New Battery - still turning over slower than expected

[erbie78]

So it's been below freezing here for the last week or so.  I noticed the kiddo's '12 was turning over pretty slow in 3* F and found that the battery was 6+ years old, so determined it was time for a new one.  Got that done last night, but it's still turning over slower than I would think it should.  Could I be looking at needing a starter?  3.6 AWD 119,000 miles.

[John/Horace]

How long was new battery charged before install ? They never come with a full charge. Are you using full synthetic 5w20 oil. Starters don't usually turn slower when wearing out, solenoid contacts start giving no starts, clicking. Or just nothing from brushes, bearings, armature dead spot.

 

Take a gloved hand and try to move top battery terminals. If you can, then not tight enough. Harder now with it up in place, awkward install like you said.

With a 2012 lots of ground connections starting to get crappy, strut tower small grounds and main body grounds should be cleaned up. Grind down to bar metal then very thin film of dielectric grease. 

Not many issues here with 3.6 starter, I think like alternator it's Nipondensa, so top shelf brand.

Edited December 7, 2025 by John/Horace

[2late4u]

LOL my 2014 3.6 power steering either chirps real loud or screams a bit when first started in winter time here in Al. right now its getting down to 30 degrees at night,,the pump is also noisey  as well for the first 2-3 minutes till it warms up

[John/Horace]

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3 hours ago, 2late4u said:

LOL my 2014 3.6 power steering either chirps real loud or screams a bit when first started in winter time here in Al. right now its getting down to 30 degrees at night,,the pump is also noisey  as well for the first 2-3 minutes till it warms up

 

 

 

Try a few reservoir flushes for the pump noise, ATF+4 is same as mopar power steering fluid. Could even try cleaning screen at bottom of plastic reservoir. Remove two bottom hoses, flush with brake cleaner. Evaporates easily. Pumps cavitating are noisy.

 

Good lifetime extended warranty claim, looks very nasty to change.

[2late4u]

7 hours ago, John/Horace said:

 

Try a few reservoir flushes for the pump noise, ATF+4 is same as mopar power steering fluid. Could even try cleaning screen at bottom of plastic reservoir. Remove two bottom hoses, flush with brake cleaner. Evaporates easily. Pumps cavitating are noisy.

 

Good lifetime extended warranty claim, looks very nasty to change.

just did a flush of power steering  a few months ago ran 2 quarts Thur the system used Mopar  atf-4 as well,,also flushed the brake lines as well all caught up on the maintenance system that most folks never do.... I didn't use the brake cleaner tho,,,just wanted to do everything since I have the Mopar lift time warranty..thanks

[erbie78]

23 hours ago, 2late4u said:

LOL my 2014 3.6 power steering either chirps real loud or screams a bit when first started in winter time here in Al. right now its getting down to 30 degrees at night,,the pump is also noisey  as well for the first 2-3 minutes till it warms up

Oh yes.  It's a common thing for them to sound horrible for a few seconds after start on a really cold morning.  I got used to it having at '13 and a '14 Grand Caravan for a while.

[erbie78]

On 12/6/2025 at 7:44 PM, John/Horace said:

How long was new battery charged before install ? They never come with a full charge. Are you using full synthetic 5w20 oil. Starters don't usually turn slower when wearing out, solenoid contacts start giving no starts, clicking. Or just nothing from brushes, bearings, armature dead spot.

 

Take a gloved hand and try to move top battery terminals. If you can, then not tight enough. Harder now with it up in place, awkward install like you said.

With a 2012 lots of ground connections starting to get crappy, strut tower small grounds and main body grounds should be cleaned up. Grind down to bar metal then very thin film of dielectric grease. 

Not many issues here with 3.6 starter, I think like alternator it's Nipondensa, so top shelf brand.

I know they're tight enough as I checked power before buttoning everything back up, and it was a little wonky on my first check.  I didn't have the Neg connection completely seated, so I went and redid that and tightened everything up to where nothing was moving.

 

I'll probably have to hunt down all the grounds and check those.  To be honest, I've never thought about checking the charge of a new battery.  I might throw the trickle on it tonight.

[Dean H]

I put together these 2 thread links below. Addressing the weak spots on the electrical system. 

 

Read the entire thread every post in it. I added updates.

 

First Battery -

 

https://www.dodgejourneyforum.com/topic/18210-electrical-system-fyi-battery/

 

Second Ground system.

 

For reliability, I would run a 2 gauge cable for the negative battery connection. From the large strut tower stud to the engine block.

 

Run a 4 or 6 gauge cable from the passenger engine mount to the passenger strut tower ground studs.

 

I posted pictures on these 2 upgrades. Second post after the main post.

 

These are easy to do.

 

https://www.dodgejourneyforum.com/topic/18374-electrical-system-fyi-ground-system/

 

 

 

Post any questions you may have.

 

Dean