morrian14 Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 (edited) Let me first start off by saying that am in no way an expert on cars, I just really don't have any money. My boyfriend and I have been fixing this car like crazy for the past year and hopefully this is the last major fix for a while. Anyway, I noticed some rough shifting a few months ago and upon some investigation I realized that the transmission fluid was low. It was leaking. I told my boyfriend and he got under my car to find a stripped transmission fluid pan bolt. It was leaking very very very slowly from this. We ended up having to replace the whole pan. I noticed it was doing it again this week. I took it to a family friend to be inspected today and he saw the leak. After about 4 seconds of him looking at the car he said it was the line from the radiator to the transmission. It was rusted and needed replaced. I could see where the line was leaking clearly. I'm really trying to avoid a mechanic bill at this point though. So to describe the situation, there are two lines next to each other that are rusted but only one is leaking at this point. I'm not 100% positive I'm calling it the correct name. I usually buy my parts on rockauto and they have all turned out very well for me. When I was looking for this part it didn't look right to me. The piece I'm looking at online is rubber and doesn't have the type of connectors the one on my car has. It's possible that I must buy those separately, I'm just somewhat confused. I suspect that it might be pulling up a part for a transmission cooler instead of the line to the radiator from the transmission. Here's the part I keep finding. They all look similar to this. http://www.autozone.com/drivetrain/transmission-cooler-line-assembly/dorman-transmission-cooler-line-assembly/749973_829022_0/ I was also wondering if anyone has done this repair before. My boyfriend and I have basically replaced everything on my exhaust system from the O2 sensor back without trouble. This seems like it might be rough though. Edit: I have a 2002 outback Edited May 20, 2015 by morrian14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 It common for the cooler lines to rust out. Easiest way to fix it is yank the steel lines out and just run ATF cooler hose from the trans all the way to the radiator. Its 3/8" inside, IIRC. Be sure to get new screw clamps for the ends. Use zip ties to hold the hoses to the frame. Takes about 6 feet to so both. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith3267 Posted May 20, 2015 Share Posted May 20, 2015 If you have a local radiator shop in your area, they can make new steel lines for you, often cheaper than pre-made lines, and they are just as good. Most vehicles that I am familiar with have at least a rubber section to the transmission cooler lines because the transmission is mounted on rubber mounts and can move relative to the frame of the vehicle, where the radiator moves less with the frame as its rubber mounts are much smaller. Although with the transmission mounted much further away from the radiator than the typical FWD transverse mounted engines, the length of the steel lines may be sufficient to absorb any movement of the transmission. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morrian14 Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 After finding a picture I believe the part I bought was incorrect after all. In this diagram I think I'm looking to buy part 18. It looks like what I bought was 14. What on earth is part 18 called and why can't I find it anywhere? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
morrian14 Posted May 21, 2015 Author Share Posted May 21, 2015 It common for the cooler lines to rust out. Easiest way to fix it is yank the steel lines out and just run ATF cooler hose from the trans all the way to the radiator. Its 3/8" inside, IIRC. Be sure to get new screw clamps for the ends. Use zip ties to hold the hoses to the frame. Takes about 6 feet to so both. I'm assuming this is the hose you were talking about? http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/imperial-3-8-x-4-1-2-transmission-oil-cooler-hose-240106/20230024-P?searchTerm=transmission+cooler I'm at the point where I literally cannot find that metal pipe anywhere and this is my best bet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fairtax4me Posted May 21, 2015 Share Posted May 21, 2015 The only place you'll find the metal pipe is a dealer or a junkyard. Dealer is expensive. Junkyard parts are probably just as rusty as yours. I prefer napa for hoses, but yes, just ask for ATF cooler hose. Cut a short section of the old hose to take with you to match up the size. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keith3267 Posted May 22, 2015 Share Posted May 22, 2015 You don't find these because almost any radiator shop has the pipe bending and flaring equipment needed to make one to fit. These are usually made on site. Brake shops can make them also because that is how you get new hard lines for your brakes when they rot out. But it appears that there is a rubber section at each end of the hard line so you can go rubber all the way if you want. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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