Location of Tranny cooler and Drain plug.

[Newcat016]

I am changing my 1-2 shift solenoid and am going to upgrade the Tranny cooler as well to prevent this from happening again. However, the location of the tranny drain plug is still a mystery for me. I believe that it is the one in the sttached photo but am not sure.If its not, then what is it? Also, the location of the tranny cooler is in front of the radiatior on the bottom, correct? Also, what would be the best cooler to install instead, anyone who has done this please add your advice. Don't feel like just popping of the sidepanel and having the fluid pour out all over when i swap the solenoid.

[KnappstamaN]

well from my research, our cougars have a 2 core radiator which cools coolant and trans fluid at the same time.. of course it doesnt mix. Ideally the tranny cooler would want to be installed after the coolant has came out of the radiator. So you can install it between the return line from the radiator to the actual transmission. Really the tranny cooler can go anywhere where it gets a good supply of air, most people choose infront of the radiator... (duh)

The best style of cooler is the stacked plate design, like many of the B&M coolers. These kits can be had on summit racing for like 40-80 bucks depending on size.

[Newcat016]

Ok, if we have a two core radiator, then what is the coolant pipe in front of the radiator? Just a basic U shape with cooling fins on the upper part. Oil Cooler?

[mond12345]

I'm pretty sure thats the Power Steering fluid cooler.

[Newcat016]

Alright, thats always a good thing to have. Is the plug in the picture for the tranny drain or what? Anyone who has mounted a tranny cooler, where did they mount it, to the right of the power steering cooler or what?

[Pyro81]

I can't tell from the pic, but does the plug your pointing to have a square shaped indent for a 3/8" ratchet? If so, that's it.

[jaged]

youd be better off adding an external tranny cooler . I mounted the bottom of my trans cooler to the PS cooler and the top of the cooler to the rad support

[Newcat016]

Yeah, its got the 3/8 drive but it looks like it is really thread locked in there. I am still deciding where to mount the tranny cooler but I am not sure of the location that jaged mounted his, a pic would be nice. As for the front cover of the tranny cooler, I can't find the damn thing that I can just unscrew. I looked on my friends 2001 cougar and it was right there but I can't find the same cover on mine. It is the strangest thing since I don't believe that they chnaged the tranny or the cover in 2001. Any pics of the front cover for a 99 cougar would be appreciated.

[Pyro81]

I didn't have any problems getting the plug out when we drained the tranny on a wrecked cougar. And it was still attatched to the motor which was hanging on a cherry picker.

[jaged]

ill try and get a good pic tomorrow

[bensenvill]

ill try and get a good pic tomorrow


pics would be good.

but helping me install one would be great.

[jaged]

ok.

forgot about it last night ill get some when i get home

[Newcat016]

Also, I hear that the amount of tranny fluid may be a bit off in the owners manual? Anyone whose done this before know exactly how much atx fluid to add once drained?Or do i flush it fully and then add 9.5 qts, drive, add somemore, drive, add more?

[jaged]

took some pics but works firewall isnt letting me upload them. Have to wait till i get home

edit here ya go

[Newcat016]

Alright, thanx. As for the tranny cover over the 1-2 shift solenoid, where the hech is it. I found it on my friends 2000 cougar, but can't find it on my 99? I know that you have some pix for me.

[1COUGAR99]

The cover would be in the same spot as on your friends. I'm going to assume you mean the valve body cover, and if so it's at the front of the Trans facing the radiator. Doing a drain only removes about 4-4.5 quarts. Your never going to be able to get all the fluid out of the torque converter unless you had the machine to flush it. Most people will do the drain and fill three times. When you fill it add about 3.5 quarts and check the level then add as needed.

[Newcat016]

Thats what i've heard that they do, run it around the block between each fill . A pic of the valve body cover would be nice since I can't seem to find the thing on my cougar and its starting to annoy the crap out of me. I went to the dealer and realized the 1-2 shift solenoid was 270 something so I was kinda waiting till spring for that one. Anywhere else that we can get it even alittle cheaper?

[1COUGAR99]

Out of curiousity why do you want to replace the solenoid?

I do not have a pic but when you are under the car look up between the trans and the radiator, it's flat and has quite a few little bolts around it. It is usually painted black, but it might be covered in rust.

[Strife]

Something you might want to look into is the Transgo CD4E Junior kit? Something like that. It is an improved valve thing for our ATX, It was mentioned a lot on CEG a while ago. I don't know if it will help with your problem but it might be a good idea to at least look it up and see exactly what it does.

It is supposed to be better than OEM and is probably cheaper than walking into a stealership.

[Pyro81]

I'm wondering if your tying to fix the "one-two bang shift" problem?
If so, before you go tearing into the transaxle give this thread (http://newcougar.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1451&highlight=bang+shift) a quick read. It might be the answer to your problem.

[bensenvill]

I'm wondering if your tying to fix the "one-two bang shift" problem?
If so, before you go tearing into the transaxle give this thread (http://newcougar.org/forums/showthread.php?t=1451&highlight=bang+shift) a quick read. It might be the answer to your problem.


pyro thanks for posting that thread, I'd been looking for it. I ordered a new TPS some time ago and havent installed it yet.

[Newcat016]

No, I definetly know that its the 1-2 solenoid because I don't have the bang shift problem, i already replaced that on my tranny. I can def. feel the differnece between the car being floored after 5 minutes and then after 15 minutes. Its like once the tranny heats up, its all over. It seems like it catches well up to about 4000 rpms, then just whines out and doesn't catch. I def. think that the 1-2 is what is causing it. No hard shifts or anything, just a feeling that the tranny isn't putting all the power to the wheels. When I almost lost to a civic I decided I should fix the damn thing. If its not the 1-2 then someone please tell me how to fix it(Other then a tranny swap to an MTX)