Prevent bad problems from becoming worse, or even catastrophic, for your 2005 Chrysler Town and Country by knowing how to troubleshoot quickly and accurately. Beefing up on your automobile troubleshooting skills will not only save you frustration with your vehicle, but also prevent you from wasting precious time and money by throwing parts at the car hoping that the problems are resolved. Learning how to use an OBD II (on-board diagnostic) scanner, listening to your engine and inspecting various critical components can prevent serious problems from piling up on your Chrysler.
Plug an OBD II scanner into the OBD II port of the 2005 Chrysler Town and Country. The OBD II port is located below and to the left of the steering column and is protected by a small, removable panel. Turn on the OBD II scanner and turn the Town and Country's ignition key to the accessories position. Retrieve the OBD II codes from the scanner tool and look up the codes on a computer with Internet access at websites such as OBD II Codes.
Apply the probes of a multimeter to the electrical connections of any sensors or switches that come up on the OBD II scanner. Remember that even though the OBD II code for a specific sensor comes up on the scanner, there may be a problem with the electrical connection leading up to the sensor rather than the sensor itself. Turn the key to the accessories position and set the multimeter to voltage. Touch the probes to the vehicle's side of the electrical connection and test the voltage, which should read between 4.0 and 5.0 volts.
Turn on your Town and Country and test your air conditioning before the summer begins. If you hear metallic clinging or thumping when the air conditioning is turned on, then you may have a refrigerant leak in your air conditioning system. Feel the two tubes leading to the firewall from the air conditioner's evaporator with the air conditioning turned on. If the compressor is running but the firewall tubes are cold to the touch, then your refrigerant is low. Some consumers have complained of having to service the air conditioning on a regular basis.
Raise your Town and Country on a set of car ramps and examine the engine and steering components from underneath the vehicle as well as from above the engine with the hood raised. Use degreaser and automotive cleaning solvent to clean your engine if it is dirty or grimy. Look for oil leaks from the valve cover gasket or other seals from the engine. Replace the valve cover gasket by unscrewing the mounting bolts with a socket wrench, using a plastic scraper to remove the gasket and applying a new gasket with a thin bead of gasket silicon to seal the gasket to the lower half of the valve cover. Also inspect the CV boots for tears or cracks, which could lead to more expensive CV joint replacements or axle failure.
