Figuring out how to reset climate control in your Chrysler Town and Country minivan can get complicated, and the instructions vary between generations. But once you learn how to do it, it’s a simple way to alleviate some electrical issues, or to figure out if there’s a bigger

car repair

issue at hand.

From blistering, sweltering summer heat to snowy, icy winters that could work as filming locations for Game of Thrones, North America runs the full gambit of weather, temperatures, and biomes. So when your Chrysler Town and Country’s climate control is on the fritz, diagnosing and repairing it quickly can get pretty high on your agenda.

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Chrysler Town and Country climate control reset instructions

There are a host of potential issues that might be causing your Chrysler Town and Country’s climate control not to work, but minor electrical issues are fairly common and can sometimes be repaired with a simple climate control reset.

This procedure varies a bit depending on which generation of Chrysler Town and Country you have, but we can generally break it up into two major groups: the pre-2011 models, and the 2011+ models.

2001 to 2010 models:

Turn the ignition key on, but don’t start the car

Press and hold both the power button and the recirculation button at the same time

Hold them for five full seconds, then release

You should hear the climate control system resetting

2011 and newer models:

Start your minivan

Set the mode to panel. This means air is only coming out of the dashboard and isn’t blowing on your legs or feet at all

Press the high and low temperature buttons at the same time

Hold both down until a light begins to flash, then release them

The climate control system should now start to reset

This quick and simple solution will fix a number of minor electrical or settings issues, and in some cases you should be all set. But if your Town and Country’s air conditioning still isn’t working correctly, you’ll want to do some additional investigating.

MORE:

Heating A/C inspection

Other reasons your Town and Country’s A/C isn’t working

If this reset didn’t work, don’t panic! Parts sometimes fail—especially with age—but some issues can be fixed more easily and cheaply than others. And some you can even do yourself at home, too.

Dirty cabin air filter

Let’s start with the easiest and cheapest remedy:

replacing your cabin air filter

. This overlooked component is tucked away behind your minivan’s glovebox, and most mechanics won’t even look at it without being asked to, unless they suspect there’s an issue related to it of course.

Dirty cabin air filters can lead to air conditioning issues, but they won’t normally affect your car’s heater. If both the A/C and the heater are having problems, you can skip this step. Unless you want your cabin air to be cleaner, of course.

The cabin air filter in your Chrysler Town and Country is found behind the glove box, and instructions to replace it should be found in your owner’s manual.

Not enough refrigerant

If your A/C system doesn’t have enough refrigerant, the A/C won’t be able to function. The air conditioning system is meant to be closed and sealed, so if it’s leaking, it can cause big problems.

Cracked hoses, leaky O-ring seals, and leaks in the evaporator core or the condenser can all spell problems for your minivan’s air conditioner. Unless you’re an experienced DIY car repair person, you’ll need a mechanic to investigate.

Your Town and Country’s A/C system will seep out small amounts of refrigerant over time, too. If you haven’t had your A/C system serviced in a long time, you might simply need

an A/C recharge

. This is an inexpensive DIY repair that beginners can handle, but if rooting around in your car makes you nervous, you could take it to a mechanic.

Overcharged refrigerant

Having too much refrigerant in your A/C system can have the same result as not having enough. Bleeding this system is easy if you have a pressure gauge (some A/C recharge kits come with one). Otherwise, you’ll need a mechanic to help.

Dirty condenser or evaporator

The A/C system’s condenser and evaporator both play essential roles in keeping your air cool, but they can get clogged up over time, just like your cabin air filter. And unfortunately, both are substantially more difficult to clean.

Cleaning the condenser involves removing the front bumper. If you’ve done lots of DIY car repair projects in the past, this is one you can probably take care of. The evaporator is a whole other story, and involves disassembling the whole dashboard. That’s definitely a mechanic repair.

Blown fuse or relay

This is really the last of the simple fixes that won’t require expensive repairs. You’ll want to consult your official Chrysler Town and Country owner’s manual and locate the fuses related to your A/C system, and replace them if they’re blown. Fuses and relays are usually cheap and it’s easy to replace these yourself at home.

The bigger, scarier problems with your Town and Country’s A/C system

If none of that helped, you’re probably looking at a costlier repair, or a more involved and advanced DIY project that would be too challenging for beginners. You’ll probably want a mechanic to investigate for these issues:

Orifice tube or expansion valve blockage: These important parts restrict how much refrigerant reaches the evaporator coil. They can get clogged with contaminants, in which case they’d need to be flushed.

Dirty or failed blower motor: The blower motor, located under the dashboard on the passenger’s side, can get dirty or rusty over time, or just fail due to old age.

Failed blend door actuator: “Blend door actuator” sounds like the name of a $40 drink at a swanky ultra-modern restaurant, but it’s actually a small HVAC component that makes annoying clicking sounds when it fails. This repair can cost upwards of $500 and it’s not something you should try to do yourself.

Bad climate control module: Another repair that can end up costing $500, the climate control module is sort of like the A/C system’s manager. It controls all the various components electronically, keeping them synced and telling them what to do.

A/C compressor

failure: The A/C compressor is crucial to your entire air conditioning system. It can also be expensive to replace, exceeding $1,000. So let’s hope it’s not that!

How to diagnose a Chrysler Town and Country climate control malfunction

We just listed most of the more common issues with a car’s climate control system, but it’s certainly not all of them. We’re excluding a lot of issues on the rarer end of the spectrum, like loose connectors or wiring harness issues.

If you know

how to find and read OBD codes

, you could narrow the search considerably by scanning your car’s computer for clues. You can even buy a code reader yourself at your local auto parts store, follow its simple instructions to plug it into your car, and then search up the codes it presents online to see what’s causing the trouble.

The most expensive option, but the one likely to produce the best results, is to take your car to a mechanic. They’ll have training and certification in HVAC systems, as well as all the tools and equipment necessary to find and fix the problem without having to take half-measures.

MORE:

Car A/C is not working inspection cost

How to keep minivan’s insurance costs low

The Chrysler Town and Country can take your whole family on incredible adventures. And when the odometer creeps up to a certain unidentifiable number, it even starts to feel like an extension of your family. But when you realize you’re overpaying for car insurance, it starts to feel like that one relative who borrows money you know you’re not getting back.

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