So Fix it

The corrosive effect of accumulated moisture, vibration and impact damage from road debris makes eventual muffler and exhaust pipe replacement a foregone conclusion. Depending on the model year and the exhaust configuration of your Chrysler 300---dual or single tail pipes---replacing the exhaust pipe involves disconnecting the exhaust pipe from the catalytic converter, loosening the hanger brackets that support the exhaust system and removing the mufflers and exhaust pipes from under the vehicle.

Instructions

Exhaust Pipe Replacement

1

Set the emergency brake and chock the rear wheels with wood blocks. Then, jack the car up on a hard, level surface making certain that the lifting point is a load bearing part of the car chassis and that the vehicle is high enough off the ground to allow easy access to the exhaust system. Position jack stands under the appropriate chassis contact points and ratchet them up to just touching. Now, slowly lower the car onto the jack stands.

2

Position the jack under the muffler and raise the jack to support the muffler before releasing the exhaust pipe from the chassis hangers. Double-check that you have purchased the correct replacement exhaust for your Chrysler 300 model. The typical configuration will have a catalytic converter in the exhaust line on each side of the block feeding by way of a cross-over pipe into a single muffler.

3

Disconnect the oxygen sensors from the exhaust pipe ports near the catalytic converters. Unscrew the two nuts on each U-bolt connecting the exhaust pipes to the back of each catalytic converter. The catalytic converter is the cigar-shaped emissions control device installed in the exhaust system, closest to the engine. Unless you have experienced a loss of power, can smell a sulfur odor or feel heat radiating from the car floor, your catalytic converters are probably okay.

4

Inspect the two mufflers for rust. If the exhaust pipes are rusted badly, the mufflers are ready to be changed, as well. With the car jack positioned under and against the larger muffler, the one closest to the motor, disconnect the exhaust pipe brackets from the support hangers and lower the entire assembly to the ground. To loosen rusted nuts and bolts, apply liberal amounts of WD-40. Give the penetrating oil a few minutes to soak in, then remove the nuts. If the pipes are rusted into the catalytic converters, rap them with a hammer to break the rust loose, but make sure that you are wearing safety glasses when you do this.

5

Assemble the new mufflers and exhaust pipes, on the ground, using the four new U-bolts provided to secure the pipes in each muffler port. Use the old assembly as a guide and compare them side by side for proper length. If you purchased an original equipment manufacturer replacement, the new assembly should fit properly. Check the hangers and hard rubber noise dampers for wear, and replace if necessary.

6

Position the new unit under the car and use the jack to raise it into position. Then, reattach the exhaust pipe brackets to the hangers and reconnect the exhaust pipes to the catalytic converter with two new U-bolts. Dont forget to tighten all the connections and reattach the oxygen sensors. When youve done this, jack up the car, remove the jack stands and slowly lower the car to the ground.

The plastic side mirror on the Chrysler Town and Country attaches to the small electronic motor mounted inside the large plastic mirror assembly bolted to the side of the door. A broken mirror breaks in two different ways. The mirror cracks but stays intact or the mirror completely shatters into pieces. The process for replacement differs for each situation.

Instructions

Cracked

1

Push one side of the mirror into the plastic assembly. If you replace the driver mirror, push the right side of the mirror into the assembly. If replacing the passenger mirror, push the left side of the mirror into the assembly. This pushes the other end of the mirror out of the assembly.

2

Slide your fingers behind the plastic mirror and press your thumb against the front of the mirror. Pull the mirror out of the assembly. The mirror attaches to the motor with four metal clips. As you pull on the mirror, the clips spread apart and the mirror comes off the motor.

3

Place the new mirror into the assembly. The tight tolerance of the assembly forces the metal tabs into the correct location for mounting the mirror.

4

Push on the center of the mirror to spread the metal tabs around the motor. You will feel the mirror seat onto the motor.

Shattered

5

Remove the pieces of the broken mirror from the assembly. The mirror is plastic so there is less chance you will get cut by the plastic shards.

6

Sweep the remaining small pieces of plastic out of the assembly. Any sized piece of plastic could wedge between the mirror and the assembly and cause the mirror to get jammed inside the assembly. This prevents you from adjusting the mirror. Use a sweeper with a hose attachment.

7

Place the new mirror into the assembly. The tight tolerance of the assembly forces the metal tabs into the correct location for mounting the mirror.

8

Push on the center of the mirror to spread the metal tabs around the motor. You will feel the mirror seat onto the motor.

If you are relying on your high-beams more often than usual or have motorists flashing their lights at you even though you do not have your high-beams on, you may need to adjust the headlamps on your Chrysler. Your Chryslers headlamps provide you the light you need to see safely during nighttime driving. If your headlamps are incorrectly adjusted, the pattern they project can be inadequate and can also blind oncoming drivers. Periodically verifying and adjusting the aim of your Chryslers headlamps will give the the ideal nighttime visibility.

Instructions

1

Find a flat surface that is adjacent to a large wall. You will need a level surface that extends at least 30-feet from the wall. Pull your vehicle close the the wall as straight as possible.

2

Mark the center line of your Chrysler on the wall using the masking tape. Coolbulbs.com recommends using a yardstick placed on the hood ornament and extended to the wall to get a precise mark. Measure the center of one headlight from the ground and from the center of one headlight to the center of the vehicle. Using more tape, transfer these measurements to the wall to mark the horizontal and vertical center lines of each headlamp beam.

3

Measure 25-feet away from the wall and park the Chrysler there. Be sure to keep the vehicle perpendicular to the wall, if the vehicle is crooked it will skew the adjustments.

4

The adjustment screws on Chryslers are located on top of the headlight assembly. Locate these screws and determine which screws control the vertical headlamp movement and which adjust the horizontal aim. You will most likely only need to adjust the vertical alignment of your Chryslers headlamps. Several manufacturers do not recommend adjusting the horizontal headlamp aim.

5

Adjust the headlamp beams until they are two inches below the horizontal lines and two inches to the right of the vertical lines by turning the adjustment screws. Adjust each plane separately for the greatest accuracy. In this position your Chrysler headlamps will project the most efficient beam pattern without blinding other drivers.

The engine in the Chrysler Town & Country minivan is sideways. This is the normal orientation for front-wheel driven minivans. This makes replacing the thermostat slightly more complicated than a vehicle with a traditional engine mounted with the crank towards the rear of the vehicle. Because of this, you must take extra steps to prevent losing all of your radiator fluid before you can remove and replace the broken thermostat.

Instructions

1

Drain the radiator fluid into a three-gallon container. The radiator drain is located on the lower left of the radiator. To remove the drain, insert a -drive ratchet into the plug and turn it counter clockwise. Close the drain once all of the fluid drains into the pan.

2

Trace the lower radiator hose to the engine. The hose mounts to the T-Stat intake tube. The thermostat rests inside that tube.

3

Remove the radiator hose from the T-Stat intake tube with a pair of pliers and then pull the hose off the intake tube.

4

Remove the two 7/16 nuts that secure the intake tube onto the engine. Be caul, when you remove the intake tube, the thermostat comes out with it.

5

Pull the old 0-ring out of the bottom of the T-Stat intake tube and place a new one into the groove vacated by the old one.

6

Discard the thermostat and place the new one into the intake tube. The end of the thermostat with the jiggle vale (long skinny pin) sticks into the T-Stat intake tube.

7

Place the intake tube against the engine and thread the nuts back onto the studs with your fingers. Tighten the nuts into place with the 7/16 socket.

8

Slide the hose onto the T-Stat intake tube and secure it with the radiator hose band clamp.

9

Remove the radiator cap from the top of the radiator and drain the fluid back into the radiator. Close the cap once finished.

The Chrysler Concorde, also known as the sister car to the more popular Dodge Intrepid, came from the factory with two V-6 engine options; a 2.7-liter engine and a more-powerful 3.5-liter engine. Of the two engines, the 3.5-liter engine was noted for its increased reliability over the smaller engine, which was prone to oil sludge problems. To help control and monitor the engine temperature, the 3.5-liter engine contains a coolant temperature sensor, located on the thermostat housing at the front of the engine.

Instructions

1

Start the engine and allow it warm to operating temperature, which is 200-degrees Fahrenheit.

2

Locate the coolant temperature sensor on the top of the thermostat housing. Its mounted vertically and has two wires protruding from its base.

3

Disconnect the coolant temperature sensors two-wire electrical connector. Measure the resistance across the sensors two terminals with a digital multimeter; the specified value is 700 to 1,000 Ohms.

4

Let the engine cool down for three to four hours until the coolant is at room temperature. Measure the resistance again across the terminals with a digital multimeter. The resistance at 70-degrees Fahrenheit should be between 7,000 and 13,000 Ohms. If the resistance falls outside either of the hot or cold values, the sensor must be replaced.

5

Measure the resistance across the pin terminals on the sensors electrical connector. If the resistance is greater than 1 Ohm, replace the sensors connector.

Chryslers manufactured before 1996 come equipped with an on-board diagnostics I computer (OBD I) that retrieves and stores all trouble codes sent to it from various sensors positioned throughout the car. Chryslers manufactured from 1996 on have the second generation OBD II computer. When these sensors detect a malfunction anywhere in the vehicle, they send trouble codes to the computer, and the computer illuminates the warning or service lights on the instrument panel. You can scan these codes using a small, handheld computerized device called an OBD I or II code scanner.

Instructions

1

Look for the port on the drivers side dashboard under the steering column. You will recognize it because its the same size and shape as the connective end of the code scanner.

2

Plug the code scanner into the port. Put the key into the ignition and turn it to the "II" position, taking care not to start the engine.

3

Wait for the code scanner to turn on. Select the "Read Codes" command or something similar. Wait for the code scanner to display the codes. Write down the codes it displays on a piece of paper.

4

Look up the meaning of the codes in the code scanners manual. Unplug the scanner and have the car serviced or repaired.

You can shut off the seat belt chime on your Chrysler 300. It is there to remind you to put on your seat belt but many people find it very annoying. When you turn off the bell, the seat belt light will still illuminate on your instrument panel. If you turn off the seat belt bell and later change your mind, you can always turn it back on. Keep in mind, however, that in many states it is illegal to drive your vehicle without having your seat belt fastened.

Instructions

1

Get into the drivers seat and close the door. Fasten your seat belt and pull a lot of seat belt slack forward with your hands.

2

Put the key into the ignition and turn it to the "on" position, but dont start the engine. Watch the instrument panel for the seat belt warning light to shut off.

3

Unfasten the seat belt and the seat belt warning light will turn on. Fasten the seat belt and wait for the light to shut off.

4

Repeat Step 3 two more times, making sure you end the process with the seat belt unfastened. Do this whole process within one minute but also make sure the seat belt light turns off each time. If the seat belt bell turns on while you are doing this procedure, shut off the vehicle and start the whole process again.

5

Turn the vehicle off. As you do this, you will hear one final bell to let you know youve done it correctly.