HD cooling System?

[husk01]

Anyone know how to recognize the HD cooling option on a 2001 Montana? Just bought one and am unsure if I have that option. My Montana is a "mountain edition" model with lots of toys, but am unsure of the cooling.
Planning on towing a 1500 lb tent trailer.
If anyone's got/seen one, please let me know.
Thanks,
Husk

[umina]

open your hood and look at the radiator. I think the HD has the tranny cooler option just like the tow package (they may be one and the same). The tranny cooler will be a small radiator attached to the front side of the radiator you see when you open the hood. If you don't have one, they're pretty easy to install and cost about 40 bucks at your local auto parts store.

[tmorris1]

I believe the tranny cooler on these vans is an internal coolant to oil exchanger within the side tank of the radiator on the passenger side. At least it is on my 98 Montana with HD Cooling. It also has an engine oil cooler, but I don't know how much good this does. If you look between the block and the oil filter you will see some coolant lines that go to a little spacer, this is the engine oil cooler. The radiator might also be physically bigger than standard cooling.

[tony17112acst]

Tmorris is right, the transmission cooler is built into the radiator in the standard AND heavy duty radiators.

The best way to check is by looking for the engine oil cooler lines where the oil filter screws in (like tmorris mentioned). I just was at the dealer today and confirmed all this.

I am trying to convert my standard Venture to the towing package.

In case you need to know (FYI) the towing package is:

* HD radiator (includes trans cooler built in)
* HD alternator (140 amp)
* Engine oil cooler
* Self-leveling rear air shocks

It took me 3-4 weeks to finally pin this info down, so I thought it would be helpful. I called 7 (yes 7) dealerships and each dealer told me something different. The most ludicrous response was (and keep in mind, this is THE DEALER) "just add a hitch and wiring." Get this: even Chevrolet could not tell me after researching it, LOL.

-Tony

[richtazz]

look on your service indentification label. The option code for heavy duty cooling is v08. The label is located on the drivers side, behind the rear seats, I believe in the area where the factory jack is stored, just inside the rear hatch.

[ziggy1969]

Thanks, I was wondering if my used Montana has the towing/trailer package. I found the code V08 on the label in the glove box.

There is a label inside the glove box called SERVICE PARTS IDENTIFICATION and contains the VIN plus over 50 codes (3 digit alphanummeric) that all represent something.

Does anyone know what some of the other codes mean or if there is a guide to what they mean?

[truc0011]

Hello,
I am new to the Pontiac Montana forum, I was hoping some of you could clear up a few questions.

I have a van with no towing package, do both the non HD and the HD radiators have built in tranny coolers? If so, I assume the HD cooling has a larger radiator, does this mean a larger tranny cooler?

Next question, have any of you upgraded a non HD radiator to a HD Radiator? Do all the brackets fit? Is there anything I need in addition to the new HD radiator? Are the hoses the same?

For those of you who have installed a ATF cooler, which brands do you recommend?

Thanks!!!!

[tony17112acst]

Yes, in the mssgs above, it is mentioned that both the standard AND HD cooler have the trans. coolers built in.

I don't know if the HD and standard coolers are the same size, but I would think that they'd make them interchangeable to make factory installation more feasable.

Lastly, check with your dealer parts department; they'll probably be able to tell if they are the same size. Be sure to go there; I find that they don't like to answer slightly complicated questions over the phone.

-Tony

Originally Posted by truc0011

Hello,
I am new to the Pontiac Montana forum, I was hoping some of you could clear up a few questions.

I have a van with no towing package, do both the non HD and the HD radiators have built in tranny coolers? If so, I assume the HD cooling has a larger radiator, does this mean a larger tranny cooler?

Next question, have any of you upgraded a non HD radiator to a HD Radiator? Do all the brackets fit? Is there anything I need in addition to the new HD radiator? Are the hoses the same?

For those of you who have installed a ATF cooler, which brands do you recommend?

Thanks!!!!

[cdru]

The HD radiator is thicker. The standard radiator is 5/8" thick while the HD radiator is 1".

[gkindub]

The service parts ID list, aka RPO list can be decoded at the website rpocodes.com. Also, those considering upgrading to the HD cooling system should also consider upgrading to full synthetic trany fluid-your trany will thank you esp if you're going to be towing.

[truc0011]

Has anybody swapped radiators? Or are there people that haven't swapped them and had no problems?

[gkindub]

I own a '00 montana w/ towing package and have 72K miles w/ about 4000 mi towing a 2500 # trailer (in the midwest only). I've had no cooling problems yet. Just serviced cooling system by replacing upper/lower hoses, thermostat, and coolant this past summer.

For those talking about the "HD" cooling system, my service manual makes no mention of any "HD" cooling system components. It does mention that the right side of the radiator called right side end tank may be replaced by removing it from the radiator core. This is the location of the transaxle oil cooler.

[truc0011]

I was wondering if anybody had the Montana with no towing package and not swapped the radiators but had no problems.

I have the van with no towing package and I am trying to determine if I should put the thicker radiator in?

Thanks!

[tony17112acst]

Truc,

Your van will tow 2500 lbs. with no towing package components whatsoever, so if that's the case, I wouldn't worry about swapping radiator coolers.

If you want to tow up to 3500 lbs, then get the new HD radiator and try putting it in your self, if you cannot, then take it to the dealer and have them put it in.

To get an answer to your question, ask a dealer for an estimate on the price of replacing the radiator; then they SHOULD be able to tell you whether they are simply interchangeable or not. My guess is that they are, but the dealer should be able to find this info quicker than this forum.

-Tony

You know this thread isn't doing too badly for a start date of June 2004 ;-)

[gkindub]

TRUC011, You haven't mentioned what year vehicle you have, but if your vehicle is 99-04 it's quite possible you could find some or all of the cooling components you need at a salvage yard and save yourself some big $$s.
tony has listed all the components you need earlier in this thread.