I recently discovered that my internal transmission cooler magically developed a leak and pumped coolant into my transmission. Judging by the fluid that came out of it, I'm thinking its on its way out. GM has been very helpful telling me the car is a couple months out of warranty and that I should get rid of it, thanks GM, great quality product!

Anyways, I'm weighing my options since dumping it on some poor unsuspectful soul is not within my morals. A rebuild for my trans is ridiculously expensive, a GM reman transmsission is ridiculously expensive, and I've found numerous used low mile units however none from an 04 and no one can tell me if one from a newer CTS will work.

Since I would have liked a 6 speed in the first place, does anyone know if a T-56 transmission (a la CTSV) would bolt to a 3.6L motor? I'd think a V clutch pedal and hydraulics would be a bolt on. If the trans physically bolts to the 3.6L all I'd need to figure out is a clutch and flywheel and maybe a driveshaft length change. Can the vehicle be flashed with a tech 2 to the equivalent of what would come with a factory Aisin 6 speed to allow me to delete the auto trans?

I realize this is pretty out there stuff but I'm just trying to figure out what I can do with this thing.

I just went through the same thing. Keep an eye on your engine oil and coolant when you get it fixed. It just so happened that right after my car did the same thing, my oil cooler went too. My car is an 03 and I found a used tranny with 38 000kms on from a junk yard for 900 CAN $. The tranny was easier than I thought it would be to change out.

I think that you are getting in to a load of problems if you try to change to another transmission. If you have the auto now, they have a wiring harness hook up and it might not be the same as the manual. I don't even know if it has one. I think that if you where going to do it, it would be best to get the manual tranny from the same year. I wouldn't try it. I would put in a used tranny then if you like the car that much, sell it and get the one with the manual.

If you are going to change it out yourself, I can give you some pointers. I just finished mine about 2 weeks ago.

dup

And put on an external cooler.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/photopost/showphoto.php/photo/6693/ppuser/16552

The 05 or newer 3.6 CTS has a 6 speed Aisin with the 3.6. I would get that, assuming it will work.....

i wouldnt recommend trying to swap in a T56 from a V, or an older F-Body, the gear ratios are not set up for the 3.6's power band, you'd basically kill any performance the car has. Get the Aisin, if you need to swap in a manual

i wouldnt recommend trying to swap in a T56 from a V, or an older F-Body, the gear ratios are not set up for the 3.6's power band, you'd basically kill any performance the car has. Get the Aisin, if you need to swap in a manual

Exactly. If anything, the proper swap (if works) would be a 6-speed from another 3.6L car that was stick equipped. Otherwise, there could be more physical compatibility issues on top of the gear ratio differences, etc.

i think both the T56 and the Aisin work on the standard GM bell housing bolt pattern, but i'd be more concerned with gear ratios and fitting in the tunnel and driveshaft lengths and balancing and getting the linkages towork and more over if his car is an auto NOW he'd have to get a pedal assembly, get a new console, change out the computer, change the dash, blah blah blah blah

its not a simple swap

i think both the T56 and the Aisin work on the standard GM bell housing bolt pattern, but i'd be more concerned with gear ratios and fitting in the tunnel and driveshaft lengths and balancing and getting the linkages towork and more over if his car is an auto NOW he'd have to get a pedal assembly, get a new console, change out the computer, change the dash, blah blah blah blah

its not a simple swap

Yes, aside from even the fitment, is the computer, other electronics, interior parts, pedals, etc.

In the end, unless it's something you're maybe starting off with a salvage or well used bargain car and re-building it for play...it can very much go overboard and be a better idea just to buy a manual car in the first place vs. the checkbook and sanity.

It would be easier to go with the Aisin 6, I just figured the T56 was more plentiful and more bulletproof. Physically getting one in the car doesn't really concern me since I build custom cars as a hobby, its more the computer stuff that concerns me. Your all probably right its probably not worth it, just kinda throwing ideas around. Dup's cadi, I'm gonna send you a PM if you don't mind I'd appreciate any tips on swapping the auto out. I intend on doing it myself since I want it done right and don't want to pay the dealer 29 hours labor.

like i said more concerning than being able to do it... hell you could put a gas turbine in your car if you really wanted... is the gear ratios are probably WAY too tall for your motor.

think of the cars the T56 comes in
03-04 Cobras
97-2002 Fbodies
97-present Y-Bodies
2002-2005 GTO's

All V-8 cars as a source for a donor trans, yeah you'll be able to find them (check username FPARTS on ebay for great deals) but would it really be beneficial with the gearing thats in them.

You can always get them rebuilt (Hanlon Precision Transmission works does AWESOME custom gearsets) but is it really worth it when there is a 6 speed that is designed for your motor?

I agree, if the internal ratios were different the only way to crutch it would be to change the rear gear ratio and I highly doubt theres gear sets available for that piece of junk. Plus then your into a further need for computer programming alterations. Wish I knew more about the computers in these things to know how much of a PITA it would be to convert to the Aisin setup. Guess I should leave well enough alone and stuff another slushbox in it.

I agree, if the internal ratios were different the only way to crutch it would be to change the rear gear ratio and I highly doubt theres gear sets available for that piece of junk. Plus then your into a further need for computer programming alterations. Wish I knew more about the computers in these things to know how much of a PITA it would be to convert to the Aisin setup. Guess I should leave well enough alone and stuff another slushbox in it.

nah ... all you'd need to do is get the PCM out of the donor car you're getting the Aisin from...

Actually if its anything like the F-body PCM's you just have to get a resistor over the torque converter clutch circuit and wire in the clutch safety switch lines so you can't start the car with the cluch out....

so what is the status of your current trans? i assumed you got the fluid situation dialed in. does it work ok now?

Actually since I found the problem I haven't driven the thing. I'm installing an external cooler plumbed with AN hose and fittings and I assume I should have the trans flushed to get all the coolant out. Even though it worked before I found this problem, what leads me to believe its toast is it seems to shift pretty hard, especially the 1-2 and 4-5 shifts. The pan was relativley clean but the fluid was like a browny red milky gunk, when I showed my tranny guy he figures the things toast. No matter what I'm going to drive it until it starts to slip but I want to be prepared because its my daily driver.

I did the same thing. Drove for a couple of months, before I changed it out. Coolant and tran parts don't like each other. Mine got worse as the time went on.

I have an '05 with 52,000mi on her. 3.6 auto. Does the '05 have this same issue? I have an extended warranty to 72,000. If this is a common problem then I want Caddilac to fix this before it happens on my car.

I have only seen it happen to a few people, like myself. i would just keep an eye on the hoses and the connectors on the rad. Have your service guys to look at them every time you bring it in...

What tipped me off was white goop forming in my coolant reservoir and the thermostat went because the trans fluid attacked the seal in it. The trans fluid is at a higher pressure than the coolant so you'll get more trans fluid in the cooling system then coolant in the tranmission. Its tough to see with dexcool though since they're a similar color.

Is the radiator cracking and allowing the mixture? How is a hose leak causing the mixture? Are the lines inside the radiator bursting?

The lines hold the trans cooler to the rad, as the line fitting breaks, the trans cooler becomes loose and then goes into the rad causing the coolant to get into the trans.

Chris, did you see signs of tranny fluid in your coolant at all or did you just get transfer of coolant into the transmission?

If you are getting oil into your coolant I would be looking at your oil cooler. I think that the cooling system works at a higher PSI than the trans. If so then the higher PSI will push into the lower. I might be that when you shut the car off some of the trans fluid will go into the cooling system. I think that could be what is happening. Anyone else??

The 3.6L motor doesn't actually have an oil cooler as far as I know. The transmission operates at very high pressures, anywhere from 100-400 psi (these transmissions generate extremely high pressures in reverse I'm told) so I'd assume you'd actually get more trans fluid into the cooling system than coolant into the trans. However under non-operating conditions you'd have equal cross contamination.

They haven't come up with a fix for this obvious problem? GEEZUS!