ruptured artery

[MountainManJoe]

Guys I need your help. I had a bit of a disaster today.

I was driving home from work, and I heard a strange sound, like a tire chirping. It didn't come back so I kept driving. A couple blocks later, I saw smoke in my rear view mirror, so I pulled over. There was a dark trail behind my van, and a beet red puddle quickly pooling next to my front passenger wheel. The first thing that comes to mind is the tranny cooler I installed a couple months ago, but the connections were dry. Then I noticed the transmission line going into the top of the radiator was just hanging there. The metal tube came right out of the threaded fitting. The wire clip was still in place, so I just jammed the tube back into place. Then I tugged on it, but it seemed tight. Luckily Canadian Tire was only a few blocks away so I was able to get a funnel and some fluid, filled it back up and drove home.

How the heck does this happen?? I've never touched that particular connection. I did install the cooler, but it's supposed to be "low pressure drop". I was being a bit heavy on the gas pedal that day, but still. It seems to be ok now, but this is my daily driver (although, I think I'll cycle in tomorrow) so I don't need that happening again. Is this normal?

The aluminum (I'm assuming) line with the ridge on the end came out of the rusty nut looking thing. ATF is now sprayed all over the interior of my engine compartment.
And what is that green ring? It doesn't seem to serve a purpose.

[9dawgs]

From the picture you posted it doesn't look like the connector is secure. That green ring is supposed to slip over the spring clips (you can see them just in front of the ring in your photo) towards the radiator. Those clips lock into the green ring (at the slots in the ring) and secure the tranny line into the fitting while helping to keep the clips in place.

I replaced my radiator recently and had to scratch my head to figure this out. Hope this helps

[Smiliesafari]

Jim is correct. If you pull the lock ring (the green piece) over the spring clip it will secure the fitting. If the lock ring had been in place this would never have happened.

[MountainManJoe]

That makes total sense and looking at the picture, it seems so simple and obvious. Now I feel stupid. ](*,)
Such a tiny problem, and such a big inconvenience and mess it makes.

I'll better secure both those clips tomorrow. Is there a trick to it or does it just slide over?

[LiftedAWDAstro]

You can pull that little clip and squeeze it tighter before placing it back in. Then just slide the green locking ring over. That's all there is to it. There is an o-ring in there to seal it up.

[MountainManJoe]

Is the O-ring supposed to be on the tube, or inside the fitting?

Everyone go check your green transmission line clips tonight! LOL

I recently serviced and refilled my tranny, and now all that fresh clean cherry juice is in the gutter.

[Cobra]

i blew my engine oil cooler line when i over filled it the same way clip was weak and WOT equal pool of oil. i bought some new clips and put them on next time i have to change those lines new clips every time

[Smiliesafari]

The "O" ring is on the tube and the safety ring is not always green. But it will be the same piece and do the same job.

[MountainManJoe]

I didn't see an o-ring on the metal line when I was putting it back in, just a barb.

Another thing I noticed is that the line was under tension, making it difficult to reinsert. This is likely because of my 2" body lift. It's not enough to yank it out, but certainly doesn't help.

[v8famvan]

I didn't see an o-ring on the metal line when I was putting it back in, just a barb.

The o-ring is inside the fitting.