Transmission line removal RAPID ANSWER NEEDED

HELP I'm stuck and a bind! Wife and kids are tired...got to get this thing going.

I have looked at other post but none seemed to be specific enough to help me.

I have a 2001 Winnie that I need to remove the upper transmission line. I got the side on the transmission with little problem and effort.

I am finding it impossible to remove the upper part of the line that goes into the cooler. Parts house sold me a pack of plastic "tools" that are designed to remove fuel lines, saying the connector was the same.

I removed a retainer clip, then put the plastic "tool" on the hose and it went inside a clear ring. I have pushed and pulled with no results. Exactly how does this hose come off? What do I do but push with the tool? If I push in any harder, I am afraid I will break something.

I even bought a service manual to try to get some guidance and all it says is use the tool to remove. I need more specifics.

From reading some other post, this must be where you flush the transmission so I know someone must know how this works.

Thanks for any and all help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Form what I was told you take the proper size plastic ring and push into the clip and it should release... I have a 2001 one as well but never unhooked yet.. Those are for the quick release lines in between the rad and trans..

ok, try looking for a white plastic tabs at the end of the tube which you should press before pulling out. this is how I did it on my 2000 windstar, but this was at the transmission side of the line; the other end (radiator side) should be the same after removing the retaining clip. The tool pushes the tab in for ease of removal, but I used my fingers instead since there was more room for me to work at the transmission side of the line; and this is where most people do the flush procedure from. Is the line damaged or are you trying to do the flush?

I had a cut in the rubber part of the line from running over something on the interstate. However, I think I have a solution that will work. I finished cutting the line smooth. I took 3/8 copper line- short section, smoothed the ends and used hose clamps to connect the two together. No leaks. This got me home and should hold until Monday. Thanks!!!!!!

Still currous about the way that hose attaches. I really worked on it hard for over an hour with no luck. I will have to look at it again when I replace the hose for real.

I do need to do a flush and I am at 100,000 and never done that. Just dropped the pan a few times.
Which way does the flow go? If I remove the top line at the transmission, when I turn the key will the fluid be running from the cooler down the hose or from the hole in the transmission where the upper hose goes?

Or do I use the lower hose?

Thanks again!!!!!!

NO, if you remove the top line the flow will be from the transmission, you will need to remove the lower line so that the oil will flow from the internal cooler and out towards the open end. It was very easy for me to remove the lower line at the transmission without any tools, just my fingers. I also connected a clear tube to it with a clamp to see the condition of the oil and watch it change from black to red as it flows out. I would suggest you install a transmission cooler and double the life of the tranny. Did the 3/8" fitting you used fit into the rubber line?

ok, try looking for a white plastic tabs at the end of the tube which you should press before pulling out. this is how I did it on my 2000 windstar, but this was at the transmission side of the line; the other end (radiator side) should be the same after removing the retaining clip. The tool pushes the tab in for ease of removal, but I used my fingers instead since there was more room for me to work at the transmission side of the line; and this is where most people do the flush procedure from. Is the line damaged or are you trying to do the flush?


So does the white plastic piece come off with the line? I was just putting the plastic tool in the white plastic piece and pulling on the line.

NO, if you remove the top line the flow will be from the transmission, you will need to remove the lower line so that the oil will flow from the internal cooler and out towards the open end. It was very easy for me to remove the lower line at the transmission without any tools, just my fingers. I also connected a clear tube to it with a clamp to see the condition of the oil and watch it change from black to red as it flows out. I would suggest you install a transmission cooler and double the life of the tranny. Did the 3/8" fitting you used fit into the rubber line?

It did, but not snug.

Yes was looking at where I would install the cooler. I saw where someone put one flat between the radiator and the eng on another link. Worried that something like what I just went through would puncture it if I placed it there. Similar to what I just ran into. I suspect I could use where I cut to tie in the cooler? Don't guess it matters which line?

I know it says to install between the grill and the radiator. Wouldn't that cut flow to the radiator and cause heat problems for the eng? Ok worried about how you will take this question but here goes.....Does size matter? Is bigger the cooler the better or is there a "proper size"?

So does the white plastic piece come off with the line?

Well From the tranny side no, it stays on the mounting point. I dont really know about the radiator side since I have not done it, but I imagine it to be simular.

On a Truck yes.. More Wt the load more trans cooling needed. On the Windstar no.. Just the basic size should make a big difference in the Windstar. Also if you get too big of one like the one I found on ebay with its on cooling fan could cause an issue with over cooling the fluid. Also if you live up North a basic cooler would work great. The a basic cooler should help the trans as good as a bigger one. If the trans fluid stays to cool would cause slow shifting and sluggish shifting.

Thanks to everyone for your help. I discovered this forum a couple of weeks ago and it is a God send! Best wishes for a happy holiday season!

Before=:banghead: After= :)
Wife Before=:shakehead After= :naughty:

:smokin: Magicdave

One clue that will usually get you straight on fluid flow direction: Look at the external coolers ... they are always: "in high -- out low" ... this is to keep particulates flowing thru back to the tranny pan.

Of course, particulates still get trapped ... some coolers actually have metal mesh in them trapping particulates, mostly at the "in" end. It's more trouble, but some folks ...when flushing ... will cross-hook the hoses so that the fluid goes backward thru the external coolers. This helps to flush out more of the trapped stuff.