Got this van in the spring of 2016. In July of 2016 we were driving around looking at new houses. Not to buy, just looking! It was in the low 90's and I noticed the temperature gauge was at
227 dg. Got out to see if fans were running and they weren't so I turned off the AC and decided we had to get out on the road to cool it down! It took a while but it cooled down as we headed home. Got thru last summer by not driving around slowly with AC on! The other day we were coming home on rock road that they had just bladed so we were going slow. Got home and temperature was up to 217 dg ! Fans weren't running with AC off so I turned Ac on and fans would run 2 or 3 sec turn off 5 or 10 sec. Yesterday I started it up and turned on AC and fans
were going on and off like they were the other day. Aren't the fans supposed to run constantly when siting still with AC on ?

 

Not sure of your gen. T&C, Mine is the older 04, but if it has the auto temp HVAC system the fans will cycle like that in auto mode. Not sure what motor yours has, but a possible thermostat issue for the motor could be causing the high engine temps. How is the radiator fluid level, is it loosing antifreeze?

 

Sorry guess I didn't say it is a 2011. It has the 3.6 engine. Has only 68000 mi and hasn't lost any coolant since we got it. Can't find the temp sensor. Thought that could be the problem.

 

When the temp is that high shouldn't the fans be running? That tells me the temp sensor is bad.!

 

The temp sensor is BURIED under the air intake manifold.. a real bear to get to. BUT unless you have a check engine light that is on, it will throw that light and a code is stored in the computer if it is malfunctioning.
And not necessarily as to last post, there are a few things the circuit runs thru that could be at fault, as that sensor also works with engine management for operation of things. if it were bad the motor would not be running correctly also.
But as I said, yours is not what I am comfortably familiar with. The Avengers use the same motor and mostly the same wiring harness and layout, and what I am passing to you is knowledge gained from another forum that I associate with for my 98 Avenger coupe. I am here mainly for my 04 T&C, to help as I can and watch for things that I may not have "run into" yet(but have had a number of these vans for 25 years)!

 

Thank you for the reply. All this is why we like our 2000 voyager with 167000 mi. Easer to get at things. LOL

 

I know exactly what you mean! I have progressed thru the years from 87 thru our current 04. Don't really like the layout of the newer gen. other than the return to the more squared body shape, my preference over the the change back in the 96 model. my FAV was my first LWB 30 motor 87! VERY BASIC by today's standards but built like a TANK and easy to work on!

 

I replaced the thermostat in our 2011 T&C and saw engine temps in the 210-220 range. Called our local dealer and was told the 3.6 does run warm. I'm used to engines operating at 200 or less, so I was concerned. But have read other posts (not here) saying the ame thing.

 

Most important you change the antifreeze/anti corrosive with the correct HOAT type

ON TIME. The radiator is aluminum and will corrode with white aluminum rust and will plug up. This cannot be flushed like the old brass and copper rads., it means a new one.
Also the thermostat is organized to jam open if there is excessive coolant temps.
Above is well worth checking for your diagnosis of problem.


Leedsman.
p.s. The temp. guage should be close to halfway to be normal.