cooling question in a 97

i have a 97, just wondering if the trans fluid runs through the radiator or just the little cooler in front if it??

Uh, look to see where the tranny fluid lines go into, you should be able to see them. My 94 uses the radiator cooler.

If you have a little OEM trans cooler in front of your radiator, it should run through both the radiator (first) and then the trans cooler. Thats how mine is set up...

Actually the fluid first flows thru the external cooler to cool down excessive heat, then flows thru the radiater "cooler" to maintain an optimum "warmed up" running temp that is needed especially on newer electronicaly controlled automatics. Think how cool the fluid can get in below zero temps in winter. But I guess it wouldent matter in warmer climates though.

Just my thought + what I've been told

You can run it either way, but in a stock/OEM setup, it goes through the radiator first, then the aux cooler.