How to Troubleshoot the Engine Light on a 2005 Chrysler Town & Country

Troubleshooting engine problems without help does not have to be time consuming. In much less the time than it takes to manually inspect every engine part, you could have diagnosed and begun fixing the Chrysler's problem. Since 1996, the Chrysler Town & Country has used second-generation On-Board Diagnostic (OBD-II) codes. These codes activate the engine light on your dashboard, and retrieving this information takes only a few minutes, provided that you have a diagnostic scanner fluent in OBD-II coding.

Things You'll Need

  • OBD-II scanning tool
  • Locate and purchase an OBD scanner. This diagnostic tool can be found at automotive stores, or online. How much you pay for a tool depends on what exactly you want; many tools apply to other diagnostic systems, like ABS brakes. The price can start around $99 and easily go upwards. Also, a variety of software packages are available online to trick a laptop into becoming a diagnostic scanner. However, to do that, you will also need a cable fitted with a data link connection plug at one end, and a USB connector at the other.

  • Open the Town & Country driver-side door, and stick the key into the ignition. Leave the vehicle "off" for a moment.

  • Locate the data link port beneath your Town & Country dashboard. The black, plastic port features 16 receptor slots to fit a 16-prong plug.

  • Fit the OBD-II scanner plug into this outlet.

  • Activate the code scanner, if it does not turn on automatically. You can do this by pressing the scanner power button.

  • Turn on the Town & Country electrical system. Look for the trouble code on the scanner screen. If nothing appears onscreen, start the engine.

  • Wait a few seconds for the trouble codes to appear on the scanner screen.

  • Copy the trouble codes onto paper.

  • Reference the trouble codes in the scanner manual. If the manual does not contain these codes, then try to find them using a search engine on your computer. Definitions appear on the first page of results, and this information will help you decide between a do-it-yourself fix, or paying a professional mechanic.