Chrysler Repair: caravan heater, 4 cylinder cars, coolant recovery

Question
I read your article on heating problems on a Caravan.  In it you said that the 4 cylinder cars had to be filled following a certain protocol.  I have a 4 cyl 2000 Voyager.  A broken hose allowed much antifreeze to leak out.  Since then no heat.  Would you please let me know the sequence to refilling the 4 cyl engine?  Thanks, John Domingues

Answer
Hello John,
I am pleased that you looked in the list of already answered questions! There follows a procedure for draining and refilling, but you really don't need to drain the engine completely, just far enough to empty out the thermostat housing. Make sure you have turned on the heat control with the engine running to allow any air trapped in the heater core to be released, then shut off the engine and start the procedure..
So let me run through the details that are peculiar to the
Chrysler 4-cyl engines. There is a plug in the top of the thermostat
housing (8mm allen head) that has to be considered when you are
dealing with the cooling system or you will trap air in the housing or
the heater. Here is the way to do drain and refill:
Start the engine and put the heater control slider in the Heat
position (this opens the water line to the heater). (A/C should be off
of course)
Shut off the engine
Open the radiator drain valve and watch to see that the water drains
first from the coolant recovery bottle. Then remove the radiator cap
and let about another quart or so drain out. (You can collect the
coolant in a pan for reuse if you choose).
Then remove the plug from the top of the thermostat housing and let
the water drain out of that housing, use a flashlight to observe level
(you don't have to drain any further if you are just trying to remove
trapped air, otherwise complete draining).
Close the drain.
Start refilling thru the radiator cap opening
When the coolant level rises into the thermostat housing and up to the
top of the plug hole, stop filling and put in the plug (put some
never-seize compound on the plug threads).
Continue filling thru the radiator cap opening until radiator is full.
Put on radiator cap.
Fill the coolant recovery bottle to the "max" line on the bottle.
In theory you will have now a air free cooling system. At least if
there is any trapped air it will work its way out more quickly if you
follow this procedure exactly.
Roland