Too Paranoid?

[crokett]

Our van is of a make/vintage that is known for transmission problems at the mileage we have right now. I haven't had any problems (most folks would say YET) . As far as I know there isn't much I can do except keep it clean. Someone suggested an aftermarket transmission cooler to bypass the factory one since this will keep it cooler. I can get one installed for parts/labor less than 200.00 and probably less than 150.00

So two questions - will the aftermarket cooler help?

Assuming the answer is yes we are leaving for Indiana on Wednesday. Is it a good idea to have my mechanic drop it in Tuesday and go out of town without a shakeout run or am I being paranoid? A transmission cooler is just a radiator for the fluid, right? No moving parts? I trust my mechanic - I just work at a job where you don't change something in production until you've tested the changes for a while.

[gsmittle]

Our van is of a make/vintage that is known for transmission problems at the mileage we have right now. I haven't had any problems (most folks would say YET) . As far as I know there isn't much I can do except keep it clean. Someone suggested an aftermarket transmission cooler to bypass the factory one since this will keep it cooler. I can get one installed for parts/labor less than 200.00 and probably less than 150.00

So two questions - will the aftermarket cooler help?

Assuming the answer is yes we are leaving for Indiana on Wednesday. Is it a good idea to have my mechanic drop it in Tuesday and go out of town without a shakeout run or am I being paranoid? A transmission cooler is just a radiator for the fluid, right? No moving parts? I trust my mechanic - I just work at a job where you don't change something in production until you've tested the changes for a while.

No, you're not too paranoid--they are out to get you!

I used to tow a travel trailer, and this is my understanding of the situation: Assuming you have a full-size van (GM would be my guess) you should be OK unless you plan on towing a large trailer or carrying a heavy load to IN.

The literature I read about transmission cooling was about 50-50 aftermarket cooler or not. Unless you're a hard-core trailer tower you're probably OK. Certainly wouldn't hurt to put in an aftermarket trans cooler, but I would think it would be better to wait until you are back from your trip. Regular maintenance is the best preventative, and it sounds like you're doing that.

Personally, that's not the kind of mod I'd make right before a major trip.

When I got a bigger TT I sold the van and bought a 3/4 ton Suburban. That thing has the biggest transmission cooler I've ever seen.

g.

[Uncle Cracker]

Does being "known for" transmission trouble mean everybody gets it, or just more than average? Knowing this will possibly ease your paranoia. As has already been said, a cooler is usually helpful only for heavy towing or desert heat. Although simple in design, they can clog up, leak, or take a rock strike, which would add to your troubles. On the other hand, if the dealer recommends one, you might want to consider it (but not a one-size-fits-all Pep Boys special), but I think not just ahead of a trip. If it leaks, you often won't know it soon enough.

[crokett]

More than average. I will wait till we get back. If the trip over the mountains doesn't find anything, there isn't anything to find.

[LCHIEN]

more than average could still mean you only have a 1 or 2 % chance of failure in the life of the vehicle. And the chance of failure in the next two weeks would be almost nil.

If there's a design problems that additional cooling will help, then you should have installed the cooler when the transmission was new. Seems to me that heat damage is additive and if its going to fail from cumulative heat damage about now then its too late to be installing additional cooling.

[LinuxRandal]

more than average could still mean you only have a 1 or 2 % chance of failure in the life of the vehicle. And the chance of failure in the next two weeks would be almost nil.

If there's a design problems that additional cooling will help, then you should have installed the cooler when the transmission was new. Seems to me that heat damage is additive and if its going to fail from cumulative heat damage about now then its too late to be installing additional cooling.

I want to add, it is also mechanic speak for one of the common problems of a certain type/year range of vehicles. Everyone has areas of concern for different brands and years, (like a 2000 Honda oddesy that had a non replaceable sensor, without dropping the transmission, that was redesigned).
Best bet is just to save up for a new transmission, you may never need it, but if your aware of problem areas, you can hold off Murphy by being ready. You go putting in an aftermarket, and your bound to have a oring impropperly sealed, and it leak on your trip, running the transmission out of fluid.
Remember this for future purposes, if you think you need it, get it on the next new one.

[JR]

I will wait till we get back.

Good thinking. There must some corollary to Murphy's Law that goes something like this, "The probability of the transmission work causing a failure is inversely proportional to the amount of time between when the work is completed and when the interstate trip starts."

Have a nice time in Hoosier land. Isn't it just about basketball season?

JR

[Uncle Cracker]

Isn't it just about basketball season?

Yes, but basketball season has recently been relocated to Florida...

[Sam Conder]

Yes, but basketball season has recently been relocated to Florida...

Temporarily. The Cats are about to teach the Gators what REAL Billyball is all about!

[Sam Conder]

David,

Take it from me, you can never be too paranoid about vans, interstate travel and mechanical trouble.

[crokett]

Have a nice time in Hoosier land. Isn't it just about basketball season?

JR

Is it? Hadn't noticed - I'm too busy watching football.

[Uncle Cracker]

Temporarily. The Cats are about to teach the Gators what REAL Billyball is all about!

Maybe for a year or two... Tough to lose your entire team to the NBA without skipping a beat, but I think you Cats are gonna find out the hard way that Gainesville is now a two sport town... for keeps. But that's OK, because as an SEC team, Kentucky will continue to get their cut of the revenues...

[SARGE..g-47]

I dropped a Factory Re-built tranny in my wife's Cherokee last Tuesday after the 1st gear decided to fail. The Jeep had 84,000 miles on the original. The transmition pan was dropped every 30,000 miles and screen and fluid replaced (and believe me, this is very important to do for those that just don't have the time or money to do it).

There is no Known problem with Jeep trannies. I have driven GM and Dodge trucks over 250,000 miles and never had a major problem over the course of 35 years. Makes you wonder why?

The "Why" may very well concern the fact that my wife occassionally let my son drive it when his vehicle would be down. And the fact that both accelerate from a stop as if they were trying to set a land-speed record, only to be slowed down by a red-light 2 blocks away. Even though I warned them and told them the consequences of doing that in the long run. But... out of sight.... out of mind!

How long your tranny will last will have a lot to do with how hard you have worked it over time. Trailer pulling as mentioned.. jack rabbit starts.. keeping the screen changed and replacing tranmission fluid.. and just normal friction wear caused by mile being put on it.. etc. etc.. And there is always the outside chance of a defective part.

Don't bother with the cooler as metioned unless you pull trailers. And go on your trip as planned. You might have your mechanic pull the pan and install a new screen and fluid if you don't do that regulary. Have him check for any metal filing in the bottom of the pan, which he would probably inform you of if he's a real mechanic anyway.

And save for a new re-built tranny if you have very high miles. No mechanical parts will last forever as friction produces wear and tear. Some things are just the way they are!

Off to Year One to sell some tranny parts to some hard-charging "muscle car" drivers that make "jack-rabbit" starts. Again... some things are just the way they are! ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..

Good luck...