Adding a Neon transmission fluid cooler

by Perry Draco

Adding a transmission fluid cooler to your Plymouth - Dodge - Chrysler Neon

Note: we suspect the process is similar for other vehicles.

Since I found out about transmission coolers effects on cars that is the doubling of transmission lives in cars, I purchased a transmission cooler, and installed it myself. I am going to go through the process step, by step.

First things first, go to a local parts store and purchase the compact size transmission cooler. The cost should be around $30 plus tax, just buy it, don't search the web like me, I didn't find it much cheaper than that, and it took me three weeks to do it!!!!

Now that you have the transmission cooler let me tell you what you will need to install it.

Your ever trusted Rachet/socket/wrench Set, and a car creeper (skate board)

There are instructions on how to install this cooler in the box with the cooler (usually) so I won't go into complete details on how to install it. I will tell you the specific area that I installed it, and how I did it, because I saw no other reasonable way to do it!

Jack up the car and safely support it, raise it as much as you can right now
Remove the entire battery box assembly (steps below)
- disconnect and isolate the positive and negative terminals
- remove plastic top part of the box (carefully)
- remove the battery
- there are 5 or 6 bolts holding the battery box in place, remove them all and the temperature sensor, and air snorkel, and remove the entire battery box assembly. (this is also a good time to relocate your battery to the trunk, if you are planning on it)
Now you should be able to see the transmission plainly (admire for a moment all the space in the engine compartment, wow.)
You should see two (2) tubes for transmission fluid, and use one of them, the closest one as the installation tube for the transmission cooler.
Now you have to search for 2 gaps big enough to get the tubes to the transmission cooler just in front of the radiator where it will be installed slide the tubes through 2 gaps, one at the top of the radiator, and one at the middle section, just search with your fingers, if you find a hole big enough to stick you finger through, then that should be a big enough gap.
- Do not install the tubes underneath the plastic air dam, if you bottom out you could tear the tube(s) and loose all your transmission fluid in a few minutes and burn out your transmission. take my advice spend a few minutes just searching, you will find the right spots.
Place the transmission cooler, and install it in front of the radiator closer to the top and use the metal cross members (resembles a wishbone) as the site to install the tranny cooler.
Just follow the instructions on the transmission cooler box, or instruction sheet.