Replacing the thermostat in your Grand Caravan is an inevitable repair.
I own one of these clunker ‘14 Dodge Grand Caravans which is identical to a Town and Country and you will be changing the thermostat yearly.
On older vehicles, this was recommended anyways and it seems Dodge brought along the old bc may not even be a loss of heat caused by a stuck thermostat that causes you to replace it in your 3.6 liter engine.
It’s just as likely a bad thermostat will put the check engine light on for P2181 “Cooling system efficiency” codes. Without replacing the thermostat, you won’t be getting your Grand Caravan inspected. What a mess.
Read this post before you starting any work on the vehicle. You will thank me later I promise.
The problem of bad thermostats setting the check engine light extends through most of Chrysler’s lineup, but the 3.6 liter seems to be especially sensitive to the problem.
It’s for this reason, I’m going to show you how to replace the thermostat in your Dodge Grand Caravan (or Town and Country) at home.
Why replace the thermostat yourself in a 3.6 liter Grand Caravan?
Surprisingly, it’s not a professional caliber job to change the thermostat in a ‘14-19 Grand Caravan with the 3.6 liter. With a few tools and a drain pan anyone can replace their thermostat and shut off the check engine light right in the driveway.
Let’s face it, paying a professional auto technician to replace a simple thermostat can get costly with labor rates approaching $100 an hour and more in most locations. Why not replace the thermostat in your own Grand Caravan and save the labor at least?
Some reasons to replace the thermostat in your ‘14-19 Grand Caravan
- P2181 DTC set for cooling system below threshold. Here’s a good description of the P2181.
- Your Grand Caravan might begin to overheat caused by a thermostat that sticks.
- The heat in your Grand Caravan 3.6 may become intermittent or stop working completely.
- Changing the thermostat in your 3.6 liter Grand Caravan should be considered maintenance.
Aside from crazy labor costs, any hands-on person can also save money on the parts needed to replace the thermostat simply buying them online. I’ll give you a link below to buy the thermostat I recommend for the Grand Caravan 3.6.
Recommended replacement thermostat for a Grand Caravan.
The difference is in the thermostat housing, not the thermostat itself. Any auto parts store will sell you the basic thermostat for a 3.6 liter for around $10-15, but for another $10 you can buy the whole thermostat housing for a Grand Caravan 3.6 liter.
For the $10 you can save buying just a thermostat, you’re going to save triple in labor and headaches during installation of the thermostat. As you’re about to see, replacing the thermostat in a 3.6 liter is much easier when you change the entire housing.
How to Replace the Thermostat in a Grand Caravan 3.6 Liter.
You guys came here because you need to know how to change the thermostat in your Grand Caravan. I’m going to show you the steps to take, but first a word of caution since I know most of the people reading aren’t professional techs.
Working on a hot engine is always dangerous, but especially so when repairing the cooling system. Please do not attempt to change the thermostat until your engine has cooled for several hours.
Step 1.) Prepare to Repair.
I know, it sounds silly. But seriously. Before you start the repair you need to get out the tools you’re going to need for the job.
- Channel locks, large pliers or this style of hose clamp pinch pliers.
- Some sort of drain pan, preferably a clean one. A small tote will do, just make sure to dispose of the old antifreeze responsibly.
- Set of metric wrenches and a ratchet with a set of sockets.
- Some rags or hand towels because you will get some antifreeze on your hands.
- Medium sized flat-head screwdriver.
Step 2.) Raise the hood.
I guess there’s not much to explain here, but just in case you don’t know. Here’s how to pop the hood on a Grand Caravan. But once you do, it’s time to find the location of the thermostat housing assembly.
Step 3). Locate the upper radiator hose.
Every vehicle is different, but on a Grand Caravan with the 3.6, the upper radiator hose is on the left side when you stand in front of it. Underneath you will see the engine pulleys such as the alternator and power steering pump.
If you still can’t find it, look for the breather box that holds the air filter or the reservoir that holds power steering fluid. The black rubber hose that connects the radiator to the side of the engine is the upper radiator hose.
If you own a set of pinch off pliers you can pinch the hose right behind the thermostat housing. A pair of needle nose vice-grips with a thin rag between them will suffice in a bind.
Step 4.) Locate the Thermostat
If you follow the upper radiator hose on the Chrysler 3.6 engine to the side of the engine you will find a black housing the size of a baseball approximately. This is the thermostat housing on your Dodge Grand Caravan.
Step 5.) Remove the clamp closest to the thermostat housing.
Up tight to the thermostat housing, attached to the radiator hose you will find a hose clamp. It’s not an old fashion style clamp, it is a “squeeze clamp” or spring action clamp. Technically, these are supposed to be replaced after removal but you can put a regular hose clamp on after changing the thermostat if you can’t get or afford one.
Once you find the clamp holding the radiator hose on to the thermostat housing, either use your hose clamp pliers or a set of channel locks to remove it or at least slide it back a few inches.
Step 6.) Remove radiator hose from thermostat housing.
In order to replace the thermostat, you’re going to have to remove the radiator hose from the housing. Being a plastic housing, the hose will be stuck to it and you’ll have to either use a hose pick or you can gently spin the hose with the channel locks to break it free. Once the hose is off the housing, you will see two 10 mm bolts.
Step 7.) Remove 10mm bolts and pull thermostat housing off.
With a 10 mm socket, remove the two bolts that are holding the thermostat housing to the block. These bolts are small and finely threaded, so two things. Be sure not to drop them and be sure not to cross thread them.
After you remove the two bolts, the housing will likely be stuck on the engine. Give it a gentle wiggle and it should pop off. If it doesn’t, use a small pry bar or flat screw driver to put some leverage on it. If it still won’t move, make sure both bolts are out. I’ve seen stranger things happen.
Once you remove the thermostat housing, be prepared for the antifreeze left in the block to come running out. Have a drain pan under the vehicle as coolant is very toxic to the environment and animals.
Step 8.) Open new thermostat and get it prepared.
Once you have removed the original thermostat causing problems it’s time to repeat the steps backward to reassemble the cooling system. It’s literally that easy. Changing the thermostat in your Grand Caravan is not a job only for professionals. DIY mechanics can also change their thermostat at home and save a ton of money.
Worth Noting- After you replace the thermostat, you will need to clear the codes if a check engine light was your original problem. Typically I may recommend unhooking the battery in some older vehicles. On newer (2007+) Dodge vehicles especially I do NOT recommend this method.
There are hundreds of code scanners online that will clear the code without risking the electrical system in your Grand Caravan. Autel even sells one for less than $25. Buy one and consider it an investment. Next year at inspection time you might need it again.
