I awoke to a puddle in the driveway, never a good start, right?

Discovered it was trans fluid. Ok, found the fitting on the drivers side of the cooler leaking. (recently I had a mechanic pull the radiator, on an unrelated matter, and figured it was just a bit loose)

So... you know how this story goes. 1/8 of a turn tighter then UH OH, really loose.

Removed the short line, hoping that only the hose side was bad. No such luck. I can SEE a thread about 3 threads in on the male part that is missing.

I had HOPED that the large nut on the cooler side fitting would remove the whole thing.. no such luck either. The large nut comes right off, and the piece of pipe sticking out is fast. Of course, it's nothing normal for pipe, gotta be metric, something smaller than 1/2 pipe, and fine threads.

Any ideas? I'm hoping it's not new/used radiator time. If I had something that was the same size and thread.. I think a coupling would span over the bad section of thread, and be able to put a small nipple in and connect a new flex hose. But I have no idea the pipe size.

I'm trying to go slow, and figure a practical way to fix it. I have the means to just buy a new radiator... but what's the fun in that.

JP

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1985 300SD
2001 Toyota Tundra - soon to be replaced with diesel truck
2006 Honda CRV

I don't have my car here at work today so I can't check but can the fitting be repaired similar to the oil cooler fittings? MB has a repalcable threaded fitting. I have a metric tap and drill for the oil cooler fitting. Maybe the same can be done for the tranny cooler line. Not sure.
Good luck.

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81 300D Turbo 190K sold
83 300sd 319K best $500 I ever spent-daily driverw/ 2 tank WVO set up

Get 6 hose clamps.Cut oringinal hoses,buy small piece copper or brakeline pipe to go into hose 2@ pieces.Buy aftermarket transcooler(better than hot coolant) buy 4' hose rated for oils.Attach new hose to cooler then down to copper line attach done.Both sides of cooler.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

That might be a good alternative to the fun that happens when you loose all your transmission fluid a few hundred miles from home.

I'm trying to go slow, and figure a practical way to fix it.

After market cooler $24 to$40.Better for high speeds,city driving and towing.Never mind directions,I used my air conditioning condensor

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

Aftermarket cooler was a good idea, but I don't have a lot of underhood space, as I have a few mods. (an Espar heater, and a fuel tank for it, fuel heaters, and a electric lift pump)

In a last ditch hope that the brass fitting was removable, I called Phil at fastlane parts (sponsor to this site) I've gotten thousands in parts from him over the years. Once again, he didn't disappoint.

No, the fitting was part of the whole.. BUT, phil just said.. let me see if I can find you a used cooler. A half hour later a cooler, and a couple new hoses are on the way. 150 bucks.

I tackled the radiator removal myself (a first for me) and will have to have a radiator shop crimp out the old, and put in the new.

Better than buying a new radiator. Thanks for the tips.

JP

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1985 300SD
2001 Toyota Tundra - soon to be replaced with diesel truck
2006 Honda CRV

Considering that a new Nissens radiator can be had for under $200 delivered and ready to install, laughing all the way to the bank might not be in order.

um, the "mechanic" crossthreaded your cooler lines. he needs to replace your radiator...

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!