Below is a link on how to install the Tranny Cooler on your CL-S and how to do a flush of your transmission with what tools you have at home. This method does work but will take some time.

After installing it, I drove the car around for about 15 miles, and noticed that the car shifted much faster, smoother. The car seems to have really liked the new fluid, but also the help of that cooler keeping it cooler. After I got back home, that cooler was extremly hot to the touch. I tried both hoses, the top one which is the HOT in, was VERY VERY HOT, could not keep my finger on it for more than 1 sec, the bottom for at least 3 secs I could hold it on there. It was defintely working.

I hope this convinces alot of others to do this mod, because you need too. Our cars do not have a tranny cooler and the fluid just boils and most likely it causes the tranny to die. It's about a 2-4 hr project.

Enjoy guys, any questions feel free to ask.



http://www.5thgenmaximas.com/silverbullet/tranny.htm

 

That's very nice! I was asking everyone here about the cooler a few days ago and it seems like a lot of us thinks it's better to have it than not to. Thanks for the info. I hope this will go directly to the FAQ section.

 

Phenominal details in that How-To link. My only question is whether anyone who has had a tranny failure ever got confirmation from the acura service dept that excessive heat is what killed off their tranny.

Some of the service techs are cool and would be able to tell you what causes the tranny failures since they undoubtedly have seem their fair share of them come in and know what made them crap out.

 

Looks like I've got my next project already figured out...

 

dude my friend doesn't know shiat about TL's but he has one getting a new tranny put in it...he said his mechanic is putting a tranny cooler in it for him and I just played it off like yea whatever...but now hearing this and getting my tranny replaced tuesday...i might have to do this mod...it really does make sense...Shyne

 

Finally someone has answered the question of the A/T cooler. I hope to do this mod soon. But I can't seem to open the link.

I smell a group buy for this B&M tranny cooler

 

I assume the Hot output currently shunts directly to the Cold input?

 

I don't know what kills the transmission, but I'll tell you this.

I had an accident on my 99 TL. The engine jump and the cooling line got hit against the battery reducing the flow of the transmission fluid. My transmission when bad, not acura's fault. My symptoms were very similar if not the same as other people with bad transmissions. So figure that.

 

Yes... Basically the tranny fluid has no cooling, it gets hotter and hotter. That is why after our cars on a long trip or some hard driving the tranny starts to act up. It's way to hot. Heat kills auto tranmissions.

This is the 5spd 5A tranny...the regular 4spds I am sure are different.

 

will this work for 2000 and higher tl's I've read posts where the 2000 and higher don't use a transmission cooler so there is no where to tap in to get a hot and cold line.

 

That is what they said about the CLs as well. But there is a way to tap into it, you just have to LOOK hard to find the hose.

 

Could anyone in the Los Angeles area recommend a shop who already has installed this mod?
Appreciate your kind reply.
juniel

 

I talked to a friend, an Acura Master certified mechanic who has worked for Acura dealership over 10 years...and this is what he had to say about installing the transmission cooler:



Well,
It definitely would not hurt, but its not just heat that kills them, its the fact that Acura is trying so hard to make the shifts so soft that by doing so it wears the clutches out and then all the friction material gets into the tiny orifices in the valve bodies and causes them to fail. (to make a tranny shift very smooth/soft, you must slip the clutch packs on each of the gears to the point that they literally eat them selves up... this also causes a tremendous amount of heat in the fluid which causes it to break down as well as carrying the heat to the rest of the parts which causes them to fail prematurely too!)

Have you ever been in a 91-92 Legend? If so you know how hard they shifted, especially in the lower gears? Well this is why the trannies hardly every had any problems! (A hard shift is done by slamming the clutches together with high fluid pressure and a very small if any accumulator/dampener spring!)

The 2002 CL and TL have what is called a fluid warmer! (what this actually does is help the fluid warm up to operating temp by passing engine coolant through a heat exchanger, Also it helps cool the fluid and maintain a constant temp around 180-200F) So if you install an external cooler in front of the radiator, this MAY give you problems with warranty issues if it ever comes up (which it will!) My suggestion is go see Bob, he is the tranny expert, and more up to date with those trannies!

 

That is a possibillity, but let me remind you that the water temperature gets MUCH hotter than the oil, so it would be very hard for it to keep the temp at 180-190. The tranny cooler has really helped my car out alot. Today I had to drive home in stop n go traffic, bad, sat 1 hr. Tranny did great. Usuaully it starts acting funny, but this time it worked perfect with no problems. Got home, checked the temp on the hoses, and it was defintely cooler.

 

i spoke to 3 master techs! one said don't bother! , one said definite plus! , and one said it couldn't hurt! i'm having my b&m tranny cooler installed at the dealership on wed! kman. better safe than sorry, imho!

 

SilverBulletCLS,
I hope you're not offended..I just posted whatever the tech told me. Anyhow, coolant *is* around 180-190F. There is a thermostat, which opens allowing the coolant to flow through the radiator to discipate heat if temperature is higher. Transmission oil temperature SHOULD be higher than coolant since it has a lower boiling point. Imagine a pot of boiling water on the stove and a pot of oil on the stove...which one is hotter. The answer is simple.
Anyhow, in my opinion, installing the tranny cooler definately can't hurt...and probably will help out the tranny as everyone knows that excessive heat kills. However, before attempting the mod, check with your local dealer concerning warranty issues. Some advisors might just blame it on this "mod" as a problem as an easy way out for them. But again, the mod is easily reversible so even if the dealer disapprove it, you can probalby just revert it back to stock before taking the car in for tranny repair.

 

anyone know the quality difference between B&M and TruCool AT coolers? Cuz TruCool has a smaller one thats is 11,000 GVW.

 

Thank You SilverBulletCLS for your detailed info! That helps a lot! Comptech said that with there Supercharger that's coming out that the kit WILL include a Tranny Cooler! "That's been the problem with those tranny's all along." Or just pay $149.00 for it seperately. I was waiting for that to come out but the B&M is only $42! That's what I need to buy!

Also Comptech said that they will supply REDLINE tranny oil with the kit to keep temps down, anyone know anything bout that? What about Mobil 1 SYN??? I called some dealers and they said the best oil is HONDA but I doubt that highly??? SilverBulletCLS why did you stick with Honda oil and not a SYNTHETIC???

 

Not an expert but I do have a question. If the 5sp auto has a "cooler" then why is Comptech recommending a transmission cooler (they are using this same B&M unit) for their supercharger appication? This goes for the present AV6 as well as the yet to be released 3.2?

 

Will this mess with the warranty?

 

I stayed with Honda oil for a few reasons.

Everyone I have talked to does not recommend synthetic. Honda Z1 is the stuff to use because our trannys require a special agent that is in the Z1 that redline, and all the others do not have. Even Redline, Amsoil, etc do not recommend using theres in our trannys. They know!. I am also still under warranty, so I rather not put it in the tranny.

 

Depends on the dealer, but they can;t void the warranty, the part does not affect the way the transmission runs. It helps it.

 

honda tranny fluid is partially synthetic.

and as Silverbullet said, none of the other brands have the proprietary ingredient that the honda parts require.

i wouldn't reccomend using anything other than factory fluids for the tranny, it's just a bad idea.

 

Just added it today. Straight forward due to the great illustrations. Thanks! Took about 2-3 hours. For $42.50 plus shipping, $20 in hoses and $45 in Z-1, pretty cheap insurance.

 

Took me a good sold 3 hrs and a bruised finger but she's in. I put her between the a/c condensor and the radiator. I placed it there cuz I don't want the heat from the cooler impair the function of my a/c. Since my cooler is about 1 1/2" longer than the cooler used by the other guy, I figured that there will be a little loss in efficiency after the condensor but the size difference probably will make up for it.
The flush was awlsome! The old 7,000 miles ATF was brownish comparing to the bright red of the new fluid. Man, 8 bottles are right on the spot. I have about 1/2 a bottle left after flushing 2 times and filled.

 

Exactly what I am saying. How does the car feel? I bet your tranny is shifting much better.

 

i think acura needs to give free tranny flushes on an accelerated time table.

 

hey guys anyone in san jose who know any shop that can do this for a cheap price? I taled alot of shops, and they seem not want to install it for me. I really want this to install because i want a little secure on my tranny. If you guys know any shops near here, shoot me an email thanhpham@directvinternet.com. thanks