Radiator Question about a cooler

[femetal]

I have a 2002 Jeep Liberty V6 3.7 automatic

I sprung a leak in the radiator now My question is......

The radiators you can get WITH the trans cooler inside is that just as good as having a external trans cooler installed on it. I will be towing a travel trailer.

My other question how do you know you have a radiator with the trans cooler already installed inside.

Because I just got the jeep and installed a external trans cooler and I'm not sure if it is the one with the installed internal cooler. And what damage will it do if you install a external cooler to a radiator that has the internal already?

 

[tjkj2002]

All '02 KJ's with the auto trans have the in-radiator trans cooler as standard.


And yes you can run the in-radiator cooler and a stand alone AUX cooler at the same time,just make sure to run the hot ATF through the in-radiator cooler 1st then the AUX cooler then back to the trans.

 

[femetal]

Ok the external cooler was installed per the directions on the cooler.

I was asking because as shopping for new radiator I seen where it said not to be used with a external trans cooler and was wondering if it was because there was a internal trans cooler.

 

[femetal]

ok so if it has a internal cooler and you put a external cooler on the trans fluid is JUST going thru the external cooler and not thru the internal cooler inside radiator?

 

[femetal]

Ok I think I need to have the install of the ext cooler checked to see if it was done correctly and not bypassing the in-radiator cooler. I had a back yard mech install it. I just got a pin hole near the top side driver side of my radiator.

 

[tjkj2002]

ok so if it has a internal cooler and you put a external cooler on the trans fluid is JUST going thru the external cooler and not thru the internal cooler inside radiator?

If you have both and hook both inline to each other the ATF will pass through both but must pass through the in-radiator trans cooler 1st.


Those radiators your finding that state do not use external cooler are the one's for '02 KJ's since they do not have mounts for the OEM cooler that the KJ's built later that use the 42RLE trans uses.

 

[femetal]

ok what is a KJ and how do I find out which one to buy?

 

[M38 Bob]

Sir, this thread is posted in the sub-forum;

Jeep Liberty - KJ (02 to 07)

That should pretty well explain what a "KJ" is.

As far as which to buy, your best bet would be to call a dealership with your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) in hand and inquire about purchasing one. Request the parts person give you the OE factory number so you'll have it when you call back to place order. With that number, any parts outlet should be able to cross-reference and sell you exactly the part you need. This is considered poor behavior by some dealership parts jockys, but they are used to being "used".

OR, call 1-800-RADIATOR and they'll likely have the right one on the Brown truck the next day.

Bob

 

[tommudd]

Just buy the MOPAR radiator and be done.
Aftermarkets will leak most likely
Buddy went through 11 aftermarkets before he went back to a MOPAR one and no more issues
Another one of those things you will not save money on by going cheaper

 

[renegade 04]

I found there are mounts on the 2002 radiator to mount the external transmission cooler, I just replaced my radiator with one for a 2002 and I had no problem mounting up the external transmission cooler.

 

[tommudd]

I found there are mounts on the 2002 radiator to mount the external transmission cooler, I just replaced my radiator with one for a 2002 and I had no problem mounting up the external transmission cooler.

If it was an aftermarket they make them more or less universal for most KJs

 

[M38 Bob]

Just buy the MOPAR radiator and be done.
Aftermarkets will leak most likely
Buddy went through 11 aftermarkets before he went back to a MOPAR one and no more issues
Another one of those things you will not save money on by going cheaper

Tom, I can't imagine why our years of experience, respectively, have led to such opposite views. I've been installing 8-12 replacement radiators per year for 30+ years and can't recall even one defective generic one.

Bob

 

[tjkj2002]

Tom, I can't imagine why our years of experience, respectively, have led to such opposite views. I've been installing 8-12 replacement radiators per year for 30+ years and can't recall even one defective generic one.

Bob

I've done the same for 20 years and would take almost everyones fingers on this forum to count the # of aftermarket failures I've seen and had to replace 2,3,4,and up to 5 times in the same vehicle in under a year.


I can personally attest to the crap the aftermarket sells for radiators as I had 1 leak with zero miles,installed and bleed system and sat,then leaked.Back to OEM.

 

[ltd02]

can't recall even one defective generic one.

Geez I tried one Spectra and it failed in a few months. OEM lasted 12 years and 150k. Replacement Mopar has been fine for well over a year now. I wouldn't waste my time on anything but the Mopar for a KJ. Can't testify for other makes. :shrug:

 

[M38 Bob]

Guess I've just been lucky,,,,

Bob


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[CactusJacked]

Son bought a Blazer a few years ago, and the seller had just put in a new radiator. Thing didn't even last a year before it started to leak, the seal between the plastic tank and core let loose. Probably made from recycled condoms or the like (there's a Goodyear joke in there )
When I replaced it with a known good, and "made in the USA" brand, I saw the old one had a "made in China" sticker on it. What a strange coincidence, not. No doubt, the guy bought the cheapest one he could find. There are good makes as well as bad makes in the aftermarket.

 

[Jbergun]

ok what is a KJ and how do I find out which one to buy?

:happy175:

 

[CactusJacked]

:happy175:

I know right. Now what is the name of this forum again? lol