on my 96 i have found a transmisson fluid leak at the rubber hose that goes into the trans fluid heat exchanger. the hose is leaking on one of the pressed on fittings and i am wondering if i can just take it to my local implement dealer and have him make a hose for it or if i have to buy a DC hose. the factory hose has a one way check ball in it and that is my only concern. what do you guys think about it. thanks in advance.

 

The check ball is in the trans output steel line.
I know guys who have replaced all the steel lines and hoses with hyd hoses, works just fine. With the funky known to fail plastic clips your truck came with you'd be better off with hose clamps, made up hoses are even better.

 

I HAD THE SAME HOSE RUPTURE AFTER INSTALLING MY TEMP.SENDER FOR TRANS FLUID. I REPLACED WITH A NEW LINE FROM DODGE, VERY EXPENSIVE, I DID NOT HAVE TIME TO GET ONE MADE BUT THAT IS A VERY GOOD OPTION..MAKE SURE YOU CHANGE THE CHEEP PLASTIC CONNECTORS ON BOTH ENDS OF THE LINE WHILE YOU ARE THERE. IF YOU DON'T ALREADY HAVE TRANSTEMP GAUGE INSTALLED AND ARE PLANNING TO DO SO LATER,I WOULD RECOMMEND THAT YOU GET THE NEW LINE FROM DODGE THAT ALREADY HAS A SPOT FOR A TEMPSENSOR IN IT. THE LINE IN THE BAYOU STATE COST ME 130.00 BUCKS GOOD LUCK....

 

The rubber line in mine has the check ball in the top fitting????
Make sure that you get the electronic Trans temp gauge. According to Autometer they make a mechanical and an electronic. I unknowingly got the mechanical and and it was a royal pain to deal with!!

 

The anti-back flow valve is inside the bottom connector on flex line going into the bottom of the exchanger. Due to the quick-connect on the top you cannot just go get that piece of flex made unless they somehow salvage the quick-connect and put it on the new hose (not possible that I know of).

I had a new flex hose made when I changed my hard lines out to the flared fitting connectors. While not cheap it is cheap insurance to alleviate the clip blowout possibility.

It has been said that without the anti-drainback valve it takes a few seconds for the trans to fill the lines when cold and start moving the truck. I have yet to experience this scenario but I do try to remember to shift into neutral for a few seconds before going into gear when it is cold.

With the temp gauge in the line coming straight out of the pump the fluid temps are interesting to watch (you might even say scary). I pulled up in a bank drive-through after running through traffic going in and out of lock-up and the temps spiked to 220 before I realized it and shifted into neutral. Not used to seeing those kind of temps and how easily it can swing depending on load and airflow. If the air is flowing the temps stay sane. Might be time for that helper fan upfront.