser. Put it back together, check for leaks, and ensure tranny fluid level is correct. done. I personally, installed a temp. gauge with my install.
Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum - poleclimber63's Album: Tranny cooler re-do
have fun!

 

[RedMenace293]

This is an easy job but I understand that if you've never done it it can seem complicated! You have 2 options: 1) replace the rad and just re-connect the transmission lines back up to the new rad (assuming your replacement rad has the internal cooler) or 2) install a replacement external cooler.

option 1 is really a 45min job including a beer break! Remove the fan, fan shroud, drain cooling system then remove hoses, cooler lines (only a tablespoon of tranny fluid dripped out-- have a couple of plugs standing by) and remove the 4 bolts holding the rad. That's it. When removing the lines, wrap a cloth around the hose before you twist the hoses with pliers to "break" them free. reverse to install. Replace the clamps.

option 2 all of the above, a popular cooler is "B&M 70268 SuperCooler Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler".. some use the larger 70266 but it requires a little more room... anyways there's tons of info on this site wrt debates as to the choices.... buy some more hose for the cooler (they never give enough) and run the lines through the openings to the side of the rad mount. ensure you look at the instructions as to the correct mounting orientation for the cooler and which hose to which port. you can mount this cooler to the ac condenser before you install the rad or use the zaps and pads to go through the condenser and rad. If you have the rad out, i'd probably just zap to the condenser. Put it back together, check for leaks, and ensure tranny fluid level is correct. done. I personally, installed a temp. gauge with my install.
Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum - poleclimber63's Album: Tranny cooler re-do
have fun!

Thanks for the advice, after doing some research decided to go with the B&M 70264 on amazon for 63.32 with free prime shipping, which offers just a tad more cooling than the 70268 and still comes with the hardware/mounting kit (the 72066 was just the cooler, with all the ties and hoses sold separately). I still have to go pick up some tranny fluid, extra hoses, and a bag of zip ties tomorrow... can you think of anything else I'll need? Had to leave all my tools up in Seattle when I moved down here so I'm going to probably end up buying a metric wrench set as well. I already picked up two new hoses for the Rad swap, but on closer inspection the original hoses still look like they are in pretty good shape, is replacing the hoses a must or am I better off just leaving the stock ones on there?

Was also wondering if there is anything else I should take care of while I have everything disassembled, like I said I just bought the truck a few weeks ago and unfortunately don't have much in the way of maintenance records from the previous owner.

Really appreciate the help and am going to be using your pics and some of the write ups I've found as a guide when I get to work on this tomorrow. Might even take a few pics of my own if I can get a handle on things.

 

[RedMenace293]

I personally, installed a temp. gauge with my install.
Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum - poleclimber63's Album: Tranny cooler re-do
have fun!

Poleclimber, what additional steps are required to install a temp gauge and what kind of cost does that add to the project? Would be nice to keep an eye on things especially as the summers down here get pretty intense (it's already been in the 90s all week!).

Also, if I am understanding most of these write ups correctly, I want to completely bypass the rad when installing the tranny cooler, correct? or would putting it in sequence with the radiator give me even more tranny cooling power? Haha sorry for all the questions, just wanna make sure I do all of this right the first time and this is the first time I've something like this solo.

 

[poleclimber63]

Thanks for the advice, after doing some research decided to go with the B&M 70264 on amazon for 63.32 with free prime shipping, which offers just a tad more cooling than the 70268 and still comes with the hardware/mounting kit (the 72066 was just the cooler, with all the ties and hoses sold separately). I still have to go pick up some tranny fluid, extra hoses, and a bag of zip ties tomorrow... can you think of anything else I'll need? Had to leave all my tools up in Seattle when I moved down here so I'm going to probably end up buying a metric wrench set as well. I already picked up two new hoses for the Rad swap, but on closer inspection the original hoses still look like they are in pretty good shape, is replacing the hoses a must or am I better off just leaving the stock ones on there?

Was also wondering if there is anything else I should take care of while I have everything disassembled, like I said I just bought the truck a few weeks ago and unfortunately don't have much in the way of maintenance records from the previous owner.

Really appreciate the help and am going to be using your pics and some of the write ups I've found as a guide when I get to work on this tomorrow. Might even take a few pics of my own if I can get a handle on things.

Poleclimber, what additional steps are required to install a temp gauge and what kind of cost does that add to the project? Would be nice to keep an eye on things especially as the summers down here get pretty intense (it's already been in the 90s all week!).

Also, if I am understanding most of these write ups correctly, I want to completely bypass the rad when installing the tranny cooler, correct? or would putting it in sequence with the radiator give me even more tranny cooling power? Haha sorry for all the questions, just wanna make sure I do all of this right the first time and this is the first time I've something like this solo.

You have several options.... one of the reasons guys bypass the rad completely, due to age and serviceability, is to avoid "pink milkshake" when coolant leaks into the transmission cooler inside the rad... its Cheaper than replacing the rad.
If you're changing the rad, you may decide to put the external cooler in series with the rad. This will definitely provide greater cooling. Some members in cold climates, prefer running through the rad, as in the Winter, it warms the fluid and regulates the temp. within the normal operating zone (the transmission operates most efficiently and is designed to do so around 160 degrees. I believe, the B and M unit has a temp bypass, however.
Most bypass, as the cost of a rad failure is a tranny replacement $$$$.
If you bypass, the only pain with this job is getting the old hoses off the hardlines to the transmission, as you have limited room to work. Put a rag around the hose and work the hose with some decent pliers. Don't crush the hardlines. You shouldn't loose much fluid. On the rad, plug the tranny unions on the bottom of the rad. 1/4 or 5/16 bolts work with clamps. If you change the rad hoses (if the old hoses are soft), use a piece and slit length-ways to fit over the cooler hoses that run through the rad mount (this protects the lines). Mount the cooler to the AC condenser BEFORE you replace the rad, as I wouldn't push the zaps THROUGH the BRAND NEW rad, as you are making holes in it.
As for a gauge, I tow so I want to know when that's are getting hot. You can get a mount that's molded to the a pillar (like mine) but cost maybe an issue. For us Canadians, its significantly more expensive due to shipping and customs duty.... cheaper in USA. Here's some links:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...oler-transmission-cooler-install-3rd-gen.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/107129-transmission-cooler-pass-radiator-not-pass.html

The advice I took:
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...you-do-your-3rd-gen-today-97.html#post1081353