ATX and trans. cooler, or MTX???

[MarkMoore]

Alrighty, here's the deal. In June, i bought a '92 gs atx. Now after doing a bunch of research using the search function, i can see the overall burning hatred toward our atx. However, my mx-3 only has 69,000 on it. Now after looking for a while, i see that the parts alone for a tranny swap will run me around $1200(right?). I do however need an estimate on labor charges, considering i'm about as dumb as a slab of concrete when it comes to transmissions and couldn't do something like this myself. So my question is this. Should i save the $1200 + Labor now? i was thinking about just doing that, and running my atx until i have problems with it, and then think about a tranny swap. I'm not exactly rich or anything, so i am kinda leaning towards saving the money now. If i do stick w/ my atx for now, i should prob get a transmission cooler, right? Now i saw somewhere on a thread that our transmissions are actually a Ford part. But i somehow find it ironic that the recommended thing to do is rip out a FORD Explorer transmission cooler from a junkyard-for $10ish i think. Now if i do take an Explorer trans. cooler, what should i look for. Any special years to try to get, and also are there any visible signs on a transmission cooler that i should stay away from?

[Guest]

Our auto trannies have the problem with over heating.......... so, yes, most definetly get a tranny cooler. I recommend simply going to your local auto parts store and buying it from them and taking it to a good auto repair shop to put it on. It cost me $35 to have it put on mine. I did it like that and not myself because, like you, I'm not good at doing it myself.
Other than that, you shouldn't have tranny problems much at all.......... and remember, that, there are alot of people on this site that have close to 200,000 miles on there tranny without a single problem.

[Aston Wards]

Change the transmission filter too, but make sure you don't overfill the AT fluid

[guyaverage]

I recommend the Ford tranny cooler because they are the perfect size to fit behind the bumper, are fairly well designed, and are cheap and easy to get, as long as there is a junkyard nearby. Mid-90's Explorer versions work great, I have them in 3 different vehicles, including my Toyota truck that pulls a 3000 lb. boat, no tranny issues whatsoever.

Make sure they arent dented, bent, or have any rust. Explorers are a dime a dozen in junkyards, if the one you are looking at looks questionable, move on to the next. Clean them out with carb cleaner to flush out any old fluid or crud. They use the same size cooler line as what Mazda uses stock (5/16's if I remember right). Dont put yourself down, you CAN do this if you read whats already been posted, have just basic tools, and the will to do it. It really isnt difficult.

On the other hand, if you really dont feel like tackling it yourself, buy a new one like he said, and have a pro put it on. If they smirk or question the need, say ok thanks, leave, and find someone else who will do it. These trannies are severly undercooled as is, and the real pros know it.

If you do buy new, get the more expensive but much better "plate and fin" type (like THIS) , not a "tube and fin" type (like THESE). They flow air better, and cool the fluid much more efficiently. A tube and fin setup WILL be ok if you want to save the cash and go a bit cheaper though.

The sooner you do this, the better off you'll be. Change the fluid and filter while you are having the cooler installed. **DO NOT** get a 'power flush'. Stomp your foot, shake your head, repeat loudly NO NO NO. Have them drop the pan, change the filter, put on new gasket, reinstall pan and refill with fluid. Period. If they tell you otherwise of push the issue, have them call me, I'll debate them all day long.

Good luck!

[MarkMoore]

Hey, thanks a lot all of you guys. I will probably just do that for now---get a transmission cooler and do my best to put it on myself. A MTX would be great, but it'd be even better if i was rich enough to afford it right now. i read on a thread something about mercon 5, as opposed to mercon 3, some one wanna school me on that? Anything else i should know about our transmission or anything else to protect it?

[guyaverage]

If I remember right Mercon 5 was developed to cure shuddering in some Ford trannys.

My personal understanding on the difference between Mercon/Dexron II/III and Mercon 5 is that if it came from the factory with Mercon 5, thats what it MUST ALWAYS use. However, supposedly an earlier tranny that requires Dexron, Dexron II or III, or Mercon can use Mercon 5 and MAY experience benefit from it, if it has any shuddering issues or erratic shifting.

DONT take my word for it, personally I use Mercon/Dexron II/III approved fluids and shy away from Mercon 5 because supposedly its more expensive (I havent checked) and the jury is still out as to whether or not it really is compatible in earlier trannys the way some claim. Its amazing but no one really seems to have a good answer. Do a google search on "Mercon 5 Dexron differences" or something similiar to that and you will see enough debates and "yes it will work" and "no it wont" replies to fill your day with reading.

I would stick to regular Mercon or Dexron II/III approved fluids and call it a day. Change it at the same time as every 2nd or 3rd engine oil change, dont beat the living snot out of your tranny, and that along with a decent cooler you'll be fine.

ps.. here is a picture ( HERE) of a Ford Explorer cooler I mounted on my 240sx. Its about the same size as a regular piece of notebook paper. I made some custom brackets out of $2 angle aluminum I got at Home Depot, painted them flat black, and painted the nuts and bolts black also. It looks almost factory except for the white plastic clamps I used to secure the lines.

<small>[ October 08, 2004, 10:26 AM: Message edited by: guyaverage ]</small>

[MarkMoore]

ok, if i'm looking for the best quality, should i go for the explorer transmission cooler, or would something like a hayden cooler work better? if i did do w/ a hayden transmission cooler, i think someone said that the 404 model would work best?

[Mr. LeMans]

If you do get one, DO NOT get one that is made of cheap aluminum ( did I spell that right?). Those like to bend and break real easy. Get one like is on the explorer. Also if you or anyone else on this site ever does, or has someone do a service on these, you, or tell them they, to after they removed the pan and changed the old filter to dent the suction port of it. A lot of vehicles get fried and overheated due to lack of lube caused by the low clearance of these vehicles (mazda protege's, mx-3's, ford escort, mercury tracers, and late 96-up Kia's) and smashing the pan into the bottom of the filter cutting off fluid to the rest of the trans. If you dent to suction port ( the opening on the facing down side of the filter ) if your pan is dented, it can still get lube to the tranny. I have built over 1000 of these auto tranny's F4EAT and do this to every one. You can tell on a core, when if it was done, it could've saved the life of the tranny. Any ?'s please e-mail me

[guyaverage]

Thats a really good point, denting the suction port. Such a simple mod that could make a huge difference.

Ditto on the Explorer cooler. It is a fairly rugged little thing. I went thru dozens of coolers in junkyards and the tube and fin type if you have a pair of leather gloves on you could probably twist it up like a pretzel with very little effort. The plate and fin type are certainly more robust, and they are more efficient too.

I installed an Explorer cooler on my nephews Mx3 (used to be mine) a while back, he is coming over this week (water pump leaking) when he does I will take a few close-ups and post the pixrs here so everyone can see how easy this was to install and how well it fits right behind the bumper.

[MarkMoore]

i'm looking at transmission coolers and i notice a group of numbers following the letters "GVW". can some one tell me what the numbers and letters mean? also, what dimensions should i look for when shopping for a transmission cooler?

[MarkMoore]

oh ok, the 'GVW' stands for gross vehicle weight i think? so that number after the 'GVW' tells you how many pounds the cooler can handle? so suppose my car weighs 3,000 and i have a GVW 12,000 transmission cooler, that means that cooler is built to handle towing up to 9,000 additional lbs after considering my 3,000 lb. car? well anyway, back to my other question, what dimensions should i look for?

[guyaverage]

No, GVW is the weight of the car, passengers, cargo, and if you are towing, the tongue weight (the amount of weight sitting on the hitch, NOT the weight you are towing).

What size cooler you use (or need) is relative. A tube and fin cooler will be much bigger than a plate and fin cooler of the same capacity. A 20,000 GVW tube and fin cooler may be in the neighborhood of 10x20, but a plate and fin of that capacity would probably be around 1/2 that size. A 20,000 GVW cooler would be overkill on an Mx3, but it would work. I dont know what the capacity is on the Explorer cooler I use, but it measures about 8x10 or so.

Here is a picture of mine (well, actually my nephews now) as it sits behind the bumper (top view): click here . The hole it bolts in to (behind the latch, upper left part of picture) was already there, thanks to Mazda. Here is a bottom view: click here . The brackets I made from cheap Home Depot stock ($2) and 4 bolts, 6 washers, and 4 nuts ($2). The holes in the bottom of the bumper were already there (thanks again, Mazda). $7 for some 5/16's transmission cooler line, and $10 for the cooler out of the junkyard. Here is a picture of the hoses connected to the tranny: click here . Notice the tubes coming out of the tranny (left, and upper right), these are the transmission oil supply and return tubes. The hose on the left connects to the metal tube on the radiator (this is fluid flowing OUT of the tranny and into the radiator). The hose in the center is connected to the 2nd radiator tube (fluid flowing OUT of the radiator) on one end and into the new cooler on the other (fluid flows OUT of the radiator and into the new cooler). The hose on the right connects the new cooler to the tranny (this is cooled fluid RETURNING to the tranny).

[MarkMoore]

so what's the gvw number i should use?

[guyaverage]

I would get something that is rated at least 10,000 GVW. Everything I have seen under 10,000 is tiny and I wonder about their effectiveness.

[MarkMoore]

how about something like this? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=7936365757&category=33727&sspagename=WDVW