Chrysler minivans do more work than almost any vehicle in a family’s driveway, and Phoenix summers are hard on all of it the engine, the transmission, and especially the air conditioning system that has to cool three rows of glass. We service the Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, Voyager, 300, Town & Country and 200 at our shop on North Central.
Most modern Chryslers run the 3.6L Pentastar V6, an engine we know well. It is generally durable, but it has two documented weak points a cylinder head issue on earlier versions and an oil cooler housing that leaks and both show up more often in hot climates. Chrysler electrical systems, particularly the TIPM on older models, are the other half of the work we do on this brand.
Models we service: Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, Voyager, 300, Town & Country and 200.
The rear air conditioning system in a Pacifica or Town & Country runs long refrigerant lines the length of the vehicle, and every additional foot of line and every extra connection is another place to lose refrigerant. When a Chrysler minivan stops cooling in Phoenix, proper leak detection is the whole job a recharge without a leak test is money spent twice.
Interval | What we perform |
30,000 miles | Full synthetic oil and filter, tire rotation, brake inspection, cabin and engine air filters, AC performance test, cooling system pressure test |
60,000 miles | Transmission fluid service, spark plugs, brake fluid flush, coolant condition check, alignment inspection, sliding door mechanism service |
90,000 miles | Full coolant flush, water pump and thermostat inspection, serpentine belt and tensioner, differential fluid on AWD, fuel system cleaning, full suspension inspection |
A misfire on cylinder 2 with a persistent code that returns after plugs and coils are replaced, typically on 2011–2013 engines. The left cylinder head develops a valve seat problem that ignition parts will not fix. Correct diagnosis matters here, because owners frequently spend money on tune-up parts twice before anyone tests properly.
Oil seeping down the back of the engine, a burning smell, or coolant and oil mixing on 3.6L Pentastar engines. The housing is plastic, it sits in the engine valley, and it warps with heat cycling , which Phoenix provides in abundance. Replacing it with an updated housing is the durable fix; resealing the original rarely lasts.
Symptoms that sound unrelated to each other: a fuel pump that does not prime, wipers that run on their own, a horn that sounds at random, or a no-start. The Totally Integrated Power Module controls too many circuits for the failure to look like one problem. Diagnosis is about proving which circuits the module is failing rather than replacing parts one at a time.
Front vents cold, rear vents warm, and the system slowly losing performance across a summer. The long run of refrigerant line to the rear evaporator is the most common leak point on these vans. Dye and electronic leak detection identifies it precisely, which is the only way to avoid recharging the same system repeatedly.
A loaded minivan carries far more weight than an empty one, and Pacifica and Town & Country owners often run tires at the pressure they saw the last time rather than the pressure on the door placard. Underinflation in Phoenix heat is the fastest way to destroy a tire. We check pressures, tread depth and alignment at every visit, whether you are here for tires or not.
Schedule your Chrysler service today. Written estimates, correct specifications, no pressure – and an honest answer if the work belongs somewhere else.
Beat the Phoenix heat with a fast, reliable AC checkup from Pete Kelley’s.
Quick, affordable oil changes to keep your engine running smooth.
Expert engine diagnostics and repair from Phoenix’s local experts.
Restore performance and quiet the ride with expert exhaust repairs.
Stay safe on the road with thorough brake inspections and repairs.
Expert transmission care to keep your ride shifting smoothly.
Battery testing and electrical repairs, done right the first time.
Prevent overheating with cooling system repairs from Pete Kelley’s
Pacifica, Pacifica Hybrid, Voyager, 300, Town & Country and 200.
Usually a refrigerant leak in the long rear lines or the rear evaporator. We do electronic and dye leak detection before recharging, because a recharge on a leaking system just delays the same conversation by a few weeks.
If new plugs and coils have not fixed it, and it is a 2011–2013 3.6L Pentastar, the cylinder head is a known cause. It needs a proper compression and leak-down test rather than more ignition parts.
Yes. Multiple unrelated electrical symptoms on an older Chrysler often point to the TIPM. We diagnose it properly and quote before any work, rather than replacing modules on suspicion.
Free written estimate. No pressure. Honest advice from a shop that has been on North Central since 1972.