I got pushed into a trailer hitch on the freeway the other day on the way to work. The hitch hit the license plate almost straight in the middle. I had stopped about 3 ft from the truck in front and someone struck me and launched me into the truck.
Insurance isn't going to pay for the damages, so I thought I could replace the parts from the junk yard. Basically the inner bumper buckled and punched the A/C condensor/Radiator and Fan into a V-shaped sandwich. I lost all the freon and the radiator was trashed although didn't leak. Fan housing was broken and fan was frozen against the radiator. Luckily all the damage ended there.

Pick a part has "1/2 off" special this weekend and I was able to get the parts for $100.

I have never messed with a transmission cooler. I was able to get the lines off and onto the "new" cooler, but all or most of the fluid in the cooler leaked out on the trip home. Will the transmission just circulate the fluid into the cooler or am I going to end up with a vapor lock?

Also the fitting and hose look like high pressure - will a leak be evident at the fittings (I got the clip off and back on both the original and the replacement cooler, but I didn't see any rubber that seal that connection).

I don't want to drive the car if the transmission fluid isn't circulating.

Thanks for any help or comments.

 

Sorry about your ordeal. That bites. I thought only 2006 HHRs had an tranny oil cooler. Maybe yours is aftermarket ?

For any additional parts check out: https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/clas...be-free-61764/

 

All automatic transmissions have a trans cooler it is part of the radiator. You are thinking of the oil cooler on 2006.

Don't worry about it as long as it is clean it will just fill up.

 

Thanks for the quick reply -- just what I wanted to hear!

 

Sorry I didn't see that thread earlier - I might need to get A/C parts, not sure if the compressor took a hit or not.

 

Don- Doh, Correct sir.

Cubbyboy57- You won't find a nicer guy to deal with, but he wants to get rid of all his HHR asap.

https://www.chevyhhr.net/forums/clas...be-free-61764/