I by-passed my in radiator tranny cooler

Budrbean · Postby **Budrbean** » Sat Jul 03, 2010 5:17 pm

If you have an external cooler factory installed, the easiest way is to unhook those hoses from the radiator and simply join them together.

jerry6 · Postby **jerry6** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 2:28 pm

Spamcan wrote:OK, so I just bought my first Pathfinder yesterday ('05 SE 4x4 w/53k miles on it) and I now see this thread. Started to worry, but I did get it from a Nissan dealer with the "Certified" warranty and (maybe gullibly) bought the Security+Plus FULL warranty (for 84 months/100k miles). So this mod seems very easy to do and worthy. But, with the warranty, should I NOT do this now? Wonder if I did and then at some point the tranny or radiator goes if the mod would negate my warranty... I would think if the cooler/tranny went that the Security+Plus coverage ("bumper to bumper") should cover it.

Also, any other issues I should be aware of with my Pathfinder?

if it is rust through of the rad I think they will not cover it , at least they did not cover a rusted pipe in my AC system with the extended factory warranty . They don't cover rust , and a rad ? hmmm Like to have a definitive answer though

WheatBread · Postby **WheatBread** » Mon Jul 05, 2010 6:39 pm

from other posts I've read it won't be covered

mc01ta · Postby **mc01ta** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:11 pm

I have a 2007 Pathfinder S 4x4 with 46k miles. I do not use this for towing and live in seasonal weather in VA. I'm weary of performing this mod and not sure if I should. After reading all 14 pages twice I'm a little confused. Do you have to re-route the coolant hoses AND do an external cooler? Or can you just re-route the hoses and be fine?

Do you need any additional parts or just re-route the hoses using the existing parts? From reading the posts it seems some people are not doing both and are re-routing using existing parts.

I'm on the fence and want to be clear on instructions also. Thank you for any help-

eieio · Postby **eieio** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 4:29 pm

mc01ta wrote: Do you have to re-route the coolant hoses AND do an external cooler? Or can you just re-route the hoses and be fine?

you already have an external cooler
you can add an additional one if you feel it will be a benefit

mc01ta wrote: Do you need any additional parts or just re-route the hoses using the existing parts?

just a re-route works fine

Budrbean · Postby **Budrbean** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 6:44 pm

mc01ta wrote:I have a 2007 Pathfinder S 4x4 with 46k miles. I do not use this for towing and live in seasonal weather in VA. I'm weary of performing this mod and not sure if I should. After reading all 14 pages twice I'm a little confused. Do you have to re-route the coolant hoses AND do an external cooler? Or can you just re-route the hoses and be fine?

Do you need any additional parts or just re-route the hoses using the existing parts? From reading the posts it seems some people are not doing both and are re-routing using existing parts.

I'm on the fence and want to be clear on instructions also. Thank you for any help-

If shelling out 3 grand for a new transmission is cool, then remain weary. Otherwise I would bypass it. Dont sweat it.....the radiator cooler does hardly anything for the cooling of the transmission anyways, its simply very small. I didnt monitor temps before the bypass, but Id be willing to bet it doesnt affect the temp at all. If anything, it may help because heat from the radiator can transfer to the trans cooler part and heat it up in stop and go traffic. Its a very easy fix....2 on a scale from 1-10 for anyone with basic mechanical skill....and its a cheap insurance to keep from having to buy a new transmission.

dandemedi · Postby **dandemedi** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 9:55 pm

I installed a tranny cooler in series with the existing cooler in front of radiator after bypassing atf cooler in radiator. Yes this is after I found coolant in tranny. I removed 4 courts of atf through driver side tranny hose (was on driver side of radiator). I briefly started Pathy and then it squirted out to a slow leak out. I then added 4 quarts through dip stick and drove a few miles. I then removed bottom drain plug to replace atf once again because it was still milky. To my surprise nothing came out but a few drops. Dipstick marks full. Did I reverse the lines an maybe clogged something up. It's a 2005. PLEASE HELP.

dandemedi · Postby **dandemedi** » Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:20 pm

If I reversed the tranny lines when doing the by=pass will I have created any problems. I did the by-pass and added another cooler in line with the existing external cooler. I removed 4 qts. of atf through the driver side tranny line and added 4 qts. of atf through dipstick.
The atf still is milky so I removed the tranny pan drain plug to replace the atf again. To my surprise no atf came out just a few drops. The dipstick marks that it is full. Could I have screwed something up if I reversed the lines. I supposed the driver side tranny line was the atf coming out of the tranny into the rad. Any thoughts.

Postby **disallow** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:41 am

dandemedi wrote:If I reversed the tranny lines when doing the by=pass will I have created any problems. I did the by-pass and added another cooler in line with the existing external cooler. I removed 4 qts. of atf through the driver side tranny line and added 4 qts. of atf through dipstick.
The atf still is milky so I removed the tranny pan drain plug to replace the atf again. To my surprise no atf came out just a few drops. The dipstick marks that it is full. Could I have screwed something up if I reversed the lines. I supposed the driver side tranny line was the atf coming out of the tranny into the rad. Any thoughts.

Do the bypass as prescribed here... Run the line from the trans to the external cooler. The cooler is a downflow cooler... so to attach your external cooler in series, run a hose from the bottom of the external cooler to the top of your new cooler. Then run the hose from the bottom of that cooler to the return of the transmission.

WheatBread · Postby **WheatBread** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 4:59 am

the fluid is still coming out of and going back into the tranny the same direction they always will, if you reversed lines then all you did was reverse the flow through the cooler which shouldn't cause any problems

openspaces · Postby **openspaces** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:07 am

So I'm convinced the bypass is necessary, but still wonder about the need for an additional cooler?

Has anyone tracked the temps? before and after?

If not can a thread be setup to list:
mileage - date of bypass - type of driving. (towing/stop-n-go, etc)

This thread should not be for questions, but just data.

jerry6 · Postby **jerry6** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 7:51 am

Well I am taking no chances , will be ordering a new trans cooler with fan and temp sensor , $200. or so instead of $3000. for a new trans make sense .
Just wish nissan would own up to a defective rad and do something . I flush and put in new fluids in all the systems , if the rad would rust through i would be pissed , no excuse for that . I have never replaced a rad on my trucks , don't expect to with my maintenance schedule .
If I never changed the rad fluid I would expect trouble .

this is what I'm getting http://www.etrailer.com/Transmission-Co ... 13760.html

and thinking of this as well http://www.etrailer.com/Transmission-Co ... 13091.html

r would that be overkill ? thoughts ?[/url]

WheatBread · Postby **WheatBread** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 8:08 am

there is a class action suit being put together against Nissan for the radiator/tranny failure, the link is in a post around here somewhere

Postby **disallow** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 8:45 am

jerry6 wrote:Well I am taking no chances , will be ordering a new trans cooler with fan and temp sensor , $200. or so instead of $3000. for a new trans make sense .
Just wish nissan would own up to a defective rad and do something . I flush and put in new fluids in all the systems , if the rad would rust through i would be pissed , no excuse for that . I have never replaced a rad on my trucks , don't expect to with my maintenance schedule .
If I never changed the rad fluid I would expect trouble .

Let us know what kind of setup you bought, sounds slick.

t

jerry6 · Postby **jerry6** » Wed Jul 07, 2010 9:06 am

I ordered this http://www.etrailer.com/Transmission-Co ... 13960.html , not sure about the filter/gauge package yet . Will let you know when O get it installed . For know the rad is blocked , just running factory cooler . But since I tow a 2500 lb trailer 80% of the time am not taking a chance . From what i read you just have to warm up on a cold day before taking off , they say you cannot cool the fluid to a point where it is detrimental , there is plenty of heat transfered from engine block and from trans internals once you are moving . Will just warm up a few minutes on a -10- -30 day Al Gore and his gulfstreams be damned

I by-passed my in radiator tranny cooler

2005 Pathfinder tranny cooler/Coolant in transmission

tranny cooler

Re: tranny cooler

temps / bypass history

Nissan Forums

Infiniti Forums

Datsun Forums

Technical Forums

Classifieds / Marketplace

Nissan Motorsports

General Forums