So I bought my car salvage, went to the dealership to get the transmission flushed and they said my car was missing the transmission cooler. The service guy said the wrong radiator was in the car and that the transmission cooler was built into the radiator? Is this true? Can I just get an aftermarket transmission cooler and make it work?

 

I thought only the GCC spec cars had the trans cooler

 

Yeah, the radiator was probably replaced with a cheaper aftermarket item that wasn't completely compatible (Note: This bodes ill for the quality of the rest of the previous repairs). I don't see any reason why an aftermarket cooler wouldn't work just fine, as long as it is properly sized, you shouldn't have any trouble finding room to fit it in; there's tons of room between the bumper and the radiator.

 

^ +1

 

Get an aftermarket transmission cooler ASAP before you fry the trans.

 

How did they bypass the lines is the bigger concern
Did they route it in a loop or block it off??? I'm sure its in a loop.

 

I believe they just looped it. Any recommendations for an aftermarket cooler. There are so many out there. My wife drives the car so the car never get's beat on...so which cooler would you recommend.

P.S. I'm never buying a salvage again. I did it at the time because I was just starting to make money blah blah and needed a nice car. Thanks guys

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HAYDE...Q5fAccessories

how about this one? Seems to much cheaper than the rest...I know stillen and GTM (something like that) has the set for 350ish

 

Update...

So I got under the car and took off the splash guard and it appears that he looped the transmission right back to the transmission and then looped the radiator from the top inlet to the bottom inlet that are on the driver side, basically creating two closed loops. Why he did that, I have no idea. So as far as reconnecting it. The transmission has two lines going towards the radiator, one running on top of the other. Would the top one go to the top inlet of the radiator and would the bottom one at the radiator connect to the transmission line that is on the bottom.

Hopefully that made sense.

 

Ok, good! Your radiator is the correct one. What you need to do is reconnect the hoses that are looped on the transmission to the radiator. It'll help your transmission live a bit longer and shift smoother.

 

hah, that's kind of a good news/bad news story you've got there. It did make sense, but I don't know which goes where (I've got a 6spd). I would make sure though, as I'm sure it DOES matter.

 

Doesn't matter...

The radiator is straight through

 

Who did you get your salvage from? I have been buying salvage cars for 20 years and have had really good luck with them overall. I'd like to know if it is a dealer that sold this one so I can avoid them in the future.

My G is the first non-salvage car I've bought since the 80's and some stupid chick hit me in the rear at a red light 1 month after I got it.

I bought a salvage WRX from a guy in California on Ebay back in 04 and one week after I got it the front right axle popped out. I called the guy at 6 AM in Cali and he answered his phone. He told me to get it fixed and fax him the invoice--it cost 525 dollars to fix and I had a check in the mail from him in 3 days. You couldn't get service like that from a car dealer. I drove that car 75,000 miles, modded it, etc and never had another single repair on it.

His ebay id is drjemini if anyone wants to buy salvage from him in the future.

Good luck with your car man....

 

For the life of me, i can't remember, but what is that cooler on the left for?

 

trace the line it could be power steering