tranny cooler line ?

[sgarlic]

Hi guys, I'm replacing my radiator, and it's a new job to me so forgive the lamenes of this question. This is an 88 GT w/ AOD we're talking about.

After replacing my radiator I plugged the tranny cooler lines back in to the new one, started it, and it slowly dripped fluid from the bottom line. It leaks worse as I loosen or tighten, and it leaks from where the line becomes the nut portion.

I didn't replace any fittings or anything.. and to be honest I'm baffled as to where the fittings are. My new radiator included 2 gold colored fittings that have some sort of nut in the middle, however there were no fittings like this in my old radiator, and nowhere on the line itself is there anything that looks close to this.

For info, when I originally removed it, I used one wrench, loosened the nut all the way and it the whole line with the threaded part came out.

I'm wondering, is the reason I'm leaking because I loosened the wrong thing? And where in the heck are those fittings supposed to go??

 

[nocaryet]

If you replaced your rad with an aluminum one, your problem sounds like exactly what happened to me. I ended up cross threading the fitting on the fragile aluminum and ended up stripping it. I just got an external B & M tranny cooler, and had no problems since.

 

[sgarlic]

Sorry I should've specified.. it wasn't an aluminum replacement, just a stock replacement from radiatorbarn.. my other one took a crap due to a huge rock hitting it while driving.

 

[The Shape]

I think the fittings you are talking about that came with the radiator probably were meant to be used if you were using rubber hose for the cooler lines and won't be used for your application. I would bet your leaking because the little white plastic piece inside the fitting on your factory line is worn out. The piece that is threaded that goes into the radiator is just a fitting that snaps on the line, I had to replace mine when I changed my radiator for the same reason. If you take a small pair of needle nose pliers and pull back on the little white plastic piece the whole fitting should pop off the line. It takes a little patience just take your time working with the plasctic piece and the fitting will come off.

Then just take the fitting to the parts store and get a new one. It will simply pop on the end of the line. The plastic inside those gets brittle after a while and when you move them they begin to leak. The new fitting should solve your problem. Good luck

 

[sgarlic]

Here's the fitting:

Here's what I'm looking at. I understand what you're saying but I don't have a white plastic piece that you're talking about when I take the line off.

 

[The Shape]

The plastic piece I mean is under that lump of J.B Weld in you last picture. Was that already on there are were you trying to seal it. Right where the line goes into the nut part of the fitting there are two little plastic tabs sticking out you squeeze them together and the fitting pops off the line. But you will have to get all of that J.B weld off of there to get at them. The fitting in your top picture looks like some sort of adaptor you shouldn't need it at all.

 

[sgarlic]

That stuff is just RTV.. I put that on there to try to keep that fluid from leaking out while I ran the vehicle/filled the radiator. There aren't any white plastic pieces underneath them though. Hrmph maybe my car is just completely screwed!

 

[The Shape]

Sorry looked like good old J.B. in the pic. But the pieces I mean are just little tabs that stick out they are laying flat against the rim of that fitting. You might even go to the parts store and ask for a ford quick disconnect tranny line fitting. When you get a clean new one in your hand you will see what I mean.

 

[sgarlic]

Thanks for the help! I managed to pry those plastic pieces out using a pocket knife, then purchased 2 new fittings from AutoZone for 15 bucks. Fit right in, no more leaks.

 

[The Shape]

Cool man sorry I was having such a hard time describing what to look for, but sounds like you got it taken care of.

 

[HISSIN50]

nice job, TS. i did not know there were those dealies in the lines.

SG, wanted to say hi to a fellow Tucsonan.