ChrisPollard

I'd be surprised if you could find a dealer who would actually do a 4.3 to 8.4 swap at all. That's a huge undertaking, not just from an aesthetics standpoint, but the entire operation of the vehicle. It's the downside to massive integration and electronics gone wild. But it's awesome when it all works right.

Yep, it's tucked away in there. I haven't pulled it out yet, since it isn't cold enough for it, but I've been trying to find a point in the front for that plug to hang out. I'm not a fan of opening and closing the hood to plug/unplug the block heater. Anybody find a good spot for the plug to come out? Got pics?

Welcome to the board!

A new radio won't fix the problem. It's not hardware related, it's a software problem. My radio has already been replaced. The original one did it, so does the replacement. But they're working on it. And it's infrequent. So I'll live with it until they patch it up.

Goaltender - have you checked out the radio blasting thread here - - yet? Seems that 22 is the common 'blast point' in the radios.

Cool. Thanks DodgeCares. I just had it happen a few minutes ago coming home from the mall. Next time it does, I'm going to check to see if there is a difference between how the volume dial reacts and the rocker on the steering wheel. The wheel rocker brings it back to where it was instantly ... does the volume dial do the same, or does it make you spin all the way back down? If they react differently, the question is what is programmed differently between the two? (I have some computer programming in my background, and debugging things like this requires finding all the constants and variables, then figuring out where they interact, and what can go wrong ... and why it isn't a constant problem, the hardest kind to track down.)

That IS interesting that it seems to be blasting to 22 each time it happens - and not just in one Journey, but more than one. This could be something that could help the people trying to write the software fix. DodgeCares - any way to pass this info along?

Short blasts of loud shouldn't hurt the speakers. If the speakers HAVE been blown, you will hear it. But I doubt they'd replace the speakers if they are undamaged due to short bursts of loudness. Not sure how loud your blasts were, but mine were usually around 22 or 23 out of 38 levels of volume. Just barely over half power. There is no way that should damage anything.

Nope ... had to catch up to it to be sure of the model. Fortunately they put the name across the back in real big letters. :P It was yellow ... and they had the rear hatch popped open with a pet carrier wedged inside. Made me chuckle as I drove by.

Yeah, I did test drive a V6. (Although it was a 2011, not a 2012 ... first one the dealer had in last year.) It's nice, no doubt. Sure, it's better than the 4. Quieter, smoother, more kick. But in my reality, for every day use, there is nothing wrong with the 4cyl. It goes along just fine. Passed a Porsche Cayman S on I80 this week in it. LOL Sure, they could have smoked me in a heartbeat, but in real world driving (on the interstate), I passed it. That counts in my world! LOL It all really comes down to expectations. If you EXPECT the 4 to perform like a big 6, yeah, it sucks turkey waddles. If you expect it to perform like a 4 banger in a big vehicle, you get exactly what it should be. If you expect to drive a Mercedes ML for under $23,000, you are going to be hopelessly disappointed. For the 1.6km my wife and I drive each way to work, I don't need the Pentastar. I don't own anything I can tow, so towing power is not a concern. Not that there's a hitch anyway. Will I opt for a 6 over a 4 in the future? If our situation allows for it, probably. I did love the 2.7 in my Sebring. Which came off the back of a 5.0L Ford V8, which came off the back of a 1.4L Kia, which came after a built 351W V8 that hauled ass. I've driven everything from a 60's economy car (Ford Falcon) to a barge of a 73 Gran Torino to a big ol' sofa on wheels Crown Vic station wagon to sub-compact imports. Each drove very differently. Each had different types of engines. Each had strengths and weaknesses. Each could be compared to something better to make it seem like something worse. But each was just great if you accepted it for what it was, and drove it accordingly. My 4 banger Journey would smoke my old 6 cylinder Falcon. But I'd take that old Falcon back any day, because it was my first car, and I loved it. Even after 35 years, it would pull 28 city/33 highway. Bottom line for me was cost. To get a V6 Journey, it would cost more than my budget allows. So given a choice between the 4cyl and nothing? Hands down, 4 banger wins. The rest of the vehicle is top notch. At the same time, I don't find that the 4 speed transmission has trouble holding a gear too long. It downshifts with ease, when I need it to. I've read a whole lot of posts (and reviews) about the 6 speed being unwilling to downshift/holding 6th gear too long. I don't drive like a teenager anymore. I'm alright with not driving the fastest thing on the road. Your mileage may vary.

The only big disagreement I have is the comments about the 4cyl/4sp combo ... I know these guys are used to driving Beemers and Benzes, and 300mph supercars and such, but I have ZERO issues with my 4cyl/4sp Journey. If I wanted to win drag races, I wouldn't even be looking at an SUV, for starters.

Yeah, I noticed that too, last time it spiked on me. It came on at 22, I tapped the volume on the wheel once, it went back to 9 instantly. My dealer said they're still waiting on the fix, but it is a known problem that they're working on. Although outside of my original test drive, it has only happened to me once since we bought it. So far, tolerable. Nothing I would say "Don't use the radio" over.

I don't know exactly how the AWD setup is on the Journey, but I assume there is a drive shaft involved, like any RWD car would have. If your tires are fine, it COULD be the drive shaft is out of balance. Might be something to have checked. No ideas on the whine though.

When I waxed mine on Monday, I noticed when cleaning the rims that there was a bit more brake dust on the rear wheels than the front. Never thought about the airflow aspect of it - that's something that's entirely possible!

Once again ... must be an option for the 'higher trim' models. But that's alright. I had a Sirius radio in my Sebring, and it wasn't too hard to route the antenna wire into the cabin. It's all very nicely hidden inside the console now, and runs through the Aux in. I don't get artist info on the screen, but I'm okay with that.

Congrats on the new wheels! Hope you love it as much as we love ours. Drove 800 miles in it on Saturday, going to take another 500 mile excursion on Wednesday, and another 800 miles home the first weekend in November. Getting a lot of quality time behind the wheel! The rear heating/cooling controls are worth the price of the flexible seating group option.

What Dre said - the procedure is in the owners manual. To be fair, when I asked my dealer about the dead fob starting issue, they had no idea. Nobody has apparently had this system out there long enough for it to die yet. But there has to be a way, and I would assume the manual would be correct. I historically find that dealerships have almost no knowledge of the new tech in their vehicles. In college, I used to play a game where I'd visit dealerships and ask them technical questions about their new products. NEVER found a salesman who could tell me anything that I could find (or had found) on my own in car mags. I DID once find one honest enough to say that if I read the car mags, I probably know more about it than he did. To which my first thought was, isn't it your job to know this stuff? How can you try to sell a product you don't know anything about? Why are you selling cars if you're not really all that interested in them? Still boggles my mind to this day. There is a part number in the manual for the fob battery - CR2032. If in doubt about the strength of your battery, buy a couple and keep them in the glove box, or somewhere handy at home. DO NOT pry your start button off! I'm pretty sure that will NOT be covered by your warranty, unless your dealer put that in writing and you can prove it.

Finally got 007 waxed today - here are some pics! http://www.dodgejourneyforum.com/index.php?/gallery/album/99-007/

Those hills through Kenora don't stack up to some of the ones going through the middle of Wisconsin. But I'm sure the Pentastar hauls. Too bad you can't get it without jumping a couple of trim levels!