mrdirt73

Just speculation on my part:

I wonder if, in addtion to the engine use algorithm, the oil change indicator also takes into account how many calendar days since the last oil change. This would mean that all of the days after your Journey was "born", including those in transit, sitting on the dealer's lot, etc. all count against the number of days before the oil change indication appears. One would think that the dealer prep instructions would include resetting this counter, but it's something that can be easily skipped and no one knows any better (at least initially).

Has anyone gotten only 2500 between their first and second oil change?

I ordered my Journey, so it was about as close to being "factory fresh" as possible, and the indicator didn't come on until after 5,600 miles.

Still working on finding the formula used for calculation....

Yes, my oil light went off the second time after only an additional 2500 miles. I'm pretty sure that my oil light goes off just based on miles only.

5 - my windshield wiper cowl is cracked and missing a piece that causes the buzzing noise I was getting around 72 mph. Again, this will be corrected via warranty - but I've not heard anything yet.

This was an issue for mine as well, and it took about two weeks for the part to come in, but they were able to replace it pretty quickly.

When we park the Journey on a incline it makes a thunk when you put it into park.

When your on a flat surface it does not do it. I think there is a loose motor mount or transmission mount.

Atleast thats what it feels like.

Anyone else have this issue with the 4cyl model???

I get that too, but really haven't thought much about it.

Those of you who are getting sub 3,000 mile oil change indications, what are your driving habits?

Do you take a lot of short trips? (5 miles or less)

Is most of your driving on city streets?

I'd also ask about winter driving, but most of us have not had our Journeys long enough to have them experience sub-zero temperatures. Cold engine temperature driving (whether due to short trips or extremely cold weather) should shorten the interval time. Extremely hot weather may do the same.

I'd wish I knew the exact formula and all of the coefficients, but after the constants of the engine design and (presumed) oil properties are used to calculate out an ideal engine oil life, penalty deductions are made for things like engine temperature and operating RPM. Depending on the indicator's design, fuel consumption may be factored into that as well, but again, I don't know the exact formula or coefficients. Some further research tonight may be in order.

I'd say about 75% of my trips are 20 miles or so with a mixture of interstate (semi rush hour) and city.

I think it is because it is the break in period. I did read something about it in the online owners manual.

Rob

I thought that too when mine came on @ 2800 miles the first time, but now it has come on again after just another 2500 miles. What gives? I want to keep my warranty as that is the main reason we went with the Journey, but I don't know if I can afford to have the oil changed every 2500 miles.

From Indianapolis to Wisconsin Dells... the vehicle was loaded including luggage on the luggage rack. Highway speed on cruise at 68MPH I got 22.2 MPG.

The one time I had mine "loaded down" I got around 15mpg in the city. That was delivering phonebooks for some extra cash, and I will not be doing that again anytime soon.

Press "lock" for 5 seconds. After the 5 seconds, while the "lock" is still down, press "Panic" and release both buttons at the same time... you're done!

Wow, I wasn't even that close. Sorry for the bad info.

Yes there is, it is in the manual under "key fob" I think. Anyway it is something like this:

Press the lock button once, then press it again and hold down for 5 seconds. It has been several weeks since I did this myself, but I think that is how it works. Anyway, someone can correct me if I'm wrong, or if nothing else it is listed in the manual.

I did notice I had to slam my hatch pretty hard to get it to close/warnign to go away. And to my surprise when I took the car in for oil change there was a rapid responce to add 2 hatch shims. Just a FYI if anyone else is having that issue.

Those were replaced on mine at my last oil change too. I hadn't noticed any problems though.

Any 4 cylinder Journey take a mostly highway trip? The first tank of mixed driving yielded an unimpressive 20.78 mpg Allthough the engine is not broken in it's still pretty bad. Me and my wife drive pretty slow also.

Around town I get between 20-22. On my two long distance trips I got 24-26. This all from my own calculations, not the computer calculating.

Bought a Journey and on day 2 the car has 200 miles and the check engine light came on. And we live 65 miles from the dealer where purchased

Besides that we love the CUV. The 4cyl is a little slugish but it gets the job done. The reason we bought the Journey is because we have a baby on the way. And the only other 2 cars we had were a 93 Civic EX 2dr and a 04 Saturn Ion Redline and the oil cooler went bad and screwed up my cooling system so now I don't trust the car.

Anyways does the 4cyl Journey have a 18.5 gallon tank or the 20.5. In the owners manual it says 18.5 and in the brochure it says 20.5.

I will keep you all updated with what the check engine light is.

Have a good day.

I think that it has a 20.5 tank, but I'm not positive. I do know that my gas light always comes on at about 17.5 gallons gone.

I tried it at lunch and it didn't work on mine. Maybe it is just for certain models. Oh well, I don't really know how much I'd use that anyway.

We have the 5 seater. It's just the two of us, and the extra storage is great.

My wife just discovered this today, if you hit the unlock button on the remote after opening the doors the windows will come down. It's on page 25 of the owners manual. Maybe you hit the remote when you placed it in your pocket.

Is that just on certain models? I didn't see that in my owners manual.

Just trying to keep this thread going. Has anybody figured this out yet. I wonder if this sound is related to the recall that states the wiring harness can come into contact with the left transaxle? Please post if you have heard anything

I wouldn't think that this is related to the recall as I have the same noise on my 4cyl model, and it wasn't affected by the recall. I notice the sound mostly when cutting the wheels left to back out of a parking place.

During our first highway trip, I noticed with the cruise control on it would downshift to use a type of engine braking while going downhill to slow the vehicle down.

I haven't had a vehicle with cruise control for many years, and I was just wondering if this is modern technology at work, or a common practice. My last vehicle with cruise just let me coast (accelerate) down hills.

I can't see how this would improve fuel economy when the RPM is going up and down like that.

Also during traffic (stop and go) I noticed that the tranny constantly shifts between 1st and 2nd. I guess with the 6 speed trans, and close ratios, that's what it needs to do. However having the autostick is certainly magical in these conditions as you can keep it in 2nd, and keep a steady speed in traffic.

Rick.

I've made 3 or 4 long trips so far, and have never noticed this with cruise on mine.

:banghead Hi ,I picked up my Journey on April 17. one week later brought it in for a rubbing sound on the left front side. Then on June 17 I got a check engine light called dealer and they told me to bring it in on monday the 20, there was no problem with driving the car. Brought it in they checked it out for 3 hours said they needed to order a harness for the o2 sensor,it would be in july 17, but it was ok to drive the car until the part was in. Three days later I'm driving down the road and it just stops runnung,and won't restart. I called the service department they gave me the number for the towing I waited 2 1/2 hours. When I get to the dealer they said the battery was dead. When they recalibrated their instruments the said it might be the harness. After looking under the hood and smelling burned wires they gave me a loaner(PT LOSER) i BOUGHT A 7 PASSENGER CAR AND THEY GIVE ME A 5 AS A LOANER FOR ALMOST A MONTH. i also understand that things go wrong ,but i worked at a plant that made harnesses for GM and we make alot a shift . Enogh that a person who buys a 2009 should not be waiting a month to get their car back.

Sounds like a bum dealer as much as anything else. When I had to put mine in for a recall fix I was given another Journey to drive for the next couple of days.

I took the Journey to the dealership, and they were good enough to squeeze me in before the holiday tomorrow. The red brake light on the dash (not the ABS) came on and the dealer scanned the computer and found that the brake fluid switch had failed. They have ordered one, and it won't take long to install.

He said that it was a first for them.

mrdirt, what sensor was recalled? I don't remember seeing that.

Rick.

Maybe recall was the wrong word, but there was a rapid response issued for one of the brake sensors. With mine the ABS/BAS light?? kept going off. I think that is the right letters on the light anyway. It was discussed in here somewhere, but I couldn't find it just a minute ago.

I like the slide feature, however one thing I noticed if you put your IPOD or Cell phone in the compartment when the armrest slides forward it can and will hit right at screen level could be an expensive slide forward

don't have that problem with the Nano though.

The problem probably should have came up earlier, but it still may be the sensor that was recalled earlier this year.

I just recieved my card, now how long until I get my PIN?

I go my card on saturday, and my PIN on the following Thursday, so there was a little bit of a lag there. It was nice filling up with it the first time, knowing that my bill would be about $17 less than what the pump shows.

Still waiting on the PIN, so I guess the 4 weeks is pretty accurate. I'm just glad that it isn't closer to the 6 weeks instead.

I voted no. I am however considering the cargo mat for the back. (no third row for me) On our trip a few weeks ago the luggage really seemed to scuff up the carpeting. Does anyone already have the mat? If so, what do you think of it? I'm kinda concerned that it will make the storage area underneat too hard to access.

I got one with my "welcome" package in yesterdays mail. I want to say it was for $20 to $30 off of any purchase over $200 but I don't remember the exact amount.

Picking up at 4PM EDT today!!!! :D :D

Congrats!