Transmission cooler.

What are pros/cons of transmission cooler and approx. how much USD would the part run for 1996 buick riviera. Is it easy to install if car is raised with a jack and not lifted completely off the ground? Do I really need it? I dont race the 10 yr old car, but love to give it some gas. I see no problems with transmission at this time, but would love to make it last.

Thank yoyu.

its not nessisary unless you race alot or tow (hope you dont pull a boat with the riv lol)
pros-will last longer if cooler, shift better under loads
cons-extra weight on the 4k lb car. runs about $220 (you can get it here-http://www.3800performance.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=MSP_DF_TC&Category_Code=T&Product_Count=2 )
i dont know many rivieras with trans cooler so i dont know how easy it is to install.
your trany will last a long time if you take care of it (dont flush it when doing mant.) if you want to change the fluid just remove the pan and replace the filter and 7qts of fluid, the tq converter has 5qts in it but you can damage older tranys if you flush it. as long as the fluid doenst smell burnt and has a nice red/pink color to it you should be ok. does it shift hard?

my car shifts hard when I get on it

I'd leave it be. The trans cooler is difficult to install on the Park avenue, and the riviera has a smaller engine bay. As far as parts needed for an install goes, you also need a new trans fluid pipe that relocates the trans line from the radiator, to the cooler, then another pipe that goes from the radiator to the trans cooler. It's effective only in high load conditions. I'd just keep the fluid fresh. My trans shifts rough from 1st to second, always has, but its fine, and the 3 year old fluid is still pink and smells good.

Thank you.....


My Riv shifts smooth and fine if driven properly. Sometimes it shakes the whole car for a fraction of a second when shifting from drive to rear on a hill. Otherwise if operates just fine.


The trans fluid however does have a burnt smell to it. It is not black, but certainly doesnt have a pink color to it. More like brown Id say. I heard changing fluid is not recommended, but since mine doesnt smell too fresh should I change it? My dads 93 lesabre had been driven for 5 years since we bought it, has 140k on it and never had transmission fluid changed. I heard that once you start changing the fluids and messing with the tranny.... thats where the probs come in.

What do you say guys?

if you flush the fluid it can hurt an older trany b/c in theory the built up gunk over the years is holding the trany together and the flush breaks all of that apart and then the trany fails 5k miles later. if you just drop the pan and change the filter and 7qts then you should be fine. there are about 5qts in the TC and that is what you do not want to flush out.

if you flush the fluid it can hurt an older trany b/c in theory the built up gunk over the years is holding the trany together and the flush breaks all of that apart and then the trany fails 5k miles later. if you just drop the pan and change the filter and 7qts then you should be fine. there are about 5qts in the TC and that is what you do not want to flush out.


what is TC? Tranny Chaimber? Isnt the fluid going to run out completely if the filter is removed? thank you.,

TC is torque converter and the fluid will not pour out of it if you take out the filter. here is a good write up on how to change the filter and some of the fluid
http://www.regalgs.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=16790&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

resourceful link.... appreciate it

Ok I will be changing trans fluid gasket filter and seal going by an article suggested. Because the fluid I have in there certainly is not red color and does have a distant burt odor to it.


What I forgot to ask is this.... Sometimes, after the car had been driven alot or is standing on the hill and I am shifting into reverse... tranny has some slight difficulty shifting into R and when it does that, the whole car shakes for a moment. Not alot, but It doesnt do it when its cold. My dads 93 lesable does the same thing almost always, but less than my riviera.

Do you guys think doing what I want to do will solve this problem also. Or is there anything else I should check once I get under there and take the pan off.

Thank you.

its not good for a trany to shift from park to reverse on a hill if the only thing holding the car still if the trans brake. if you park on a hill put the emergency brake on b4 you shift into park then when you get back into the car shift into R or D b4 releaseing the emergency brake. changing the fluid probable will not eleviate this problem but it may make it a little bit smoother. most cars shift hard when parked on a hill due to parking break releasing at the same time the trany shifts into reverse.

its not good for a trany to shift from park to reverse on a hill if the only thing holding the car still if the trans brake. if you park on a hill put the emergency brake on b4 you shift into park then when you get back into the car shift into R or D b4 releaseing the emergency brake. changing the fluid probable will not eleviate this problem but it may make it a little bit smoother. most cars shift hard when parked on a hill due to parking break releasing at the same time the trany shifts into reverse.


my shifting problem/delay occurs when I have the car still completely with standard brake. it never does this when tranny is cold. very quick and smooth when its cold.