Will Transmission Cooler Resolve Mixed Coolant Issues On A 2005 Nissan Frontier

Question:

2004-2006 Nissan Pathfinders/Xteras and Frontiers....have a bad transmission problem...anti-freeze mixing in with the transmission fluid damaging the transmission that is VERY VERY Costly $4,500 to $7,500 for a new transmission. Nissan knew about this many years now and never recalled any of these vehicles....buyers beware UNLESS the radiator has been changed or an external transmission cooler is added before this contamination occurs.inch My question is which kit is used to eliminate this problem, is the D13503 one of the kits that prevents the antifreeze mixing with the oil and before this contamination occurs?

asked by: Frank

Expert Reply:

The transmission coolers we sell are designed more as a supplemental cooler that is meant to augment the factory transmission cooler portion of the radiator, not replace it entirely.

If you are experiencing the common problem with the radiator leaking causing the engine coolant contaminating the transmission fluid, your best bet would be to have the original radiator replaced. Nissan has extended the factory warranties on radiators on 2005-2010 Frontier, Pathfinder and Xterra models. You might want to contact your Nissan dealer for details.

If the mileage on your Frontier places it out of the warranty coverage, going with an aftermarket replacement radiator/cooler combination would be the best way to go. (I would love to sell you some products, but I am more interested in getting your vehicle fixed correctly and the long term reliability of the repair.)

If you are determined to bypass the OEM transmission cooler, be sure to plug the factory inlet and outlet in the cooler to prevent leakage. Choose the largest, most efficient cooler that will fit in the available space directly behind the grille. The # D13504 would be a good choice, assuming that its 11x12x7/8 inch size will fit in the available space. Monitoring your transmission cooler temperature going forward will be crucial if you go this route. I would highly recommend installing a Remote Transmission Filter Kit with Temperature Gauge, part # D13091.

I have linked you to some FAQ articles about transmission coolers that you might find helpful. I have also attached links to a couple of product review videos for the # D13503 and # D13504 transmission coolers you can check out.