I have a 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT 3.8l. When i got the van it had a cracked radiator. I replaced the radiator with new one. Also replaced the thermostat will a failsafe. After those repairs the temp gauge never went above the 1/4 mark while driving. When van is idling the gage raises to normal temp, sometimes a bit higher. Fan kicks on and temp drops back to normal. So thinking i have bad temp sensor I replaced that with a brand new one but nothing changed. Recently while driving van started to overheat and red lightening bolt light came on on the dash. After opening the hood i realized the top radiator hose was collapsed. After researching why the hose would collapse I bought a new radiator cap. All has been fine except for temp gauge reading cooler than normal. Yesterday the lightening bolt came back but no collapsed hose this time, but heat is barely warm at times. Coolant is full and overflow is mid way between low and max line. I am at my wits end with this. What do you think my next steps should be to figure this out.
Replace thermostat with oem.
@hillbilly
van was given to me FREE. Thermostat is brand new also radiator and temp sensor.
Yes, but a bad thermo will cause that and we've all put in "new" bad parts. It's cheap, quick and easy. And you have to realize that it has overheated several times...likely has other engine issues due to this but worth trying a new oem thermostat imo. Any more $ than that on that model/mfg isn't money well spent.
@hillbilly
Not Sure if this could be related but, The only engine code i have had since owning the van was for an evap leak. I fixed that with a new ESIM erased the code. Soon as i drove the first time after that fix the engine light came back on. Thinking still have eveap problem i scanned again and the only code that showed up was th P2181.
I have a 2009 Dodge GC SXT 3.8L as well.
What is a ESIM?
@jglosenger
I had the same P2181 and the ETC Electronic Throttle Censor red lightening bolt... I bought a new gas cap and it hasn't come back on. Neither has the check engine light
However, I m still getting test done on my Van because the P0455 code still return. I'll have to check my radiator cap and top hose. Thanks