707dumb

Well looks like the grand caravan still has a manual. The only other is for a Challenger. Wtf?!

Repair manuals for two Dodge models!? Anyway, I found one here(for the grand caravan)......

https://haynes.com/en-us/dodge/grand-caravan/2008-2018

To whom it may concern, 

 So there are no Chilton or Hanes manuals available for the Journey(2015). Why the heck not? I know working on Chryslers are a pain, but some of us want to do their own work. I guess the Internet is where you can find all the input you need; I want a printed manual!    Any thoughts...…..?

I should have waited to take it in. I could have used that kit and had evidence that it's the gasket between the block and head

 Auto shops should figure this out. And I did mention head gasket when I brought it in. They thought I was going to get lucky and just did the thermostat and bled the air. Unfortunately that did not do it. So it's back in the shop. Just waiting......

4 minutes ago, jkeaton said:

You can buy a combustion gas leak test kit. That will tell you if you have a blown head gasket. 

I have one, I got in the mail after the van was in the shop. And the shop told me there is no combustion gases in the antifreeze. So if I check it myself I should get the same results......

I keep thinking a cylinder or two have blown the head gasket. On a cold start up, air is being pushed into the resrevoir. I can see it. I was told it's a closed system, the water pump pushes the fluid. So if the engine is cold, shouldn't the thermostat be closed? Meaning no antifreeze is getting pushed through the block? So If the thermostat is closed then no bubbles should be in the resrevoir? I included a still(pic) from a 77MB video I have of what looks like air being pumped into the coolant resrevoir. I was allowed only 10 MB and didn't cut to the vid; I took a few stills.

I just picked it up. $5000. 200,000 miles on it. Pressure check on cooling system ok. No emissions in cooling sysyem. OEM themostat installed, air bled, still overheats. Fans are good, both speeds. The shop is trying to figure it out as I type this. Haven't heard from them yet. I don't think they replaced all the coolant. I was charged for 2 gallons of chrysler antifreeze at $23.95 each(!) when they did the thermostat.

 My theory now is as states; if it's not a head gasket then maybe head gasket sealer was put in before I got it and it plugged up a port in the head or block somewhere. Idk.

Ok got the journey back from the shop. Had a thermostat replaced and it's ok at idle, but when I'm driving 45-50 mph after about 15 minutes the temp will go up from 225 up to 260! That's the boiling point of antifreeze. And more liquid gets pushed out of the vent at the resrevoir. Just like before. The gauge to 3/4. Its only when I'm on the throttle too, if I'm slowing down, the temp goes down. Maybe radiator is just bad? Maybe it's a cracked head. Hmmmmmm any ideas even though we pretty much summed it all up: take to a mechanic!

It is common on the 3.6. the rocker arms bearing will wear out. There's plenty of YouTube videos on how to fix it but you really do have to be mechanicaly inclined. The hardest part about the job is disconnecting everything in the way.

Thanks guys, it's in the shop already. Just love the input from people that know way more than me lol. I wish I could do the job myself, but I would mess something up, not torque the bolts correctly or something. I really appreciate your input!

7 hours ago, 2late4u said:

think all he wants to do is ask  questions, start with the simple things or just put in to a garage and let them check it out.

Isn't this what forums are for? To help each other out, answer/ask questions, discuss and debate things?

On 9/9/2019 at 7:34 PM, 2late4u said:

i just hobbled out to my journey and actually there is no hose that connects to that ,it must just be a vent as on my 2014 3.6 the same thing just the  the plastic elbow that you have pictured. the return hose must be under the bottle or is the same hose for the overflow.

A vent on a coolant resrevoir? I never knew they existed. Do all Chryslers vent the cooling system?

I am also seeing gold/bronze particles in the reservoir. They are wherever the antifreeze got onto in the engine compartment; mainly just undneath the rerevoir. This is a shot of the bottom of the resrevoir cap with the tiny particles clearly shown. Any ideas why?

Well I ordered an exhaust gas test kit for the cooling system. Saw it in use here:

So I am suspecting not a bad gasket but more like a "cracked cylinder head" I say this only bc there is no milky oil on the dip stick nor under the filler cap. And from my past experiences, that's the sign of a head gasket failure. Hey 200,000 miles, I expected something bad but not this bad lol

Ok so if fluid is coming out of a vent hose, how much fluid is acceptable? Certainty not what I saw. It dripped a bit on the ground when I parked. Knew something wasn't right. Looked under the hood and saw evidence of antifreeze splashed a bit around the cowl near the reservoir and liquiid on the reservoir itself. And I heard a hissing sound when the engine was hot. It sounded like it was coming from the rerevoir cap.

It sounded like it was coming from the cap, honestly. After I drove it for a while and the engine temp went up to 3/4 the way to H.

I was like OMG. When I came back home I saw the evidence of a leak.

6 minutes ago, 2late4u said:

i just hobbled out to my journey and actually there is no hose that connects to that ,it must just be a vent as on my 2014 3.6 the same thing just the  the plastic elbow that you have pictured. the return hose must be under the bottle or is the same hose for the overflow.

So no fluid is spewing from that opening?

Wowza. Then I have a leak somewhere else......

41 minutes ago, 2late4u said:

it returns coolant back to the rad

Thanks I think your right. Can you post a pick of that hose? Or even a name of hose. I cannot find it in Rock Auto.com

I think it goes back to the radiator. But since this is such a new vehicle to me, I on here lol

Hi guys, where does the small hose underneath the radiator cap go to? Mine seems to have disappeared. Just that plastic sleeve is on the fitting. Mine doesn't go anywhere.  The all mine  mine

Sorry for not being more specific; 3.6 L v6.

When I first looked at it, before the repairs, three lights on the instrument panel were lit up: service AWD, traction control and ABS. After the fix they were out. No ticking that I notice.

To whom it may concern,

Greetings and salutations, I just bought a 2015 Dodge journey sxt awd for $5500. The catch, 200,000 miles on the odometer. Had a dead battery and needed a new alternater and a hub and bearing assembly. All fixed.

 How long do you guys expect this vehicle to last?

I'm hoping to 300,000. Maybe a gas tank, fuel pump, spark plugs and some wheel hubs and she will make it. Thank you for any input in advance