How to Change the Thermostat in a Chrysler Town & Country

by Kyle McBride

Your 2013 Chrysler Town and Country came filled with Mopar 10-year coolant. If the coolant is clean and you use a spotless drain pan, reuse what you drain from the system. The 3.6-liter engine in your Town and Country has a thermostat and thermostat housing serviced as a single unit. Replace the thermostat with Mopar part No. 5184570AH or equivalent. If you use new coolant, Chrysler recommends using distilled or deionized water when mixing the 50-percent solution of coolant and water. Chrysler does not recommend using well or tap water. Allow the engine to cool completely before opening the cooling system.

Step 1

Remove the retaining nut for the power steering reservoir and position the reservoir aside -- don't disconnect the hoses. Disconnect the mass airflow sensor wiring connector on the air cleaner housing. Loosen the hose clamp on the air inlet duct and remove the duct from the air cleaner housing. Pull up on the housing to release the mounting grommets and remove it.

Step 2

Slide the drain pan under the driver side of the radiator and open the petcock. Once the coolant reservoir bottle is empty, remove the radiator cap and allow the coolant to drain. Close the petcock and remove the drain pan.

Step 3

Loosen the upper radiator hose clamp at the thermostat housing and remove the hose from the housing. Remove the housing bolts and remove the housing and thermostat. Make sure the gasket comes off with the housing. Scrape any residual gasket material from the mating surface on the timing chain cover.

Step 4

Install the new gasket on the thermostat housing and install the housing on the timing chain cover. Tighten the housing bolts to 106 inch-pounds. Install the upper radiator hose and tighten the clamp.

Step 5

Install the air cleaner housing and push down on the housing to seat it in the grommets. Connect the air duct and tighten the clamp. Connect the MAF sensor connector. Position the power steering reservoir and install the retaining nut. Tighten the nut to 105 inch-pounds.

Step 6

Open the bleeder screw on the thermostat housing and add coolant to the radiator until a steady stream of coolant flows from the bleeder. Close the bleeder screw. Loosen the clamp on the upper heater hose at the heater core and remove the hose. Fill the radiator until coolant is present in the heater hose, then install the heater hose. Tighten the hose clamp. Fill the coolant reservoir bottle.

Step 7

Start the engine. Put the heater control all the way to "Hot" and put the blower on "Low." Let the van idle for 10 minutes and top off the coolant as needed. Have your assistant increase idle to 4,000 rpm until the thermostat opens and the fan is operating. You'll know the thermostat opens when you see coolant circulating in the radiator. Top off the coolant as needed. Let the van idle for 25 minutes, then shut off the engine. Allow the engine to cool.

Step 8

Start the engine and idle at 4,000 rpm until the thermostat opens. Let the engine idle while you verify the fan is operating and the coolant is full. Top off the coolant as needed. Install the radiator cap and check for leaks.

Things You'll Need