Chrysler Dodge Caravan 2002 Manual page 2308

RS
COMPRESSOR (Continued)
FRONT/REFRIGERANT
DURE - REFRIGERANT SYSTEM CHARGE).
INSTALLATION - COMPRESSOR MOUNTING
BRACKET - 2.4L ENGINE
(1) Position the compressor mounting bracket onto
the engine.
(2) Install and tighten the four screws that secure
the compressor mounting bracket to the engine.
Tighten the screws to 54 N·m (40 ft. lbs.).
(3) Reinstall the compressor onto the mounting
bracket. (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDI-
TIONING/PLUMBING/COMPRESSOR - INSTALLA-
TION).
CONDENSER
DESCRIPTION
The condenser is integral to a cooling module
which includes the radiator, the electric cooling fan,
the fan shroud, air seals and an automatic transmis-
sion oil cooler. The cooling module is located in the
air flow in the front of the engine compartment
behind the radiator grille. The condenser cannot be
repaired or adjusted and, if faulty or damaged, it
must be replaced. The condenser may be removed
from the cooling module for service without removing
the cooling module from the vehicle.
OPERATION
The condenser is a heat exchanger that allows the
high-pressure refrigerant gas being discharged by the
compressor to give up its heat to the air passing over
the condenser fins. When the refrigerant gas gives up
its heat, it condenses. When the refrigerant leaves
the condenser, it has become a high-pressure liquid
refrigerant. The volume of air flowing over the con-
denser fins is critical to the proper cooling perfor-
mance of the air conditioning system. Therefore, it is
important that there are no objects placed in front of
the radiator grille openings in the front of the vehicle
or foreign material on the condenser fins that might
obstruct air flow. Also, any factory-installed air seals
or shrouds must be properly reinstalled following
radiator or condenser service.
REMOVAL
WARNING: REFER TO THE APPLICABLE WARN-
INGS AND CAUTIONS FOR THIS SYSTEM BEFORE
PERFORMING THE
(Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/
PLUMBING - FRONT - WARNING - A/C PLUMBING)
and (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING/
PLUMBING - FRONT - CAUTION - A/C PLUMBING).
- STANDARD PROCE-
FOLLOWING OPERATION.
PLUMBING - FRONT
NOTE: Before removing the condenser, note the
location of each of the radiator and condenser air
seals. These air seals are used to direct air through
the condenser and radiator. The air seals must be
reinstalled in their proper locations in order for the
air conditioning and engine cooling systems to per-
form as designed.
(1) Recover the refrigerant from the refrigerant
system. (Refer to 24 - HEATING & AIR CONDI-
TIONING/PLUMBING - FRONT/REFRIGERANT -
STANDARD PROCEDURE
RECOVERY).
(2) Remove the two large screws that secure the
front fascia and the outboard ends of the radiator
sight shield to the radiator closure panel crossmem-
ber (Fig. 4).
Fig. 4 Radiator Sight Shield
1 - LARGE SCREWS (2)
2 - SMALL SCREWS (5)
3 - RADIATOR SIGHT SHIELD
4 - GRILLE INSERTS
5 - FRONT FASCIA
(3) Remove the five small screws that secure the
front fascia grille inserts to the radiator sight shield.
(4) Remove the radiator sight shield from the radi-
ator closure panel crossmember.
(5) Remove the two screws that secure the hood
latch unit to the front of the radiator closure panel
crossmember and move the latch out of the way over
the top of the crossmember. Mark the location of
latch for reinstallation.
(6) Disconnect the hoses from the transmission oil
cooler fittings on the left side of the cooling module.
(Refer to 7 - COOLING/TRANSMISSION/TRANS
COOLER LINES - REMOVAL).
(7) Remove the nut that secures the discharge line
fitting to the condenser on the right side of the cool-
ing module.
24 - 65
- REFRIGERANT