snowman9000

After a few weeks of waiting, here is Chrysler's reply:

Thank you for contacting the Chrysler Customer Assistance Center.

Chrysler recommends you follow the guidelines stated in your owners
manual for your 2012 Dodge Journey, to avoid causing damage to the
vehicle, and possibly voiding the factory warranty.
The best resource for your question is the Service & Parts Department of
your local Dodge dealership. They can discuss any towing alternatives
you may have. We cannot provide technical assistance information
regarding any design changes to the vehicle via email.

Useless.

Was this option separate from other seating options? I have the third row seat and folding second row but can't figure out if the front seat folds flat or not. I can't seem to make it happen so I probably don't have it. Do you operate the folding by simply using the same lever that controls the seatback angle?

Yeah, I was wondering if it has any salvage value on ebay, for parts. But that's a good point, I'll pop it open.

Success!!!

It did need an unlock code. bramfrank, per your advice I took MY vin and the new radio S/N to the dealership, and they got me the code. And it works.

Till this radio dies too?... I guess I shouldn't think that way.

I'll report back when I get it.

bramfrank,

Got it, thanks! I bought this one on ebay. It has the exact same p/n as mine. It doesn't mention Sirius but looks like it has the antenna connection for it. I don't subscribe to it anyway, but it always is broadcasting the preview, which my radio was able to receive.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/181872533095

I just got back from the dealer, trying to get the code for my own radio. Maybe it didn't have one, who knows. But I didn't have any code in my paperwork. It took them a long time and finally they got me a code. I asked about the salvage radio scenario, where I would give them the VIN of the salvage vehicle. They said it would not work. I suspect they just don't know. But still, it doesn't make me confident about buying a salvage radio. I will check with the seller mentioned above. My position is going to be, if the radio needs a code, I want the seller to provide it. Because the local dealer is not going to be any help on this.

There are always some hidden gems in the car world which can do better than EPA numbers. The Journey gets great mileage for its size. I had planned to sell it, but after driving it, I plan to keep it. Redtomatoman, I think you are right about the professional testers.

Ebay seller, a radio shop, advises me I will have to take the VIN of the donor radio to the dealership, and get a security code from them. Oh joy. I guess I'll call the dealer before I buy the radio, to see if they will do this.

I pulled the radio out and checked the connections. All were fine. Given that it won't even produce static, I'm going to buy a replacement salvage radio from ebay.

...

I am recently in possession of my late father's 2012 Journey 3.6L. He used to brag that on the way to or from Florida, keeping up with the flow on I-75, he got "27 miles per gallon at 77 miles per hour". I was more interested (to say the least) in him driving 77, but I did think the 27 MPG was suspect.

Well, after he died, I drove it for a week or so around town and country in Florida, and got 23 on the computer. Then on the 1300 mile trip home with it, I did manual calculations. It did indeed get 27 at 77 MPH. The three tanks were 27.x, 25.x, and 26.x, with speeds usually 75-77, and differing winds and terrain. Much of that was with cruise control, which I find hurts MPG a little versus my driving (see below). The computer was telling me I was in the 28-29 range, though. I got the impression that if I would drive 65-70, I could get close to 30 MPG.

I have read that Journeys get poor mileage. I don't know what to say, other than this one is GREAT on gas, IMO. I do drive more fuel-efficiently than most people. I start out smoothly, don't keep wobbling the pedal back and forth, and I coast up to stops and turns as much as I can. I can usually get 5 or 10% better mileage than others in my family. I find that using cruise control is usually worse MPG for me. The Journey is a good coaster, which I like. It doesn't slow down quickly when coasting.

I was impressed that it did not shift down very often to climb hills. Nothing like my Honda Pilot did. It would look at a little overpass, and downshift. Now, I have read that people do not think the Journey transmission is responsive, because it doesn't shift down soon enough. But I like it.

Also, when compared to a Garmin GPS I had on the dash for the whole trip, the speedometer reads 1 MPH fast. I don't know about the odometer, which could affect MPG calculations a wee bit.

This is what I'm looking at from the 2012 manual. I'm taking it literally, of course. I'll go look at the emergency towing section next.

EDIT TO ADD. Here is the emergency towing, where as posted by 11JourneyBama above, it's okay to tow with the front wheels on a dolly. I had not looked at that section. I am wanting to tow it behind a motorhome, and always look at "recreational towing" in an owners manual. So I feel good now.

Journeyman, that's the way I see it too. I could not imagine why it was prohibited. I did email Chrysler customer care, and if I get a reply I will post an update.

Thanks, I will check. The fact that it normally won't even produce static when I turn up the volume makes me think it is going to be something else.

I only see one antenna, on the back edge of the roof.

My 2012 has the most basic 4.3 audio system. The other day the radio just stopped playing. Mostly it makes no sound at all, but sometimes turning up the volume will give some static such as you'd hear between stations. It also won't hit any stations while scanning. It's as if the tuner has died. The SAT system works, though. Sound and everything. So that really seems to point to the radio tuner function only.

After searching here, I disconnected the battery for a half hour. No change. It's out of warranty. Is there anything else for me to do or check before going to the dealer?

Dodge says no 2012 Journey can be towed with the front wheels on a tow dolly. I can't see why not on the front wheel drive version. Does anyone know why this would be?

Edit to add: I looked at other years' manuals online. The 2013 reads the same as 2012. But in 2014 & 2015, using a tow dolly is allowed on FWD models. Is there any pertinent change to the Journey starting in 2014?

Edit to add, see one of my posts below for the contradicting info in the manual. I was looking at recreational towing, which seems to say No.