Home ReviewsRefund
Home/Dodge/Pickup R1500/Dodge Pickup R1500 (1997-2012)/Repair manual/Cooling System (mechanical)/Automatic Transmission Cooler
Contents Section: Cooling System (mechanical) All sections

Automatic Transmission Cooler Dodge Pickup R1500

Cooling System (mechanical) 6 illustrations ~925 words

DESCRIPTION

An air-to-oil transmission oil cooler is standard on all engine packages. The transmission oil cooler is mounted to the front of the radiator above the power steering cooler (Scheme 27)

Scheme 27

Scheme 27: DESCRIPTION
Scheme 27: DESCRIPTION

OPERATION

Transmission oil is routed through the cooler where heat is removed from the transmission oil before returning to the transmission.

REMOVAL

  1. Disconnect the battery negative cable.
  2. Place a drain pan under the oil cooler lines.
  3. Disconnect the transmission oil cooler line quick-connect fitting at the cooler outlet using the quick connect release tool 6935. Plug the cooler lines to prevent oil leakage.
  4. Unsnap the transmission cooler tubes from the radiator tank clips.
  5. Remove the bolt attaching the transmission cooler to the radiator.
  6. Remove oil cooler from the vehicle. Take care not to damage the radiator core or transmission cooler tubes.

INSTALLATION

  1. Position the transmission cooler tubes to the front of the radiator by sliding brackets into slots on radiator inlet tank.
  2. Snap the transmission cooler tubes into the clips on the side of the radiator tank.
  3. Install the transmission cooler attaching bolt. Tighten the bolt to 16 N.m (140 in. lbs.).
  4. Inspect the quick connect fittings for debris and install the quick connect fitting on the cooler tube until an audible "click" is heard. Pull apart the connection to verify proper installation and install the secondary latches.
  5. Connect the battery negative cable.
  6. Start the engine and check all fittings for leaks.
  7. Check the fluid level in the automatic transmission. (Refer to «STANDARD PROCEDURE - FLUID LEVEL CHECK»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/automatic-trans/#overhaul-45-rfe545rfe-automatic-transmission__standard-procedure-fluid-level-check) (45RFE/545RFE)) or (Refer to «STANDARD PROCEDURE - FLUID LEVEL CHECK»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/automatic-trans/#overhaul-48re-automatic-transmission__standard-procedure-fluid-level-check) (48RE)).

All diesel models equipped with an automatic transmission are equipped with both a main water-to-oil cooler and a separate air-to-oil cooler. Both coolers are supplied as standard equipment on diesel engine powered models when equipped with an automatic transmission.

The main water-to-oil transmission oil cooler is mounted to a bracket on the intake side of the engine (Scheme 28)

Scheme 28

Scheme 28: DESCRIPTION
Scheme 28: DESCRIPTION

The air-to-oil cooler is located in front of the radiator (Scheme 29)

Scheme 29

Scheme 29
Scheme 29

The transmission oil is routed through the main cooler first, then the auxiliary cooler where additional heat is removed from the transmission oil before returning to the transmission. The auxiliary cooler has an internal thermostat that controls fluid flow through the cooler. When the transmission fluid is cold (less then operating temperature), the fluid is routed through the cooler bypass. When the transmission fluid reaches operating temperatures and above, the thermostat closes off the bypass allowing fluid flow through the cooler. The thermostat is servicable.

REMOVAL - AIR TO OIL COOLER

  1. Remove Charge Air Cooler (Refer to «CHARGE AIR COOLER AND PLUMBING»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/blowers-superchargers-turbochargers/#exhaust-system-turbocharger) ).
  2. Place a drain pan under the oil cooler.
  3. Raise the vehicle.
  4. Disconnect the oil cooler quick-connect fittings from the transmission lines.
  5. Remove the charge air cooler-to-oil cooler bolt (Scheme 30)
  6. Remove two mounting nuts.
  7. Remove the oil cooler and line assembly towards the front of vehicle. Cooler must be rotated and tilted into position while removing.

REMOVAL - WATER TO OIL COOLER

CAUTIONIf a leak should occur in the water-to-oil cooler mounted to the side of the engine block, engine coolant may become mixed with transmission fluid. Transmission fluid may also enter engine cooling system. Both cooling system and transmission should be drained and inspected in case of oil cooler leakage.

Scheme 30

Scheme 30
Scheme 30

Scheme 31

Scheme 31
Scheme 31
  1. Disconnect both battery negative cables.
  2. Remove starter (Refer to «STARTERS»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/starter/#starting-system) ).
  3. Drain cooling system (Refer to «DRAINING COOLING SYSTEM 5.9L DIESEL ENGINE»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/cooling-system-mechanical/#engine-cooling-system-diagnosis-servicing-specifications__draining-cooling-system-59l-diesel-engine) ).
  4. Disconnect coolant lines from cooler. NOTE: Use a back-up wrench on the transmission cooler boss to prevent damage to the cooler.
  5. Disconnect transmission oil lines from cooler. Plug cooler lines to prevent oil leakage.
  6. Remove cooler bracket to transmission adapter bolt.
  7. Remove two cooler bracket to block bolts.
  8. Remove cooler assembly from vehicle. (Scheme 31)

DISASSEMBLY - 5.9L DIESEL ONLY

Note. The transmission oil cooler uses an internal thermostat to control transmission oil flow through the cooler. This thermostat is servicable.

Scheme 32

Scheme 32: DISASSEMBLY - 5.9L DIESEL ONLY
Scheme 32: DISASSEMBLY - 5.9L DIESEL ONLY
  1. Remove the transmission oil cooler (Refer to «REMOVAL»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/cooling-system-mechanical/#automatic-transmission-cooler__removal) ).
  2. Remove the snap ring retaining the thermostat end plug (Scheme 32)
  3. Remove the end plug, thermostat and spring from transmission oil cooler (Scheme 32)

ASSEMBLY - 5.9L DIESEL ONLY

  1. Throughly clean the thermostat bore on the transmission oil cooler.
  2. Install the new spring, thermostat, end plug and snap ring.
  3. Install the transmission oil cooler (Refer to «INSTALLATION»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/cooling-system-mechanical/#automatic-transmission-cooler__installation) ).

INSTALLATION - AIR TO OIL COOLER

  1. Carefully position the oil cooler assembly to the vehicle.
  2. Install two nuts and one bolt. Tighten to 11 N.m (95 in. lbs.) torque.
  3. Connect the quick-connect fittings to the transmission cooler lines.
  4. Install Charge Air Cooler (Refer to «CHARGE AIR COOLER AND PLUMBING»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/blowers-superchargers-turbochargers/#exhaust-system-turbocharger) ).
  5. Start the engine and check all fittings for leaks.
  6. Check the fluid level in the automatic transmission (Refer to «STANDARD PROCEDURE - FLUID LEVEL CHECK»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/automatic-trans/#overhaul-48re-automatic-transmission__standard-procedure-fluid-level-check) ).

INSTALLATION - WATER-TO-AIR COOLER

  1. Position oil cooler on cylinder block.
  2. Install lower mounting bolt to cooler at the cylinder block. Torque bolt to 77 N.m (57 ft. lbs.)
  3. Install upper mounting bolt at the cylinder block. Torque bolt to 24 N.m (19 ft. lbs.)
  4. Install cooler bracket to transmission adapter bolt. Tighten to 24 N.m (18 ft. lbs.). NOTE: Use a back-up wrench on the transmission cooler boss to prevent damage to the cooler.
  5. Connect transmission oil lines to cooler.
  6. Connect coolant hoses to cooler.
  7. Install starter motor (Refer to «STARTERS»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/starter/#starting-system) ).
  8. Connect battery negative cables.
  9. Fill cooling system (Refer to «REFILLING COOLING SYSTEM 5.9L DIESEL ENGINE»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/cooling-system-mechanical/#engine-cooling-system-diagnosis-servicing-specifications__refilling-cooling-system-59l-diesel-engine) ).
  10. Check transmission oil level and fill as necessary (Refer to «STANDARD PROCEDURE - FLUID LEVEL CHECK»(/dodge/pickup-r1500/1997-2012/remont/automatic-trans/#overhaul-48re-automatic-transmission__standard-procedure-fluid-level-check) ).

More articles — Engine