Showing step by step instruction on how to replace the thermostat on a 2013 Chrysler Town & Country with the 3.6L V6, a bad thermostat can cause the engine to not reach operating temperature and cause a P0128 trouble code and prevent the interior heat to blow cool.
){kind=link}
Make sure the old rubber gasket is removed because the new thermostat will have its own. I didn’t and doubled those up and it started leaking and left my wife stranded and like they say…… happy wife, happy life. That wasn’t the case for me and add in that it was 25 degrees outside and you got a recipe for disaster fellas.
Fyi – I completed the thermostat replacement and all is running smoothly. One mistake I made that I'd like to share – when I removed the old thermostat the old gasket stuck to the side of the engine. The new thermostat already had a gasket in it. So when I started screwing the new thermostat on – there were two gaskets. As I tightened the screws the two gaskets lined up and caused enough pressure to crack the housing. I had to get another thermostat but at $13 each it wasn't a major situation. I got going too fast and didn't pay attention. Anyway, maybe this will help someone else down the line.
Two questions – How much coolant can I expect to go in the radiator? Will it fill all the way to the cap so I can see it? And what is the worst case scenario if I don't get all the air bled out – will it eventually do so on its own?
In my van the heat never seems real hot, can't get it over 200F stays in 180s while driving( when not driving on the road-warming up on driveway it gets to high 190s) should I get thermostat replaced?