Van shows running hot but actual engine temp is not

10

Asked by Guru29G9Z Feb 20, 2020 at 08:27 PM about the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Touring FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

2010 town n country. 106,000 miles. Just had
tune up and coolant flush. When driving once
the van is warmed up, the temperature gauge
in the car shows as fluctuating between 60 to
75%. Normal prior to now was 50%.  Mechanic
measured the engine temp and it was 35
degrees cooler than what the gauge shows.
Replaced the sensor but the van is still doing
it. Mechanic thinks the issue is the ECM itself.  
Other than the fact of the fan running to cool
due to the false high reading, is there a danger
in doing nothing? So the van shows as
running at the 3/4 heat mark but it is actually
at a normal temp.  Does this need to be fixed?
Do you agree ECM?

3 Answers

715

When you flush and refill a town and country it isn't easy to get all the air bubbles out of the coolant passages. Air bubbles in the system can cause the gauge to read high. I usually park facing up a pretty good incline (maybe 20 degrees) and after the system is cold take off the radiator cap and check the level. From inside the vehicle with the heat running, I can always hear the air bubbles gurgling through the system toward the back to heat the rear of the van. Once you get the air bubbles out you will know because the temp gauge will behave and the gurgling will stop. Though you may have to park cold on an incline 2 or 3 times before you get all the air out. On my town and country under system info I can scroll down to view the digital readout of the temperature. You prob have same feature.

1 people found this helpful.
10

Thanks zaxbat! I had the tune up done first, after which I started noticing the gauge as running hot. I then had the flush. Given this time line do you still think bubbles are the cause? Does parking on an incline, letting it get cold then checking the radiator level get rid of the bubbles or do I need to do something else? I don't have a system info option.

1 people found this helpful.
715

Oh. If it was showing hot before the flush....then my solution may not help. I thought it started getting hot after the flush. Nonetheless, i would check for air bubbles. There is also a small plastic bleeder valve on the thermostat housing that may help get some of the bubbles out.

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