How to Install a Thermostat in the Chrysler LHS
by Mark Robinson
The thermostat in your Chrysler LHS helps regulate the amount of coolant directed into the engine. An improperly functioning or failed thermostat can cause your Chrysler LHS to overheat, leaving you stranded on the side of the road. Learning how to install a thermostat in your LHS can help you prevent problems such as these occurring. Installing the thermostat is a straightforward process that can be done in under an hour in ideal circumstances.
Step 1
Set the Chrysler LHS in park and engage the parking brake. Let the engine cool.
Step 2
Open the hood of the LHS. Use a combination wrench to disconnect the negative terminal cable from the battery.
Step 3
Place a drain pan underneath the radiator near the front of the vehicle. Locate the drain plug at the bottom of the radiator and loosen it by hand. Allow the coolant to drain into the pan and tighten the plug afterwards.
Step 4
Locate the top radiator hose near the top of the radiator. Follow the hose back towards the thermostat housing. Use a pair of pliers to loosen the clamp on the top radiator hose. Carefully pull the hose away from the thermostat-housing inlet.
Step 5
Use a socket wrench to remove the two bolts securing the thermostat housing to the intake manifold. Remove the thermostat housing from the intake manifold and pull the thermostat out of the mounting area.
Step 6
Scrape away any remaining gasket residue with a flat-head screwdriver. Place the new gasket over the mounting area, followed by the new thermostat. Ensure the thermostat is installed spring-down, with the bleed hole at the 12 o'clock position.
Step 7
Place the thermostat housing over the thermostat and gasket. Tighten the two bolts securing the housing with a socket wrench. Fit the top radiator hose over the inlet on the thermostat housing and secure it with the clamp.
Step 8
Refill the LHS's cooling system with fresh engine coolant. Remove the drain pan from underneath the vehicle and dispose of the old coolant in an environmentally safe manner. Reconnect the negative terminal cable to the battery and start the engine. Allow the engine to run for at least five minutes while checking underneath the vehicle and around the thermostat area for leaks.
References
- "Haynes Repair Manual: Chrysler LHS, Concorde, 300M & Dodge Intrepid, 1998 thru 2004"; Eric Godfrey; 2009
Things You'll Need
- Combination wrench
- Drain pan
- Pliers
- Socket wrench
- Engine coolant
Warnings
- Do not pour used engine coolant into storm drains or on the ground. Take used fluids to an automotive parts outlet or repair shop for proper disposal. Use caution with coolant as it is sweet to the taste, but highly poisonous.
Writer Bio
Mark Robinson is a freelance graphic designer and writer. Since 2008 he has contributed to various online publications, specializing in topics concerning automotive repair, graphic design and computer technology. Robinson holds a Bachelor of Science in graphic design from Alabama A&M University.
