Tamy1119

Sorry... should have mentioned... The Battery was replaced a couple of months by the owner and not my Husband, the Tech.... But, I am unsure of the brand of battery and I know I've seen it mentioned that cheap batteries, well you get what you pay for... I will mention this to him.. see what he says.. THANKS.. Any other ideas are welcome...

HI all.. My Husband is an ASE Certified BMW Master Tech and can usually figure most things out.. But this one has him a bit stymied... Here is the issue in his words: 2009 Dodge Journey SXT 3.5L SOHC FWD, intermittent no crank. One of your own looking for some advice on this one. I'm ASE certified for this crap, do electrical diagnostics almost daily. Cannot figure this one out. Car belongs to a friend that has been hit hard by the pandemic, trying to help her out. Started in September 2020, she told me the car wouldn't start and had to get it jumped, it started then but the next stop she made, after she turned it off, it wouldn't start again, had to get a jump again. I brought it into my shop, made sure the battery was good and charged, couldn't duplicate the issue. Few days later, she says same thing. I pick it up, drive it around, shut it off when it is good and warm, and let it sit for a few minutes, then try to start it, clunk. I can hear the starter armature extend and engage, but won't spin. Do a couple tests and decide the starter solenoid has too much internal resistance. Replaced the starter, couldn't get it to do it again. Fast forward to a month ago, it's doing the same thing again. A little miffed, I pick up the car, drive it around, shut it off while it's hot and get the same clunk. The starter armature is definitely extending, it doesn't spin. I rip that starter out and replace it again, figuring it was a bad rebuild, returned that one. Starts like a charm, drive it around a while and can't get it to fail again. Probably started it 50 times in varying conditions before I gave it back to her. A couple days later, there she is in my texts again WTF!!!! Brought it in again and rechecked everything. Pulled off all the positive and negative cables and cleaned all the contact points, put it back together and tested for voltage drop on positive and negative circuits all the way from the battery to the starter and back. Nothing! The cables near the battery looked a bit rusty, so I replaced the battery cable assembly from the battery to the jump points and fuse block. Again, started up just fine for me the rest of that day and the next. That was yesterday. 830 this morning, she texts again, at her daughter's school and it won't start again. About 20 minutes later, she tried again and it fired right up. I am losing my mind over this thing. Battery is providing more than enough amps, circuits seem to be ok. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The strangest part of all this is the fact that it does not make the noise all the time... Only when driving between 20-30 miles per hour and it stops when I take my foot off the gas or when it shifts up... And it was NOT making this noise before the repairs.. all was quiet...

My Husband has confirmed that when the Driveshaft was replaced, so was that flex coupling (it was the reason for the replacement, the original was cracked) (Note: Hubby is a 12 year plus ASE mechanic as well. He is also a bit baffled by the strange noise and because it is still under warranty and he does not work at a Dodge Dealer, he does not want to void anything by diving into it himself)

John/Horace.. Thanks for your reply and information... The Driveshaft was indeed replaced .. had to wait for the part and everything ... My 2016 Journey only has 27K miles on it. I bought it in 2019 (May) with just 13K miles on it... I will mention the Flex Coupling to the Dealer.... It is out if it's Power Train warranty in March.. (in service date was 3/15 I believe) but the noise has been noted on my work order .. the Service Manager heard it and was as perplexed as myself and my Husband....

Hi all.. I own a 2016 AWD Journey and LOVE IT.. My issue is, the Rear Diff and Driveshaft were replaced (under warranty) due to a leak and a cracked "coupler" (that is what the mechanic called it)... BUT now there is a sound (like a bearing) coming from where the Driveshaft connects to the transfer case (hope I got this right) when the Journey is driving between 25-30 miles per hour. It does NOT make any sound when in N and engine revving, so it is strictly a driving issue (makes sense right?).... Dealer unable to pinpoint (and needless to say this happened AFTER the dealer made the warranty replacements)... So, I am just looking for thoughts. I hate the "wait til it get worse" mindset... Any thoughts, ideas? Anything? THANKS...