No tow prep pkg - no trans cooler?

I'm the second owner of my truck (2001 Prerunner 5VZ-FE), and I'm fairly certain it does NOT have the towing prep package. It has SR5 and TRD offroad packages.

I'm wanting to install a transmission cooler. My scan gauge 2 reports trans temps anywhere from 165F to 205, depending on outside temps and driving style.

AutoZone has them for $30-$60 which seems waaaaay too cheap.

Toyota has one for $338 which seems like a lot.

Does anyone have any recommendations on this, or how necessary/helpful it would be?

I'd really appreciate some input. I'm off all next week which would be a perfect time for a DIY project.

 

Toyota never had a bona-fide tow package on the 1st gens as far as I know. You were lucky if you got a dealer installed hitch and wiring. BUt yeah, no trans cooler ever came from the factory that I know of.

I think I paid $50 or $60 for mine. There's really nothing to them, it's just a small radiator with some hoses. Don't get a Toyota one, that's redonk expensive for a small radiator with a couple hoses...

Definitely get one. I tow a 2200ish # camper trailer with my 2004 doublecab, and before I installed the tans cooler, I would notice the floor getting noticeably hot. After the cooler no such thing. I don't have a trans temp gauge, but it's easy enough to tell the trans is running cooler since I can't cook eggs on the floor anymore... (lol)

They're quite easy to install. I just put mine in front of the primary rad with some custom brackets I made from scrap aluminum, then hooked up the tubes to the integrated trans cooler (bottom part of the primary radiator).

If you tow anything with an auto tranny, trans coolers are a must.

 

this is still a debate on the "factory" tow package. "most" of them were dealer installed with Toyota wiring and hitch receiver but I believe they could also have been ordered this way. I've debated on finding the Toyota harness but it's crazy expensive ($300+) since it isolates the wiring.

like @jbrandt said most decent trans coolers cost in the $40-70 range and are easy self-install. easiest way is to run the "out" from the radiator to the new cooler and then from the cooler back to the trans. I'll be doing it this way since I live where the temps drop to the teens and want the heat from the anti-freeze to help warm the fluid.

 

I think of a "tow package" as not just a hitch and wiring, but a brake controller, 12v power supply (to trailer), larger radiator, and trans cooler, too. To my knowledge, Toyota never offered a trans cooler, brake controller in the 1st gen Tacomas, but I suppose anything is possible - there are factory turbo V6's that supposedly exist, too. I think we're looking for the mythical unicorn here to have all that factory installed. I think I just take issue when the dealer throws on a hitch and a $30 plug n' play wiring harness and calls it a "tow package" and charges $500.

I installed all this stuff, brake controller, hitch, wiring (the kind where you plug adapters into the tail lights), trans cooler, all for less than $400, which is only a few bucks more than the Toyota trans cooler posted above, so I think we're pretty much universally better off installing our own.

My new 4Runner has probably the most complete "tow package" I've seen where they included a wire harness I can connect the wires from my brake controller and plug it right into the factory ecu (okay, probably not the ecu, but it plugs right in to a factory plug). It already have everything else wired to the 4 and 7 pin plugs in the back. I think even my dad had to have a brake controller installed on his Tundra, tho I'm not 100% sure.

 

yeah they did it right with the 05+ "tow package" (trans cooler, larger alternator, brake controller wiring, hitch) but also because it's rated higher me thinks. Don't think Toyota ever expected their compact pickup to tow something that needed trailer brakes

 

I think the law requires any trailer with a weight of 3000# to have brakes, so even the X-runners CAN tow something that requires brakes... But I think you're right, they didn't expect the 1st gens to be big "towers".

 

It depends on locale, anywhere from 1500-3500lbs seems to be the norm.


A tow package can be pretty much anything, there is no strict definition. That's why you have to look to see what your 'package' actually included.

 

Thanks a lot for all the replies and info so far!

For me, I never tow anything. My mani goal is to reduce the normal operating temp of the transmission and the fluid. Do I need to do this, probably not. But I like projects and this one seems like it has benefits whether I tow or not.

Why the hell would a Toyota cooler be THAT much more expensive? I know we pay a premium for OE and branding, but $40 up to $330 is obscene.

 

Do you have a link for the Toyota one you saw? I'd be interested in how it's mounted (probably custom brackets designed for the front).

 

Same reason Nike can take a $5 T-shirt, put their logo on it and sell it for $45. There's a whole debate on OEM vs non-OEM parts for this reason, but I don't think I've ever heard of someone saying you should only buy OEM trans coolers.

But if you never tow anything, I honestly wouldn't bother with the trans cooler. Spend that $60 elsewhere, like beer...

You don't need to further reduce the trany oil temp beyond it's "normal operating temperature." Coolers are needed when not under those "normal" operations, like towing. I really don't see much of a benefit unless for some reason your trans is overheating (when not towing), and if that's the case, you probably have issues a trans cooler won't fix.

 

OP (@MalinoisDad) you said temps are ranging from 165-205? Where do you live and what are your driving conditions. @jbrandt makes a good point about not adding if not necessary but it seems like maybe you do?

 

No link but the part number is PTR26-35951. A google image search turns up a few results.

 

I live in Sacramento CA, and I drive the truck very conservatively. It never sees redline conditions. Also, the trans was flushed at the dealership at 90k, and since then I have begun using Mobil 1 full synthetic trans fluid. Currently at 116,xxx miles and the truck runs beautifully. No trans issues at all.

 

Part of my problem is I do not know what the sec temp range is for my vehicle's transmission. I can't seem to find it.

 

Solution found. I spoke with a very knowledgable employee at Derale. I bought two parts: Trans cooler and filter kit.

Cooler is part number 13401 and the filter is 13090. Total with expedited shipping is $157. I'm happy with this solution.

 

Here are a few I found...

https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/actual-transmission-temperatures-249567/
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/normal-transmission-temp.325212/
http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22732

I can see the confusion, as there's no "real" answer for what the trans temp "should" be. Most seem to say you want to avoid over 200 under "normal" conditions. So if you're consistently seeing over that and not towing anything, not in hot weather, etc... you might have an issue with your oe trans cooler not being up to snuff.

In this case, some people have used an aftermarket trans cooler and removed the oe one from the system entirely, but IMO this isn't actually addressing the issue that your radiator/trans cooler isn't working properly. Worst case is you're getting the dreaded "strawberry milkshake syndrome" where your trans oil and coolant are mixing inside a defective radiator.

It sounds like you are occasionally hitting 205, which seems to be right on the cusp of "normal" given ambient temps and driving conditions.

 

I installed a trans cooler on my 02 DC. I don't tow anything but I do like cooler trans temps.

I put a hayden trans cooler on mine. They're cheap at rock auto. The big RV coolers can be had for around $40 so the coolers for our tacoma are cheaper.

Isn't there a write up on the install in thats a sticky?

 

Please post an update, thanks

 

There was a tow package for first gen. No brake controller. We ordered all our company trucks with it. If I remember right, it was a different cooling fan, hitch and flat 4 connector, You could tell if equiped by the color of the fan hub. I had the thread saved, but lost my hardrive last month. POOF! I cant seem to find the thread through search.
Go with a Hayden cooler. Used to use on all my street/strip cars. Been around forever.

 

Once I get it all installed, I certainly will. I'm expecting to see the parts on Tuesday. I appreciate everyone's feedback, truly.