Fluid Line/Hose: Service and Repair

Removal Procedure





1. Disconnect the upper oil cooler line fitting at the radiator.
2. Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting.





3. Disconnect the lower oil cooler line fitting at the radiator.
4. Remove the propeller shaft. Refer to Propeller Shaft Replacement - One-Piece in Propeller Shaft.
5. Remove the rear axle torque arm. Refer to Torque Arm Replacement in Rear Suspension.
6. Remove the catalytic converter hanger. Refer to Converter Hanger Assembly Replacement (3.8L Automatic), Converter Hanger Assembly Replacement (3.8L Manual) or Converter Hanger Assembly Replacement (5.7L).
7. Support the transmission with a transmission jack.
8. Remove the transmission support.
9. Lower the transmission jack slightly. This will allow access to the oil cooler fittings on the transmission.
10. Pull the plastic cap back from the quick connect fitting and down along the cooler line about two inches.





11. Using a bent-tip screwdriver, pull on one of the ends of the E-clip until the clip is out of position and can be completely removed.
12. Remove the E-clip from the quick connect fitting.
13. Discard the E-clip.





14. Pull the cooler line straight out from the quick connect fitting.





15. On the 3.8L remove the oil cooler pipes from the clip at the engine mount.





16. On the 5.7L remove the oil cooler pipes from the clip at the oil pan.
17. Remove the cooler lines from the vehicle.





18. On the 5.71- remove the oil cooler lines from the clip at the generator bracket.

Installation Procedure

Important: Do not reuse any of the existing E-clips that were removed from the existing quick connect fittings. All clips being installed must be new.





1. Install a new E-clip into the quick connect fitting.
2. Hook one of the open ends of the E-clips in one of the slots in the quick connect fitting.





3. Rotate the E-clip around the fitting until the clip is positioned with all three ears through the three slots on the fitting.





4. Do not install the new E-clip onto the fitting by pushing the clip straight down.
5. Ensure that the three retaining ring ears are seen from inside the fitting and that the retaining ring moves freely in the fitting slots.

Notice: Ensure that the cooler line being installed has a plastic cap on each end that connects to a quick connect fitting. If no plastic cap exists, or the plastic cap is damaged, obtain a new plastic cap and position on to the cooler line prior to the cooler line installation.





6. Install the transmission oil cooler line to the vehicle.
7. Insert the cooler line end into the quick connect fitting until a click is either heard or felt.





8. On the 5.7L install the oil cooler lines to the clip at the generator bracket.





9. On the 5.7L install the oil cooler pipes to the clip at the oil pan.





10. On the 3.8L install the oil cooler pipes to the clip at the engine mount.





11. Do not use the plastic cap on the cooler line in order to install the cooler line into the fitting.





12. Position (snap) the plastic cap onto the fitting. Do not manually depress the retaining ring when installing the plastic cap onto the quick connect fitting.
13. Ensure that the plastic cap is fully seated against the fitting.

Important: If you cannot position the plastic cap against the fitting, remove the retaining ring from the quick connect fitting per Step 5 of the cooler line removal procedure. Check the retaining ring and the tube end in order to ensure neither is bent. Replace the cooler line or the retaining ring if necessary, and reinstall per Step 2 of the cooler line installation procedure.

14. Pull back sharply on the cooler line in order to ensure that the cooler line is fastened into the quick connect fitting.





15. Ensure that no gap is present between the cap and the fitting.
16. Raise the transmission jack.
17. Install the transmission support.
18. Remove the transmission jack.
19. Install the catalytic converter hanger. Refer to Converter Hanger Assembly Replacement (3.8L Automatic), Converter Hanger Assembly Replacement (3.8L Manual) or Converter Hanger Assembly Replacement (5.7Q.
20. Install the rear axle torque arm. Refer to Torque Arm Replacement in Rear Suspension.
21. Install the propeller shaft. Refer to Propeller Shaft Replacement - One-Piece or Propeller Shaft Replacement - Two-Piece in Propeller Shaft.

Notice: Refer to Fastener Notice in Service Precautions.





22. Connect the lower oil cooler line fitting to the radiator.
^ Tighten the flair nut to 45 Nm (33 ft. lbs.).





23. Connect the upper oil cooler pipe fitting to the radiator.
^ Tighten the flair nut to 45 Nm (33 ft. lbs.).
24. Lower the vehicle.
25. Check the transmission fluid.