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98 Grand Caravan Sport Tranny lines question

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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 12:17 PM
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Default 98 Grand Caravan Sport Tranny lines question

A dumb mistake. I removed two tranny lines to replace the input speed sensor on my ;98 Gr Caravan Sport SE, 3.3L. I got them crossed up and now I am not sure which one connected where. duh. Can someone help? These are the two tranny lines that connect to the tranny right above the sensor. One goes to the top of the radiator, one to the bottom. Does the one to the right go to the top or bottom of the radiaor and vice versa. Thanks!
 
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 09:36 PM
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Welcome to DF
Top line goes to the right and the bottom to the left.
 
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 10:22 PM
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ok, thanks!
 
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Old Nov 7, 2009 | 10:35 PM
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That's just the opposite of all the vans I have and Transonline, and Atraonline and a FSM. The left (closest to the engine ) is the return line and the top port of the radiator should always go to return. if you connect it as you stated, any debris will plug the port much easier. This topic has constant arguments arise. All GM and ford vehicles, since the crossflow radiator, call for supply to the bottom and return from the top of the radiator. I have several untouched minivans in my procession and every one is routed supply to bottom of rad, return from the top. Most 41TE planetary failures on reman transmissions, I fix had the hoses routed supply to the top of the rad instead of the bottom
 
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Old Nov 8, 2009 | 07:30 AM
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oh man, so which is it?
 
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Old Nov 8, 2009 | 08:16 AM
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At this link:http://www.allpar.com/eek/atf.html under the section :
Ultradrive (41TE) transmission fluid flush


I found the following info:

In my 41TE, there are two cooling oil fittings on the side of the tranny facing forward, one is from the tranny and the fluid comes out there, (I'll call it the output) the other goes back to the pan and the fluid is returned there. (the input) The input is the port CLOSEST to the engine, the output is the FURTHEST from the engine.
On the radiator, there's a transmission cooler which is immersed in the vertical tank on the driver’s side of the radiator - it also has an input and an output port. On this cooler the input is at the TOP and the output is at the BOTTOM. The reason for this is that the water in the radiator at the top is hotter - because the top radiator hose from the engine is the cooling water output on the engine. Water in the radiator flows from top to bottom, the water at the bottom is the coolest and so for maximum heat transfer you want the tranny fluid exiting the tranny cooler in the radiator where the radiator is coldest.
For stock setups, the output port on the tranny, furthest from the engine, is plumbed to the TOP of the radiator tranny cooler, and the BOTTOM of the radiator tranny cooler is plumbed to the tranny input line - closest to the engine.
 

Last edited by abacusl; Nov 8, 2009 at 08:19 AM. Reason: formatting
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Old Nov 8, 2009 | 09:05 AM
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if you read the allpar, there's a lot of debate on this for both methods. And allpar is about a Wiki which allows inaccurate info to be posted. However I will continue to ALWAYS do it the way I described. I just spent over 15min continuing research to prove my point. Right in EVERY FSM they define the top is return and the bottom is supply. If you look at vehicles with factory aux trans coolers, the cooler is in series after the top port. Flow is from trans to the bottom out the top thru aux cooler back to the trans. Which is EXACTLY how trans coolers are suppose to be installed. I even verified this on actual vehicles including a Gen1 intrepid, 1994 Grand caravan, 1993 Lebaron convert, 1996,97, 98, 99, 2000 minivans (both 3 and 4 speed are identical) 1991 Spirit, Ford F150, Pontiac Grand am, and a 1992 Shadow. And, to correct you, the return from the radiator goes to the lubrication of the planetaries before it goes to the pan
 

Last edited by 92dak5.24x4; Nov 8, 2009 at 09:27 AM.
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Old Nov 8, 2009 | 11:49 AM
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I have heard this argument before.

The front (closest to the engine) transmission cooler line connection is for the return line. No doubt about that. It should also be the coolest line to touch. If in doubt, have someone turn the engine over while the opposite line is disconnected, to check for flow.

Radiator coolant circulates from the top down to maximize cooling, the return line going behind the serpentine belt splash shield to the water pump.

To take advantage of the lower temperatures in the bottom of the radiator, the transmission cooler circulates the opposite from the radiator coolant. Flow is from cooler to warmer, or from bottom up. Top line is the return. 92dak5.24X4 is correct.

Some pictures showing a filter on the return line, a good idea as Chrysler includes it with their remanufactured transmissions to filter out debris from the cooler. http://s101.photobucket.com/albums/m...view=slideshow
 

Last edited by TJeepman; Nov 8, 2009 at 12:35 PM.
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Old Nov 8, 2009 | 03:43 PM
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YEAH, someone agrees. I have a 1998 with 80,000 actual miles (wrecked builder I'm going to fix) that has flow to the bottom up to the top out to the aux trans cooler then back to the trans.What people don't realize is once the coolant has flowed to the lower hose side, the temp variation from the top of that tank to the bottom shows minimal variation (less than 10°)
 
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Old Nov 10, 2009 | 12:25 PM
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Thanks all appreciate the help. For the record, DAK92- take it easy.. I came looking for help/info.. seems you just want confrontation ? I wasn't arguing- just posting what I found... it's all good. Thanks again
 
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