I just bought a 2006 2.5T with86K on it. Runs great but I noticed a slight dripping of tranny fluid directly beneath the radiator. I looked as best I could with a decent flashlight and can't see where it's coming from both from above and underneath. The one place I took it to says its the transmission cooler and it's slightly corroded and leaking. He quotes a price of $650 for a new cooler and a total of $830 installed. I checked the dipstick(which is a chore unto itself!) and the level is fine and the overall condition is fine...not cherry red perhaps maroon;)! It shifts perfectly and smoothly but does sometimes roll backwards when stopped on an incline.

Isn't the trans cooler built into or integrated into the radiator? Wouldn't replacing the radiator solve the issue or is there a separate cooler as this guy states? I'm skeptical of this outfit and am tempted to go to the dealer. I removed the splash cover and the transmission area is dry and clean.

Any typical culprits that I should try and Chase down first?
A new Nissens radiator is $240 or so at eEuro or FCP....need some help guys. Thanks.

Last time I looked, the ATF is cooled in the radiator. Check yourself, the cooler lines will be on the driver's side. BTW, FCP has a replacement radiator for under $200.

Make sure that the leak is not on one of the coolant lines at the coupling, a simple O ring is much cheaper.

The oil cooler is no longer in the radiator.
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My back feels better when I sit in a Volvo seat

Thanks Klaus!

You were always a tremendous resource when I had my RWDs...all three of them.

I see at least one line with the green clip midway up the radiator on the drivers side. So that leads me to believe the Indy service guy is full of it. If it's leaking trans fluid it's either doing it from the radiator itself, a hose or a connection....not a separate trans fluid cooler.

And yes, I spotted the oil cooler down along side of the filter housing.

Please check the trans lines where the metal crimps to the plastic.

If the radiator is original to the car, you are probably do for a new one.

Thank you hf63. But it is your definitive opinion that there is no separate metal transmission fluid cooler the transmission fluid is cooled by the radiator. Is that correct?