Chrysler Stratus Convertible. Manual — part 220

RADIATOR

CLEANING

Clean radiator fins are necessary for good heat

transfer. The radiator and air conditioning fins
should be cleaned when an accumulation of debris
has occurred. With the engine cold, apply cold water
and compressed air to the back (engine side) of the
radiator to flush the radiator and/or A/C condenser of
debris.

INSPECTION

Inspect the radiator side tanks for cracks, broken

or missing fittings also inspect the joint where the
tanks seam up to the radiator core for signs of leak-
age and/or deteriorating seals.

Inspect radiator core for corroded, bent or missing

cooling fins. Inspect the core for bent or damaged
cooling tubes.

COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING/FLUSHING

CLEANING

CAUTION: Internal

radiator

pressure

must

not

exceed 138 kPa (20 psi) as damage to radiator may
result.

Reverse flushing of cooling system is the forcing of

water through the cooling system. This is done using
air pressure in the opposite direction of normal cool-
ant flow. It is usually only necessary with very dirty
systems with evidence of partial plugging.

(1) Drain cooling system. Remove thermostat hous-

ing and thermostat. Install thermostat housing.

(2) Connect a suitable cooling system flusher and

follow instructions supplied with flusher.

INSPECTION

After performing a flush procedure, inspect all

hoses, clamps and connections for deterioration and
leaks. Inspect radiator and heater core for leaks.

TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER

CLEANING

For cooler flushing procedure, refer to Group 21,

Transaxle.

Clean debris from cooling fins on external (air-to-

oil) cooler as necessary.

INSPECTION

Inspect all hoses, tubes, clamps and connections for

leaks, cracks, or damage. Replace as necessary. Use
only approved transmission oil cooler hoses that are
molded to fit the space available.

Inspect external coolers for leaks, loose mounts, or

damage. Replace as necessary.

ADJUSTMENTS

BELT TENSION GAUGE METHOD

For conventional belts and Poly-V belts, use belt

tensioning gauge Special Tool 7198 to obtain proper
belt tension.

Adjust the belt tension for a New or Used belt as

prescribed in the Belt Tension Chart.

Fig. 36 Cooling System Pressure Cap

1 – OVERFLOW NIPPLE
2 – MAIN SPRING
3 – GASKET RETAINER
4 – STAINLESS-STEEL SWIVEL TOP
5 – RUBBER SEALS
6 – VENT VALVE
7 – THERMOSTAT HOUSING/ENGINE OUTLET CONNECTOR
8 – FILLER NECK

BELT TENSION CHART

ACCESSORY DRIVE

BELTS

GAUGE

2.5L ENGINE

Air Conditioning
Compressor & Generator
Belt

New Belt: 667 N (150

lbs.)

Power Steering Pump
Belt

Used Belt: 356 N (80

lbs.)

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COOLING SYSTEM

7 - 27

CLEANING AND INSPECTION (Continued)

SPECIFICATIONS

COOLING SYSTEM CAPACITY

TORQUE

SPECIAL TOOLS

COOLING SYSTEM

ENGINE

CAPACITY

2.5L

10.0* Liters

(10.5* Quarts)

* CAPACITY, Includes Heater and Coolant Recovery

System

DESCRIPTION

N·m

Ft.

Lbs.

In.

Lbs.

A/C Condenser to Radiator—
Fasteners

5

—

45

Thermostat Housing
2.5L—Bolts

19

—

168

Water Pump Mounting
2.5L—Bolts

24

—

205

Water Pump Inlet Tube to
Block—Bolts

12

—

105

Water Pump Inlet Pipe to
Cylinder Head 2.5L—
Fasteners

14

—

123

Fan Module to Radiator—
Fasteners

7

—

65

Fan Motor to Shroud—
Fasteners

5

—

45

Transmission Oil Cooler
Hose—Clamps

2

—

18

Hose Clamp Pliers 6094

Coolant Refractometer 8286

7 - 28

COOLING SYSTEM

JX

COOLING SYSTEM

TABLE OF CONTENTS

page

page

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

COOLING SYSTEM

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

COOLANT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
ENGINE THERMOSTAT—2.0L ENGINE

. . . . . . . 3

WATER PUMP—2.0L ENGINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
COOLANT RECOVERY SYSTEM

. . . . . . . . . . . . 4

HOSE CLAMPS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

RADIATOR

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

COOLING SYSTEM FANS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE CAP . . . . . . . . . 5
TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER EXTERNAL—

2.0L ENGINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING

COOLING SYSTEM DIAGNOSIS

. . . . . . . . . . . . 6

THERMOSTAT

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

WATER PUMP DIAGNOSIS

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

COOLING SYSTEM FLOW CHECK . . . . . . . . . . 12
RADIATOR FAN CONTROL

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

ELECTRIC FAN MOTOR TEST

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

COOLANT CONCENTRATION TESTING

. . . . . . 13

COOLING SYSTEM LEAK TESTING . . . . . . . . . 14
COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE RELIEF

CHECK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE CAP . . . . . . . . 15
LOW COOLANT LEVEL AERATION

. . . . . . . . . 15

COOLING SYSTEM DEAERATION

. . . . . . . . . . 15

TRANSAXLE OIL COOLER FLOW CHECK

. . . . 15

ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

SERVICE PROCEDURES

COOLANT LEVEL CHECK—ROUTINE

. . . . . . . 16

COOLANT—ADDING ADDITIONAL. . . . . . . . . . . 16
COOLANT LEVEL SERVICING—2.0L ENGINE . . 16
COOLING SYSTEM—DRAINING. . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
COOLING SYSTEM—REFILLING . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION

WATER PUMP—2.0L ENGINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
WATER PUMP INLET TUBE—2.0/2.4L

ENGINES

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

THERMOSTAT—2.0L ENGINE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
RADIATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
RADIATOR DRAINCOCK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
RADIATOR FAN, MOTOR AND SHROUD . . . . . . 21
TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER EXTERNAL—

2.0L ENGINE

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

ENGINE BLOCK HEATER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
ACCESSORY DRIVE BELTS—2.0L ENGINE . . . . 22

CLEANING AND INSPECTION

WATER PUMP—2.0L ENGINES . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
ACCESSORY DRIVE BELT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE CAP . . . . . . . . . 23
RADIATOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
COOLING SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
TRANSAXLE OIL COOLER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

ADJUSTMENTS

BELT TENSION GAUGE METHOD . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

SPECIFICATIONS

COOLING SYSTEM CAPACITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
TORQUE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

SPECIAL TOOLS

COOLING SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION

COOLING SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

The cooling system consists of an engine cooling

module, thermostat, coolant, a water pump to circu-
late the coolant. The engine cooling module may con-
sist of a radiator, electric fan motor, shroud, radiator

pressure cap, coolant reserve system, transmission
oil cooler and lines, hoses, clamps, and air condition-
ing condenser.

OPERATION

The primary purpose of a cooling system is to

maintain engine temperature in a range that will
provide satisfactory engine performance and emission
levels under all expected driving conditions. It also

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COOLING SYSTEM

7 - 1

provides hot water (coolant) for heater performance
and cooling for automatic transmission oil. It does
this by transferring heat from engine metal to cool-
ant, moving this heated coolant to the radiator, and
then transferring this heat to the ambient air.

The coolant flow circuits for 2.0L engine equipped

vehicles are shown in (Fig. 1).

COOLANT

DESCRIPTION

ETHYLENE-GLYCOL MIXTURES

CAUTION: Richer antifreeze mixtures cannot be
measured with normal field equipment and can
cause problems associated with 100 percent ethyl-
ene-glycol.

The required ethylene-glycol (antifreeze) and water

mixture depends upon the climate and vehicle oper-
ating conditions. The recommended mixture of 50/50
ethylene-glycol and water will provide protection
against freezing to -37 deg. C (-35 deg. F). The anti-
freeze concentration must always be a minimum of
44 percent, year-round in all climates. If percentage
is lower than 44 percent, engine parts may be

eroded by cavitation, and cooling system com-
ponents may be severely damaged by corrosion.
Maximum protection against freezing is provided
with a 68 percent antifreeze concentration, which
prevents freezing down to -67.7 deg. C (-90 deg. F). A
higher percentage will freeze at a warmer tempera-
ture. Also, a higher percentage of antifreeze can
cause the engine to overheat because the specific
heat of antifreeze is lower than that of water.

Use of 100 percent ethylene-glycol will cause for-

mation of additive deposits in the system, as the cor-
rosion inhibitive additives in ethylene-glycol require
the presence of water to dissolve. The deposits act as
insulation, causing temperatures to rise to as high as
149 deg. C (300) deg. F). This temperature is hot
enough to melt plastic and soften solder. The
increased temperature can result in engine detona-
tion. In addition, 100 percent ethylene-glycol freezes
at 22 deg. C (-8 deg. F ).

PROPYLENE-GLYCOL MIXTURES

It’s overall effective temperature range is smaller

than that of ethylene-glycol. The freeze point of 50/50
propylene-glycol and water is -32 deg. C (-26 deg. F).
5 deg. C higher than ethylene-glycol’s freeze point.
The boiling point (protection against summer boil-

Fig. 1 Cooling System Operation—2.0L Engine

1 – HEATER
2 – HEAT UP
3 – COOL DOWN
4 – PRESSURE CAP
5 – THERMOSTAT HOUSING

6 – WATER PUMP
7 – ENGINE
8 – COOLANT RECOVERY SYSTEM TANK
9 – RADIATOR

7 - 2

COOLING SYSTEM

JX

DESCRIPTION AND OPERATION (Continued)