How to Change the Thermostat in a Chrysler Town & Country

The Chrysler Town and Country offers the practicality of a front-wheel-drive minivan with an extra helping of luxury that appeals to both families and empty-nesters. Leather interiors, a standard V6 engine, the Stow-n-Go seating system, driver-side sliding doors and a long list of amenities have helped the Town and Country maintain its popularity since its debut in 1990.

Instructions

1

Disconnect the battery cable from the negative terminal. Drain the cooling system so that the coolant level is below that of the thermostat.

2

Take the upper radiator hose from the thermostat housing, take off the housing bolts and remove the housing. Remove the thermostat. Discard the old gasket.

3

Clean any dirt, debris or gasket material from the housing mating surfaces. Immerse the new gasket in clean water, then position it on the water box surface. Position the thermostat centered over the gasket in the water box.

4

Check the threads on the housing bolts to make sure they are clean and free of any corrosion caused by exposure to coolant. Use a small wire brush to clean the threads as needed.

5

Install the housing with the thermostat in the recess. Tighten the bolts to 105 inch/pounds on the 3.0L engine; 21 foot/pounds on the 3.3L and 3.8L engines.

6

Reconnect the upper radiator hose and tighten the hose clamp. Connect the negative battery cable. Fill the cooling system with a 50/50 mix of water and ethylene glycol antifreeze until the radiator is full.

7

Start the engine and run it until the thermostat opens. Fill the coolant overfill tank as needed. Pressure test the system for leaks.