Transmission cooler

Hello all just bought a 2002 Windstar and wanted to add a Hayden transmission cooler to the car. Anyone add one to there vehicle? If so you have any pictures or ideas on how I should do it? Just looking for ideas right now got some of my own, but wanted any input from someone who has done it.
Thanks

That's an EXCELLANT idea. Excessive ATF temp. is the single biggest killer of transmissions. Another thing to remember is that your vans transmission uses Mercon V fluid ONLY. Please, DO NOT substitute ANY other fluid. To do so will eventually cause "shudder" on acceleration, and that will further elevate ATF temps., which you are trying to avoid.

I thought about doing this to our '98 3.0L, but with all the trips being in town, and of rather short distance, I decided that a complete ATF change every two years was more than enough for our situation.

You know I've been told by a few people and transmission mechanics that there is no need to change the tranny fluid. There reasoning is that if you do burn some fluid and the bands deposit stuff in nooks and crannys, that fresh fluid with all the detergents cleans out these deposits and causes leaks. A co worker of mine drove a 87 Blazer for over 200k and never changed the fluid. He showed me the fluid was still nice and pink. So as long as I can keep the fluid pink I don't think I will be changing it.
To keep on ranting I owned a 99 Ford Escort it burnt the fluid quickly. From the ZX2 forums the guys who had to have their trannys rebuilt quoted there transmission mechanics saying "The stock tranny cooler is garbage. It tends to plug up real easy and thus causing overheating." So I put a B&M cooler on that car and man it kept that fluid pink.
I know which lines to tap into on the Windstar was wondering if anyone knew which line was pressure and return. I also saw that it was going to be a tight fit getting hoses to the front of the radiator, and could use any suggestions. Thanks for the info ModMech.

Seizer, even partial ATF swaps will do wonders for your AX4N tranny. They are a much hardier unit after the 2001 update. Pull out as much as you can thru the dipstick tube with a hand pump / oil suction pump and add fresh ATF back in, driving the van a bit between drain/fill cycles. If you want to mess with the cooler lines- obviously that is more thorough. To find the "pressure" line, I've had good luck feeling which one is warmer after letting the vehicle run for a minute or two (from a cold start). I hate to mess with the lines if the vehicle is still under warranty :uhoh: . When you get ambitious enough to pull the pan to do a filter changeout (I'd do that around 40Kmi) drill a hole in the AT pan & install a drain plug kit.
G/luck!
Joel

When you get ambitious enough to pull the pan to do a filter changeout (I'd do that around 40Kmi) drill a hole in the AT pan & install a drain plug kit.
G/luck!
Joel

Very good advice, I just dropped my pan the other weekend, changed the filter and installed a A/T drain plug. The drain plug kit was only $3.99 at Advanced Auto and you just drill a 1/2" hole. Now I plan to drain and refill during oil changes while I'm under there. One recommendation, install the drain plug on the side of the pan, if you put it on the bottom it is now the lowest point on the vehicle and that would not be good to scrape that off. I put mine on the front of the pan so I can reach the oil and transmission plugs in one shot.

Just a comment on the fluid change via the pan:

keep in mind you are only changing a small percentage of the fluid that way. I am still a proponent of clean fluid and filter in the tranny (my '96 has 110K and never a slip, shudder or otherwise). However, the best way to change it is to pump it out as described earlier, or use the manufacturer process of pumping it overboard via the cooler line - detailed in the Ford manual.

I don't have my book in front of me but I think the tranny holds around 10 quarts, and dropping the pan changes around 3 (ballpark figures).

Good luck and take care of that tranny. This model has a checkered history with the tranny, and I think good fluid and filter maintenance has paid off in spades for me.

Dropping the pan got 6qts out of 12.25 total for my 2000 Windstar. With continual drain and fills my fluid will be in better shape than doing a fluid flush every 30k. I am not against the flush, but the way the Windstar cooks fluids I like to continually refresh it with new fluid.

If you want to go a totally non-evasive route for ATF "refreshing", I've had good luck with one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=37739
Like busboy4 says, a total/complete ATF swap is best, but I've found partial ATF swaps are equally as good on a well maintained tranny. lewisinc100- you are right, you always want to keep good fresh ATF in the AX4N tranny (windstar/taurus). You'll get great service life out of them with regular maintenance!
G/luck
Joel

If you want to go a totally non-evasive route for ATF "refreshing", I've had good luck with one of these: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=37739
Like busboy4 says, a total/complete ATF swap is best, but I've found partial ATF swaps are equally as good on a well maintained tranny. lewisinc100- you are right, you always want to keep good fresh ATF in the AX4N tranny (windstar/taurus). You'll get great service life out of them with regular maintenance!
G/luck
Joel

Unfortunately my 2000 has the AX4S tranny, the switchover to the AX4N was in the 2001 models and I've heard the AX4N has had fewer problems. It is funny to see they still have the AXOD code stamped on the trans pan, same pan since 95 even though the transmission has changed a couple of times.

Unfortunately my 2000 has the AX4S tranny, the switchover to the AX4N was in the 2001 models and I've heard the AX4N has had fewer problems. It is funny to see they still have the AXOD code stamped on the trans pan, same pan since 95 even though the transmission has changed a couple of times.

Yep, your right! The thing is tho- the more I look into it, I dunno if there is any major hardware changes on the latest generation AX4N over the AX4S, anything you find on it just says "improved shift quality" and different shift points. This more than likely just boils down to a modified valve body or just a software/electronics change. Time will tell for the AX4N. The great thing is, their is about a bazillon of them on the road. Either way, keep clean fresh ATF in it and it will last as well as any other FWD domestic AT. I've also heard tranny guys say: "The lifespan of a AT is dependant on the weight of the drivers right foot!"
G/luck
Joel

That's an EXCELLANT idea. Excessive ATF temp. is the single biggest killer of transmissions. Another thing to remember is that your vans transmission uses Mercon V fluid ONLY. Please, DO NOT substitute ANY other fluid. To do so will eventually cause "shudder" on acceleration, and that will further elevate ATF temps., which you are trying to avoid.

I thought about doing this to our '98 3.0L, but with all the trips being in town, and of rather short distance, I decided that a complete ATF change every two years was more than enough for our situation.


I am also considering doing the same (adding transmission cooler) to my 98 3.8L Windstar. I bought an 1800 lb tent trailer and would like to take it out various locations. I have a couple questions regarding it. I have read the following points and wonder what you pros have to say about it...

- Does the cooler need to have a fluid bypass valve?
- There seems to be a lot "universal" coolers out there, for my windstar, what should I be looking for?
- If anyone has an pics of finished installations, could you pass them on?

Thanks.

Mark.

Mark -

I added a transmission cooler to my 2000 Windstar LX 3.8. I also tow a popup camper. Some thoughts:

- I added a B&M plate cooler, purchased from Summit Racing. I installed the cooler in front of the radiator and A/C condensor, on the driver's side of the van. It is possible to install the cooler without removing the front plastic bumper cover, but it's a tight fit. See pictures, linked below.

Note about fitment: There is a plastic bracket that was partially blocking my cooler; I was able to trim it to fit the cooler. Your van may be different.

- I made several electrical upgrades to the van. I added wiring to handle trailer lighting; a separate relay-controlled light to run the camper refrigerator while driving, and added a brake controller and associated wiring.

- The camper didn't originally have brakes. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND brakes for popup campers, particularly when towing with a minivan. See pictures, linked below.

- I added spring airbags to help firm up the rear of the van. The Windstar it noted for a soft rear suspension; the airbags help. See pictures, linked below.

- I replaced the donut spare with a full-size spare.

I've been very pleased with the Windstar as a tow vehicle after having done thousands of miles of towing.

Want to learn more? Visit the towing-related forums at www.popupexplorer.com and www.rv.net (Warning: There are those on rv.net who believe that an 1800 pound popup can't be towed safely with anything less than an F-350 dually. Thankfully, forum user "Caddywhompus" is a big fan of minivan towing, and is there to set the record straight).

Pictures...

Pictures of transmission cooler installation, as well as electrical upgrades:

http://community.webshots.com/album/549196858rbUAlb

Pictures of spring airbag installation:

http://community.webshots.com/album/548741257AJALLi


Pictures of popup camper brake upgrade project:

http://community.webshots.com/album/548339571fnHjzQ


Future thoughts:

While I haven't added one yet, I like the idea of a transmission temperature gauge.

Just a thought...I was thinking about installing a trans cooler on my 99. The route I will go, if I do install one, is to get the one from the dealer that came with the few windstars that had a tow package factory installed. I know for the 99's the power steering fliud and the trans fluid went through the factory installed cooler.
As for this "not changing the ATF"....this is a bad idea on the AX4S. I bought my 99 and didn't change it, and about a year later it started to pour out when I was on the highway. The reason this happened was because the fluid got too hot and the trans dumped it so the transmission would not overheat and burn up inside.

joeuser742 -

I thought about going this route - but was disappointed at how small the OEM cooler is. I decided I wanted the extra capacity of an aftermarket cooler.

Note that non-OEM-tow-package Windstars already have a single-tube power steering fluid cooler. The OEM tow package cooler has a second tube for the transmission. This may not be true for all years, and is based on the research I did for my 2000 LX 3.8.

It probably is a good idea to get a bigger cooler, I figured that it might be a little easier to hookup the OEM one, also with the factory tow package my manual says that you can safely tow upto 3500lbs.

My '96 3.8L has a small block in the metal transmission cooler lines, right in front of the transmission.
This is a thermal fluid bypass valve.
When the fluid is cold, below 32 degrees F, the fluid flows from the out to the in line, and bypasses the cooler(s).
When the fluid warms up, it flows out through the cooler(s).
I do not have the "towing" package.
I did not have any auxilary cooler.
I did install a cooler, I think it was around 17,500 GVW rated, made by Derale.

Mark -

I added a transmission cooler to my 2000 Windstar LX 3.8. I also tow a popup camper. Some thoughts:

- I added a B&M plate cooler, purchased from Summit Racing. I installed the cooler in front of the radiator and A/C condensor, on the driver's side of the van. It is possible to install the cooler without removing the front plastic bumper cover, but it's a tight fit. See pictures, linked below.

Note about fitment: There is a plastic bracket that was partially blocking my cooler; I was able to trim it to fit the cooler. Your van may be different.

- I made several electrical upgrades to the van. I added wiring to handle trailer lighting; a separate relay-controlled light to run the camper refrigerator while driving, and added a brake controller and associated wiring.

- The camper didn't originally have brakes. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND brakes for popup campers, particularly when towing with a minivan. See pictures, linked below.

- I added spring airbags to help firm up the rear of the van. The Windstar it noted for a soft rear suspension; the airbags help. See pictures, linked below.

- I replaced the donut spare with a full-size spare.

I've been very pleased with the Windstar as a tow vehicle after having done thousands of miles of towing.

Want to learn more? Visit the towing-related forums at www.popupexplorer.com and www.rv.net (Warning: There are those on rv.net who believe that an 1800 pound popup can't be towed safely with anything less than an F-350 dually. Thankfully, forum user "Caddywhompus" is a big fan of minivan towing, and is there to set the record straight).

Pictures...

Pictures of transmission cooler installation, as well as electrical upgrades:

http://community.webshots.com/album/549196858rbUAlb

Pictures of spring airbag installation:

http://community.webshots.com/album/548741257AJALLi


Pictures of popup camper brake upgrade project:

http://community.webshots.com/album/548339571fnHjzQ


Future thoughts:

While I haven't added one yet, I like the idea of a transmission temperature gauge.


Just wondering where you might get those air bag inserts, for I hooked up my little pop up trailer and it sagged down in the rear pretty bad.

Blade

I got them here:

http://www.rjays.com/Air_Lift/airlift-1000-01.htm

Just wondering where you might get those air bag inserts, for I hooked up my little pop up trailer and it sagged down in the rear pretty bad.

Blade
http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=AIR%2D60799&N=4294908331+4294907825+4294924641+4294925130+4000 54+115&autoview=sku