Latest news with #ChryslerTownandCountry
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Toronto Star
Faulty thermostat not always obvious, but can cause problems
Dear Ask A Mechanic, I have a recently purchased 2014 Chrysler Town and Country with 185K on it.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Hamilton Spectator
Faulty thermostat not always obvious, but can cause problems
Dear Ask A Mechanic, I have a recently purchased 2014 Chrysler Town and Country with 185K on it. Engine light is on, code reader says, 'P0128.' The internet says the code more than likely is a bad thermostat. Did some basic research on YouTube academy and it looks like an easy fix. However, since I don't know what coolant the previous owner used, should I use this opportunity to do a full coolant flush? I read online that it's bad to 1) use universal coolants because they're a lie and 2) you shouldn't mix coolant brands. Bottom line: Do I just do a coolant flush with a thermostat swap for the P0128 code? Keep track of what coolant was used from here on out, or can I just top off with the correct coolant for the vehicle make and model and be fine? Van About Town That trouble code, P0128, is defined as 'Engine Coolant Temperature Below Thermostat Regulating Temperature.' There are actually a variety of reasons why that DTC (diagnostic trouble code) might set, including a low coolant/antifreeze level (which can cause false temperature readings, as air doesn't conduct heat as well as liquid, fooling the sensor), or a failed coolant temperature sensor, itself. Most commonly, though, it's because there legitimately is a problem with the engine coolant thermostat — usually just referred to as 'the thermostat' — that is preventing the engine from reaching its full operating temperature as quickly as it should (or at all). The main purpose of the Check Engine light is to inform the driver of issues that can increase emissions levels. This is actually the case for the thermostat. Engines are most efficient and perform best within a reasonably narrow temperature range. Too hot and internal components can get damaged, too cold and the engine must use a richer mixture — that is, one with a higher ratio of fuel to air than ideal — in order to maintain reliable combustion and acceptable performance. Richer mixtures result in a higher amount of unburned fuel entering the exhaust, and increase levels of carbon monoxide being produced. Prolonged or regular use at low engine temperatures has other detrimental effects, including accelerating engine wear and contaminating oil. But the light is on as a pollution warning. It's quite possible that you might not notice any difference in heat output or a lower reading on the gauge. The engine computer has a much closer eye on things. It knows what temperature the coolant was at during start-up and the air temperature, what operating conditions the engine saw and for how long, and beyond seeing what temperature the coolant reached, it can calculate whether it reached a specific temperature quickly enough. Fortunately, as you note, the thermostat is quite easy to replace on Chrysler's 3.6 litre V6. Just be sure to bleed the air out of the system correctly. This would be the perfect time to change the coolant, and you'll know where you stand afterwards. The factory coolant is Mopar's '10 Year' purple, which is overdue for changing if it's still original. Universal coolant/antifreeze is a fallacy as far as I'm concerned due to the contradictory chemical properties different coolants possess, and while equivalent products from many brands are fine to mix, mixing types is never a good idea. If in doubt, get it out! Keep in mind that simply draining the rad won't get all of the coolant out, given what will be trapped in various places including the rear heater system and its plumbing. Without access to an exchange-type flush machine, you may have to do a second spill-and-fill later if you determine that the coolant is, indeed, obviously contaminated. Ask a Mechanic is written by Brian Early, a Red Seal-certified Automotive Service Technician. You can send your questions to wheels@ . These answers are for informational purposes only. Please consult a certified mechanic before having any work done to your vehicle.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman dies, another seriously injured in crash near Armour involving semi
May 15—ARMOUR, S.D. — A 65-year-old woman from Winner died in a two-vehicle crash on Wednesday afternoon. Authorities say a 2004 Chrysler Town and Country, towing a small utility trailer, collided with the back of a 2008 Peterbilt 389 hauling a dump trailer at about 2:20 p.m. Wednesday, 10 miles northeast of Armour. The crash occurred on South Dakota Highway 44 and 398th Avenue. The driver of the 2004 Chrysler Town and Country was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. A passenger, a 29-year-old female from Sioux Falls, sustained serious, non-life threatening injuries. Seat belt use is under investigation at this time. The driver of the semi, a 38-year-old male from Tyndall, was uninjured and was wearing his seat belt. The names of those involved have not been released pending notification of family members. Authorities say the semi slowed down to make a right turn, which is when the Chrysler colleged with the right rear side of the dump trailer. The South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Yahoo
Monticello woman flown to Fort Wayne hospital after Cass County collision
Deputies from the Cass County Sheriff's Office, Fire District 1 and Emergency Medical Services were dispatched Tuesday morning after Central Dispatch was notified of a two-vehicle crash around 7:32 a.m. During their initial assessment at the intersection of County Roads 825 West and 250 North, the officers found an eastbound minivan struck a northbound SUV. The intersection was restricted for investigation and vehicle removal for roughly an hour. According to a press release from the Sheriff's Department, Deputy Caine Padgett's preliminary investigation found 55-year-old Helen Hayes of Monticello had been driving a 2011 Chrysler Town and Country and failed to yield the right of way to a 2019 Jeep Cherokee driven by 28-year-old Anna Chapel of rural Logansport. There were two children in the Jeep, a 2-year-old and a 6-year-old, who were properly restrained in child seats. The children, along with Chapel, received non-life-threatening injuries and were transported by Cass County Emergency Medical Services to Logansport Memorial Hospital. Hayes, however, sustained serious injuries and was flown to Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne via a medical helicopter. Neither alcohol nor narcotics are believed to be a factor in the crash. The Cass County Sheriff's Office is still investigating the crash. The department has asked for anyone with additional information to contact its office at 574-753-7800.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Yahoo
Woman injured in collision with two other vehicles near Litchfield, Minnesota
May 1---- One driver was injured in a three-car collision south of Litchfield on Wednesday evening. According to a from the Nancy Putzier, 73, of Litchfield, was transported to Meeker Memorial Hospital in Litchfield with non-life-threatening injuries. Putzier was traveling southbound on Minnesota Highway 22 in a 2004 Toyota Camry. Also southbound was a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado pickup, driven by 19-year-old Ethan Lee. A Chrysler Town and Country van was traveling the opposite direction, northbound on Highway 22, when all three vehicles collided at the intersection with 230th Street, according to the report. Putzier was not wearing a seat belt. Lee, also of Litchfield, was wearing a seat belt and was uninjured, according to the State Patrol. The airbags in his vehicle deployed. The driver of the northbound van is identified as Dennis Lee Ernest Kuhnau, 47, of Litchfield. Kuhnau had three juvenile passengers — a 10-year-old female and two males, ages 7 and 9, none of whom were named in the report. All four were uninjured in the collision. The 7-year-old was the only occupant in Kuhnau's vehicle not wearing a seat belt, according to the crash report. The crash was reported around 4:55 p.m. Wednesday. Road conditions were reported as dry, and alcohol was not involved in the crash. The Minnesota State Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Litchfield Fire Department, Mayo Ambulance and the
