Medabum

Jkeaton spot on, new heat element on order. At almost for two years ive been receiving flyers for the extended warranty. I really do love the car...however as others have posted I might just need to pull the trigger on that before my time is up. 
 
 

But who can resist that black magic sweet cherry smell?  Must......Eat....Some.... 
 
That gel does work quite well and lasts for a while without any of it flinging off. Just like other have said it makes your tires really dirty. Just scrub the tire down before using it again. Other than that its a good product. 
 
 

The Crossroad front bumper is not the same as other Journey bumpers and I think the issue is only on the crossroad. Sounds like  you have the same issue I had. If you can lift your bumper about 1/4" to 1/2" and if there seems to be about 3/8" gap under the headlights, you probably do. 
 
Removing the grill starts out easy but getting the lower portion of it to pop out of the bumper can be tricky. You need to lift up on the lower grill tabs for them to release/pop out from the bumper
 
With the grill removed, if you lift your bumper, can you feel space between the bumper and the frame which it rests on? The backside of the bumper has 4 determined points where the bumper rests on the frame. It may have more but you can't access them this way. Those points are where I placed mending plates. Use a jack to lift your bumper to the point which you lessen the gap to the headlights. My gaps are about 3/16" ? Do this to determine how thick your shims need to be. I used 1/16" paper drywall shims to create the thickness needed for no play between bumper and frame. That is how I know how thick a mending plate I needed. I combined enough mending plates to equal the shim thickness. It ended up that two mending plates were about 1/4" and two were about 3/8".
 
The plates screwed into the top of that frame and slid under the bumper at those support points on the backside of the bumper. Don't bring the mending plate as forward into the bumper as possible. Push them as far forward and then back them off enough so that if you push them bumper in with your knee, the bumper doesn't hit the plate. I think my mending plates were about 4" long. 
 
There won't be a crack on the bumper. Where the bumper meets the front body panel will begin to have a gap. There is a plastic support that joins them. That part is what will crack. Yours may have and you will know by looking at the tightness of the panel to bumper. If it begins to gap near the headlight, it's cracked. It costs $19 but with the fix above, you may not need to replace it. 
 
The first photo shows the crack at the top edge. The third shows looking down from the hood latch, My shims are specific to my work, 2 white and 2 black. You can see one black to the left. They are screwed to the black frame.
 
Let me know if you have other questions. 

Hey guys
 
I apologize for my absence as ive been preoccupied with my first child for the last 8 months but JRrodMTB seems to be correct! I've brought my fwd v6 to the dealer for this problem and had almost everything in the front end replaced since 8000 miles. I still had the problem at 15000 and it was driving me absolutely insane. Because its my everyday driver and I noticed the squeak/creak go away during wet driving conditions. This noise would happen over bumps and even happen when turning 90 degrees left or right when the car would sway.  I decided to spray all of the control arm bushings with a dry lube and "presto" everything is as quiet as the day I bought it with 5 miles on it. I've been driving for over a week without hearing anything and I will let my service writer know what I've found. 
 
I was using my smaller local dealer at first to diagnose this because it was convenient, however the bigger and more professional/equipped dealer I bought the car from seems way more willing to help and even offered to order the control arms ahead of the appointment. I will continue my business and service with them.
 
Furthermore, because the smaller dealer put so much into the vehicle my very last receipt from them stated Chrysler concluded its a characteristic of the vehicle as they could produce the noise on a similar vehicle.  I get their white flag but at least I know some dealers are still willing to do what Chrysler expects. 
 
 
 
 

Just washed and waxed my DJ today too! Drove by the car wash place on my way home from work too and the line was out the wazoo! When the weather is nice I don't get why people pay $30 or more to get a car wash when the same amount can buy supplies that'll get you at least 15 good washes when you do it yourself. 

I finally got to clean up my "black" journey just in time for pollen season. Buy a silver one! Nice to see the back end reflect my garage for a few hours.
 
 

 

I finally got to clean up my "black" journey just in time for pollen season. Buy a silver one! Nice to see the back end reflect my garage for a few hours.
 
 

 

Hey guys
 
I apologize for my absence as ive been preoccupied with my first child for the last 8 months but JRrodMTB seems to be correct! I've brought my fwd v6 to the dealer for this problem and had almost everything in the front end replaced since 8000 miles. I still had the problem at 15000 and it was driving me absolutely insane. Because its my everyday driver and I noticed the squeak/creak go away during wet driving conditions. This noise would happen over bumps and even happen when turning 90 degrees left or right when the car would sway.  I decided to spray all of the control arm bushings with a dry lube and "presto" everything is as quiet as the day I bought it with 5 miles on it. I've been driving for over a week without hearing anything and I will let my service writer know what I've found. 
 
I was using my smaller local dealer at first to diagnose this because it was convenient, however the bigger and more professional/equipped dealer I bought the car from seems way more willing to help and even offered to order the control arms ahead of the appointment. I will continue my business and service with them.
 
Furthermore, because the smaller dealer put so much into the vehicle my very last receipt from them stated Chrysler concluded its a characteristic of the vehicle as they could produce the noise on a similar vehicle.  I get their white flag but at least I know some dealers are still willing to do what Chrysler expects. 
 
 
 
 

For those having issues with the clunking or squeaking sound over speed bumps, pot holes, drive ways etc.  Have the dealer (or do it yourself) spray the lower control arm bushings with a high quality lubricant.   It's not the isolators, it's not the sway bar bushings.  It's the lower control arm bushings.  Not sure if there is a TSB issued on this yet but it'll take care of the issue.  

Might be the only one who likes the escort... We drove my wife's 1993 zx2 coup until I bought the journey last year.. It's still driving around town..... 

2013 DJ The day we bought it:



43,000 miles later, oil changes, tires and front struts (plus a recall, flash and/or TSB or two) is all we've had to do to it:





My 2005 Mitsubishi Eclipse Spyder GT, 73,000 miles:



My 1995 Chevrolet K1500 Z71, 205,000 miles:



My 2007 Ford Mustang, 112,000 miles (daughters):



2004 Hyundai Tiburon GT, 65,000 miles (sons):



And last but not least, 1997 Ford Escort, 61,000 miles, the family beater car when no one wants to get theirs dirty:



Between doing all my own maintenance, oil changes, tire rotations, detailing, etc, they keep me pretty busy....

Hey Guys?
Is anyone else missing these rubber gaskets? The left and right seem to be missing on my 15 Journey and my only concern is that I can see the headlight assembly right behind it. I've ducked taped if for now. It also made me notice a nice rock chip on the corner of the front side panel. Ill have to get that taken care of (you can see it in the pic)

Maybe they are supposed to be open? I just noticed some torn rubber on the edge of the openings and assume there was some sort of rubber flap there.

LG G3 does not work here. Wish it did as the voice recognition for everything else works pretty well.

I've read this as well.. Just not to happy after paying just under $30,000 for a brand new car to sound like it should be on vegas vacation when leaving my driveway or going over bumps within the first 5000 miles. This shouldn't be acceptable.

Hi DodgeCares,
I have the same issue. My struts, and end links have been replaced and dealer has still not resolved the issue.

I've read this as well.. Just not to happy after paying just under $30,000 for a brand new car to sound like it should be on vegas vacation when leaving my driveway or going over bumps within the first 5000 miles. This shouldn't be acceptable.

You did say the engine was off. . . . . and the video clearly demonstrates it.

Hmm.. I must read into this.
I forgot to say this light only flickers when the car is off.. Not while running.

Dhh, thank you as always. I'll drive it gently to the dealer tomorrow and just leave it there.

Yes, they bulbs are led. Ill give that a try and mention it to the dealer when I go back to have the Struts and mounts replaced.
The suspension noise performed great when it needed to and like others here have said, they plan to replace the struts and mounts.
However I picked my car up to bring home until the parts arrive and found this. Was told its ok to drive for now. Man,,, my stories with this car just do not end.

I agree. Try changing the bulb. Swap your bulbs from side to side, and see if a different bulb solves the problem.

Thanks guys. I get the same driveway groan every morning.
Any thoughts on the overhead light?
I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow.

Hmm.. Kind of frustrating.. I have 7400 miles on the car. Love the car... However my patience is being tested as its been in the shop 6 times already. I never lease cars and I was excited to buy a fcjdr car for the first time. At 26000 to 32000 this car has so much for the price.
Hopefully my next post will be positive. 😀
Till then ill drive my sx4 awd that I got for $15000 with 4 miles on it 8 years ago. I've only changed the oil, brakes, rotors, and some fluids at 107500 miles. Thing is a small beast.

DodgeCares,
I apologize for the latency on this update and will continue to follow up. On my next oil change/tire rotate I will note these issues with my local dealer.
Still happy with the car and Im sure things will be resolved.