Tranmission and Radiator

Does anyone have information on how the transmission and radiator are
linked in the 97 SL2s?

Can replacing the transmission affect the coolant system in any manner?

Are there connections between the transmission and radiator that need
to be unconnected and reconnected during a transmission/valve body
replacement?

If anyone has written resources - such as manuals - please let me know
where to go for more information.

Thank you.

 

Since you mentioned a valve body, I'll assume you're talking about an
automatic transmission since you didn't specify whether you were inquiring
about a manual or automatic.

The radiator has a transmission cooler in it, and will be connected to lines
from your transmission. Fluid from your transmission will flow through that
part of the radiator. You'd best check a Haynes or Chilton manual
(available at any auto parts store for around $10, or even your local public
library) for more info. I only have experience with manual Saturn
transmissions myself.

Good luck,Lane [ lane (at) evilplastic.com ]

 

Ditto what you say Lane, however, I cant seem to find detailed info
pertaining to this in my Haynes, perhaps Chilton covers it.

marx404

 

Transaxle Oil Cooler.

There isnt detailed info in the GM ESI program either. You have a
radiator inside a radiator and two lines connecting the transaxle and
the radiator together. What else is there to know besides leak checking
and flushing? I dont really understand the question.

 

Sorry I didn't give more detail.

This is an automatic transmission. A Saturn Service center put in a
rebuilt tranmission. Shortly thereafter, the coolant level light came
on because it was low on fluid. When we go to replace the fluid, the
overflow tank starts to fill and then the fluid starts spilling out
from under the car from somewhere.

We thought that perhaps the transmission was linked to the radiator by
a hose, and that somehow that hose was not properly connected when the
transmission work was done. Is this even a possibility?

 

It sounds like the transmission cooler that is inside the radiator is bad.
The transmission and radiator are connected by steel lines, but the
transmission fluid and the engine coolant are supposed to be isolated from
each other. Likely that a new radiator is in order. Hopefully, you haven't
had coolant get into the transmission.

Ken

 

Uh... I'm pretty sure that the saturn automatic tranny actually has
engine coolant going through it. Well, not directly - but through a
heat exchange unit somewhere in the transmission. The 'cooler inside
the radiator' sounds kindof far-fetched to me since the difference
between the manual and auto trans radiator is only a couple of fittings
attached to the "tank ends".

 

Huhhhhhhh? Behold a heat exchanger inside the "radiator" tank.
http://www.dippy.org/svcman/image/working/0707.jpg

 

Uh... I'm pretty sure you don't know what you're talking about. The fittings
are what connect the transmission fluid lines to the radiator, where a heat
exchanger is located that is bathed in radiator fluid . There may be a
system like you describe, but not on anything I've ever worked on.

 

And exactly why are you "pretty sure" of this nonsense?

The transmission cooler is inside the radiator on almost every modern
vehicle made. The lines run to/from the trans and enter and leave through
the tank end.

Bob

 

I stand corrected... (with only ONE out off 14 cars and trucks I've
ever owned that has an automatic transmission).