Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) Where to get new trans. lines?

[KMott]

I noticed that where the one steel line goes into the rubber line by the trans. cooler, it is dripping fluid. I pulled the clip off and pulled the line off to clean it up, but the o-ring is leaking. My lines are also patched up in a few spots, and i just want to replace them all. Is chrysler the best option? any other things to watch out for, i know they have problems with lines coming off sometimes. Thanks

 

[WBusa]

KM, my transmission lines were a mess when I bought my '95 a coupla years ago... leaking at the cooler like yours, plus at the transmission, plus any-old-where you looked. Yuck. The underside of my truck looked like a Cherry Slushy. I bit the bullet and had Dodge replace 'em all with the 'new-style' lines (featuring connectors that don't self-destruct in place of the disasterous old 'quick-disconnects'). I've been totally pleased with the results, going on three years now. Since you're a TDR reader there's prolly no reason you can't do the install yourself (just buy the lines from Dodge)... I just didn't feel like spending a day on my back eating road grit washed down with transmission fluid. It was a mite pricey... $550... most of which was the parts, of course.

 

[Murphy67]

Same problem

I just logged in today having the same problem. I have a 94. The line with the sending unit is leaking at the trans quick connect. The 0 ring has worn the tube so that now a new oring will not make a tight fit.



That one line plus replacement ends is going to cost about $ 155. 00. I am thinking there are other options but its gonna take a bit of engineering.



My lines are in great shape except for that one end, so I may try to find a solution other than new parts. If however yours have had extended life repairs it may be worth your while to go new.



Good luck.

 

[Joe G.]

I replaced all my trans cooler lines with hydraulic hose. The temp sensor for my trans temp gauge is plumbed to the output cooler connector with a short piece of 1/4" NPT pipe with a T fitting for the sensor. The output hose connects to that. I have the stock temp sensor connector fooled with a 750 ohm resister so the PCM alway thinks the trans is warm. That lets OD and lockup work without waiting for the trans to heat up in cold weather. No leaks anywhere in the trans cooler system. You don't need high pressure hose, but you do need hose that will survive hot oil.



The stock steel lines will rub together and eventually leak. I had the quick disconnect fittings fail. Replaced them with a later version of them. That version failed with even less mileage. I replace those fittings with compression fittings. No more leaks at the fittings. Then I had a small leak that was hard to find. It was from the lines in front of the trans pan rubbing together. After a few descriptive comments about the whole thing, I replaced the lines with hose. No problems since.

 

[BigEasy]

Joe, I replaced my lines the the front with hydraulic hose too... what did you use for clamps? I can't seem to get mine to quit dripping. It drips much slower than it was, but it still drips.

 

[Joe G.]

I used barbed fittings and stainless gear clamps. I don't think I would have any leaks even without the clamps because the barbed fittings I used really fit nice and tight. No drips even when I first installed the hose. That's a minor miracle for me. I usually have at least one persistant dripper when I do something like this. I used Silglide to help install the barbed fittings.

 

[KMott]

Well i wish i had made my own lines. I picked up the updated lines from chrysler today, and parts were 460 dollars. I pulled the old lines off and noticed that the new lines arent the same at the front. Looks like chrysler took the 90 degree bend off on the front. Must be trying to force us into buying more parts, because the lines off the cooler wont reach the new lines. None of them have the right sized fittings on the ends, they all need adaptors to fit into the smaller threaded holes in the transmission/ cooler up on side of engine. They sold me three lines and 2 adaptors, and i need 2 more adaptors and will have to try to extend the front lines.

Im going to call chrysler tomorrow and make sure that these are the right parts.

Thanks for the help.

 

[KMott]

After looking it over some more, i realized that the fittings that i need 2 more of are 60 dollars each from chrysler. Im going to try to return the lines and fittings tomorrow and pickup 4 barbed fittings, hydraulic hose, and some good clamps. I think i can just cut the t out of the original line where the sensor threads in and stick it between the hydraulic hose. This will also eliminate those front rubber lines that are held on by the metal clips.



I cant believe that they charge 60 dollars for a little brass fitting! Im building up an old 86 chevy 4x4 as fast as i can, so i can get rid of this thing. Have a 1st gen 12 valve ready for the chevy.

 

[Joe G.]

The sensor is NPT so use a 1/4" NPT nipple long enough to clear the pan. Use a T fitting with whatever the NPT size for the sensor is on the end of the nipple. Less work and hassle than trying to make the piece of pipe with the fitting in it work.



Better yet. Put a 1K ohm resistor in the temp sensor connector to satisfy the PCM and forget about the stock sensor in the cooler line.

 

[KMott]

Thanks for the quick replies. I like your second idea of eliminating the stock sensor, and installing a resistor. Lately i have been having a big problem with the truck jumping in and out of o/d non stop. Eliminating the sensor will make the lines less likely to leak, and will save me from having to replace the sensor, if it's the culprit for the o/d problem.

Hopefully chrysler will take the parts back. Im going to try to get his fixed tomorrow. Cant drive it with no trans. lines!

THanks again

 

[Joe G.]

The OD foolishness is probably the TPS. Get hold of Howard Durand by PM or e-mail to get all the TPS fixit info you can possible need for a '94 or '95. Or e-mail me at -- email address removed -- for what I have. I'm not quite as up to date as Howard, but he may be on the road by now.

 

[KMott]

Well it all worked out good. I returned the lines to chrysler with no hassles. Picked up 20 feet of 3/8 ID hydraulic hose, clamps, and fittings. I cut the ends off the front lines that go to the transmission cooler, and used barbed fittings to adapt to the hydraulic hose. I used teflon tape on all the fittings and threaded the 2 in the transmission and the 2 in the other cooler. After that it was just a matter of cutting the 3 lines, clamping them on, and tieing them up properly. As you suggested, i eliminated the stock sensor and put a 1K ohm resistor in the sensor wire. Absolutely no leaks, and it actually looks pretty good. Transmission shifts into OD no problem, and my problem of the OD kicking in and out hasnt happened again so far. Total cost was just over a 100 dollars, comapred to 460, plus whatever more i would have spent to make those lines work. Thanks for the help, i dont know why anyone would put the lines on from chrysler.

kevin

 

[WBusa]

i dont know why anyone would put the lines on from chrysler.

kevin

In my case I think it was 'cause I've got more money than brains (which ain't sayin' a lot) :-laf

 

[KMott]

Hey now, dont be so hard on yourself! If Joe hadnt thrown the idea at me i would have done the same thing, and been out another 500 dollars. I am very happy with the results! (although my O/D problem has re-occurred, but thats another problem)