Install & Results | Transmission Cooler 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan
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- Опубликовано: 22 авг 2019
- I've been putting it off, but towing this heavier load through the steep hills of New England was pushing the van into new levels of stress. Time to add a transmission cooler. This is the install and the results.
Transmission cooler: amzn.to/2JKb5pM
OBDii Scanner: amzn.to/3rW9vCv
ODBii App: OBD Fusion (Apple Store)
PopUp Camper: 2019 Forest River Rockwood 2280bhesp
Tow Vehicle: 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan
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email: michael@clickthruvt.com
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2 things kill a transmission, heat and dirty fluild.....keep the fluid clean and install a large oil cooler and your transmission will last. Awesome video
As my dad taught me 😃 Thank you Dennis! I appreciate the feedback my friend🙏
Good job man i like the way you explained and showed everything you could make a good mechanic....
Hem Bilkhu thank you so much my friend 🙏
Amigo I like the way u explain the hole process..is a great idea to use a trans cooler. .keep doing a great job with the videos
Tejano Luque thank you my friend! 🙏
You're very GOOD, sir. Thank you so much for the great help.
Thank you so much for the kind feedback.
Great idea about attaching it to the bumper.
I’ve seen others do the same and I think it’s a great idea too :)
Make sure u add tc fluid as u add extea circulation !!!!
Outstanding
Thanks for the detailed install and test video! We are going the exact thing you are with your van, towing a pop up camper. I went ahead and ordered a fan with the cooler. I would love an update if you ever installed the fan on your cooler.
Very cool! I never got around to adding the fan! Its still sitting on my shelf. BUT... I have been told it really helps on those slow climbs on hot summer days. We ended up buying a truck so I'm no longer using the van for towing. Its getting old and needed to be retired from hard duty :D We still have it though! Enjoy your pop up adventures!
@@sstressfl thanks, will do!
Nice job and good video.
You could have used nutserts on your impact bar to secure your cooler. They are basically like rivets but with threads in them so you can use a bolt. Happy Motoring.
Those are very cool :) Would have been nice. Not sure I could have found those locally... BUT, if and when the mounts fail, I will consider replacing them with nutserts. Thanks for the heads up and thank you for your kind feedback.
@@sstressfl I think harbor freight has them. I know they have a tool to install them and it comes with nutserts so I assume they have additional ones to buy separately. Oh and you don't need the tool to install them just a bolt and extra nut. Have a good won,
@@mostlymoparih5682 thank you!! 🙏
Great video! I'm going to try this on my 2011. We have traveled over 150,000kms loaded up 2500+ lbs over 9 years with the factory set up without issues, through many mountain passes including the white mountains once and up over Eisenhower pass once (a nail biter for sure) but now we just upgraded to a 2700 (dry) 18foot bunkhouse so I think this is a must have item. The van pulls is very easily but we live in the very flat Southern Ontario and I know when we see mountains the van will be working hard.
The cooler you mentioned, according to Amazon.ca, does not fit a Caravan.
According to one Amazon.ca review "Maybe it was my fault, but the kit I bought did not have the correct connector for my 2016 Dodge Grand Caravan, but I am pretty sure the amazon app did show the kit I ordered would fit my vehicle. I would double check to see if the included adapter works before doing the complete disassembly; it might save you doing everything twice."
The part of your video there you deal with making the connection to the radiator, is that possibly more involved than it needed to be since the kit didn't include the correct adapter for the vehicle?
Thank you Dan!! And yes I agree, I have not needed one until the weight got much higher with this new trailer. No problems with this weight on the flats... but the mountains are a problem. The cooler (and now I am adding a 7" fan to it for low low speed steep climbs) was the cure for high trans heat. BTW - I used sources other than amazon to select my trans cooler. Amazon has been wrong so many times before :) I find the part and cross check it in multiple sources, then I find the best price. BUT I cannot speak to what kit might be easier that this one... all I can say is that this specific one is a class iii and etrailer lists it as "confirmed fit" for my 2015 Dodge Grand Caravan. It does fit. I needed to make a mod which was normal for me with transmission coolers on older vehicles. And the end results is that it works great. And it was a good price :) I really hope that helps you in your search for a good solution!
@@sstressfl I appreciate the reply. I have to assume (but will double check) that these vans are all the same, 2011 - 2019. I am going to use your video as a guide for sure when I get started. I love the fan idea and will do that at the same time.
@@sstressfl Do you have info on the fan? Is it safe to say it is a 12v fan? Just curious how you wired it up and if it is on a switch with ignition or a manual on/off. Great video.
@@brianwallace1678 this is the one I bought amzn.to/3vIpfL4 I have not installed it yet but the plan is to use a simple toggle switch. I will turn it on only when that temp starts to climb.
Daniel, I began installing mine Hayden cooler yesterday and got stuck when I realized it didn't come with the right adapter to fit into my 2014 DGC's condenser. Etrailer list it as part #D13035. Amazon has it and I was able to find it at my local NAPA dealer for around $12. Last night. The solution provided in the video Is brilliant, but not straight forward or without risk of getting the aluminum shavings in the tranny.. A pipe cutter used for copper pipe might work better if you had one and/or couldn't easily find the correct part fast enough.
Great video. I wish you had shown the adaptor modification a little better though. I had to stop my install tonight when I realized my Hayden cooler had the wrong adapter. Your solution is ingenious, but I would suggest not using a saw like that. Some of the shavings may have ended up in the transmission. That pipe is aluminum which means they are not magnetic and would not be held by the transmission magnet. Hopefully the filter caught any that made it in. An alternative would be a pipe cutter used for copper pipe. It shouldn't produce nearly as many shavings, if any at all.
I cleaned all I could see :) Been working on cars for 47 years now (started helping my dad when I was 4). I changed my fluid and filter recently. Looked really good for 100k miles. All is well my friend 🙏👍❤️
@@sstressflthe guy had a great comment with sound advice, it wasn’t a personal attack on you.
@@auto1234 It is good advice. However not critical as I was trying to point out.
We have a 2015 caravan we added a hitch to. In researching we found the gross vehicle weight rating was only 1150 not giving us much of a tow rating left after passengers and cargo. What is your GVWR did yours have the towing package and it just didnt include the transmission cooler at that time? The trailer we are looking at would be ~2000lbs looking at either not getting a camper (sadface) or adding electronic break controller and transmission cooler to our van. Thanks for your Time!
The van is rated at 3500. My popup is 2400 lbs dry. I added a class iii hitch, brake controller, 7 pin connector, trans cooler and monroe helper shocks.... and I am now using a weight distribution hitch (amazing!). I get 19mpg on the flat hwy. In the hills of New England I get 16 mpg. When I get into more serious stuff (white mountains) it drops to 14 mpg. I am in process of adding a 7" manual cooling fan to the trans cooler to give it a little extra punch when doing slow speeds on long long long steep mountain climbs. Hope that helps!
Great video ! What kind of temp do you obtain before and after ? I've read that 20 °C less give twice the life span for the trans... thx
I didnt take the temp before only after. But I knew I had a problem when my engine was overheating on steep climbs and the trans would shift erratically. It only did it once, but that was all I needed to know that I had to cool it off. Now while towing it hovers around 165 on the highway. The engine temps will rise at 25 mph on very steep mountain passes but I plan to add a pull fan for when I'm at crawling speeds. Transmission is so much happier now. ruclips.net/video/9m3Bdovn1tk/видео.html
I have not gone through all the comments to see if this was addresses. After completing the install, check the transmission fluid level. The lowering of the level even by a pint can have damaging consequences. Otherwise, great video.
Agreed. Important to check fluid level. Mine was solid! Drove it for many troublefree miles, including towing of course :). I ended up having a very slow leak from my transmission cooler lines, tightened them and all good, no more leak, but with the fluid level a little low from that, I could hear mild "low fluid" noise so I decided to change the fluid at 100k. Has been smooooooth since then. Also I now own a new truck ('22 ram 1500 with a hemi) so i dont tow with the minivan anymore ;)
Great job! After installation is required adding more oil to gearbox?
Łukasz Szczepaniak it needs to be checked and added as needed. I bought the “checker” but have not done it yet. I’m sure it needs a little.
I know it's been a long time since you've commented on this but if you had this to do over again you should have filled that radiator through one side port until fluid came out the other, assuming your transmission level was right to begin with this would assure that you've only lost the volume of the hoses. Then you wouldn't need the dipstick which by the way is only $20 at the part store even though it's over $100 at the dealer. And part store or dealer you're getting the same part manufactured by dorman.
Quick question....I imagine you have been in a few trips, how is the van responding? no problems shifting gears at all? I have the same van model.
sergio salinas before I installed the cooler, we were coming back from a camping trip in the white mountains. We drove thru some seriously steep areas. The van was not shifting normal. At one point it acted like it couldn’t decide what gear to be in. It shifted very fast between two gears, up down up down... that never happened before. Since adding the cooler it acts normal even under heavy load. My towing-confidence level has increased tremendously.
Michael Byrne that is awesome!! I was debating to install the trans cooler or not. Glad I found your video men, thanks for the info.
Have you measured the temperature difference between the 2 hoses on the cooler to get an idea of how much improvement it adds to the trans cooling system?
I used a trans temp monitor. It dropped 20+ degrees while towing 3000 lbs. when I went very slow in the mountain passes on a 90+ degree day it would start to overheat due to lack of airflow. The hardcore towing folks told me to add a fan to the cooler and flip it on when going thru the mountains. I bought a fan! But I ended up buying a truck before installing the fan and now I only tow with the truck. We still drive the van though 👍
I don't have the workspace to do this on my own. How long do you think it should take a shop in number of billable hours?
Hmmm... my guess would be $250-300+ for a shop to do it. Doesn't hurt to call around and get some estimates! If you get some hard numbers, let me know what you learn. I'd be interested to know as well.
Hello great job, im doing the same thing on a 2014, but have the same problem the transmission still has a high temperature, but the new transmission cooler feels cold but not warm at all, what do you believe the problem is, the transmission fluid looks like its not moving , anyways id appreciate s response thank you
Fluid level too low?
Sorry to ask but I just bought a 2013 and found oil in the radiator reservoir fluid is reddish maybe purple. I’m leaning that the previous owner poured oil by mistake I’m not showing signs of a blown gasket. Does the stock caravan have a transmission cooler where some fluid may make it to the radiator?
Thats definitely transmisison fluid. There are hyraulic lines that run right into the radiator to cool off the transmission fluid. I hope you dont have an internal leak! I would be tempted to flush the coolant and refill with new stuff and see if the transfluid shows up again. If it stays clean then good to go :) And btw, coolant is very toxic. If you do it yourself make sure you dont let it get into the ground. Capture it and bring the old stuff to a shop. They'll recycle it for ya :) Hope you find your radiator is in good health!!🙏
Do you think that would work as the only transmission cooler?..like to bypass the factory cooler.
You’d need a much bigger cooler. But it would be nice to separate the two cooling systems.
Hi Michael, Great video. I heard a lot of complaints about transmission issue with Dodge Grand Caravan. Are you still using the original transmission?
Yes! 122,000 miles now and still rolling 💪🙏 changed the fluid and filter at 100k. Smooooth and quiet.
@@sstressfl I've been reading that the cooler might be cooling the transmission oil excessively in winter months (freezing temp). Have you installed a thermostat? or do anything different in winter months?
@@khaledakm It can be a problem to over-cool your transmisison. Some people cover their trans coolers in the winter. I have not done that and havent had any running/shifting issues. For example, when a tranny gets too cold it'll shift hard, can feel sluggish. Ours never has changed its driving characteristics even in -20 temps. By the way, I installed a remote starter on the van and it's fully warmed up before my wife drives. That's not the same as circulating the fluid but wayyyy better than starting it and trying to drive away instantly. Good to give it warm up time. But again, if you have any concerns, shield yuor cooler in the winter.
so did you install this external cooler in series with the factory cooler?
Yes! The fluid travels thru the radiator first then out to the external cooler than back to the transmission. 👍
@@sstressfl Thanks for the reply
I have the same year van and I swear it’s leaking trans fluid out of the passenger side of that radiator the trans lines plug into. Are the top cores of that ready a trans cooler? I can’t find this info online. I know it’s mainly the ac condenser.
It seems like what you did was just replace your trans cooler with a larger capacity one.
Hi Ryan. I didn’t replace, I added! :) All standard cars that I’ve ever worked on have trans fluid that flows thru the radiator to cool the trans fluid. And a proper tow vehicle will have an additional transmission cooler to help with the additional heat created by towing. It’s a common upgrade. Some vehicles come equipped from the factory with additional cooling for the transmission but this minivan did not have that feature.
Not sure what I am seeing here. You left the stock transmission cooler in place? Looks like the trans fluid passes through the original cooler then the aftermarket cooler before returning to the transmission? Good video.
Yes that’s how an auxiliary trans cooler works 👍 It’s a wonderful addition when you’re towing. I’m adding a manual pull fan to it this summer for the slow slow slow mountain climbs 😎
@@sstressfl can you share what pull fan you are using and how it is set up?
@@iansutube I will get a video completed of the install soon!
@@iansutube this is the one I bought amzn.to/3dqbv0e Install video coming soon :)
@@sstressfl thank you, guess I'll be doing this next. Looking forward to your video on it.
Have you had any issues with the transmission after the cooler installation?
No it cured problems like overheating 👍👍👍
I was replacing my 2004 caravan leaking radiator and then uh-oh; I have an external trans cooler and it collapsed from the bracket. Don't know whether to replace it or just Jerry rig it with wire or supper long zip ties
If the external cooler has rust damage I'd be tempted to buy a new one. They aren't too expensive!
hows it holding up? What part states you live in and did you bypass the radiator?
It is a transmission saver! The only time it gets too warm is when it’s 90+ and we’re climbing a very long and steep mountain pass. So I bought a 7” pull fan to add to it for help on the climbs. I augmented the radiator, not a bypass 👍 We're in New England!
@@sstressfl do you get video or pictures of the pull fan install?
Which trans is that i did the same but i have the 8 speed and used the top line as the cold
Michael Wilson it’s the 6! I guess they flipped it on the 8 👍 As long as it’s working!
I want to tow something similar. Did your transmission live a long healthy life?
I changed the fluid at 100k. I now have 150k on it and it shifts normal and is smooth and quiet. However, long term I was less worried about the trans and more worried about the stress on the body especially as the van aged winter after Vermont winter (rust). So I now own a truck!
Definitely a wiser vehicle to tow with
Did you have to burp any air out or something like that??
Hey Mark, nope! You never access the coolant, so no burping required. Just the transmission cooling lines get cracked open and reattached.
How are you monitoring the transmission temperature?
I bought a BAFX ODB2 wifi scanner for iOS from amazon and bought the OBD Fusion App for my iPhone, then added a formula to the app so it would report trans temp. I found how to do it here: www.chryslerminivan.net/threads/trans-temp-w-obd-fusion-app-and-obd2-dongle.160906/
Hi,
Thanks for this, I’m attempting to monitor the tranny temp on my 2017 GC when we tow our cargo (camping) trailer this summer. Is adding the custom PID formula difficult to do (read: do I need a math degree?) :)
Highly recommend a proper oil cooler too + a aux fan. Will make a massive impact
I have the fan! Adding in the spring. I have not looked at oil coolers yet. Thanks for the heads up 👍
@@sstressfl the programming for the cooling fans on gen 5 and gen 4 is terrible. They come on too late, not frequently enough. Won’t make much difference at freeway speed but my gen 4 is awd for example and I go off-roading. Not enough airflow
@@goclunker I discovered that the trans cooler worked very well. Normal operating temps at all speeds on flat-ish ground. But as soon as I hit the long steep slow climbs in the mountains I realized I was going too slow to provide much airflow. So I ordered a fan for the trans cooler. I think that'll be the last bit needed to keep it within safe limits.
Mpg increase?
Not that I noticed. But it sure did cool the transmission down :)
Would this install help even if you were not towing much?
You could check your trans temp while you drive. Then you'll know for sure if you need it.
The caravan c/v comes with a trans cooler ad well a more powerful alternator, just find a junked one a swap parts with 🤔
That makes me tired just thinking about it lol :) The trans cooler I added required a couple clicks of the mouse to order, was very affordable, went in with minimal effort and worked perfectly! I don't see how the CV oem parts would add any advantage or benefit?
@@sstressfl great, herewith with general specs according to allpar: www.allpar.com/trucks/ram/cargo-van.html