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2009 Base 4wd I4 Transmission Cooler Failure? (non tow package)

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xenonrocket

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I have a 2009, base, I4, 4wd, no tow package with 211,000 miles on it.
On my last oil change, I noticed a bit of shimmer on the top of the coolant overflow tank, but no discoloration otherwise, no foaming, or the other usual symptoms of a head gasket failure. I ran a compression test that came back between 205-220PSI for each cylinder, which seemed quite good to me.

Searching around for ideas, I was wondering if anybody had ever had issues with their transmission cooler? It seems like the only place ATF and coolant interact, and assuming a lab test rules out engine oil, and nobody snuck under my hood and dumped ATF in the coolant, I'm forced to conclude the cooler is on its way out, but haven't been able to find any such results here or otherwise.

2nd question:
I haven't been able to find a 3rd party replacement for the 2009, and the OEM version is pretty pricey at around $300 (vs $50) 2009-2012 Toyota RAV4 Trans Cooler 33493-42060 | Boch Toyota South
There's a 3rd party replacement for the 4th gen that looks like it'd fit with some longer hoses: 2013-2016 Toyota RAV4 Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler - SKP SK117079 - - PartsGeek.com
Has anybody tried that, or know where to find a 3rd gen 3rd party transmission cooler?

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
On my 2008 V6, the transmission cooler is built into the radiator. It's vertical on the passenger side. In my case I would replace the entire radiator. I did have a Ford years ago and when coolant started leaking out the overflow tank, I had to replace the radiator and drain/fill the transmission. On that Ford the cooler was located along the bottom of the radiator.

Also, there was no tow package available for the I4.
 
#3 ·
Been looking into alternative full aluminum radiators but haven't found a good solution yet. I did however add an external trans cooler and it made a world of difference - trans temps dropped almost 30 degrees.

Tru-Cool Max 34,000 GVW LPD49211Low Pressure Drop (LPD) Transmission cooler
Image
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#5 ·
xenonrocket said:
Searching around for ideas, I was wondering if anybody had ever had issues with their transmission cooler? It seems like the only place ATF and coolant interact, and assuming a lab test rules out engine oil, and nobody snuck under my hood and dumped ATF in the coolant, I'm forced to conclude the cooler is on its way out, but haven't been able to find any such results here or otherwise.

2nd question:
I haven't been able to find a 3rd party replacement for the 2009, and the OEM version is pretty pricey at around $300 (vs $50) 2009-2012 Toyota RAV4 Trans Cooler 33493-42060 | Boch Toyota South
There's a 3rd party replacement for the 4th gen that looks like it'd fit with some longer hoses: 2013-2016 Toyota RAV4 Automatic Transmission Oil Cooler - SKP SK117079 - - PartsGeek.com
Has anybody tried that, or know where to find a 3rd gen 3rd party transmission cooler?
Click to expand...
In my ten years here I don't recall a transmission cooler failure so I'd definitely confirm it before doing anything. Maybe add a little laundry detergent to the coolant and see if it clears up the film.

Your links are water-to-fluid replacement coolers and I'd make the cheaper one work if it was me and I really needed it..

The others are air-to-fluid add-ons that some members have added for towing applications.
IMO, you likely don't need either.
 
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
Dr. Dyno said:
In my ten years here I don't recall a transmission cooler failure so I'd definitely confirm it before doing anything. Maybe add a little laundry detergent to the coolant and see if it clears up the film.

Your links are water-to-fluid replacement coolers and I'd make the cheaper one work if it was me and I really needed it..

The others are air-to-fluid add-ons that some members have added for towing applications.
IMO, you likely don't need either.
Click to expand...
I like the detergent idea.
Haven't had any temp issues either, so it may just me being nervous as the vehicle gets older-it's reassuring my searches on this issue and your memory don't turn up any problems
After looking at it a bit more, I think the 4th Gen cooler may be different for forward compatibility, not backward compatibility. The 4th will definitely fit where the 3rd gen one goes.
And correct, no need or desire to add an air-to-fluid cooler.
 
#7 ·
The transmission cooler on my 2009, I4, is a pretty strange looking device. It is like nothing I have seen on any other vehicle (see picture). It is a circular drum type configuration with both oil and water lines entering. I suspect it both warms and cools the tranny fluid according to need. It is very possible it may be compromised. I'd try to find a used one before paying what Toyota asks.
 

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#9 ·
jbwood5 said:
The transmission cooler on my 2009, I4, is a pretty strange looking device. It is like nothing I have seen on any other vehicle (see picture). It is a circular drum type configuration with both oil and water lines entering. I suspect it both warms and cools the tranny fluid according to need. It is very possible it may be compromised. I'd try to find a used one before paying what Toyota asks.
Click to expand...
Did you unbolt that cooler? Because that looks like some kind of ******* engineering just slapped in there. That unused port is about to contact the fan blade! And what are those red wires for?
 
#11 ·
JuneBug said:
Did you unbolt that cooler? Because that looks like some kind of ******* engineering just slapped in there. That unused port is about to contact the fan blade! And what are those red wires for?
Click to expand...
I see it was the 13th you wrote that... 4 months of this lockdown is getting to you too? (Like me!)

Yes, it’s unbolted. The blue cap on the line sitting inside the motor bracket for the fan is a transmission fluid connector, and the “puck” is bolted on by those three holes. He’s still got the coolant lines attached. And without the tow package, we don’t have the transmission fluid lines to the rad (someone reminded me of that rad on you V6 models the other day).

Have a good weekend!
 
#12 ·
JuneBug said:
Did you unbolt that cooler? Because that looks like some kind of ******* engineering just slapped in there. That unused port is about to contact the fan blade! And what are those red wires for?
Click to expand...
This is a picture from when I did the rear main seal replacement job and had to remove the transmission (posted a few months ago). Happy to say that the RAV lives on. I had never seen a cooler like this.
 
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#14 · (Edited)
TEKSMRT said:
Been looking into alternative full aluminum radiators but haven't found a good solution yet. I did however add an external trans cooler and it made a world of difference - trans temps dropped almost 30 degrees.
Click to expand...
That's a nice installation, I was going to install an aux cooler on my V6 and I was looking for a good place, I like your location a lot.
I just don't feel too much love for the traditional finned style, I have ordered a radiator style one, better physically protected against small rocks.

LE: My bottom trim doesn't have holes... I will make some, like you did on yours.

154654



jbwood5 said:
I had never seen a cooler like this.
Click to expand...
About the factory transmission "cooler" on the I4 - that "puck" is a heat exchanger, used in auto industry for small cooling capacity. It cools (and heats) the transmission fluid with the engine coolant temperature.
I had a similar one on the engine oil circuit (at the filter) in the Ford Explorer (V8), that truck had a real auxiliary cooler for transmission.
It is so small because the liquid-liquid heat transfer requires less surface.

The V6 with towing package has a vertical slice of the radiator dedicated for transmission cooler. It's located on passenger side, connected to transmission with long hoses. That radiator slice is also in thermal contact with the engine coolant and will heat and cool the transmission at more or less the engine temperature.


Back to OP oil in the coolant - I would keep an eye on that.
 
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