Is it a good idea to bypass the radiator trans cooler to an after market trans cooler? or should the rad cooler be used as well?

The application is a 2003 Neon, where I have read that the rad trans coolers have leaked.

Thanks, Mike

This is a bone-stocker ...daily driver?

Maybe it depends on if you want to simply replace/bypass the stock cooler or actually increase cooling capacity?

Yes its a stock daily driver. I have heard that its becoming common for the rad trans cooler to leak antifreeze into the trans. So I thought maybe bypassing the rad alltogether would prevent the chance.

Mike

In all my days of trans work ...I have only heard of ONE inside-the-rad trans cooler leaking. Plus the trans cooler is a "warmer" too.

Save your money....uNless it IS actually leaking. And THEN replace it with a stock OEM type.

When I built my 410 stroker, I just used a Moroso trans cooler. If you're not towing they work great when by passsing the radiator. Moroso 41200 does the job in Reno,NV cruising HAN

Just went thru the trans cooler leaking in our 03 neon. What a mess. Luckily I think the trans survived ok.

The above post is why I am thinking of adding a trans cooler and by passing the rad cooler. I do agree that this is not common, but does happen and so preventative measure could save the trans down the road.

I guess the question is can the aftermarket cooler work on its own in all situations? I have a 4" x 11" x 3/4" trans cooler, it should be big enough for a neon?

I do NOT know exactly how the Neon trans is set-up ... but there are lots of AT trans combos that sense ATF temps on shifting into OD and the converter lockup. If the ATF is too cool ... these operations may not work properly.

Doc, good point on the sensors. There is no leakage on this neon. I do have a question; this neon was given to me for FREE. when I picked it up, the car would not move in any gear. The owner of it was told it was the pump, so he didn't want to fix it.

I winched it on my trailer and took it home where it sat for 6 months until last week. I pulled it in the shop and pulled one of the lines to the rad cooler to see if there was any fluid being pumped. And there was, so I put that oil back in it and checked the level, it was low about a quart, so I topped it off. And then drove the car oput of the shop....all the gears work fine...???? I have tested this car for about 20 miles and it shifts perfectly. Your thoughts???

I just finished an trans oil and filter change. There was sludge and metal shavings on the magnet.

Mike .... Yeah .. those sensors ...and an aftermarket cooler could screw-up that whole "chain".

How many miles on it? .. and how much trash was on the magnet? ....sludge?