Replace transmission cooler

[mtmxx]

I have a 98 Air Nautique with a leaking transmission cooler. I've ordered a new cooler and am now wondering if there is more to it than just swapping over the hoses and rechecking the fluid level after the change?

Will I lose much fluid when disconnecting those lines?

Thanks in advance for the help.

T.

[High altitude]

I just did mine. If you have the GT-40, I would estimate it to be about an hour project. It would be about 15 minutes if you could just get at it a bit quicker. I hade to remove my Shower pump first to help with the access. After that I, I got took off the water hoses on each side of the cooler. Next, I dropped the cooler from the block using the bolt by the motor mount. Once that is done it's easy sailing. You can pull the cooler out with the hydruilic lines still attached for better access. The lines screw off the fittings pretty easy, but then you need to remove the fittings. That is a bit harder but you just need to get a bit of tourque on the whole thing. Once that is done, the re-assembly is pretty easy. I only lost a very little amount of fluid. I had a few rags under the cooler when I was taking off the lines. If you take the lines off when it is still in place (versus pulling the cooler out AND THEN disconnecting) you will have some leakage for sure.
I was very pleased how easy this project was. I drained the trany with a "suck-it-up" and added new fluid. I will run new fluid thru three times (drain and replace) just to ensure that I get all the water out. The guys at SKIDIM said to run it (use it for awhile) and then replace the fluid after use. You don't have to baby it and just run at idle forward speed, etc. before the third change is done.
Hope that helps. -Marc