May be a stupid question but i just moved up from a 5spd 92 to an auto 99 and i was looking at my rad just now and there is a mini rad in front of the normal radiator. what is this? tranny or oil cooler? or something else?

 

Tranny Cooler

 

thanks. i thought so , but im still trying to get acquainted with a 3rd gen auto.

 

Directly in front of the rad is your A/C condenser. Its about the size of the radiator but its really thin.

If you have a smaller radiator infront of that like 1'x1'x1" then yes thats a transmission cooler. I believe that would be aftermarket the stock tranny cooler is built into the radiator. TRD makes a kit or you can get tranny cooler from Hayden. Here is what a tranny cooler looks like.



I used that pic so you can compare the size too that quart of fluid next too it.

You can trace the lines too. If it has steal lines running all over the place then its an A/C condenser. If it has rubber transmission fluid lines its a tranny cooler.

 

There's no such thing as a "stupid question"...only people too stupid to ask a question.

 

So where do I look to see if I have a stock transmission cooler?

 

Generally, your radiator has tranny fluid running through part of it for cooling. Adding an auxilary tranny cooler is a good preventative measure.