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Transmission Cooler install cost

29794 Views 22 Replies 14 Participants Last post by  HarveyW
When I bought my new passport the dealer had already included a hitch and harness. It’s an AWD model touring. But I know for a fact there is no trans cooler. What have others paid just to have the cooler installed? I will likely never need to pull 5k pounds but Iike idea of more transmission cooling.

Thanks
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I just purchased the trans cooler on Thursday and installed it myself today, I paid $277 for the cooler, and if we’re up to me, I’d let the dealer install. I’m pretty good around cars and this kicked my butt a little ...... the hardest part is getting to the trans warmer..... it’s nothing like the pics from college hills and missing a lot of steps.....not as easily accessible as pictured... and another reason is the fluid, I don’t know why they don’t say to add some, figuring trans cooler-new lines to fill, oh I know why.....a quart of ATF type 3.1 costs $40 bucks...... but it’s done, and I’m happy now....
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I just purchased the trans cooler on Thursday and installed it myself today, I paid $277 for the cooler, and if we’re up to me, I’d let the dealer install. I’m pretty good around cars and this kicked my butt a little ...... the hardest part is getting to the trans warmer..... it’s nothing like the pics from college hills and missing a lot of steps.....not as easily accessible as pictured... and another reason is the fluid, I don’t know why they don’t say to add some, figuring trans cooler-new lines to fill, oh I know why.....a quart of ATF type 3.1 costs $40 bucks...... but it’s done, and I’m happy now....
Glad you worked through the process.
Well done!
Yeah I’m pretty good at working on cars but I’ve been told on the AWD versions of our passports it’s a pain. Was curious if anyone got a quote from a dealer.
Sorry, didn’t mean to hijack your thread, my dealer quoted me about $300 to install, but now I would expect that figure to go up, once they see how long it takes. Going by the instructions I got from college hills, I think those instructions were for the 6 speed tranny, not the 9 speed, which is a big difference, looks the same but the spread ratio is an astonishing 9.8. German engineering, gotta love it.......
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Sorry, didn’t mean to hijack your thread, my dealer quoted me about $300 to install, but now I would expect that figure to go up, once they see how long it takes. Going by the instructions I got from college hills, I think those instructions were for the 6 speed tranny, not the 9 speed, which is a big difference, looks the same but the spread ratio is an astonishing 9.8. German engineering, gotta love it.......
Yeah for me I don’t know if it’ll ever really be necessary to add that cooler because I’m never going to pull anything heavy. My thought was wouldn’t hurt to have it just for added cooling on the transmission in general. Maybe in another year after I’ve driven it for a while I’ll know whether not I want to add it or not.
Good decision, I’m not going to be pulling anything either, but will be off roading a lot with hot sand, and after off roading twice, I noticed in the sand mode, the revs were higher, so it made my decision easier....
Good luck...
I feel this should be a standard feature on AWD and or upper trim levels. I wouldn't cost much to add it at the factory. More and more of these types of items are being omitted to keep the price down. Then we add these items at a premium price.

If you have your local dealer install a hitch, wiring and cooler, what do you pay?

In a Ford F-150, for $1,295 you get:

Includes:
• 3.55 Electronic-locking rear-axle
• 4-pin/7-pin wiring harness
• 36 Gallon fuel tank
• Auxiliary transmission oil cooler
• Engine oil cooler
• Class IV trailer hitch receiver
• Pro Trailer Backup Assist with Tailgate LED
• Smart Trailer Tow Connector (standard on LARIAT and higher)
• Integrated Trailer Brake Controller
• Upgraded front stabilizer bar
• Upgraded rear bumper

Just an observation.
Mike
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Question: With my Elite trim level, and never pulling anything, will installing a trans cooler extend the life of the trans and engine?
Question: With my Elite trim level, and never pulling anything, will installing a trans cooler extend the life of the trans and engine?
Not sure, that’s was what I was wondering. My hitch and harness came when I bought mine but of course no cooler. I am just thinking for down the road too.
Today I was quoted $383 for installation of the transmission cooler by the dealer (MA). I think I will take them on this offer.
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Today I was quoted $383 for installation of the transmission cooler by the dealer (MA). I think I will take them on this offer.
Are they allowing you to supply the part? Where I live the dealer won’t let you bring anything in.
Are they allowing you to supply the part? Where I live the dealer won’t let you bring anything in.
There was some confusion around this but at the end of the day I've got a yes for bringing my own stuff.
Today I was quoted $383 for installation of the transmission cooler by the dealer (MA). I think I will take them on this offer.
Hi was that $383 just for install plus parts
Note that your transmission will start making an unusual sort of "buzzing" sound at the 7-8 shift after the cooler is installed. There are several posts on this forum regarding this issue. A couple of folks have even had their cooler removed because the noise is so irritating. I have taken mine to two dealers regarding this noise. Both were able to easily replicate the noise. Both were told by Honda Tech Line that the noise is a "normal characteristic" of all Passports and is amplified on Passports with transmission coolers. I have dealt with Honda Customer Service repeatedly on this issue, probably more than anyone. Their position is that it is indeed a "design" defect, not a "manufacturing" defect and is considered "normal" and refuse to do anything about it.
So if this is normal it almost sounds as if this was an intentional and expected characteristic of the vehicle. At the least it seems that honda does not have a very high regard for its product or its customers expectations. So now if I want to get to the advertised maximum towing capacity I am expected to accept an admitted design issue that adds a noticable vibration to the vehicle? Not very high standards!
We saw the price sheet for installed options. Subtracting out the part at retail price, the install should be $385. I did not want to mess with the transmission in such a small space.

My dealer quoted $375 for installation of the cooler. I bought the cooler online. Dropped off at 7:00 am. They had it ready at 5:00 pm. Tech wanted to know who quoted me the price, said I got a deal. Based on the hours it took them to install it, they would have charged me $675.
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So if this is normal it almost sounds as if this was an intentional and expected characteristic of the vehicle. At the least it seems that honda does not have a very high regard for its product or its customers expectations. So now if I want to get to the advertised maximum towing capacity I am expected to accept an admitted design issue that adds a noticable vibration to the vehicle? Not very high standards!
Please note that the vibration is very slight. The noise issue is much more of a problem.
$590 part and installation before delivery, easiest to just have it rolled up into the loan
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Be sure that the tech checks the fluid level after installing the cooler. This is part of the install instructions. My dealer did not. It takes at least an addtl hour to do so.
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