Journeyman425

Here's my 300M as seen off of the driver's side of the Journey:

The hitch pictured on your eBay link will fit 2009-2010 Journeys. The rear fascia was redesigned for 2011 and up - that hitch is not compatible with your Crossroad. Here's the wiring you need: http://www.dodgejourneyforum.com/topic/5523-2012-journey-factory-wiring-found-by-spare-tire-how-to-use/page-2 The part number for the wiring has superceded to 68080976AC Part number for receiver 82213561, as was given to you by the dealers you called.

No problem...you can PM the VIN to me if you change your mind. The 368 watt amp and the subwoofer come with the premium audio system only. Otherwise, the standard speakers are driven by the amp in the radio.

My wife also did not want anything too big. Initially, she thought the Journey would be too large until I explained that, like your Taurus, it's also five inches shorter in length than our 300M.

So close!

Sweet! Very nice R/T and Redline Red is really the perfect R/T color, IMO. Can't quite place the car in front of your Journey. Almost thought G8 at first but it's eluding me.

Replace the battery first, especially if it is the original one. We have customers who often try to jump start a car with booster cables and are unsuccessful because of insufficient amperage across the cables. A booster pack will usually do the trick there. Anyway, if a battery cell is faulty, your tester may still show a good test but again, there won't be enough amps to crank the engine. Erratic voltage plays havoc with modern automotive electrical systems as dhh3 mentioned earlier and is likely the root cause of your radio display issues. When you change the battery, make sure you thoroughly clean the battery cable ends as well. If no warning lights illuminate with the engine at idle, then your alternator is operating normally and should not require replacement. They do fail but not nearly as often as the batteries do.

The only thing better than a Journey is TWO Journeys! Welcome! Post some pictures, including your Dart!

I neglected to answer your question - sorry! No, the instrument cluster was shared with the 99-2001 Chrysler LHS, which became the Concorde Limited in 2002-2004.

The 3.6 has an inherent moaning-type sound upon cold start. Mine is particularly loud. My experience has been that the sound is louder in transverse applications like the Journey and the minivans. The Grand Cherokee, Durango and 300/Charger have a longitudinal engine orientation, and for some reason the moan is not as loud in those cars. It is not the same sound as the idler pulley in the TSB. That is a high-pitched screech or whistle-type sound which usually only lasts a few seconds; maybe more in extreme cold. Also, in extreme cold startups, the power steering pump does make a short-duration sound, similar to a low-fluid condition. The manual states that this sound is normal due to the high viscosity of the fluid at low temps. The moaning sound that I describe lasts a couple of minutes, then it is gone once the engine begins to warm up. I have been monitoring STAR cases and TSB's to identify the source but none have surfaced yet. Apparently it is not a mechanical issue since everything still works perfectly on my engine with 34,000 miles now. It has not gotten any worse, either.

It is not - the 3.2 is a Cherokee option, but the pulley is the same on both engines.

I work for a dealer. Post the last eight digits of your VIN and I will look at a detailed equipment list. I have seen rare instances where the window sticker and a piece of equipment do not match.

So great that you have the car back. And I think the Crossroad wheels are cool, too!

The tach is flanked by the fuel gauge to its left, and the speedo has the temp gauge to its right. In my photo I was just trying to capture the mileage moment. But I have always loved the font and styling of the gauges. They are clear and easy to read at just a glance. Ever try to read the speedometer in the Journey? Unless you are going 20,40,60, 80, etc MPH then you've actually got to study the needle position to determine your speed. That's why I keep the center display set to MPH. I think the styling of the 300M's gauges would clash with the overall look of the Journey, but a more modern font set on a similar electroluminescent array of dials would indeed be cool. Maybe even in a red/black lighting pattern in keeping with Dodge's signature colors.

I tend to agree (of course ) I personally feel that the 300M is a modern classic, but naturally that is a highly subjective opinion which many will dispute. I never tire of its looks and they always catch my eye on the road (which is happening less and less with each passing year; it has been out of production for eleven years now) You should see what some of the guys have done with theirs over on the 300M Club.

What is the actual problem with the car? For example, is there a noise, a leak, does the AWD no longer work, etc. ? Is the problem you are now having with your Journey the same problem that originated @ 60K miles? Has your complaint been the same at each instance? Lots of questions, I know, but if you have been having the same problem all along and your problem has not been resolved over the course of these three events, then with proper documentation you have a chance at receiving some goodwill assistance.

it is...for now. The same thing happened to LMK for the DRL but that code reappeared at the dealer level just as quietly as it went away. Time will tell for LMG.

Actually, the 4.0 was based off of the 3.8 OHV V6 that was used in the minivan. The Nitro came standard with the 3.7 V6 that was used in the Dakota and the optional engine was the 4.0. The only other variant of the SOHC 3.5 was the 3.2 that came in the Concorde and Intrepid. The Electroluminescent gauges in the 300M were shared with the LHS of the same years. I love their look and have never tired of it. I used to love to go for night time drives when the car was new just to look at the instruments! The 3.5 is a good engine. There were some issues in 2002 with incorrect rod bearing torque from the factory on some engines which resulted in catastrophic failure. Chrysler quietly recalled several 300M's and offered the customer a replacement engine or a new car, believe it or not. They quickly identified the affected production sequence and went right to work on damage control. Other than that very limited issue, it's been a very good engine. Correction - you are right, dhh3 - the 4.0 is a variant of the 3.5, not the 3.8 as I stated earlier. Had a brain fart. Went back and researched it and you are correct. The 3.8 and 3.3 share the same architecture.

3.5 V6 with 42LE four-speed automatic.

From the service manual: TRAILER SWAY CONTROLTrailer Sway Control (TSC) is safety feature made possible by ESP. TSC does not require driver input; it activates once the yaw sensor recognizes the unique vehicle motion associated with trailer sway and no steering input. It becomes clear that this motion has to be from a trailer and thus activates the brakes to eliminate the trailer sway. Lobitz is correct in that the trailer wiring is not part of the TSC equation. The Yaw Sensor detects side-to-side motion and compares that motion to the steering wheel angle and movement. If the driver is not moving the wheel left or right but the vehicle has that left-right motion, then the ESP kicks in to counter it.

My 300M, unlike the Journey, has never been hit. Luck has as much to do with that as anything else. My wife really deserves most of the credit. Yes, I am responsible for all of the maintenance and for its appearance care (read: I am very anal about it as you could guess!) but she is a very smooth and consistent driver. She's put probably two-thirds of the miles on the car in a manner that is very conducive to longevity. She's easy on the throttle and brakes, doesn't corner on the door handles, and almost always parks on the end space. So, between her good driving habits ( mine aren't so bad, either) and my working in an ideal maintenance environment combined with a really well-engineered car and here we are, with a car that has outlasted the payment book by twelve years!

My 2000 Chrysler 300M hit a milestone yesterday: If my Journey doesn't keep getting smashed every other week, it too might just make it to 300K!

Sean - that is a great idea and logical thinking on your part. Unfortunately, the sales codes that are available to us as dealers to add generally pertain to Mopar accessories like hitches, mouldings, tonneau covers for trucks, remote starters and the like. Equipment packages like ALW as you mention, or AGV as in Flexible Seating are not codes that we are able to add on to your VIN since they are proprietary to the factory as the vehicle is built. Good thinking, though! As for the PM mystery, perhaps one of our moderators or administrators might know? I received a PM today from one of our forum members; not sure why you are not able to get a message to me. Sorry!

Let's see some pictures when you get it back! Fingers crossed...