Ok, here is the story. My radiator started leaking and this week is really busy for me, so I brought it to the shop on Monday. I knew it was pretty bad so I wasn't surprised when they told me I needed a new one. Picked it up Monday at 5:00 and drove it home, the transmission started slipping a little. I thought, hmm, guess I'll have to check the fluid level. It got worse, until a half a block from my parking space, it would barely stay in gear. I popped the hood and sure enough, the upper line to the tranny cooler was leaking...badly! I didn't have the tools to mess with it (did I mention it was a busy week), so I finally got around to borrowing some tonight (all I had around were too small since I was moving some stuff around). I tightened that sucker until it was trying to strip, and fluid was still pouring out. I thougth possibly the line was going bad, so I backed it all the way out. Looked fine, started to tighten it up and it popped. I thought, hmm, that's strange and backed it out. Apparently the shop used a helicoil in there.
Now is it just me, or is this a lazy and cheap solution for the shop that just put in a new radiator?
Now that the helicoil is bad I'm going to call them in the morning and make them come out and fix their mess. I don't have the fluid to drive it, it leaks too much to drive it, and they have a year warrenty on their work, so they better fix it. I'm guessing that they may have to put in a new line to get the proper end size since I'm really don't want them to helicoil it again.
Yeah they should have fixed it right the first time.
Oh shiznit kieth. I wish I would have known. I've got an extra good rad. WTF did they put a helicoil in the Rad for? If they don't fix it i would beat their ass. Hopefully that didn't screw up your tranny too bad. Let me know if you need something.
tc
Do they make helicoils for npt threads?
Scott
That's what I'm wondering. Why would they have to use one in the first place? Is it an incorrect radiator?
Look at it this way: It's the perfect time to install an aftermarket tranny cooler. :D
Sounds like the shop will be buying another radiator......
I'd be a little more concerned as to whether or not you cooked your transmission. It's doubtful but, it is possible.
howd it ever turn out kieth?
tc
its the actual threads in the rad?
or is it coming out the back of the male line fitting?
yeah they should fix their mess for sure but oh well, cant win em all. i hate our line fittings though, i wish the ends were flaired instead. Then we could switch up to fittings such as NPT to JIC.
so i can understand better since i dont know much on the innerds of automatic tranny's,,,,,,,here is what i thought and if i am right then you might feel a little better.
here is what i thought,,,,,,
if you run low or out of tranny fluid, the torque converter clutches can not enguage and therefore do not have the hydraulic leverage to spin the internal workings of the transmission via the input shaft. If thats the case, then its not doing any harm and the only tranny part that is spinning is the torque converter.
TRUE? ,, someone?
They ended up putting in another new radiator. The threads on the radiator were bad. The end fitting on the line got replaced 3 times before it finally didn't leak. Stupid design indeed. They also put a second flexible line and double clamped it over the fitting to make extra sure that the line couldn't slip and leak again. Drove it over 200 miles to Minnesota yesterday and no leaks, so it should be good.
yeah but howz ur tranny!!! okay, no slippage or anything? would really suck if it got ruined :(