Auto transmission cooler lines

[GOakes]

A couple of years ago there was a lot of talk in the TDR about automatic transmission cooling line connectors comming apart and dumping all the ATF. Last I heard was that my "97" had an upgraded quick connector and not to worry. Today I disconnected these two "quick connectors" and they look good. The plastic latch gizzy showed no sign of destress and the O ring thingies looked good. However, the whole cotton picking thing looked like trouble. I gotta wonder why Dodge used this more expensive connector and didn't use slip on connection with hose clamp as they did on the other end of the same two hoses. I've read of modifications that replaced these quick connectors with compression or maybe flair type but they are as ridgid as slip-on and clamp arrangement and perhaps less flexable under tristing stress.

I like to keep things simple and more importantly "reliable" --- has anybody modified this connection using slip on hoses and hose clamps? I'm open to comments and all war stories involving these lines.



Thank you

Old lonesome George from the back woods...

 

[illflem]

My '95 has metal connecters that were accidentally installed by the dealer as a recall. The recall only applied to gassers!! Seem to work fine. I've heard of guys running hydraulic hose the entire way and eliminating the metal tubing. Seems to me that hyd hose would be bomb proof, it certainly will take the heat, pressure and would not fail from flexing. I'm sure hose would be cheaper than Dodge tubing also.

 

[Howard Durand]

My original lines had to be replaced in 1997 with the new style from Dodge. They are much better than the original ones. The only clip type connectors used are the ones at the end where they connect to the two hoses that deliver fluid to the front cooling radiator. They appear to be of good quality though. The hoses were then fastened to the fittings on the radiator with regular hose clamps. The hoses started leaking this summer when we were returning from Nebraska. It appears when the mechanic installed the new lines, he over tightened the hose clamps and they finally loosened up. I cut the hose ends back and replaced the clamps with some higher quality clamps that are a little wider and don't cut into the hose.



Illflem- You were fortunate to get yours replaced by Dodge. My cost for having new lines installed and paying to have the truck towed to the dealer came to just over $700.



The original crappy lines and fittings were the problem but, of course, not under warranty.

 

[CPH]

GOakes,

Check the past threads, you will find a lot of info. I did the hose thing. Lots cheaper and better than the factory fix.



Charlie

 

[Extreme1]

I just did the latest factory line fox on mine. It uses double inverted flair connections and totaly eliminates the quick connects. It sounds like the set up Howard has.