Being that I visit this site often, I figured I'd sign up and ask my own questions.

I was doing a radiator swap today in my 99 Jeep Cherokee Sport 4.0, and as I was attempting to take off a metal hose on the radiator, I twisted it up pretty bad. I think it may be the transmission coolant hose but I'm not sure. It's the hose right below the radiator cap. What should I do now, I'm absolutely clueless.. Thank you!

 

Yes, it's the tranny fluid return line from the OE factory cooler in the rad back to the tranny. It needs to flow tranny fluid and not leak. Can u post a pic of the damage so we can better help and go from there?

 

I had no idea I was twisting the line, I just thought I was loosening the bolt.

 

Time to get a new line. It probably isn't advised but if you have a part on the line that isn't compressed you can cut out the twisted section and replace it with some high pressure rubber tubing and some clamps until you can get a new line. I did this on my old k1500 and it lasted until I sold it with no leaks so up to you if you want to try it or not.

To get the hose out of the rad you're gonna need 2 wrenches. Hold one nut and twist the other.

 

That doesn't look good, definitely looks kinked and restricting tranny fluid flow. If there's enough metal tube at the rad end to attach a piece of rubber hose to (double clamped both ends), the kinked section of metal tube can be cut out with a small tubing cutter. Or, u can buy a new replacement metal tube or maybe find one at a JY. Good luck.

 

Appreciate the help guys. One more question, what kind of fluid comes out of the hose below the Tranny Coolant Line?

 

The big black hose? Coolant.

 

It's a really slim black hose connected to a metal piece on the bottom of the radiator. I've got the coolant hose right above it.

 

That might be the other transmission line. There's an in and an out I'm pretty sure.

 

There would be two for the trans, in and out. I've seen radiators that had a tube on the drain. Where does it go? Of course a drain would just end...

 

I've decided to get a new line. The problem I'm having it getting the old line off. It seems to be clamped by a factory clamp and I can't seem to get it off.