Journey_SeXT

Is this suppose to be a white Journey in a snowstorm in the north pole pic?
Welcome to the forum Weav!!

Ha ha trade the DJ in on a Grand Caravan and see if they will throw in a vasectomy!! lol
Oops! Maybe I should have said "vansectomy" !!!

You have a lemon. Dodge will do whats best for dodge. You need to do whats best for you and file a lemon law claim

I would check your states lemon law. Keep taking it back with the same complaint. Make them write it up each time and keep your copies. Follow the lemon law directions. Doesn't cost you a cent. I did it with a steering issue I had with my Durango. Not only did I get $ back, they had to fix it and warranty for as long as I owned the car.

Your right there is no drain bolt but once you drop the pan you could install one for future use.

Wow, that sucks. At least you didn't get hurt....what about the deer?

To follow up to Journey_SeXT:
The dipstick can be made at home with the following items:
1 wire hangar
duct tape
some marking tool (file, knife, whatever)
Straighten the hangar - you need something more than 18 inches in length (so you drop it into the fill tube). Measure 424mm from one end, and mark this off (use the duct tape). Everything below that point will go into the filler tube (marked with the "Dealer Only" cap). Use the chart Journey_SeXT posted and mark your min/max levels.

Calcium is a detergent in the engine oil. Molekule "BITOG" oil guru probably explains it best here:
Calcium is mainly a detergent and magnesium at one time was used in dispersants but its use has declined since magnesium leaves ash deposits.
Newer ashless dispersants are now used to disperse sludge molecules and soot.
Calcium compounds are "multifunctional" additives since they not only lift deposits, but also serves as a friction modifier and tbn booster.

I was at 43,500 miles (70,000 km's). The cost is $25.00 and if you want you can get the TBN for $10.00 extra. I did it just to know for sure that everything is okay and if I'm okay to extend my intervals which I can.
You can check it out here: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Hi All,
Thought I would share my oil analysis sheet after a 5,000 mile / 8,000 km OCI with Pennzoil Platinum 5w-30 and a Bosch Premium Filter after a very cold winter. I was surprised at the results and hope this will eliminate any fears for anyone who would like to go a little longer with their OCI's. I think I will go 10,000 km's / 6,000 mile on the next change with Valvoline Synpower 5w30. Dodge really did a good job with these Pentastar engines.

Fluid And Filter Service
FLUID AND FILTER SERVICE

FLUID/FILTER SERVICE (RECOMMENDED)


NOTE

Refer to the maintenance schedules in LUBRICATION and MAINTENANCE, or the vehicle owner's manual, for the recommended maintenance (fluid/filter change) intervals for this transaxle.




NOTE

Only fluids of the type labeled MOPAR® ATF+4 should be used. A filter change should be made at the time of the transmission oil change. The magnet (on the inside of the oil pan) should also be cleaned with a clean, dry cloth.




NOTE

If the transaxle is disassembled for any reason, the fluid and filter should be changed.




Raise vehicle on a hoist. Refer to LUBRICATION and MAINTENANCE for proper procedures. Place a drain container with a large opening, under transaxle oil pan.



Loosen pan bolts and tap the pan at one corner to break it loose allowing fluid to drain, then remove the oil pan.



Remove nuts at the oil filter.



Install a new filter and nuts, tighten to 5 N·m (40 in. lbs.).



Install the fluid filter oil pan, use a bead of MOPAR® ATF RTV (MS-GF41).



Clean the oil pan and magnet. Reinstall pan using new MOPAR® Silicone Adhesive sealant. Tighten oil pan bolts to 12 N·m (105 in. lbs.).



Pour four Quarts of MOPAR® ATF+4 through the dipstick opening.



Start engine and allow to idle for at least one minute. Then, with parking and service brakes applied, move selector lever momentarily to each position, ending in the park or neutral position.



Check the transaxle fluid level and add an appropriate amount to bring the transaxle fluid level to 3 mm (1/8 in.) below the lowest mark on the dipstick.



Recheck the fluid level after the transaxle has reached normal operating temperature 82° C (180°F). Refer to Fluid Level and Condition Check for the proper fluid fill



Fluid Level And Condition Check
FLUID LEVEL AND CONDITION CHECK

FLUID LEVEL CHECK USING THE SCAN TOOL



TEMP CHART
Click to Enlarge


Verify that the vehicle is parked on a level surface.



Remove the dipstick tube cap.


WARNING

There is a risk of accident from vehicle moving when the engine is running. Secure vehicle to prevent it from moving. There is a risk of injury from contusions and burns if you insert your hands into the engine when it is running. Do not touch hot or rotating parts. Wear properly fitted work clothes.





Actuate the service brake. Start engine and let it run at idle speed in selector lever position "P".



Shift through the transmission modes several times with the vehicle stationary and the engine idling.


NOTE

When inserting dipstick special tool Dipstick, excess insertion force may cause the dipstick to slip past the stop on the bracket in the transmission oil pan. An approximate distance that the dipstick sould be inserted into the fill tube is 424 mm (16.69 in.).





Warm up the transmission, wait at least 2 minutes and check the oil level with the engine running. Push the Oil Dipstick


Dipstick
into transmission fill tube until the dipstick tip contacts the oil pan and pull out again, read off oil level, repeat if necessary.




NOTE

The dipstick will protrude from the fill tube when installed.





Check transmission oil temperature using the appropriate scan tool.



The transmission Oil Dipstick


Dipstick
has indicator marks every 10 mm. Determine the height of the oil level on the dipstick and using the height, the Transmission Fluid Temperature (TFT) as viewed with the scan too, and the Transmission Fluid Graph, determine if the transmission oil level is correct.





Add or remove oil as necessary and recheck the oil level.



Once the oil level is correct, install the dipstick tube cap.


FLUID CONDITION

Along with fluid level, it is important to check the condition of the fluid. When the fluid smells burned, and is contaminated with metal or friction material particles, a complete transaxle recondition is probably required. Be sure to examine the fluid on the dipstick closely. If there is any doubt about its condition, drain out a sample for a double check.

MOPAR® ATF+4 (Automatic Transmission Fluid) when new is red in color. The ATF is dyed red so it can be identified from other fluids used in the vehicle such as engine oil or antifreeze. The red color is not permanent and is not an indicator of fluid condition. As the vehicle is driven, the ATF will begin to look darker in color and may eventually become brown. This is normal. ATF+4

Sounds like a the gas vent may be blocked....let us know what the dealer finds.

Let me know if there is anything else you need instructions on.

Let me know if there is anything else you need instructions on.

Let me know if there is anything else you need instructions on.

Let me know if there is anything else you need instructions on.

raise your tire pressure to about 36 psi cold and will help get a little better mpg as when they get hot it will raise to about 38-39 psi that is what i ran in my 2011 with 17 inch tires and got 70k out of them tires and still running the same in my 2014 19 inch tires and just turned 15 k and they still look great....

3.6L
3.6L




Click to Enlarge


Position new gaskets onto the catalytic converter flanges.



Position the cross-under pipe (1) into its position between the catalytic converters.



Install the front flange mounting nuts (4). Tighten nuts to 28 Nm (250 in.-lbs.).



Install the rear flange bolts (5). Tighten bolts to 30 N.m (22 ft. lbs.).



Install the cross-under support (2) bolts. Tighten nuts to 28 Nm (250 in.-lbs.).






Install the muffler/resonator pipe (2) onto the cross-under pipe (4). Do not tighten the pipe clamp.



Install the half shaft (Refer to Differential and Driveline/Half Shaft - Installation)(Refer To List 1).






Install the front pipe grommet (4).



Check for clearance of the exhaust to body.



Tighten the muffler/resonator pipe clamp (3) to 55 N·m (40 ft. lbs.).

The ease of maintenance is one of the reasons I wanted the 2.4. I've got a 2010 T&C with the old 3.8L, and that thing is going to be a monster to get the back 3 plugs. Copper core plugs are dirt cheap (NGK ZFR5F-11 priced on Amazon are $2 each). At $8 for a complete plug change, versus $26-$28 if you switch to platinum or iridium at 100,000 mile intervals, you're really not gaining anything (other than the half hour it would take to change them out). The first plug change I ever did was on a 2005 Cavalier (GMs 2.2 EcoTec - very solid engine). It took me about 2 hours due to taking my time and the throttle cable runs right over the coil pack, making it difficult to remove. The WGE 2.4 looks brain dead simple to swap out. Simple is good - it doesn't cost me anything!

Fixed, removed the ground cable let it sit for about half hour, lubricated all the buttons for door locks including the outside door handles, works perfectly.

Oh I've ignored them alright, I haven't used the dealer since 2012 and do my own maintenance. I replace my oil every 5,000 miles which is probably too soon on these engines but I find changing oil very therapeutic so I don't mind doing it little more frequently. Also looks good on the maintenance log if I had to sell it.

Oh I've ignored them alright, I haven't used the dealer since 2012 and do my own maintenance. I replace my oil every 5,000 miles which is probably too soon on these engines but I find changing oil very therapeutic so I don't mind doing it little more frequently. Also looks good on the maintenance log if I had to sell it.

Yes, thankfully everyone is safe. Thank you for the write up and letting us know that we are pretty safe in these vehicles.

Happy to say the harmonic squealing noise is gone after replacing the idler pulley, however the grinding sound when the starter first turns over remains. Lasts 5-10 seconds. Supposedly it was all part of the same fix.....apparently not. Hopefully it doesn't take another 2 years to get to the bottom of that too.

Agreed, 3000 miles is way too soon with Pentastar engines which is very easy on the oil,