Been wanting to get a trans cooler and temp gauge installed and so I have been reading and researching for it(offroadjosh's post inspired me to get back on it). I was talking to my friend who helped me with the plenum/TC/etc and he said I already have one, and I disagreed promptly.. he made fun of me for a min, so I had to go look..

Sure enough, there is what appears to be cooler lines running up front of the radiator, but behind the condenser. I cant see behind the condenser(going to check with a flashlight when finished typing this), but the overall install looks like something from the factory.

Was there any factory option for a cooler, or possibly a towing package that it was part of?

Cant believe I never knew this was there, for awhile I thought it was the steering cooler, then found out I was wrong, but never looked for another for the trans.

Will post a pic in a few minutes, trying to find my camera.

 

Towing or heavy duty package had the aux trans cooler.

 

Hmm ok, now I really have some research to do, will have to look through all my paperwork I got with the truck, didnt know I had any option like that.

Is this really a good place for the cooler? Seems like it would be better in front of the condenser? Its hard to see but it looks like a rather large cooler, almost as big as the condenser, would it be worth it to move it?

Couple pics:

 

Condenser is only warm when you are running the a/c, and even then, it is STILL cooler than the fluid running thru the trans cooler. Moving it in front of the condenser would prolly make it more efficient, however, it would in turn, make your A/C LESS efficient.

 

You can get the build sheet for your truck. It will tell you what came on it. I think it is in the FAQ/DIY section....can't remember the website offhand.

 

Good a/c is a priority here in Vegas, at least for a few months out of the year.. and the family hobby usually takes me out to some desert area that generally is warm at least half of the year.

Should I just throw a gauge on it so I can monitor things, maintain fluid changes(drain bolt) and be content with the setup I have?

Thank you gd, I will be checking that out for sure!

 

Someone mounted an aftermarket cooler in front of my condenser. Worked fine until I drove 250 miles in 109 degree weather with my wife and 4 kids. AC over heated, and shut down. I was not the family hero that day. I moved the trans cooler, and the problem went away.
Don't put the cooler in front of the condenser

 

I noticed in your pics it appears you have a stock looking fitting attached at the radiator end of your trans line. If so, about a foot back from it will be your check valve. GET RID OF IT! You should be able to find info in the FAQ's about the process. Also, your trans cooler is probably around half to 2/3 the size of your AC condenser. the Triangle frame it's attached to can make it look a little bigger.

 

You can get a better look at it from underneth the truck to, if that helps. Some V10s (or all, not sure) have the tranny cooler mounted next to the ac condenser. I thought about goin to the JY and finding a v10 and adding one like that to my current one, a different ac condenser bracket is needed too to do this.

 

Figured Id update this post rather start another. I don't post alot, been lurking around for years though. Still drive my truck daily, still haul a big load once or twice a year for camping and still do some light off roading.

I had to replace the trans about 2 years ago(it had been making some rattling noises, and eventually one night it took a dump, lots of crunching noises and sounded like a wind up toy, barely made it home) and needed to change the aftermarket cooler I had installed due to the trans failure. After going through a couple different setups I've been running this for about 8 months or so, and have had half of the summer to test it in the 100*+ heat.

My biggest problem was running the a/c in the heat and in stop-n-go traffic/long lights, trans heats up and the a/c is not working very well either.



I have rerouted the wiring, and the "hangers" for the hoses a little, just to clean things up after the initial install since this pic was taken, switch still just wrapped around the 4wd stick and laying on the boot lol.. and my gauge is still in test port #4, need to get those finished up someday.