Two radiators on 1996 Park Avenue

[Goodman]

Hi all,

The 1996 Park Avenue has two radiators. Do they both contain coolant and transmission fluid and can they be replaced separately? Thanks for any advice.

 

[MelsRegal]

Hi all,

The 1996 Park Avenue has two radiators. Do they both contain coolant and transmission fluid and can they be replaced separately? Thanks for any advice.

The transmission cooler is part of the radiator and is Not a separate part.

 

[Ziggy]

It's 1 part if that is what you mean, so no.

 

[HotZ28]

If the OP don't reply, or post a pic of the two radiators in question, we may never know what he is talking about! It's not even clear it he has a base PA, or an Ultra? If an it is an Ultra, there is an external trans fluid cooler in the front of the A/C condenser/radiator. Of course, that is where trans fluid flows, not coolant.

 

[Goodman]

If the OP don't reply, or post a pic of the two radiators in question, we may never know what he is talking about! It's not even clear it he has a base PA, or an Ultra? If an it is an Ultra, there is an external trans fluid cooler in the front of the A/C condenser/radiator. Of course, that is where trans fluid flows, not coolant.

Thank you all who replied. The 8th character of the VIN is K, which apparently makes it a base model, although it does have (optional) leather seats. Sorry, I have pictures but it's not yet clear how to add them to my post. There are two radiators, the one nearest the grill seems to be the trans fluid cooler, the one nearest the engine carries coolant. The coolant radiator moves independently of the trans fluid cooler - they do not seem connected - which is why I asked if they could be replaced separately.

 

[MelsRegal]

Thank you all who replied. The 8th character of the VIN is K, which apparently makes it a base model, although it does have (optional) leather seats. Sorry, I have pictures but it's not yet clear how to add them to my post. There are two radiators, the one nearest the grill seems to be the trans fluid cooler, the one nearest the engine carries coolant. The coolant radiator moves independently of the trans fluid cooler - they do not seem connected - which is why I asked if they could be replaced separately.

Yes, they are two separate units.

 

[Goodman]

Thank you all who replied. The 8th character of the VIN is K, which apparently makes it a base model, although it does have (optional) leather seats. Sorry, I have pictures but it's not yet clear how to add them to my post. There are two radiators, the one nearest the grill seems to be the trans fluid cooler, the one nearest the engine carries coolant. The coolant radiator moves independently of the trans fluid cooler - they do not seem connected - which is why I asked if they could be replaced separately.

Ah, here's the pictures!

 

[MelsRegal]

Ah, here's the pictures!

Did you look it up on a parts site such as Rockauto where you can see the images?

 

[HotZ28]

The pics help clarify a few things, but if you could post more, from different angles, it may help. What I see so far from the pics is listed below.

1. It does not have an external trans cooler, it is in the radiator! The trans cooler lines are shown below the fill cap of the radiator. The one on the top portion & the radiator & the other near the bottom (not shown).

2. The cooler you see in front of the radiator is the A/C condenser! There is no sign of an external trans cooler there!

3. There should be a plastic cover on top of the radiator front support that is missing!

How long have you had that car????

 

[Goodman]

The pics help clarify a few things, but if you could post more, from different angles, it may help. What I see so far from the pics is listed below.

1. It does not have an external trans cooler, it is in the radiator! The trans cooler lines are shown below the fill cap of the radiator. The one on the top portion & the radiator & the other near the bottom (not shown).

2. The cooler you see in front of the radiator is the A/C condenser! There is no sign of an external trans cooler there!

3. There should be a plastic cover on top of the radiator front support that is missing!

How long have you had that car????

Thanks, it all makes sense now. I can see the trans cooler line below the radiator fill cap. I thought that was some kind of coolant return line. A/C condenser? That makes sense too. I removed the plastic cover from the top of the radiator to get better pictures of what's underneath.

I've had the car since 2010. It has 193,000 miles on it. All kinds of things don't work, so I'm basically running it into the ground at this point. The driver's window won't go down on its own (the regulator's shot, rivets have to be drilled out to replace). there is no heat or air conditioning (I had to bypass the coolant flow to the heater core because it was leaking all over the floor, but for California coast weather it's fine), the driver's seat module no longer works, I've had to bypass the horn - it got stuck in the on position). the radiator leaks (I've been patching the leaks on the right hand side with J-B Water Weld, a never ending job). The cost of having the radiator replaced probably exceeds the value of the car. I may get adventurous and try it myself.

My backup car is a 2003 Lesabre with only 91,000 miles on it and in very good shape!

 

[Goodman]

Did you look it up on a parts site such as Rockauto where you can see the images?

Will do!

 

[Ziggy]

It's not hard to replace the radiator. Note that the replacement might have an optional 2nd oil cooler on the right, it doesn't matter, it will still fit.

 

[Goodman]

It's not hard to replace the radiator. Note that the replacement might have an optional 2nd oil cooler on the right, it doesn't matter, it will still fit.

I might try that. For this year and model, RockAuto has a choice of 14 standard and 8 premium radiators: every possible permutation!

 

[Goodman]

It's not hard to replace the radiator. Note that the replacement might have an optional 2nd oil cooler on the right, it doesn't matter, it will still fit.

Presumably, once all the hoses and trans fluid lines are disconnected, and the two fans and the plastic cover are removed, it should just lift out? In other words, there's nothing connecting the bottom of the radiator to the car?

 

[02LTD2.0]

If it's anything like my LeSabre it should just lift out. The previous owner must have removed the upper hold down panel.