Transmission cooler

asianflava · #1 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 03:09 AM

My wife has an 01 4-cyl Highlander. We are gonna be pulling my teardrop camper trailer from Central TX to Northern California. Even though the trailer is fairly light, around 1000lbs, I was thinking about installing a transmission cooler on the SUV since we will be going thru the mountains.

Has anyone installed one? Any tips? Which one should I get?

Thanks

Here's a pic before I put the aluminum on the outside.

Pachai_tamizhan · #2 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 06:16 PM

You can try with Uhaul. One of my friend installed it in his car and is around
$200.

MOREPOWER · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-2006, 06:32 PM

Everybody sells those trans coolers even Sears.
I would check with Toyota for a price first.
I would put one on any auto transmission
that i was going to tow with no matter how small a load.

asianflava · #4 (**permalink**) 04-01-2006, 07:40 AM

Thanks, I think I found one in the JC Whitney catalog/website. They are a lot cheaper than I thought. The one I'm looking at is under $50, cheap insurance against a broken tranny.

asianflava · #5 (**permalink**) 04-24-2006, 05:35 AM

Update:

I was changing oil in the Highlander tonight and finally got around to checking it out. I found out that it already has a pretty substantial transmission cooler installed from the factory. I thought it just used a portion of the radiator for trans cooling duties, which is most small cars do.

The lines, go to the radiator first then it goes to a seperate transmission cooler (or the other way around) which is approximately 4in X 12in. It has a nice duct and air scoop in the front bumper. I checked the JC Whitney catalog and a cooler this size is rated for 11,000lbs to 14,000lbs depending on the manufacturer.

Should I just leave it or, should I add another?

The vehicle doesn't have a tow package, I installed a receiver hitch and a wiring harness myself.

milesprower · #6 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 01:52 PM

When we bought our 2002 Highlander, the package that was included (4WD, V6) with our vehicle included towing package internals like transmission cooler and internal wiring. Everything except the hitch and wiring harness. Have someone check out what is already on the vehicle. You may already have most of what you need.

edwardh1 · #7 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 04:51 PM

Toy trans cooler probably better than the JC whitney ones

siennabram · #8 (**permalink**) 04-27-2006, 06:11 PM

I'm not sure about U.S. models, but all Canadian Highlanders have the second transmission cooler as standard equipment. If you have one installed, it would be just foward of the left front wheel (behind the fender liner).

asianflava · #9 (**permalink**) 05-01-2006, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by siennabram

If you have one installed, it would be just foward of the left front wheel (behind the fender liner).

Yes, that is exactly where it is.