Any towing experts?

Is it true that a transmission cooler must be added to avoid damage to
the trans while towing? A friend has been towing a trailer (weight
approx. 3500lbs) with his 02 Passport and his transmission seems to
have fried. In stop and go traffic, it'll shake and shudder, taking
couple of seconds to find the gear. Is this normal for Passports or is
a major overhaul of the trans required?

 

Yes, if it doesn't have one already.

A friend has been towing a trailer (weight

No. Why would that be normal for any car?

or is

Don't know, but quite possibly. What does the fluid look and smell like?

WW

 

What does the owners manual say about towing? Stock vehicles are only
rated to a certain amount of weight for towing and if you don't have the
manual, call a dealer.

As for coolers, absolutely. Why do you think when you order a new truck or
van many offer a towing package? Those packages always include a tranny
cooler (or larger than stock), sometimes an engine oil cooler, sometimes an
oversize power steering cooler. If the tranny fluid is very dark and
smells burnt, it's mostly likely a gonner.

And does your friend realize he's actually driving a "badge engineered"
Honda, that is actually an Isuzu Rodeo? Just curiuos because most folks
don't realize their "Passports" are Isuzus.

 

My wife had a '99 Passport EX (54,000 miles) until she got an '04 MDX.
We were lucky that nothing major broke, since Passports are a POS.
But, the tranny does shift very smoothly if it is working right.
Sounds like your friend's is trashed. 3500 pounds is a lot of weight
to tow. A Passport only weighs 3700.