Establish what driving condition caused the cooling system complaint. The problem may be caused by an abnormal load on the system such as the following: prolonged idle, very high ambient temperature, slight tail wind at idle, slow traffic speed, traffic jam, high speed, steep grade.
DESCRIPTION - ENGINE COOLANT
| WARNING | ANTIFREEZE IS AN ETHYLENE GLYCOL BASE COOLANT AND IS HARMFUL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED. IF SWALLOWED, DRINK TWO GLASSES OF WATER AND INDUCE VOMITING. IF INHALED, MOVE TO FRESH AIR AREA. SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY. DO NOT STORE IN OPEN OR UNMARKED CONTAINERS. WASH SKIN AND CLOTHING THOROUGHLY AFTER COMING IN CONTACT WITH ETHYLENE GLYCOL. KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN. DISPOSE OF GLYCOL BASE COOLANT PROPERLY, CONTACT YOUR DEALER OR GOVERNMENT AGENCY FOR LOCATION OF COLLECTION CENTER IN YOUR AREA. DO NOT OPEN A COOLING SYSTEM WHEN THE ENGINE IS AT OPERATING TEMPERATURE OR HOT UNDER PRESSURE, PERSONAL INJURY CAN RESULT. AVOID RADIATOR COOLING FAN WHEN ENGINE COMPARTMENT RELATED SERVICE IS PERFORMED, PERSONAL INJURY CAN RESULT. |
| CAUTION | Use of Propylene Glycol based coolants is not recommended, as they provide less freeze protection and less boiling protection. |
The cooling system is designed around the coolant. The coolant must accept heat from engine metal, in the cylinder head area near the exhaust valves and engine block. Then coolant carries the heat to the radiator where the tube/fin radiator can transfer the heat to the air.
The use of aluminum cylinder blocks, cylinder heads, and water pumps requires special corrosion protection. Mopar® Antifreeze/Coolant, 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula (MS-9769), or the equivalent ethylene glycol base coolant with hybrid organic corrosion inhibitors (called HOAT, for Hybrid Organic Additive Technology) is recommended. This coolant offers the best engine cooling without corrosion when mixed with 50% Ethylene Glycol and 50% distilled water to obtain a freeze point of - 37°C (-35°F). If it loses color or becomes contaminated, drain, flush, and replace with fresh properly mixed coolant solution.
The green coolant MUST NOT BE MIXED with the orange or magenta coolants. When replacing coolant the complete system flush must be performed before using the replacement coolant.
| CAUTION | Mopar® Antifreeze/Coolant, 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula (MS-9769) may not be mixed with any other type of antifreeze. Doing so will reduce the corrosion protection and may result in premature water pump seal failure. If non-HOAT coolant is introduced into the cooling system in an emergency, it should be replaced with the specified coolant as soon as possible. |
DESCRIPTION
The coolant recovery/reserve system container is mounted in the engine compartment see scheme 7 The container is made of plastic.
OPERATION
The coolant recovery system works with the radiator pressure cap to use thermal expansion and contraction of the coolant to keep the coolant free of trapped air. Provides a convenient and safe method for checking coolant level and adjusting level at atmospheric pressure without removing the radiator pressure cap. It also provides some reserve coolant to cover deaeration, evaporation, or boiling losses.
The engine block heater is available as an optional accessory on all models. The heater is operated by ordinary house current (110 Volt A.C.) through a power cord located behind the radiator grille. This provides easier engine starting and faster warm-up when vehicle is operated in areas having extremely low temperatures. The heater is mounted in a core hole (in place of a core hole plug) in the engine block, with the heating element immersed in coolant.
The block heater element is submerged in the cooling system's coolant. When electrical power (110 volt A.C.) is applied to the element, it creates heat. This heat is transferred to the engine coolant. This provides easier engine starting and faster warm-up when vehicle is operated in areas having extremely low temperatures.
The engine coolant temperature sensor threads into the top of the thermostat housing see scheme 8 New sensors have sealant applied to the threads.
The engine coolant temperature sensor threads into a coolant passage on lower intake manifold near the thermostat see scheme 11 New sensors have sealant applied to the threads.
The engine cooling thermostats are a wax pellet driven, reverse poppet choke type. The thermostat is mounted in a housing on the coolant outlet of the engine see scheme 13 or see scheme 15
The engine cooling thermostat is a wax pellet driven, reverse poppet choke type. The thermostat is designed to provide the fastest warm up possible by preventing leakage through it and to guarantee a minimum engine operating temperature of 88 to 93°C (192 to 199°F). The thermostat also will automatically reach wide open so it will not restrict flow to the radiator as temperature of the coolant rises in hot weather to around 104°C (220°F). Above this temperature the coolant temperature is controlled by the radiator, fan, and ambient temperature, not the thermostat.
The thermostat is operated by a wax filled container (pellet) which is sealed. When heated coolant reaches a predetermined temperature, the wax expands enough to overcome the closing spring and water pump pressure, which forces the valve to open.
The cooling system pressure cap is located on the radiator. The cap construction includes; stainless steel swivel top, rubber seals, and retainer, main spring, and a spring loaded valve (Scheme 5)
Scheme 5
The cooling system is equipped with a pressure cap that releases excessive pressure; maintaining a range of 97-124 kPa (14-18 psi).
The cooling system will operate at higher than atmospheric pressure. The higher pressure raises the coolant boiling point thus, allowing increased radiator cooling capacity.
There is also a vent valve in the center of the cap. This valve also opens when coolant is cooling and contracting, allowing the coolant to return to cooling system from coolant reserve system tank by vacuum through a connecting hose. If valve is stuck shut, or the coolant recovery hose is pinched, the radiator hoses will be collapsed on cool down. Clean the vent valve (Scheme 5) and inspect coolant recovery hose routing, to ensure proper sealing when boiling point is reached.
The gasket in the cap seals the filler neck, so that vacuum can be maintained, allowing coolant to be drawn back into the radiator from the reserve tank. If the gasket is dirty or damaged, a vacuum may not be achieved, resulting is loss of coolant and eventual overheating due to low coolant level in radiator and engine.
The dual radiator fans are mounted to the back side of the radiator see scheme 28 The radiator fan consist of the fan blade, electric motor and a support shroud which are all serviced as an assembly.
Scheme 6
Scheme 7
The radiator fan relay is a solid state type and is located on the front bumper reinforcement (Scheme 8) Refer to appropriate Wiring Diagrams for a circuit schematic.
The solid state radiator fan relay is controlled by the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) by way of a Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal. The relay control circuit supplies a 12 volt signal to the PCM. The PCM then pulses the ground circuit to achieve fan on time. The relay provides a voltage to the fan motors which is proportional to the pulse width it receives from the PCM. The duty cycle ranges from 30% for low speed operation, then ramps-up to 100% for high speed operation. This fan control system provides infinitely variable fan speeds, allowing for improved fan noise, A/C performance, better engine cooling, and additional vehicle power.
To control operation of the relay, the PCM looks at inputs from
- Engine coolant temperature
- A/C pressure transducer
- Ambient temperature from the body controller
- Vehicle speed
- Transmission oil temperature
The PCM uses these inputs to determine when the fan should operate and at what speed. For further information on fan operation, (Refer to OPERATION ).
Scheme 8
- Open hood.
- Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
- Remove the radiator crossmember to front fascia closure panel.
- Disconnect the relay electrical connector (Scheme 8)
- Remove the rivet attaching the relay to the front bumper beam (Scheme 8)
- Remove the relay.
The water pump has a cast aluminum body and housing with a stamped steel impeller. The water pump bolts directly to the block (Scheme 9) The cylinder block to water pump seal is provided by a rubber O-ring. The water pump is driven by the engine timing belt.
Scheme 9
Scheme 10
Scheme 11
- Disconnect negative cable from battery.
- Raise vehicle on a hoist.
- Remove the right inner splash shield.
- Remove the accessory drive belts (Refer to «REMOVAL»(ref-338220-S27575324862009081800000) ).
- Drain the cooling system (Refer to «STANDARD PROCEDURE»(ref-338220-S01254302102009081800000) ).
- Support engine from the bottom and remove right engine mount.
- Remove right engine mount bracket (Scheme 10)
- Remove the timing belt (Refer to «TIMING BELT AND SPROCKET(S)»(ref-189920-S00531976452005091600000) ).
- Remove timing belt idler pulley.
- Hold camshaft sprocket with Special tool C-4687 and adaptor C-4687-1 while removing bolt. Remove both cam sprockets.
- Remove the timing belt rear cover (Refer to «TIMING BELT COVER(S)»(ref-189920-S05399853052005091600000) ).
- Remove the generator and bracket (Scheme 10)
- Remove water pump to engine attaching screws (Scheme 11)
The water pump has a die-cast aluminum body and a plastic impeller. It bolts directly to the timing chain case cover, using a rubber seal for sealing (Scheme 13) It is driven by the accessory drive belt.
Scheme 12
Scheme 13
- Drain the cooling system. (Refer to «STANDARD PROCEDURE»(ref-338220-S01254302102009081800000) ).
- Remove the accessory drive belt shield.
- Remove the accessory drive belt. (Refer to «REMOVAL»(ref-338220-S02643625932009081800000) ).
- Remove water pump pulley bolts (Scheme 13)
- Rotate pulley until openings in pulley align with water pump drive hub spokes see scheme 35 Move pulley inward between pump housing and hub see scheme 35
- Position pulley to allow access to water pump mounting bolts. Remove water pump mounting bolts see scheme 36
- Remove water pump with the pulley loosely positioned between hub and the pump body.
- Remove and discard the seal.
- Clean seal groove and sealing surfaces on pump and timing chain case cover. Take care not to scratch or gouge sealing surfaces.
The 2.4L engine uses a metal tube to connect the engine block to the lower radiator hose and heater return see scheme 39 The tube has an O-ring for block to tube sealing and bolts attach the tube to the engine block.
Scheme 14
Scheme 15
- Drain the cooling system. (Refer to «STANDARD PROCEDURE»(ref-338220-S01254302102009081800000) ).
- Remove radiator upper hose to access the hose connections at the inlet tube.
- Remove radiator lower see scheme 12 and heater hoses from the inlet tube see scheme 40
- Remove the two fasteners that hold the inlet tube to the block.
- Rotate tube while removing the tube from the engine block.