Journeyman425

Nice Journey, Chris! I like the R/T badge on the front fenders. Are Canadian R/T's equipped that way or did you add them? Nice touch!

You should be happy with the Basslink Sub. A bunch of guys over on the 300M Enthusiasts Club board upgraded their sound systems with the Basslink and said it made a dramatic difference.

It sure irritates me to read stories like yours where you take the car to your dealer with a legitimate complaint and they counter your complaint with excuses. It's so unnecessary. Dealers are paid to do warranty work - and some receive the same hourly rate compensation from the factory as they would from a customer. Warranty work is a win-win in many ways - you get a repair free of charge, of which you are entitled under the terms of the basic warranty, and the dealer gets paid to satisfy you as such. Why a dealer would balk at this strategy is something I, as a service manager, will never understand. I am glad that most of your concerns have been addressed. In the U.S., any software flashes to the powertrain require an Authorized Modification Label under U.S. EPA law. Not sure if there are similar requirements in Canada. If so, take a look under the hood of your Journey for a modification label (ours are yellow) with a date written on it. Your service invoice should have a line item on it for the flash which shows No Charge and a "W" pay type for warranty. Of course, if the car is still shifting more smoothly then you know it was done

Thanks for the compliments, guys. We're very happy with the car. For the six weeks that elapsed between order and delivery, I pored over a multitude of pictures on the computer trying to get a sense of it, but it looks different in every one of them. It wasn't until the car actually arrived that I was able to really judge it. And even then, wrapped in plastic and covered in transit grime, it looked different than on delivery day, all waxed and detailed. Right now it's sitting outside after driving in today's rain, and it's killing me not to wash it!! Chris, I upload my pictures to Photobucket, then copy the "direct" link under the picture. Then, navigate back to the forum, click the "image" icon and paste the link into the open URL box. Very easy to do and the quality is excellent. Senah, I know what you mean about the stickers, but I work for the dealer that I bought it from, so the sticker and plate frame stays on!

I use a spray detailer called HydroGloss. It's made by Ardex, who is a commercial supplier of automotive products for dealers. It contains a small amount of wax in it but is very easy to use - spray on, wipe off before it dries. Then I lightly wipe down the car again with a clean, dry towel. Great for those in-between washes, especially this time of year when the pollen is out of control. Drives me nuts. One thing about this color - it shows everything! If I had no job and no life I'd be wiping this car down every hour. Of course, if I had no job or no life, I'd have no car...but that's a whole other story... Also, don't forget that the paint job is a mere six weeks old!

I love how the color comes alive when the sun hits it: As the day goes on, the paint gets darker, too: At sundown, the car looks dark red in this picture:

Before you totally give up on it, at least take a good test drive in a 2013 with the 3.6. I've only had mine for two weeks but it is super-comfortable and all of the hard plastic is gone. I opted for FWD because AWD is unnecessary where I live, saving $1800.00 off the price which allowed us to purchase other options. The lack of AWD means less weight and drag which should improve fuel economy. We've only burned three tanks of fuel so far but each one averages about 22 MPG, not bad for the weight and power. My only dislike is the shift programming - it upshifts too soon into higher gears. 3-4 upshift is particularly rough. I suspect there will be yet another update down the road. Other than that, the build quality is superb and the ride is very comfortable and quiet. I own two 300M's and thought I'd never like a car as much. .

Take it to the dealer. They will have get a digital image (photo) of the seat in question and send it to Chrysler for authorization. Repairs of this nature - seats, Jeep soft tops, paint issues, etc. require dealer pre-authorization via digital images to Chrysler prior to initiating a repair. Sounds like a new leather cover is in store for you. I'm not aware of any premature leather wear issues on any of these models.

Webslave is correct on all points. I too was surprised by the lack of hitch receiver availability when I ordered my DJ Crew. The receiver is easily installed, and as mentioned above, the supplied wiring harness is plug and play with very little labor needed. Even working for a dealer, we were not given any concrete answers as to why the tow rating was dropped to 2500 lbs. We have heard more than once that it was done to reduce cooling stress which in turn helps maintain reliability. I tow a 1200 lb pop-up camper with my 1999 300M, which has a rating of 2000 lb. I have not yet towed with the Journey but I expect it to be a little easier with an extra 30 hp and 10 lb-ft of torque on hand, coupled with two extra ratios in the transmission (therein lies the biggest benefit of all). The Chrysler handled the camper fine, but we definitely knew it was back there. Add a family and our stuff and you run out of capacity very quickly.

I had a feeling the head would be the diagnosis. We haven't seen any incidents of misfiring yet with the 3.6 for any other reason, but you just never know. Kind of surprised about the backorder situation; here on the east coast the heads have been readily available. We actually keep one in stock, although we've done less than a dozen head jobs since the 3.6 debuted in the 2011 Grand Cherokee. At least you know now that there is a resolution in sight for you. Glad the M38 flash helped smooth out your tranny.

Glad to hear that it has performed so well and that you are happy with it. I am envious of your road trip. I was just saying the other day how I would love to just get in ours and drive to Punta Gorda just to make sure the water is turned off in our condo! (I live in NY) I work for a dealer. There may be software updates for shift quality in the future. If there is ever an update released, I will post it here so you can take your Journey to your dealer to have it done. Also good to see that it performs well in snow. I suspected as such. We own two 300M's and they are excellent in snow. Around here, the terrain is flat and we've never been stuck. The front weight bias of the Journey is similar to that of the 300M - about 60% So, when it came time to order our Journey, I decided that we have never needed AWD and felt it would be best to skip it (an $1800.00 option) and put that savings toward options that we would really like. We ended up getting our Crew fully loaded. The only options we did not get were Rear Seat DVD and Engine Block Heater.

Any news yet? Good to know they'll provide alt. transportation for you should you need it.

My 2013 Crew came with a front plate bracket, but I did not install it (even though I'm supposed to) because I think it ruins the look of the front end. The part number on the back of the bracket is 68140111AA. That should work for you since the fascias are the same, only the grilles are differently styled between Crew and R/T.

I hear you on the stuff-hauling front. We've had two 300M's - one of which we've owned for 13 years, the other for five - and they are truly great cars but now as our family has become more active we are outgrowing them. The interior is very roomy but the trunk, while fairly spacious, fills up very quickly loading baseball gear and other sports equipment. Add an extra teammate or two in the equation and you're out of room in no time. Ditto for camping. The M pulls the pop-up camper OK, but stowing the rest of the gear plus the family just maxes it out. I'm glad to hear you're happy with Chrysler. Unlike yourself, I work for a dealer so I have a natural bias. Great to hear positives from people who are simply satisfied owners. We had a tough couple of years before the bankruptcy when Cerberus Capital Management owned Chrysler. But now, under Sergio Marchionne ( who is a genuine car-guy) one need not look any further than the interior of a Journey, Grand Cherokee, or a Dart to see what the company is capable of. I kept the 2000 300M for myself and took the '99 off the road, but I'm not selling it. My 2000 has 281,000 miles and has never once left us stranded anywhere. Original engine, transmission, drive axles, front hub bearings, alternator, a/c compressor, etc - the list goes on. The best, most reliable car I've ever owned, hands down. I sure hope your hurricane season does not play out to your hunches. We had a good, long run here in NY until 2011 with Irene (not all that bad) and then Sandy (mildly inconvenient to total disaster, depending on your location). But at least you know you've got the perfect escape pod.

We have a 1998 Jayco Eagle 8 SD pop-up camper that I currently tow with a 1999 300M. The M also has a 3.5 but only a four speed 42LE transmission. It pulls the camper just fine. I know it's back there but the car does not struggle with the weight. I'm sure the Journey with six speeds and an 30 extra HP will tow even easier. First camping trip will be early July and I'll post my observations then.

That is some serious praise coming out of a Charger Blacktop! That car is definitely a tough act to follow. What color did you get? And thanks for the compliment! Interestingly, I just posted elsewhere about the transmission and how I also wished for more smoothness. I know it is adaptive and am hoping it may refine itself with some more miles on the clock. But you are absolutely right about the eight speed. Last week I drove a Grand Cherokee with the 3.6/8 speed combo and it was fantastic. Always the right ratio for whatever speed you are at and the shifting is seamless. In the Jeep, there is a Sport mode which holds the lower gears longer and allows the revs to build before upshifting to the next ratio. That is what I wish the Journey would do and I sometimes compensate for it with Autostick. But the ergonomic placement of the shifter in the Journey is not as conducive to Autostick use as it is in my 300M so I don't use it as much. I almost always use it in the M since it's only a four speed and it's more fun to drive that way. Glad to know I'm not missing much suspension-wise. Thanks for the feedback!

It all depends on the dealer. Some will offer a loaner car to you; others require an appointment, some only provide to customers who purchase from them. Chrysler Service Contracts do have a rental provision for covered repairs - usually $30.00 / day (my Lifetime Max Care is now up to $35.00 / day) for up to five days. Rental is only covered if the repair is covered by the service contract, however. If your car is still in the 3/36 basic warranty, then the contract does not yet come into play. There are certain instances where the vehicle might have a recall which is time-consuming or requires extensive diagnostic time before a part can be ordered and a loaner/rental is pre-authorized by Chrysler in the labor operation number for the recall. Otherwise, rental coverage is generally excluded from the warranty policy. Call the dealer first and see what arrangements can be made.

You got a great deal on your Journey! Great to hear how happy you are with it. If I had any complaints, it is also with the shifting. I know it is adaptive and will "learn" your style of driving but it seems to get into high gear too quickly. 3-4 upshift is a bit abrupt. Wondering if yours has become more adaptive to your style and how many miles before doing so. I drove a 2014 Grand Cherokee the other day with the 8 speed automatic. It has a Sport mode which holds the lower gears longer, allowing the revs to build before upshifting to the next ratio. That was absolutely the way to go and I wish it were available in the Journey as well.

Most of the cylinder head issues were indeed 2011 units, but a few '12s trickled into the mix. There has been a huge production of 3.6 engines since it is available in almost everything Chrysler builds these days. Anyway, we'll see what your dealers' diagnostics bring. Regarding warranty work: Loaner cars are not part of the overall warranty coverage. For the most part, it is strictly a dealer courtesy, but most will provide one upon request or by appointment. Are you returning to the selling dealer? You might call tomorrow and ask if they can arrange alternate transportation for you should your repairs stretch into Friday. The transmission issue is a software flash which does not take long to perform. Replacement of the HVAC vent also is not a big deal. The fuel pump module should take about 2 - 2.5 hrs to replace. If you need a head, figure a full day in the shop, and maybe a couple of hours in the next day depending on your techs' experience doing the job. If you don't need a head and the problem is readily repairable, then one day in the shop should be all that you need. Keep us posted.

We've had our new Journey Crew for a little over a week and I thought I'd share some opinions of the car. First of all, I love the color more with each passing day. I've seen Copper Pearl on other vehicles but I like it best on the Journey. Everyone, and I mean everyone, who sees it comments on the the color. Almost always puncutated by "LOVE the color!" I've gotten a couple of "interesting color" which is a nice way of saying you hate it; let's be honest here. I don't care. My wife and I think it looks gorgeous. Driving it, though - now that's what really counts. I haven't had much wheel time in a Journey - I drove a customer's car for a couple of days which had an intermittent issue and I had to make sure it was fixed. '09 AWD R/T. I liked it a lot but the car had other issues which clouded my overall impression. I spent a lot of time going back and forth about which suspension level to choose. I have Performance Handling Group on my 300M and love the way it handles. One of the main reasons why we chose a Journey over a Town and Country or Grand Caravan was because it handles more like my 300M than anything else. I wanted ride comfort but did not want to trade away too much handling to get it. I almost went with AWD just to get the Performance Suspension along with Performance Steering which my Crew already has. This weekend I got to drive it about 200 miles and put it through its paces. There's this one killer on-ramp which I have taken on the doorhandles in my 300M. Tried it in the Journey - dropped it down to 2nd in Autostick and held the inside line at about 44-45 mph without so much as a chirp from the 19" Kumho's. I expected a great deal of body lean but it stayed much more flat than I thought it would. Ran out of RPM fast - this engine should redline higher than 6500 IMO; it's way smoother than the 3.5 in my M. Sounds really good, too - not at all thrashy. My 15 year old kid loves the sound - that says a lot right there! Anyway, the suspension tuning seems perfect to me. The ride is supple but very controlled. Over bumps, the chassis compresses, rebounds, and settles with no wallow or float - ever. It is very quiet inside - much more so than my M. Wind noise is minimal at best. The steering is light and accurate. They've removed all the friction in the steering gear so it requires very little power assist to operate it, which gives it excellent feel. I absolutely love to drive this car and look for excuses to go places in it. Road Trip! The build quality is excellent. Everything fits properly, there are no odd noises, the materials are rich and the controls feel precise. I did find a flaw in the paint, though - on the lower left corner of the tailgate a couple of inches below the "Jouney" badge, there is a splotch of color which does not match. You only see it if you lift the tailgate so I'm not going to do anything about it. I'd have to re-do the whole gate and blend into the bumper and left quarterpanel, and I'm not about to have a bodyshop attempt that in this color. The only feature I miss is the memory system for the seats, mirrors and radio. That, and the tilt-down in reverse feature for the mirrors. I love this on my 300M and it would make backing into my driveway easier, although the camera certainly helps. First tank of fuel average was 22.1. Can't complain about that at all. My 300M averages 22-24 MPG but weighs 500 lb less and gives up 30HP also. It may even pick up a mpg or two once it breaks in. We have a trip to Hershey in July which will be a good test of highway MPG. I'll let you know how we do. I didn't think I'd love the car as much as I do. That's the best part of all!

The soul of my 300M lives in this Journey, as seen in the reflection:

Earlier-build 3.6 Pentastar engines had an issue with cylinder head cooling and will occasionally burn a valve just enough to prevent it from fully seating, causing a misfire. The issue is well-documented with Chrysler and the remedy has been in production for quite some time now. All the basics should be checked, of course, but if they are all in order then a new head might be on tap for you. Get it checked out at your dealer at your earliest convenience.

Fuel injectors are controlled by the PCM. If the fault code is for fuel injector control circuit, it should also say for which injector the fault is stored. Inspect the wiring in the harness to the injector. You are correct in that most times an injector is either faulty or working. But you might have a wiring or connection issue to that injector. Look for signs of rodent nesting under the hood - acorn shells, small twigs, droppings, etc. I've seen plenty of chewed wiring from rodents. There may be an internal error in the PCM control circuit for the injectors also. I assume you have checked the basics already like plugs and coils even though the fault is injector-related.

Beautiful car - enjoy! Exactly one year after you we took delivery of our 2013 Crew. In Canada, R/T's look like US Crews with chrome door handles, roof rails, chrome grille and chrome clad wheels as an option. I love that look and that is what made us choose a Crew over an R/T, plus in the US chrome wheels and Copper Pearl are not available on the R/T. Do you still love it one year later?

That is a beautiful Journey. In the US, R/T's are not equipped with roof rails, the door handles and grille are body colored, chrome clad wheels are not available and Copper Pearl is not a choice. On the Journey, my preference is for a little chrome on the body, we loved the copper color and I like the chrome wheels even if they are "clad" which really irritates me. If the R/T were available in the U.S. like yours, I would have chosen it. Love that interior!