Everything You Need To Know About Transmission Cooling Lines Leaking

The transmission fluid is vital for the good health of a car. It keeps the transmission components lubricated, activates gear changes, and releases heat from the system’s internal parts. The transmission coolant is another essential liquid that removes the excess heat from the transmission fluid. Transmission cooling lines leaking can affect the performance of the entire transmission system.

Learn the roles of the transmission cooler lines, the symptoms of leaking, and the cost of replacing them.

The Functions Of Transmission Cooler Lines

The cooler lines do two tasks:

  1. Carrying the transmission fluid to and from the transmission. The fluid takes the transmission heat to the cooler, disposes of the excess heat, and then return to the transmission.
  2. Transporting the fluid back and forth to an external or radiator-integrated cooler.

One end of these lines is attached to the transmission while the other end connects to the transmission cooler.

transmission cooling lines leaking
Check the cooler lines when inspecting under the hood. Source: Reehpp.com

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Symptoms Of Transmission Cooling Lines Leaking

There are symptoms that will make you aware of a leak in the cooling lines. You should not leave them in this state for a long time. A leak means low-level of transmission fluid, which may lead to an overheated, damaged transmission.

Signs Of Visible Damage.

Checking under the hood is a part of regular car maintenance. During these inspections, check the cooler lines for any visible damage. If you find something, replace the defected line immediately.

Automatic Transmission Shifting Hard.

The transmission needs a minimum amount of fluid to be operative. A leak will cause a low fluid level which means the transmission will try harder to keep functioning. As a result, there will be sharp shifting in its components. Slippage in the shifting is the next stage if you don’t treat the problem soon.

Overheated Transmission.

Transmission cooling lines leaking means either low-level of fluid or interrupted flow in the transmission. In both cases, the result is an overheated transmission that may stop functioning if the condition persists.

Sometimes, it is difficult to spot the leak at the initial stage. With that, the question comes whether you can drive around with leaking cooling lines. Well, you can but should not. The faulty lines can discharge a great amount of fluid pretty quickly, resulting in possible transmission failure. Remember that transmission cooling line repair cost is just a fraction of repairing or replacing a transmission.

transmission cooler lines replacement cost
Costs may vary from one place to another. Credit: Getty Images

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What Is The Transmission Cooler Lines Replacement Cost?

The cooler lines are made of metal, rubber, or a combination of both. These materials can wear out or deteriorate under many circumstances. Replacement is the only solution when they start leaking fluid. Sometimes, the transmission cooler may fail and the line replacement comes as a part of the repair.

The average replacement costs can be between $100 and $400. The final figure depends on the make and model of the car, prices of the parts, labor costs, and the taxes and fees in your state.