Journeyman425

Welcome back and sorry for all of your difficulties. Now that it's behind you, enjoy your time with your son and spend time with people who care about you. Like us!

One way is to scan the TCM at a dealer and compare the software in the car to the current release. Also, updates are sometimes released in Technical Service Bulletins (TSB's) which are generated to address known issues or to aid in diagnostics for certain problems.

There have been software updates to improve shift quality. It's possible that the PCM software is not at the latest release. It can be easily updated if that is the case but it requires a dealer visit. You recently purchased this car, yes? Did it come from a Chrysler Group Dealer? They *should* update it for you or at least check to see if there are updates at no charge to you if so. Even still, though, the shifting is not as smooth and precise as I'd like it to be, either. What's unusual is that, as you pointed out, this unit is used in so many Chrysler applications and it does not shift the same in any two platforms. The 62TE-equipped minivan, for instance, has much better shift quality overall than the Journey - unless it is placed in its "econ" mode. In that mode, it shifts very abruptly and early to achieve maximum fuel economy at the expense of refined driveability. I feel that if my Journey's transmission shift points were just a couple hundred RPM higher, the shift quality would be significantly improved. Like JKeaton states, using Autostick brings much better results. One thing I have to say is that it has improved noticeably now with over 25,000 miles on the clock. I still much prefer the shift quality of the 42LE four speed in my 300M. At 294,000 miles, it still shifts perfectly smooth in either Drive or Autostick. One other thing to consider is the adaptives. Your car was driven by a different person for the first part of it's life. The transmission has certain adaptive capability, of which the process may still be ongoing as it transitions to your driving style. If your dealer does, in fact update your car's software, then those adaptive values will be reset in addition to receiving the updates.

The HP difference comes mostly from the air intake on the Challenger. The engine orientation in the Challenger is longitudinal rather than transverse and allows for a less restrictive intake system. Some minor PCM revisions were made to take advantage of it and the result is the higher HP number. Like RTMan and Jkeaton have stated, you'd be hard pressed to feel the difference. But the Challenger competes directly with Camaro and Mustang, both of which offer V6 engines of similar power. So, from a marketing standpoint, the Challenger has to come to the party with the same numbers. That's really the only reason for the difference.

Welcome and congratulations! Yes, most if not all accessories are compatible for the last few years - the last major update to the JC body was 2011.

Overall very reliable from my standpoint. 2013's feature the improved brakes mentioned above which is a big plus. I was wondering about the price differences since U.S. model Crew and R/T are similar in content - R/T has the performance slant and is slightly better equipped here, but Canadian models differ quite signifiicantly. Look for a leftover 2014 and check all the rebates that are available on them - you might get pretty close to the range of the used ones you're looking at and still get a brand new car with a full factory warranty and all the improvements that have been incorporated in them over the years.

The luggage on the roof is a fuel economy killer. As the engine breaks in the mileage will improve a bit also. According to my EVIC, we consistently achieve 27-28 MPG on the highway with four in the car and cruise set for 68-70 MPH.

The sales code was either present in the configuration when it left the factory, or yours may be an early build 2014 which allowed the code to be added before Chrysler made the change.

No problems last year with stock Kumho's and FWD. Our terrain is flat. Not enough snow here to warrant the purchase of winter tires, but it is sound advice for those who live where the snow is frequent. You'll spend a lot less money on winter tires than on the trade-in difference between your current Crossroad and one with AWD. Keep your car.

Cylinder #'s 2,4 and 6 are all Left Cylinder Bank. You will likely need the head replaced. It's not that big of a deal - it is time-consuming but not exceedingly difficult. When your car was scanned for codes, the misfire code may have been erased...or, it may have already had two good trips where there were no misfires. Three good trips and the OBD system will turn the check engine light off on its own accord. That is common with this problem - they do not necessarily misfire all of the time. Keep your appointment and have the problem resolved. No worries.

There have been several topics in various threads on this Forum regarding Daytime Running Lamps. For 2011-2013 models, if they were not equipped or working, adding the sales code LMK and performing a Vehicle Restoration or Reconfiguration would enable the DRL. For 2014, DRL has become a stand-alone factory option and can no longer be added at the dealer level. Anyone reading this Forum and considering the purchase of a new Journey that wants DRL will have to find a vehicle with the feature already enabled from the factory or, if ordering a new Journey, will have to factory-order the feature.

The official response from Regina @ DodgeCares - Sales Code LMK is no longer available to add at the dealer level for 2014/2015 - DRL is now a factory-only option. Thank you Regina for obtaining this information for us.

Chrysler has actually had that feature for years. My 2000 300M incorporates something called "grade logic" on its cruise control system. It also downshifts to 3rd (it's a four speed automatic 42LE transmission) if the speed increases significantly beyond the set speed. One thing that it does that the Journey does not is that when ascending a hill, the transmission stays in overdrive and the torque converter remains locked, using only the engine's power to maintain speed as opposed to downshifting right away to maintain speed. That irritates me to no end and it is so unnecessary. The 3.6 has more than ample power to maintain speed on most hills. Only if the speed drops with nearly full throttle applied will the 300M open the torque converter, and as a last resort will drop to 3rd to keep the pace. I think I only saw that once while driving 75 MPH on the Interstates in New Hampshire. I cannot understand why this programming was not incorporated in the Journey's 62TE transmission. If I ever get hold of one of the engineers, that's one question I would love to have explained. Like you, this car is also the perfect fit for us - I can't imagine a more ideal size and configuration. We're always comfortable and there's always enough room for anything we need.

Transmission range sensors are common to the 2009-10 model year. If, like bigtsr suggests, it starts in neutral, the TRS is a pretty good bet. There is a STAR case that instructs the tech to add a redundant ground between the battery negative and the tranny bell housing:

I checked the TechConnect site for any additional information. There are no provisions in the underhood Totally Integrated Power Module (TIPM) or in the fuse panel behind the glovebox to switch the fuse orientation to keep the cargo area outlet hot with the key off. My 300M has that provision as B4ZINGA stated, but the Journey does not. My suggestion would be to purchase a 10' extension cord (available on Amazon for about $10.00) and power the cargo area fan off of the hot outlet at the back of the center console and use the other hot outlet in the console as you have been. As long as the amperage draw for both fans falls under the 20A load limit for that circuit, that should work.

I think the reason why this topic has morphed into what it has boils down to something very basic. The car shows a feature that can be enabled if the owner so desires. Nothing happens when the feature is enabled. The owner inquires at the dealership level as to why the feature does not work. No one at the dealership level can provide a factual answer because the parent company has failed to issue such an answer on the matter. That's when the sparks begin to fly. I've said this numerous times before - I *think* the sales code has been made into a factory-only sales option. All I'm asking of Dodge is to simply confirm it. If so, then yes - either the car has it or it does not and let's move on. But no one at Dodge has confirmed my theory so for now, I'm guessing. My customers don't come to me for guesses, they want facts. That is the issue that irks me the most and is the reason why I persist.

Heard back today from Regina @ DodgeCares. Yesterday, I re-sent an edited/updated version of my original message that I had sent out in early August to her and she replied right away. I suspect she never got my original. She is in turn waiting for a response from her tech contact. Like me, she got mixed information from her sources and is trying to come up with some factual answeres to our quandary. She hopes to have an answer next week. I'll share with you all as soon as I hear.

Sorry to say but same deal as 2014. Worth a shot, though - thanks for providing me with the info. This is very frustrating for me as well. No one has given me any clear, factual answer as to why sales code LMK has disappeared and yet the capability to toggle the DRL on and off remains on the radio screen. I'll keep after it on my end but even STAR gave me no more information than what they wrote back to your manager... and I've made two detailed inquiries and also sent a PM to DodgeCares here on the forum and have not yet heard back.

I've run a VIN or two with DRL listed as an option. As a manager, I have access to the order pages on our system, and I've "built" a couple of vehicles just for kicks (and deleted them before actually ordering them, of course!) and yes, DRL is a stand-alone option. Interestingly enough, it was a stand alone option when I ordered my 2013 Crew as well, but as most of us know now, all that was needed to make them work was code LMK. I concur with what you say about removing the option from the menu screen altogether. Either offer it or don't. Clear up the manual so that it does not lead people to believe that the vehicle has a feature when it really doesn't. What I am waiting for Dodge to confirm is my theory that sales code LMK has become proprietary to the factory and is no longer available at the dealer level, which all indications point to being true. They can add it but we can't. You are correct in that the cars are identical in every way to 2013 except for the addition of the Crossroad which is strictly trim items and some badge engineering, i.e. the change in the name from Crew to Limited.

I haven't tried a 2015 VIN yet - if you wish, post the last eight digits of the VIN with approx. mileage and I'll try it. No luck with any 2014's.

It is a stand-alone option that can be ordered from the factory. I think it is nothing more than the factory adding the sales code LMK and simply charging for it as opposed to us being able to add the code at the dealer level up unitl model year 2013.

Had it replaced yesterday and now all is well.

Wow, that looks really cool! Love seeing the Crossroad in my color! Tell me more about the rear fog lights - are they aftermarket or is that a new Mopar accessory that I'm not aware of? Off to my Mopar catalog now to look! How do they wire up and how difficult were they to connect to the existing wiring?