5rebel9

So how can we assist you? You only stated of having it towed, has anything been diagnosed like the state of the car battery and charging system? Some specifics like how long is recently purchased and miles on the DJ would be helpful for further assistance from fellow Journey owners here.

And greetings back to you! Thanks for posting back, but make sure you report what all it took to getting the {Journey}Fremont up and running again. I hope no internal damage was done.

Well it is NOT a "fluke"....Had another goodly snow event and the back of the Journey is completely snow packed(including the tail lights)! This is my biggest concern, as rear defroster and wiper will clear the rear glass for visibility, but rear lights and license plate "irks" me due to our overzealous State police in cracking down on "proper clearing" of vehicles during the winter months. Last evening my son drove a total of 2 miles and when got home I could not even see but a faint red glow of the tail lights. Looks like this Spring I will definitely be looking into some kind of rear "deflector" to try and reduce this happening! Don't get me wrong in my "concern" about this.....The car is still well liked....just something to "work on" for a beneficial MOD project!

Well depending on where my son(or when) decides to leave the "nest" for "warmer climes" or NOT. I'll look into that idea. They did have them for my 04 era minivans...though rarely seen used. I have only seen ONE on an 03 T&C and the owner said it helped A LOT.

NOT a "gripe", but just an observation..... My son went out with the DJ Thurs. evening during a significant snow event. Journey ran fine. BUT when I looked out on it in the morning....the whole back end was snow packed from aerodynamics of the body. Much worse than my minivans and sedans would do. The only clear area would be from the rear wiper and only if snowpack resistance did not overpower the motor or by use of rear defroster. Any of you long time DJ drivers in snowbelt areas ever notice this or did this happening just be a "fluke" of this particular snow we had ?

I finally got a chance to drive the journey yesterday! First time since getting the car back(son has been out multiple times)! What a difference in shift feel , Now I am envious that the DJ is not for myself! All is going well with it, even in the current very cold weather(10* f) we are getting lately.

Glad to hear you got it figured out. Yup those small pesky items in the cooling system can cause big headaches. BTW : I take it your DJ has the 3.5 motor??

That being I believe a Volkswagen motor that uses a timing belt and NOT a chain. Have you had proper service intervals followed such as Timing Belt replacement done? That code COULD be thrown from a belt that jumped a few teeth. You need to check the BASICS of proper engine timing. Also by Kms posted the Timing Belt should be replaced anyway., A worn Timing Belt can loose teeth and/or jump timing. Worst case is destroyed valves and pistons should the belt break.

I'd have to look it up, but the crank bolt pattern for the flex plate should be the same if the torque converter bolt pattern is different. So then a swap of the flex plate would not be an unduly hard task.

The 2.4 is a 2.4(engine only, not trans with it). Yes may need to reuse intake manifold. BUT the thing to watch out for is that same emission motor is used. IF you have a Federal Emission model, then a California Emission model will not be a direct replace. The cylinder head and Exhaust manifold is different. I've come across this problem on the Avenger Forum I participate on from many 2.4 motored members. Also don't mix the PZEV version either. There's an under hood sticker that will tell you what type yours is ....stick with that.

Some even had MANUAL pop open windows.....I've had many over the years from '85-04 models. First one I had was 27 years ago ! I preferred the LWB over the "shorty" models.

As per the title of this "topic"..... YES we are out there. My son and I are totally happy with our recently acquired 2011 AWD main street edition DJ! Did NOT finance purchase of $4 k, and YES did have to spend another $1.1 k for another transmission. BUT here in Western NY, this Maryland transplant DJ is all my son's needs and more. Underneath is like new yet and NO body rust (rare for a 10 yr old car here)! Plan on keeping this ride for a VERY LONG TIME.....

08-14 Sebring/ Avenger/ 200 folks complain just as loudly of the same battery location. Actually there is more working room on the journey than those afor mentioned! AND I've seen worse on some GM models.

Well it helps that we have a LONG professional work relationship(over 30 years), that I.ve helped him on a number of problem jobs also. I retired from the profession but he is running his own shop for the last 15 years. I also get my winter firewood from him and the steady business I do with him goes a LONG way. Remember..we are both way out in the country and not like in an urban area. In fact he wants me to check out a '10 Buick Lucerne with lots of dash warning lights coming on yet seems to run just fine. Car belongs to a distant relative who wants out of it but needs to get fixed to sell or sell as is (to a guy like me)....which is a STRONG possibility! Winter is not being so kind to my T&C and come Spring SHOULD be retired. YEAH I KNOW... a BUICK being talked about on a DJ forum?????? ROFL !

Well it seems like it's been forever, but when one remembers of the Holidays and work schedules.... My guy had a 2012 model with 90K miles ON HAND, ALL IN $1,100 parts/labor/sales tax. Flushed trans cooler and lines, new trans filter and oil. The bad one without tearing down seems to be either the torque converter went OR the trans pump failed. Torque converter was heat discolored. Picking the Journey on Sunday afternoon., he is doing road tests with it starting from Wed. thru then. He also has personal DJ's so DEFINITELY knows how the trannie should "act". So far he is totally satisfied with the new used trannie and very sorry that the situation came about for us. BUT I knew and understood the "gamble" of the known trans issues when he first acquired the vehicle, so yes he did work with me very well about it! Will keep up a running update as when we get it and how things go in future postings....Stay Tuned!

What size motor in it and how many miles on it? Could be anything from a bad rad cap or a coolant leak that is allowing air entrapment, which can cause the symptoms you describe.

Certain parts were used for his girlfriends Neon. The body of his was rotting out bad, but motor and trans are good. It is currently at my friends awaiting parts calls or scrapping out come Spring.

WELL, it has happened. When we bought our DJ, we knew that the original seller had said that there was major trans problem with it which after putting 2k miles on it that it was just the solenoid pack. Well the DJ died out on the road with a totally failed trans this past Sunday afternoon, luckily only 15 miles from home. AAA towed it back to my friends shop, and initial diagnosis is to replace the trans. YES my son is "bummed out" about it, but I'm NOT. This car is well worth getting another trans, and still not be "underwater" on value. I'm Heading over there today to set up a "game plan" and projected cost to get it back on the road, will post up results this evening.....stay tuned!

When did the "grinding noise" start, before or after doing the brakes? Check the dust shields, they can bend and scrape the rotor pretty easily.

On that age vehicle, members are correct that it's probably the heater core. I had the same concern and flushed the core and got back great pass side heat on my son's '11 DJ. Loss of pass side heat is a common heater core issue with the DJ/Avenger/200 and a number of other FCA/MOPAR models.

Just checking in after a forced absence due to my PC getting fried by a power outage surge...Just got a new PC and set back up. Looks like a LOT of reading and responding to do from almost a month of being "out of the loop"!

Well, definitely different dash layout from our "new to us" '11 model that has seperate driver/pass heat controls thru the audio screen that your's does not seem to have. Don't know if possible you have air entrapped in the heater core, as you didn't mention that this was immediately after hooking all back up from the heater core change. But from all you've posted, that's about the only thing I can think of. When you manually moved the blend door, did temps on drivers side change?

Could not say it any better than posted! BUT will add that further "leak inspections" should be done(but was NOT posted of coolant loss). The 2.4 T-stat housing is known for numerous leakage points, not only of coolant, but of air entrance IF coolant has been lost. And definitely try a new rad cap! I was waiting for further info from VGall89 because no mention of coolant loss in the post made.

Just as I had feared for the car. But that should have been a timing CHAIN and odd to hear of that going out as you posted, the motor would have been making some odd noises for some time before breaking. A lot of work and cost for sure to bring it back to life, let us know what will be done as for SURGURY or a FUNERAL for it.....

I can't speak from experience with the DJ on brand that does best...yet But I've felt that Gabriels seemed a bit softer in ride quality over Monroe/Moog in may many other past Dodge/Chry vans and cars. Of course it is the springs that make the difference in cornering and the hyd. shock portion that controls the compression/rebound on rougher roads. And I've found that "quick struts" tend to use the softer spring rate springs. I was very disappointed in curves and rough road susp. travel in the Gabriel struts I put in my 04 T&C with factory tow package (firmer springs). But I just watch my speeds and road craters more closely to compensate now.