There should not be any coolant coming out of those at anytime.

 

Yeah. Thats what I figured.

 

Yup you need a new radiator. That means you have a leak between the trans cooler assembly and radiator, probably from one of the core lines rotting through over time. Napa had a good price on the radiator when I replaced mine, and there are some nice all aluminum ones on ebay that are direct fits.

 

Well i was a little curious about the leak. I have a problem with removing the clips to pull trans lines out so instead i just undo the threads. I tried putting the fittings back in the thread and filled the radiator again. No leaks. The trans coolant system confuses me

 

Seems as though the trans cooler itself sits/floats in its own compartment within the radiator

 

That's correct. It's sealed off as long as those fittings stay tight. I made the same mistake when I did my cooler and had a similar mini freak out and thought I needed a radiator. Could be a bad o-ring behind the fitting

 

If the threaded fittings aren't tight on the radiator body then coolant will leak out. Think of the Trans cooler as the nut to the threaded fitting, it needs to be tightened against the radiator body to seal. Otherwise it would literally float inside the radiator.

 

witch line/side do you hook the external/aftermarket trans cooler to ?
driver side or pass side? fluid in or out ?