QuestionQUESTION: I have a 1999 town and country van. Is there anyway to test the thermostat and see if it is working correctly? Is there anyway to see if the fans are working also? Thank You
ANSWER: Hi Stephanie,
The best way to test the thermostat is to remove it from its housing (you didn't mention which engine but generally it is the place where the top radiator hose attaches to the engine), put it in heating water and watch it as the temperature rises to around 195 degrees to see if an opening begins to appear at the flange and gets wider and wider as the temp rises to boiling. If so, then the thermostat is OK. If not, then replace the thermostat. Another way would be to notice if the temp gauge rises to somewhere about mid-line and then stays there, doing this on a cool day and without using the air conditioning. If so, then it is likely working OK. If on the other hand you do this on a hot day, with AC, and the fans don't come on then the gauge will rise to the top and never stops for a while at mid-scale, that would not prove the thermostat is bad, because the fans not coming on will cause the rise even of the thermostat is OK.
If your fans stopped working that is probably not the fans but rather the fan relay that has blown. Chrysler has difficulty with longevity of that relay in the mid- to late-90's and in fact issued a recall so you might want to check to see if you are covered for a free replacement. If not, then you can replace it yourself. You will find it on the left side frame rail, in the engine comparment, very close to where the left lower edge of the radiator meets the left frame rail. Simply unplug out, remove the relay from the rail and put in a new one.
If you want to describe the overheating problem please do so and I will give you my opinion.
Roland
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank You. I was in the drive through and started to leave and noticed the gauge moving past the mid point not alot just a bit. I pulled over and cut the van off, waited a few minutes and then drove home which is about 15 mins or so. The van did do fine on the ride home but I did notice that the motor seemed hotter than normal. Thank you
AnswerHi Stephanie,
No problem if the needle stays below 3/4 of full scale, and also doesn't blow off noticeable steam/boils over. When it pushes toward H and if the fans are not on, then I would be concerned and so pull over and stop. Check the amount of coolant in the filler bottle and add to bring it to the 'cold' line, after it has cooled down, if it is below that line at that time or below the hot line when it is hot.
Roland
