Xphyle Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 So I picked up my Black Journey R/T AWD with Nav last night at the dealer. We got out kinda late and the salesperson didn't have a chance to top off the tank with gas, so she told me to come back today. I went back there today and picked her up and we drove to the local station and she filled it up. Almost as soon as I got back in the car and started it up, the check engine light came on. When we got back to the dealer Rita (my salesperson) introduced me to the manager of the dealership who immediately took my Journey into the repair bay to hook it up to the computer. Came back like 20 minutes later and told me that the FUEL SENSOR is bad and in order to fix it, they have to REMOVE the gas tank. So he told me to drive it around for a few days and come back when the tank is closer to empty and they'll pull it and replace the failed sensor. What sucks is that the light is on and my gas guage doesn't register a full tank. It's stuck at 3/4 tank. Could be worse I suppose. Aside from that issue, I'm loving the vehicle. I loaded up the hard drive with all my 80's hair bands and I've got the Satellite Radio permanently tuned to HAIR NATION! The ride is so smooth and 2 times on the way home last night the wife asked me if I was going very slow, but in actuality I was driving 5 over the speed limit. It just SEEMS like you are driving slowly cause the cabin is so quiet and the ride is so smooth. Lastly for those that have taken ownership already. Has anyone smelled a foul smelling odor coming off the engine after you have stopped the vehicle? I noticed it last night and I thought the car in front of me was buring off a lot of oil, but it turned out to be coming from my engine. No smoke or anything, just the smell of either burning off oil or maybe antifreeze from the radiator. I told the dealer when I was there today and they were looking at the fuel sensor problem, and he assured me that lots of new cars burn stuff off like that when they are breaking in, etc. Thanks, Xphyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crh47 Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Welcome to the forum X Sorry about your fuel sensor issues....doesn't seem major, though. As for the smell coming off the engine, that sounds crazy. I haven't smelled anything except new car. Only thing I've noticed is mine pops and crackles a lot more than my Camry did cooling down after you turn it off. Hope it turns out to be nothing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snow_Runner Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Did you by chance get the vehicle undercoated? This may be the cause of it as well. Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xphyle Posted May 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Did you by chance get the vehicle undercoated? This may be the cause of it as well.Rick. No, no undercoating, unless it was complimentary. I'll keep my nose on it and see if it subsides. I've also got a display issue with the MyGIG dash display being too dark when watching DVD's. I'm waiting to see if any other forum members have a similar issue. Possible it just needs a software update. I posted it in another thread. Xphyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiceTrip Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 I went back there today and picked her up and we drove to the local station and she filled it up. Almost as soon as I got back in the car and started it up, the check engine light came onXphyle Just a hunch, but check the gas cap and make sure it is fully on and tight (turn it till you hear several clicks). It's interesting that the light came on right after a fillup, as modern vehicles will throw a CEL if the gas cap is off or loose - it's an emissions thing. If it does turn out to be a loose fuel cap, you might think twice before using that dealership for service, because their service guy can't tell the difference between "fuel sensor" and "fuel cap sensor". As for the smell, if you got the vehicle undercoated, it's almost certainly the undercoating burning off the exhaust headers. If that's the case it may be a few weeks before it stops completely. Even if you didn't get it undercoated, there may be a thin film of oil that was on certain engine parts to prevent rust. It's almost certainly nothing to worry about, but if you still smell it after a week or two, definitely take it in to be checked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xphyle Posted May 21, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Just a hunch, but check the gas cap and make sure it is fully on and tight (turn it till you hear several clicks). It's interesting that the light came on right after a fillup, as modern vehicles will throw a CEL if the gas cap is off or loose - it's an emissions thing. If it does turn out to be a loose fuel cap, you might think twice before using that dealership for service, because their service guy can't tell the difference between "fuel sensor" and "fuel cap sensor".As for the smell, if you got the vehicle undercoated, it's almost certainly the undercoating burning off the exhaust headers. If that's the case it may be a few weeks before it stops completely. Even if you didn't get it undercoated, there may be a thin film of oil that was on certain engine parts to prevent rust. It's almost certainly nothing to worry about, but if you still smell it after a week or two, definitely take it in to be checked. Thanks for the great info. We did remove and replace the gas cap while we were there and it didn't help. In addition, the fuel gage was only showing 3/4 of a tank even though we had just filled it up to capacity. Hope this is the last of my problems. It's starting to get a little disheartening. Xphyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NiceTrip Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Well it was a shot in the dark. I hope your issues are resolved soon and that's the end of them. Can't wait til ours comes in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogSportz Posted May 21, 2008 Report Share Posted May 21, 2008 Ha ha - thank goodness I wasn't the only one. That lovely foul smell I was told, is the chemicals burning off the engine and the catlytic converter, that its a chemical coating they use in production. It lasted a good 4 days on my car, the salesperson said it was normal, and nothing to worry about, when I called to find out what was up. Sorry to hear about your other issue, hope it's resolved quickly! Alyssia Lastly for those that have taken ownership already. Has anyone smelled a foul smelling odor coming off the engine after you have stopped the vehicle? I noticed it last night and I thought the car in front of me was buring off a lot of oil, but it turned out to be coming from my engine. No smoke or anything, just the smell of either burning off oil or maybe antifreeze from the radiator. I told the dealer when I was there today and they were looking at the fuel sensor problem, and he assured me that lots of new cars burn stuff off like that when they are breaking in, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xphyle Posted May 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 Hi Again All! Happy to report that all issues SEEM to have resolved themselves. I got in the car again this evening and took off the gas cap and put it back on, turned it real good. Took the Journey for a drive and I don't know if I hit some good bumps or what, but the fuel gauge started registering full and the check engine light went OFF! WOOT! Xphyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2009journey Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I too had the smell. Couple weeks old now and the smell is gone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snow_Runner Posted May 22, 2008 Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I picked up an OBDII reader a while ago for my other vehicles, and any time the engine light cam on, I read the code before taking it in for service. That way if it happens again, or someone else has the same issue, then I knew exactly what part the dealer had to replace. I plan on doing the same with the Journey. (Of course I hope I never see the light come on)!!! For just over $100 they are well worth having, and also if you are on a trip, and have a code, it will give you an idea how serious the problem is. It is just a small handheld device that plugs in under the dash of any vehicle 1996 or newer, domestic or import. Small enough to leave in the glovebox when travelling. Rick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Xphyle Posted May 22, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 22, 2008 I picked up an OBDII reader a while ago for my other vehicles, and any time the engine light cam on, I read the code before taking it in for service. That way if it happens again, or someone else has the same issue, then I knew exactly what part the dealer had to replace.I plan on doing the same with the Journey. (Of course I hope I never see the light come on)!!! For just over $100 they are well worth having, and also if you are on a trip, and have a code, it will give you an idea how serious the problem is. It is just a small handheld device that plugs in under the dash of any vehicle 1996 or newer, domestic or import. Small enough to leave in the glovebox when travelling. Rick. Very cool, Rick. If you find a good price for one online, please post a link. Also, maybe you could post pics to show exactly where the bugger plugs in on the Journey. Xphyle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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