How to Change a Head Gasket on '97 Chrysler Town & Country
- 1). Use a floor jack to lift the Town & Country from the ground and use a jack stand to support it. Slide a pan under the radiator drain plug to catch the coolant draining from the cooling system. Glide another drain pan under the engine oil tank to catch the oil. Lower the vehicle and alleviate the fuel system pressure. Detach the negative battery cable from the battery terminal.
- 2). Label and tag the components situated near the motor as you separate and remove the parts from the automobile. Remove, unlatch or disconnect the parts and assemblies, including manifolds, attaching bolts, radiator hoses, ground wires, spark plugs, closed ventilation system and drive belts.
- 3). Disengage the electrical connections, such as the radiator fan switch connector, intake air temperature, crankshaft position sensor connector, exhaust gas recirculation valve connector and engine coolant temperature sensor connector.
- 4). Set the motor to top dead center by assuring the camshaft pulley and crankshaft marks line up. Take out the camshaft pulley and slip the timing belt from the assembly.
- 5). Loosen the nine cylinder head bolts in the opposite order of the torque pattern. The bolt numbers for the tightening sequence for a Chrysler Town & Country with a 3.3-liter engine includes 9, 7, 3, 1 and 5 and the bottom bolt numbers include 8, 4, 2 and 6. Take off the cylinder head and the worn gasket. Place the worn gasket in the garbage.
- 6). Clean the cylinder block surface and mating surfaces. Position a new gasket and make sure it faces upward with the word "top" or "front." The cylinder head and gasket should line up with the dowel pins.
- 7). Torque the new bolts in the correction pattern stated in step 5. Use your fingers to tighten the nine new bolts. Torque bolt numbers one through eight to 45 foot-pounds and then 65 foot-pounds. Pivot each bolt a one-fourth clockwise. Torque head bolt number nine to 25 foot-pounds after the first eight bolts are tightened properly.
- 8). Position the upper engine components back in the vehicle. Place coolant in the cooling system and put new oil in the motor oil reservoir. Connect the battery terminal. Turn the motor on and look for any signs of oil or coolant leaks.
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