mruysch Posted June 26, 2019 Report Share Posted June 26, 2019 Got a 2010 Dodge Journey R/T. Was wondering if it is possible to change the vent with out dropping the diff. OhareFred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted June 26, 2019 Report Share Posted June 26, 2019 (edited) This is a new one. Why? Edited June 26, 2019 by jkeaton OhareFred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruysch Posted June 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2019 Because the rear diff keeps pressurizing up and blowing the pinion seal out which pushes oil into the viscous coupler. Then I start to get chattering in the rear end when turning. I have a topic down below about the chattering. OhareFred 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted June 27, 2019 Report Share Posted June 27, 2019 (edited) Well then I'm sure it's possible. But have to ask, why are you sure it's "pressurizing up"? How are you determining this is the root cause and not something else causing your pinion seal to blow out? I'm asking because I've never heard of a differential vent getting clogged, on any vehicle, ever. Edited June 27, 2019 by jkeaton 2late4u 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruysch Posted June 27, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 27, 2019 Every time I do a oil change I check all my fluids and when I check the rear diff the fill plugs shoots across my garage Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted June 28, 2019 Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 sounds like you need to find a qualified transmission service place or dealership to check it out before serous problems happen good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruysch Posted June 28, 2019 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2019 I did mention that when it was at the dealer last time and they said everything was good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanical-idiot Posted July 1, 2019 Report Share Posted July 1, 2019 Your viscous unit is F****d up. You can put all the vents and seals in that you want, but until you replace the viscous unit (which is probably your main problem), it will always make noise when turning. Don't band aid it with vents etc. Fix the problem. mechanical-idiot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanical-idiot Posted July 1, 2019 Report Share Posted July 1, 2019 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted July 1, 2019 Report Share Posted July 1, 2019 On 6/28/2019 at 12:41 PM, mruysch said: I did mention that when it was at the dealer last time and they said everything was good LOL take it to a qualified transmission service place as YOU have something WRONG mechanical-idiot 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mechanical-idiot Posted July 2, 2019 Report Share Posted July 2, 2019 Or, just don't take any advice at all and let it be. Then buy one of these emblems from Ebay and put it right below the Journey emblem on the back of the vehicle: https://www.ebay.com/itm/REDNECK-EDITION-PAIR-CAR-EMBLEMS-Chrome-Metal-Badges-suit-CHEVY-SILVERADO-NEW/400885638670?hash=item5d56a5660e:g:MAUAAOSwAYtWM9Wc LOL! I am being facetious! Take 2late4u's advice and get it looked at. The dealer obviously couldn't find the problem. It does not mean that a problem does not exist. I will guarantee you that you do have a problem and it is probably the viscous unit. Good luck with it and please keep us posted. mechanical-idiot Summer Solstice and jkeaton 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruysch Posted July 3, 2019 Author Report Share Posted July 3, 2019 I know it needs a viscous coupler because it is full of gear oil. But I want to know why my rear diff is pressuring up causing the viscous coupler to fill up with oil. That is why I was asking about the vent. Until That problem is solved I don’t want to put a viscous coupler in. Because last spring when the problem started I put a new seal in and brake cleaned the inside of the viscous coupler (I know you are not supposed to do that) but I tried it since I knew i needed a new one any way and it worked until this summer when I noticed oil leaking again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsells Posted April 27, 2021 Report Share Posted April 27, 2021 Yes the vents can easily plug with undercoat and dirt etc . If in areas of road salt during winter the cap on the vent rusts and plugs. The resulting pressure forces the diff fluid past the seals creating leaks. Have 40 years in the trade and a common problem but overlooked as a root cause of leaks. My 2013 journey with 108,000 km is leaking, plus started the left hand turn grinding and often a wheel drag as well, either left front or rear starting from a stop with wheels slightly turned to the left. A new Viscous coulper is $2500 plus tax in Canada. So purchased a used unit with 6 month warranty, will replace the diff vent ( very difficult to get at , a push in fit ) drain and fill the diff and this rig will be traded. Plus no heat on passenger side due to the interior heat door not working in the heater housing. Another habit of journeys, this one has the shaft broken on the inside of the heater box. Estimate from dealer to repair is $2200.00 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruysch Posted May 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2021 Haven't looked into since. And ours is doing the same with the heat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick_Bo Posted December 19, 2023 Report Share Posted December 19, 2023 has anyone tried to rebuild the Viscous coupler? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John/Horace Posted December 21, 2023 Report Share Posted December 21, 2023 Can’t be done. Haven’t heard of any diy person being able to do it. If you call transmission shops I’m sure they will even say they don’t do it. On this site there are threads about swapping it out with rear diff left in place. People usually buy a whole rear diff from auto recycler and only use coupler. New coupler by itself more than double used diff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruysch Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Might as well follow up on this. Got a new vent put on the differential and that solved the oil leak. Still have not replaced the viscous coupler, but it seems to have been working alright John/Horace and 2late4u 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John/Horace Posted December 24, 2023 Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Thanks for follow up. Curious how many kms on the original viscous coupler now ? Had to change both side lip seals on our 2014 rear diff. They literally rotted out from road salt and started leaking. Time consuming crappy diy job. Never went low enough to cause any damage. At 244k kms or 151k miles now. Now that I have learned of vent issues, plan on getting to it and cleaning it out. There has been a handful of people on site that had similar oil leaks with coupler. Have owned multiple jeeps and trucks with awd, haven’t experienced this problem yet. But the Journey sees lots of mud and salt…and I’m never lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruysch Posted December 24, 2023 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2023 Journey has 130,000km John/Horace 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mruysch Posted December 23, 2025 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2025 Well the journey has about 150,000km and still has the factory viscous coupler. It still chatters around corners when it is hot but the oil leaks have not come back Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5rebel9 Posted December 23, 2025 Report Share Posted December 23, 2025 6 hours ago, mruysch said: Well the journey has about 150,000km and still has the factory viscous coupler. It still chatters around corners when it is hot but the oil leaks have not come back My friend who has his own shop fixed up a '14 DJ awd for his son and went thru 3 viscous couplers from parts cars till he got one that worked correctly to get rid of that concern in that Journey. That is the ONLY one I have seen this happen to around me. I've got (or had) 3 awd's with high mileage(150k miles+) and not had that problem. and the only one my friend has had come thru his shop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John/Horace Posted December 23, 2025 Report Share Posted December 23, 2025 I have been lucky as well with coupling, fingers crossed. Here is pic of what a new vent looks like, internal check valve I think. Have cleaned off my vent a few times, changed gear oil a few times, just fur on magnet drain plug. Vent plug hard to get at, very little clearance. Spare and holder ringer should be removed. Can it just be pried out and new one tapped in, curious. Around 22 cdn pesos for part.😁 Hangar bearing and driveshaft rebuild turns up on this forum, high milage occurrence on 2009-10 models. Parts not hard to get, they said. Match mark pieces and reassemble. Sure is nice to have awd in the crappy weather, my wife insists on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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