• Welcome to the Contour Enthusiasts Group, the best resource for the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique.

    You can register to join the community.

cooler - trans? or power steering?

H

hourang

CEG'er
Joined
Sep 25, 2008
Messages
260
Location
South Lyon, MI
contour1.jpg

i have what looks like a trans cooler that is leaking where the lines connect (at least thats where the fluid is). its an MTX so is it a trans cooler? didnt think they needed them. or is it a power steering cooler? you can see the lines in the pic and can also see that they are wet and leaking. the plastic below it (by that access cover) is all covered in some kinda oil/fluid. power steering fluid reservoir is full btw. please help my newbness.
 
You shouldn't have a tranny cooler in there. It's gotta be a power steering cooler, and a leak on the delivery and return lines.

Also, keep in mind that the color of tranny fluid is red, as long as the fluid isn't ancient. Power steering fluid will be brown -- nobody changes that stuff at the recommended intervals.
 
LauraSVT said:
You shouldn't have a tranny cooler in there. It's gotta be a power steering cooler, and a leak on the delivery and return lines.

Also, keep in mind that the color of tranny fluid is red, as long as the fluid isn't ancient. Power steering fluid will be brown -- nobody changes that stuff at the recommended intervals.
Click to expand...

it wasnt red, it was brown->blackish in color. ill have to follow the lines but im sure it will probably go to the PS pump.
 
LauraSVT said:
You shouldn't have a tranny cooler in there. It's gotta be a power steering cooler, and a leak on the delivery and return lines.

Also, keep in mind that the color of tranny fluid is red, as long as the fluid isn't ancient. Power steering fluid will be brown -- nobody changes that stuff at the recommended intervals.
Click to expand...

+1. It will be brown.
 
so if the lines are bad how do i replace them? is it like the brake system that i have to make sure the reservoir always has fluid? ive never done anything with power steering systems before.
 
hourang said:
so if the lines are bad how do i replace them? is it like the brake system that i have to make sure the reservoir always has fluid? ive never done anything with power steering systems before.
Click to expand...

They're not that sensitive to my knowledge. I simply would not run the pump without sufficient fluid. Since power steering fluid is cheap, you may decide to flush it gradually by filling and draining the system after replacing the hoses.
 
after looking at it again, its not the same as a trans cooler, its just a long U-shaped pipe. so im sure its PS cooler. do i even need it?
 
I found that the SVT p/s cooler was too small... but that's just for me. I wouldn't go without one, even if you are nice to your car. The coolers aren't that expensive, and aftermarket ones are even less.

Exactly where is the fluid coming from? If it's from one of the rubber hoses, then that's very cheap and easy to fix. Mine was leaking from the metal u-bend end of the p/s cooler.
 
morbid said:
I found that the SVT p/s cooler was too small... but that's just for me. I wouldn't go without one, even if you are nice to your car. The coolers aren't that expensive, and aftermarket ones are even less.

Exactly where is the fluid coming from? If it's from one of the rubber hoses, then that's very cheap and easy to fix. Mine was leaking from the metal u-bend end of the p/s cooler.
Click to expand...

the leak is somewhere by where the hoses connect.
 
I would use a better quality of rubber line to replace that hose, such as cooler line for auto trans coolers or high pressure FI line. Some of the cheaper line that is commonly used for basic low pressure fuel line or vacuum apps can blow out so easy that it's not funny, even in a low pressure return line. You're looking for line that when you closely view the cut end, shows a lot more filaments in it for strength. Teflon lined will work too. After you fill the reservoir back up first time after repair, stand over it immediately with more fluid in case you have to add quick. Pump can damage after only a few seconds with no oil. Then check it later after a sit, if it pulls air, will atomize air in fluid enough that you let car sit to work bubbles out. Refill again to level if necessary. If you're looking to change most of the fluid, make sure you cycle steering lock to lock to purge much more of the old stuff out. I wouldn't dump that cooler, Ford wouldna spent millions on cars to put it on unless they felt it was a problem.
 
amc49 said:
I would use a better quality of rubber line to replace that hose, such as cooler line for auto trans coolers or high pressure FI line. Some of the cheaper line that is commonly used for basic low pressure fuel line or vacuum apps can blow out so easy that it's not funny, even in a low pressure return line. You're looking for line that when you closely view the cut end, shows a lot more filaments in it for strength. Teflon lined will work too. After you fill the reservoir back up first time after repair, stand over it immediately with more fluid in case you have to add quick. Pump can damage after only a few seconds with no oil. Then check it later after a sit, if it pulls air, will atomize air in fluid enough that you let car sit to work bubbles out. Refill again to level if necessary. If you're looking to change most of the fluid, make sure you cycle steering lock to lock to purge much more of the old stuff out. I wouldn't dump that cooler, Ford wouldna spent millions on cars to put it on unless they felt it was a problem.
Click to expand...

great! thanks for the info man! i did flush the ps fluid somewhat, used my mityvac to pull the old fluid until the reservoir was empty then immediately filled up, started car and turned lock to lock a few times, and repeated a couple more times until i ran out of ps fluid. it still needs to be flushed more but the color is so much better now. i didnt even think the lines themselfs sucked, i will try what you say. do you recommend regular hoses at like autozone or should i use rubber fuel injection line?
 
The ATX cooler hose may be a little cheaper than the FI hose, depends where you get it. What do you use for fluid? I never use so-called "power steering" fluid, it's generally way overpriced. I use automatic trans fluid, usually type F or Dexron II/Mercon. Power steering pump will work fine with it. If lines merely oozing or SMALL leak, don't change them, many leak a very small amount to wet the local area, not a problem. If it's spotting the driveway good though you'll eventually lose enough that if you don't catch or fix can scrap a trans. That would be kinda dumb not to mention expensive. I always change to screw type worm drive clamps when I change the lines, don't like to reuse those factory quick clamps. Same with radiator and coolant hoses. Like I said don't use the "regular" hose at AZ, they'll sell you low pressure stuff and swear it will work. Specify higher pressure line, tell them you are using it on an auto trans cooler, you DO NOT want the normal stuff. You can buy bulk packed hose of that type clearly listed on label at Pep Boys. It's higher priced but will not let you down. I lost a brand new rebuilt trans once using fuel line for cooler line and learned my lesson. It only lost pressure for a few seconds, I caught it pretty quick, or so I thought. The damage was done. Line only lasted a couple of days and blew out the side of it. If you compare the two types you will see much more filament running through the rubber, those filaments add strength under higher pressure. The ones with a blue teflon inner liner work pretty good too. Look for "fuel injection" printed on hose or summat, if hose says fuel or vapor return suspect it as the low pressure stuff. Wall thickness and flexibility give away the cheap stuff too, true cooler line is stiffer and should not be bent sharper than a 3 inch radius to maintain strength and open passage.
 
so i inspected it more yesterday. it seems like the metal u-shaped tube in the front is rusted out and leaking from the metal itself. the hoses looked good, just oily from the fluid following the hoses(i think). can i get a replacement one? looks like on autozone.com they just have a generic one for $20. i think its just a generic aftermarket one. rockauto had nothing.
 
Mine leaked in the same spot. I don't think they make replacements for that loop anymore. I fabbed one outta a portion of power steering hose assembly I had left over from something else. I knew there was a reason I never threw anything away.
 
minger said:
Mine leaked in the same spot. I don't think they make replacements for that loop anymore. I fabbed one outta a portion of power steering hose assembly I had left over from something else. I knew there was a reason I never threw anything away.
Click to expand...

that sucks. ill have to check out the autozone one and see how it looks/fits.
 
FWIW...any time I've ever had fluid completely out of the PS system, I'd recommend to jack up the front end to get the wheels off the ground, then turn lock to lock. I've done it with the wheels on and off the ground, and it seems that when they're off the ground, it's easier to get all the air out.
 
281Thunder said:
FWIW...any time I've ever had fluid completely out of the PS system, I'd recommend to jack up the front end to get the wheels off the ground, then turn lock to lock. I've done it with the wheels on and off the ground, and it seems that when they're off the ground, it's easier to get all the air out.
Click to expand...

yeah i did it on the ground. seems to be working great now :) ive just been keeping an eye on the level, so far it hasnt gone done one bit with the leak im having.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top