Tranny Cooler

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 3:41 am

I'm going to do some trailer towing with the Vibe (two motorcycles) and will be installing a tranny cooler.My question is - which hose (passenger side of radiator, top hose or bottom) is the fluid return line back to the tranny? Maybe someone with a shop manual could look it up, I sure would appreciate it. Thanks.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:28 am

this is all I can find, and since I have a 5 speed I can't go look to see if this will be of any help, but I assume the "cooler outlet tube" is the return line.

Attached files

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 11:50 pm

Joatmon, thanks a bunch for the diagram, it explains perfectly the fluid flow from the tranny, to the factory cooler and back to the tranny.Would your book possibly indicate the ID of the rubber fluid lines? Thanks again.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 3:31 am

I had a Vibe service manual, which may have that info, but it was a two book set and I can't find the volume that has tranny stuff in it. THe pic I uploaded was from the softcopy of the Matrix manual, but the Matrix manual doesn't show the rubber lines.

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 3:55 am

I get lost real quick on non-electrical automotive engine stuff, and I didn't see anything in the service manual that said "coolant in -->" and "coolant out -->" with regards to the hoses. However, I scanned the pages on flushing the coolant; hopefully these help:EDIT- gonna have to post the pages separately I guess-What's the attachment size limit? thought it was 5MB. searched, but couldn't find it....

Attached files TrannyFlushp1.pdf (349 KB)

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 4:06 am

page 2 of 3

Attached files TrannyFlushp2.pdf (434.4 KB)

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 4:09 am

page 3 of 3

Attached files TrannyFlushp3.pdf (416 KB)

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Sat Jan 14, 2006 10:32 am

More great info and I really appreciate it. Thanks again.

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 9:54 am

I want to say thanks to cohocarl for his excellent post on wiring the Vibe with a trailer connector and also to joatmon and GMJAP for their help regarding the tranny fluid lines. THANKS GUYS! I've installed a B & M tranny cooler, a Hidden Hitch, a Hoppy trailer light connector and I'm ready to tow the wife's and mine motorcycles behind the Vibe. If I can find an engine oil cooler, I'll install one of those also. I'll also be switching to synthetic in the engine and tranny. Trailer is on order and should be here in a week or so. Towed weight should be about 1200 lbs.Thanks again for the help.

damronjr · Post by **damronjr** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:54 am

I would be greatly appreciative if you could post pics and a how to on your B&M tranny cooler install. I have one sitting here that I need to install, but step by step from the same car would be awesome!

GMJAP · Post by **GMJAP** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 11:57 am

Cheers! Sounds like you've got it well set up for towing. What kind of bikes do guys have?

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:50 pm

I'll do some pics this weekend.

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Fri Jan 20, 2006 10:53 pm

Wife rides a '06 Suzuki Burgman AN400 and I ride a '04 Kawasaki ZRX1200R.

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 1:50 am

This will not be a step-by-step, since the cooler is already installed. Sorry, I should have taken pics as I was doing the installation. Anyway. I think the pics indicate how I did it. This is the way I did it, I'm sure it can be improved upon. I attached a piece of aluminum angle (1 1/4" X 1 1/4" that I had laying around), using two 1/4" bolts, to the cooler, then attached the other leg of the angle to the under side of the metal bumper support with self-tapping hex head screws. I mounted the cooler behind the the lower grille so it would get good air flow. Underneath, on the passenger side, is a black splash panel that needs to be removed, 'cause it is in the way, and re-attached when finished. There are two screws and several of those funky snap plugs that hold it on. For max cooling, the axillary cooler s/b connected to the line that is returning the fluid to the tranny (between the factory cooler and the tranny). The return line on the Vibe is the bottom nipple located on the passenger side of the radiator. Remove the factory rubber hose (it's about 8" or 9" long) at both ends. I used 5/16" I.D. rubber tranny cooler hose (purchased at the local parts store) to connect the cooler to the radiator nipple and the metal return line. About 7' of hose, but measure twice and cut once. I also placed 3/4" split wire loom around the rubber hose, where it might rub on body parts, just to protect it. Hope this helps. (click images to enlarge)

damronjr · Post by **damronjr** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:51 am

Quote, originally posted by djb383 »Hope this helps. Eh, not really! I really need how to run the hoses. Mounting it isn't a big deal, I just need to figure out how the hoses are run, and with my little knowledge of car talk, pics would help me figure out where each hose goes. No biggie, if it's possible and you get a chance, pics of the hose runs and where to get and what kind and how much hose you used would great!

cohocarl · Post by **cohocarl** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 10:06 am

Quote, originally posted by djb383 »I want to say thanks to cohocarl for his excellent post on wiring the Vibe with a trailer connector...No problem. It pleases me to know it came in handy. Thanks.I definately like the ZRX11, & 1200's. If the wife would let me get another bike, I'd be looking for either one of those, or a Bandit 1200. No bling, just a huge motor in a clean package. I bet it's a blast.

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Sat Jan 21, 2006 11:33 am

Quote, originally posted by damronjr »where to get and what kind and how much hose you used would great! Well, like I mentioned; from my local auto parts store, 5/16" inside diameter rubber transmission oil cooler hose and about 7' of it. Space is somewhat cramped to take pics of the hose, sorry. For me, mounting the cooler was the hard part. Since the rubber hose is soft and flexible, it can be routed several different ways. I went from the two ports on top of the auxilary cooler, then around the passenger side of the radiator and came in on the back side of the radiator for the other two hose connections. All I did was follow the instructions provided with the cooler. The hose routing is unique to the particular installation and as mentioned earlier, it can be routed several different ways. Good luck.

damronjr · Post by **damronjr** » Sun Jan 22, 2006 1:27 am

Sorry, I guess I meant more of where the hoses connect. I don't know which hose is supposed to connect to what and where and how. I guess if I really looked around I could probably find it, but I figured since you just did yours it might be easier for you to answer. Thanks for the help anyways.

djb383 · Post by **djb383** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 5:34 am

Here is a pic from the back side of the radiator. The two green circles indicate the hose connections. One is to the lower nipple on the radiator and the other is to the metal return line going back to the tranny. The other two connections are the two nipples on the auxiliary tranny cooler. For what it is worth, I used a "header" type cooler rather than a "tube" type. The header type has less line pressure loss than a tube type.(click to enlarge)

damronjr · Post by **damronjr** » Mon Jan 23, 2006 6:46 am

Saved the pic, maybe it will make more sense when I can get under there and compare them. Thanks again!

Tranny Cooler

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