AJA Posted July 23, 2021 Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 Hello everyone. New here! I have a 2014 Journey SE 2.4L that came w/o the grab handle or (osh) attached to headliner. Wife is very insistent on installing one. Bought one but have not been able to install due to missing screw holes. My model didn’t have it from factory. Has anyone install one or tried? Please HELP! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted July 23, 2021 Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 maybe a local auto body shop could offer you some help of course they would want to be paid, that said what have you done since buying the handle also was it oem? or aftermarket if so maybe they can offer some help as well, they usually are nut inserts welded in or can use a tool to use a nut insert that is pressed into the holes, you may have to drill the holes if they are not there...good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJA Posted July 23, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 Thanks, 2late4u! I’ve been to three shops and they won’t touch it. Reason been missing screw holes on headliner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5rebel9 Posted July 23, 2021 Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 That's very odd, as the body structure is the same(as far as I know) the nutserts should be there. Just the headliner should be without the holes to go thru.If you can't do it, maybe a good repair shop (paid of course) could drop that section of the headliner and confirm, then all that would be needed is the holes cut in the headliner upholstery. 2late4u 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted July 23, 2021 Report Share Posted July 23, 2021 I agree with 5rbel9 on the nutserts should be there...when you say ( Reason been missing screw holes on headliner. ) what are you saying they dont want to cut the holes or what...... as mentioned above anyone that does headliners should be able to help you ,and as i asked before are you trying to use oem handles from the dodge dealership or after market ones,,,also the dealership should be able to help you as they know what needs to be done of course they cost more BUT it would be done right Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJA Posted July 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2021 Yes. I’ll probably end up at the dealer. Happy wife, happy life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John/Horace Posted July 24, 2021 Report Share Posted July 24, 2021 Try the upull section of an auto recycler. You can see how it comes out, measure location of sheet metal bracket where the inserts go into. Pull inserts and hardware from the wrecker car. Good pic on this link of the cut out locations etc. I don't think the side curtain airbags are an issue. https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/dodge,2014,journey,3.6l+v6,3300354,interior,headliner,14287 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJA Posted July 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2021 Great advise Bud! Heading to junkyard tomorrow… Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John/Horace Posted July 24, 2021 Report Share Posted July 24, 2021 Dealer uses your vin for parts look up. Since your car wasn't built with the handles, it won't show up in a search. They will have to do a manual search, making odds of getting wrong parts a lot higher. Ushally lots of whinnying as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJA Posted July 24, 2021 Author Report Share Posted July 24, 2021 Noted! Thanks, John/Horace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJA Posted August 11, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 Well everyone adding a GRAB ASSIST HANDLE is possible on the DJ (Dodge Journey)!! I finally installed it at a local upholstery shop close to home. Between parts, installation/labor, total: $125 • Support Bracket $29 on eBay • Handle $16 on eBay • Labor $80 at a local upholstery shop if anyone is interested, I can provide p/n’s Good Luck! Armando G, OhareFred, jkeaton and 2 others 2 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2late4u Posted August 11, 2021 Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 just asking were the nut already installed or did they have to put them in? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJA Posted August 11, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 I believe they were part of the bracket. But, the holes were definitely behind headliner (marked, not pre-drilled) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5rebel9 Posted August 11, 2021 Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 Glad to hear that you took the plunge to keep the wife HAPPY! Now you don't have to move into the doghouse....LOL Typical that "preps" were made but NOT finished in the structure, at least it's done now and looks good and is functional. jkeaton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJA Posted August 11, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 11, 2021 Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Suckered Buyer Posted December 27, 2022 Report Share Posted December 27, 2022 My grab handles in the front became loose. When I tried to tighten them down they wouldn't tighten. I remove them and I noticed that the screw holes were offline and the nut insert had slipped inside the headliner on basically all four holes driver and passenger side. I remove part of the door trim and pull down on the headliner and I can see the airbag and the mounting bracket. Attached to the mounting bracket which is white plastic I find on each side to metal brackets that have the insert nut in them that slip into the white mounting bracket which basically fell out of the headliner into my hands in the door along with numerous screws. The metal brackets look like they're installed first and then maybe the white mounting bracket then they put the headliner on and then of course the handles. Alternatively it might be that the metal brackets and white mounting bracket are screwed with one screw in the front and back of each handle to the body of the vehicle overhead and then the headliners put on and then you put the handle on. Either way the screws had vibrated loose over time and the handles became loose because the screws vibrated loose and all the parts ended up laying in the bottom of the headliner with the exception of the white bracket which stays in place until you remove the handles themselves. For whatever reason the handle never pulled on the headline there but it was not attached to the body of the vehicle anymore just the inside white bracket. The wire harness that is held to the bracket with a little hole that has a snap in holder of some kind is the only thing holding that bracket up at all from falling all the way into the base of the headliner over the door.Pull hard enough and I imagine you will pull part of the headliner towards you as you pull on me grab handle. I can't understand how there is nobody that has had this problem I cannot find anything on the internet with this problem. But that's probably what happened to the nuts on perhaps this poster is parked or maybe they weren't ever installed I can't quite tell from the posts. The vehicle is making a horrible rattling noise that was going down into the dash and we finally figured out if we mess with the loose grab bar it stopped making the noise and it's because all the parts for the handle are laying up in there rattling around in between the airbag and the headliner. This is the case for both sides. I myself am trying to figure out how to put everything back together since I don't want to rip down the headliner and I need to hold that up there and screw it back in and then tighten it and make sure then I can attach the handle securely but it doesn't look like besides cutting into the headliner to access the screw holes they would normally be screwed into that I'll be able to mount the bracket securely. I did have to be careful of the airbag but you can do it just don't be grilling into anything it's all supposed to go where it's supposed to go. Does anybody know how to put this bracket and secure it down how it's supposed to be secured down before putting the handles on? I'd like not to remove the headliner but I think I'm going to forget about these stupid grab handles if I have to rip that whole thing down I'll just find some kind of insert to plug the four holes in the headliner. Any help would be appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.