2009 CHRYSLER TOWN AND COUNTRY air condition

•You can also turn the Temperature Control to maxi-
mum heat, the Mode Control to floor and the Fan
Control to high. This allows the heater core to act as a
supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the engine cooling system.
CAUTION!
Driving with a hot cooling system could damage
your vehicle. If temperature gauge reads “H”, pull
over and stop the vehicle. Idle the vehicle with the air
conditioner turned off until the pointer drops back
into the normal range. If the pointer remains on the
“H”, turn the engine off immediately, and call for
service.
WARNING!
A hot engine cooling system is dangerous. You or
others could be badly burned by steam or boiling
coolant. You may want to call a service center if your
vehicle overheats. If you decide to look under the
hood yourself, see Section 7, Maintenance, of this
manual. Follow the warnings under the Cooling
System Pressure Cap paragraph.
6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 417

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
Engine Compartment — 3.3/3.8L ......... 439
 Engine Compartment — 4.0L ............ 440
 Onboard Diagnostic System — OBD II ..... 441
▫ Loose Fuel Filler Cap Message — Gascap . . 441
 Emissions Inspection And Maintenance
Programs ............................ 442
 Replacement Parts .................... 443
 Dealer Service ....................... 444
 Maintenance Procedures ................ 444 ▫
Engine Oil ........................ 445
▫ Engine Oil Filter .................... 448
▫ Engine Air Cleaner Filter .............. 448
▫ Exhaust System .................... 449
▫ Maintenance-Free Battery ............. 451
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance ........... 452
▫ Body Lubrication ................... 455
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades ............. 455
▫ Cooling System .................... 457
7

CAUTION!
•It is essential when replacing the cables on the
battery that the positive cable is attached to the
positive post and the negative cable is attached to
the negative post. Battery posts are marked posi-
tive (+) and negative (-) and are identified on the
battery case. Cable clamps should be tight on the
terminal posts and free of corrosion.
•If a “fast charger” is used while the battery is in
the vehicle, disconnect both vehicle battery cables
before connecting the charger to the battery. Do
not use a “fast charger” to provide starting voltage.
Air Conditioner Maintenance
For best possible performance, your air conditioner
should be checked and serviced by an authorized dealer
at the start of each warm season. This service shouldinclude cleaning of the condenser fins and a system
performance check. Drive belt tension should also be
checked at this time.
CAUTION!
Do not use chemical flushes in your air conditioning
system as the chemicals can damage your air condi-
tioning components. Such damage is not covered by
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
452 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•Use only refrigerants and compressor lubricants
approved by the manufacturer for your air condi-
tioning system. Some unapproved refrigerants are
flammable and can explode, injuring you. Other
unapproved refrigerants or lubricants can cause
the system to fail, requiring costly repairs. Refer to
Section 3 of the Warranty Information book for
further warranty information.
•The air conditioning system contains refrigerant
under high pressure. To avoid risk of personal
injury or damage to the system, adding refrigerant
or any repair requiring lines to be disconnected
should be done by an experienced repairman.
Refrigerant Recovery and Recycling
R-134a air conditioning refrigerant is a hydrofluoro-
carbon (HFC) that is endorsed by the EnvironmentalProtection Agency and is an ozone-saving product. How-
ever, the manufacturer recommends that air conditioning
service be performed by an authorized dealer, or other
authorized service facility, using recovery and recycling
equipment.
NOTE:
Use only manufacturer-approved A/C System
Sealers, Stop Leak Products, Seal Conditioners, Compres-
sor Oil, or Refrigerants.
A/C Air Filter — If Equipped
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” in Section 8 for the
proper maintenance intervals.
WARNING!
Do not remove the A/C air filter while the blower is
operating or personal injury may result.
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 453

If an examination of your engine compartment shows no
evidence of radiator or hose leaks, the vehicle may be
safely driven. The vapor will soon dissipate.
•Do not overfill the coolant recovery bottle.
•Check the engine coolant (antifreeze) freeze point in
the radiator and in the coolant recovery bottle. If
engine coolant (antifreeze) needs to be added, contents
of the coolant recovery bottle must also be protected
against freezing.
•If frequent engine coolant (antifreeze) additions are
required, or if the level in the coolant recovery bottle
does not drop when the engine cools, the cooling
system should be pressure tested for leaks.
•Maintain engine coolant (antifreeze) concentration at
50% HOAT engine coolant (antifreeze) (minimum)
and distilled water for proper corrosion protection of
your engine, which contains aluminum components.
•Make sure that the radiator and coolant recovery
bottle overflow hoses are not kinked or obstructed.
•Keep the front of the radiator clean. If your vehicle is
equipped with air conditioning, also keep the front of
the condenser clean.
•Do not change the thermostat for Summer or Winter
operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat. Other designs may
result in unsatisfactory coolant performance, poor gas
mileage, and increased emissions.
Brakes
In order to assure brake system performance, all brake
system components should be inspected periodically.
Refer to the “Maintenance Schedule” in Section 8 for the
proper maintenance intervals.
462 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•Use of a brake fluid that may have a lower initial
boiling point, or is unidentified as to specification,
or which may occur by leaving the top of your
master cylinder reservoir uncovered or the top off
of the brake fluid bottle off, allowing it to absorb
moisture may result in sudden brake failure dur-
ing hard prolonged braking. You could have an
accident.
•Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts and the
brake fluid catching fire.(Continued)
WARNING! (Continued)
•Use only brake fluid that has been in a tightly
closed container (both as to bottles and the master
cylinder remaining covered) to avoid contamina-
tion from foreign matter or moisture. Brake fluid,
unlike many other fluids, actually absorbs mois-
ture from the air. This lowers the boiling point of
the fluid and may cause it to boil during hard
braking and create a soft pedal pressure resistance
as the gas compresses. This condition does not
apply adequate pressure to the brakes to function
properly.
•Do not allow petroleum based fluid to contami-
nate the brake fluid, all brake seal components
could be damaged, causing partial or complete
brake failure leading to a crash.
464 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Appearance Care and Protection from Corrosion
Protection of Body and Paint from Corrosion
Vehicle body care requirements vary according to geo-
graphic locations and usage. Chemicals that make roads
passable in snow and ice, and those that are sprayed on
trees and road surfaces during other seasons, are highly
corrosive to the metal in your vehicle. Outside parking,
which exposes your vehicle to airborne contaminants,
road surfaces on which the vehicle is operated, extreme
hot or cold weather and other extreme conditions will
have an adverse effect on paint, metal trim, and under-
body protection.
The following maintenance recommendations will enable
you to obtain maximum benefit from the corrosion
resistance built into your vehicle.
What Causes Corrosion?
Corrosion is the result of deterioration or removal of
paint and protective coatings from your vehicle.The most common causes are:
•Road salt, dirt and moisture accumulation
•Stone and gravel impact
•Insects, tree sap and tar
•Salt in the air near seacoast localities
•Atmospheric fallout/industrial pollutants
Washing
•
Wash your vehicle regularly. Always wash your ve-
hicle in the shade using MOPAR
Car Wash or a mild
car wash soap, and rinse the panels completely with
clear water.
•If insects, tar or other similar deposits have accumu-
lated on your vehicle, use MOPAR Super Kleen Bug
and Tar Remover or equivalent to remove.
468 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

are fused with self-resetting fuses that are only service-
able by an authorized dealer. The power seats are fused
by a 30 Amp circuit breaker located under the driver’s
seat. The power windows are fused by a 25 Amp circuit
breaker located under the instrument panel near the
steering column. If you experience temporary or perma-
nent loss of these systems, see your authorized dealer for
service.
VEHICLE STORAGE
If you are leaving your vehicle dormant for more than
21 days, you may want to take steps to protect your
battery. You may do the following:
•Remove the 20 Amp mini-fuse in the Totally Inte-
grated Power Module (TIPM) labeled Ignition-Off
Draw (IOD).
•Or, disconnect the negative cable from the battery.
•Anytime you store your vehicle, or keep it out of
service for two weeks or more, run the air conditioning
system at idle for about five minutes in the fresh air
and high blower setting. This will ensure adequate
system lubrication to minimize the possibility of com-
pressor damage when the system is started again.
REPLACEMENT LIGHT BULBS
LIGHT BULBS — InteriorBulb Number
Center & Rear Dome Lamp ................. 578
Center & Rear Reading Lamps ............... 578
Front Door Courtesy Lamp .................. 578
Front Header Reading Lamps — If Equipped ..... 578
Instrument Cluster Lamps .................PC74
Liftgate Lamp(s) ......................... 578
Overhead Console Reading Lamps ..........PC579
Removable Console Lamp — If Equipped ....... 194
Visor Vanity Lamps .................... 6501966
482 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE