Sails

I am not sure how much different the 3.6 setup is from the 3.5 but my solution to the problem was to remove the air filter box, couple of plastic push pins, one bolt 10 mm if I remember correctly and a bracket that had to be pull from the box. Once all the plastic is out of the way, if the 3.6 is the same as the 3.5, you should be able to see the engine ground wire that bolts right by the starter. It will be a black cable going to a bolt by the starter. I bought a 36" 1 gauge cable, removed the bolt used by the ground cable and connected both cables using the bolt. I then ran the cable up to the ground bolt/connector on the firewall and connected the other end to it. I cleaned up the corrosion that was on both ends at the same time, put the air filter box back together and haven't had a single case of the no started problem since. Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep products have bad history of under engineering wiring, switches and ground cabling, cleaning and/or upgrading things like the engine ground cable help to solve problems.

I would go around check all the ground connections that you can find. I had issues with starting on my 2010 and adding a heavier gauge ground cable seems to have solved it. I also own a Jeep Cherokee, 2001 not the newer version, and have had times when half the dash would go crazy similarly to your's, again cleaning and redoing the ground connections solved the issue. It seems, at least to me and other Cherokee owners, that Dodge/Jeep ground and electrical cabling is an issue and to me under engineered. The change in how my 2010 started was rather amazing after adding the additional ground. Many items are controlled by the computers and if the signals aren't good they will tend to act up or in the case of starting not work properly. Digital stuff is looking for on or off and low voltage because of corrosion, loose, or under engineered cabling with a tiny bit of corrosion and cause the signal to look wrong. The first advice one gets in the case of older Cherokees is to go through and check all your grounds, I am beginning to think the same advice can apply to the Journey. Finding a cleaning and tightening grounds is a very inexpensive way to eliminate problems as well as, in my case, solving them.

I had the same issue. I took out the air filter box, cleaned up the starter ground connection and ran a 1 gauge 36" cable from the starter bolt to the ground connector. I also sprayed the connection to seal it from further corrosion. So far it has totally solved my starting problems.

I recently acquired 2010 SXT that seems to have the random starting problem. So far the solution that seems to have solved the problem, at least for me, was to improve the engine grounding. After reading through many posts in the forum I pulled the air cleaner box out and looked at the ground connection. I also own an old Cherokee that has taught me that Chrysler is not long on over engineering electrical stuff and many solutions to issues with Jeeps is to clean and repair grounds. The ground cable going to the engine block.starter was slightly corroded but what stuck me was the small gauge of the ground cable. So I cleaned up the corrosion and added an additional 1 gauge cable running to the ground connector from the battery. The one that your would use to boost the car. So far the starting problem has not returned. Cost was $25 for the 36" 1 gauge cable and about 30 minutes of work cleaning up the corrosion and routing the cable. As I said so far it seems to have solved the starting issue.

I seem to be on the same quest, newly acquired 2010 SXT with the RES with phone and Uconnect buttons but no Uconnect. From what I have found is you buy the Uconnect module from the dealer or some other source and then either have the dealer flash your computer through the ODBII port or buy a third party programmer that does it. Cost here in Canada is $249 for the Uconnect and $199 (US) for the programmer. I am still trying to figure it out but this is what I have found so far. Programmer: https://www.infotainment.com/collections/all/products/obd-genie-chrysler-dodge-jeep-uconnect-handsfree-programmer-c-hfm Uconnect: https://www.moparpartscanada.ca/oem-parts/mopar-uconnect-phone-bluetooth-wireless-hands-free-82212159 In any case it is my understanding that even if you were to upgrade to navigation etc. you will still need the Uconnect kit, as to having to use the programmer I m not sure. The infotainment site is very informative and they should helpful in answering questions. Good luck and let me know how you make out!