So just what does Uconnect provide

[bramfrank]

So I ordered an SE CVP model today and will get it on Monday - It seems well enough equipped - at least the one I test drove - and I got a great price, but . . .

The documentation says that it comes with Uconnect. On my old 300C that meant I got Bluetooth - and in fact the salesman told me that the SE comes with Bluetooth - he want far enough as to tell me that there are two types of Bluetooth, one that is a simple interface to the phone and another that accepts commands to control stuff in the car, like Ford does with the Sync.

I checked the brochures and it says the model get a Uconnect touch 4.3 inch screen - and the sales manager now (that I've signed) says that Bluetooth is not included.

I called the Chrysler product line and they told me that it DOES include Bluetooth and that they get a lot of calls and I should call customer service.

I searched the forums and it seems that Bluetooth may (or may not) be part of the package - and Chrysler seems to play fast and loose with the Uconnect monicker.

Does anyone have a definitive answer to what "Uconnect" actually means?

[Armendegga]

Unfortunately a lot of dealers were misinformed about uConnect and what it actually includes. For the Journey, all uConnect refers to is the touchscreen... Whether it be the 4.3 or the 8.4... It was very poorly worded when it came out and the VC and BT was an extra $200 add on. From everything I understand there is no current way to get VC and BT if it didn't come with it from the factory unfortunately. I have also heard from my dealer (correct or not) that the Mopar bluetooth isn't even compatible with the new uConnect setup in the 2011's.

[bramfrank]

Thanks once more.

The question was asked to determine whether I should get in their faces about it.. I guess not.

My Garmin navigator has Bluetooth, so it'll just transplant from the car it is replacing.

[Powdered Toast Man]

Yeah, I ran into this as well. Chrysler named the new touchscreen system "uConnect touch" and then changed the bluetooth add on to "Voice Command" but failed to inform any of the dealers. They all ordered their 2011 stock with "uConnect" thinking they were getting the bluetooth but they were wrong. Just about every Journey ordered from the first half of 2011 in Winnipeg does not have the Bluetooth because of this.

[JDoubleU]

I think Dodge should recall all these vehicles and put the "uconnect" bluetooth in the 2011. I was very disappointed in this myself

[Armendegga]

I would appreciate it if they did, but sadly it won't happen... They aren't even offering any option to add BT to it that I've been able to fine.

[Chubby-Journey]

I too thought I was getting bluetooth connectivity on my new Journey SXT AWD that I picked up today(really love the vehicle) for my wife. I have bluetooth in my Mercedes and it is AWESOME!!!! My phone never leaves my pocket. I have a couple of bluetooth earsets, but feel like Lt Ohoorah(is that spelled right) on Star Trek when I'm walking around with them. The parts manager could not even find a module that would connect to my uconnect 4.3sMP3,Sat and some other mumbo jumbo for 2012. He said he would call chrysler and get back to me. Hopefully, I won't be turning blue??? My wife really loves the car and we got a fantastic deal, but, man, would I like to have a bluetooth feature. If I hear anything, I'll post it or if anyone else hears, let me know.....I WANT BLUETOOTH!!! BTW, I know it's an option, but do they use a completely different radio....I think NOT! There's modules to connect to previous Journeys out there, but not 2011 or 2012 Journeys, as I've found in my persistent searches. He found other modules for 2011, but none of them is listed for a Journey. The only other vehicle I considered was a 2011 GLK350(TOO small...I'm 6'2" and 295lbs, pretty much since birth. Nice car nevertheless, but the Journey smokes it in too many departments IMO. They loaned it to me(I guess hoping for a sale) when my 3 day service appointment inadvertently took 5 weeks and 2,500 miles on the benz and.... 5 figures worth of damage.(Bad storm in VA, Trooper stopped me because there were several wrecks ahead(horrible road conditions... Two dirvers behind me decided to use the GLK350 to stop their vehicles I did drive the Benz home and even for an additional week before returning it.

:backtotopic: Back to my original point....I WANT BLUETOOTH!!!!

Edited September 22, 2011 by Chubby-Journey

[Armendegga]

I'm still waiting for a BT option as well. I've been in contact with my dealer, and he hasn't heard of any options yet either unfortunately.

[bramfrank]

For the moment I have a Garmin 1390 navigator plastered to the windshield above the mirror - it works (and is similar to what I have in my other car).

A friend just handed me a Scoche Bluetooth kit that connects to the aux input in the glove box - has great speech processing and outgoing sound quality and plays nicely with an auxiliary (3.5mm) sound source, switching and such - it even supports stereo Bluetooth sources if you have a music source - it will pair with the phone and with a separate music source concurrently. But even though the radio will switch to the aux imput when you plug in a source, it does not do this when you activate the Bluetooth and I dont listen to 3.5 mm music.

Unfortunately your dealer is not going to find a kit at this time - the radio in our Journeys is different from the older mygig units and there is the problenm of adding the buttons on the steering wheel.

More insidious is that pure MP3 music sources really load down the processor and everything lags including the air coditioning settings, not to mention that MP3 playbback exhibits choppiness and variable tempo as a result - the code/processor compbination in the radio isn't adequate to keep up with the music. My dealer is supposed to be investigating.

[Chubby-Journey]

Parts manager called me back today :o and said the part(module) should be available in 4 to 6 weeks. He said he spoke to Chrysler(I looked for his crystal ball...couldn't find it). He said call him in about 2 weeks and he'll get me an update :unsure:

[DJourney]

I am also confused about the UConnect. When we purchased the vehicle, we were told it had Sirius. When we couldn't connect (or find the Sat option) the dealer told me it would take 24 hours. Now I've been told the vehicle doesn't come with Satellite Radio. I'm a little upset since it was a big factor in deciding to buy the car. It's a 2012 Dodge Journey SE. I love the car.. the gas savings is awesome but am a little disappointed that it doesn't have Satellite. Anyone have any suggestions or going through something similar? Please help... need guidance! Oh and by the way, I asked our salesman about the satellite and he suggested I go to Best Buy! WTH!!!!

[bramfrank]

The SE comes with the basic radio - AM/FM//CD/USB and nothing else - and the MP3 playback makes everything on the display run slowly and doesn't play decent (160 kb) MP3 source files cleanly.I can only assume that the 4.3S (Sirius) version does no better and likely the 8.2 as well since I think they share common electronics.

[drb227]

bramfrank, I've never had a problem with any slow downs of any type while using my 8.4 system to play any type of music, regardless of if it was on CD, SD Card or via USB.

[capnhowdy21]

I'm in the same boat as many of you. I bought a 2011 Journey Mainstreet last week thinking it had the Voice command module in it, since the brochure says it is standard with the 8.4 uConnect system.

I've also been in contact with a dealer(not the one I got the car from) and customer assistance. Customer assistance has been next to useless. The dealer thinks the part should be ready soon. However he seems to think that it won't have steering wheel buttons, and they will have to run a wire for the mic(hes not sure where the mic will be yet). The mic is normally in the mirror.

I for one amy very dissapointed in the sound of this solution. I did not purchase a brand new car to get some wires or dongles hanging all over the place. I also don't understand why we can't get the parts from the factory. I recommend everyone emails chrysler/dodge customer assistance about this to try and get the issue raised to a priority.

[bquerry]

I am also confused about the UConnect. When we purchased the vehicle, we were told it had Sirius. When we couldn't connect (or find the Sat option) the dealer told me it would take 24 hours. Now I've been told the vehicle doesn't come with Satellite Radio. I'm a little upset since it was a big factor in deciding to buy the car. It's a 2012 Dodge Journey SE. I love the car.. the gas savings is awesome but am a little disappointed that it doesn't have Satellite. Anyone have any suggestions or going through something similar? Please help... need guidance! Oh and by the way, I asked our salesman about the satellite and he suggested I go to Best Buy! WTH!!!!

Ours told us to go to Radio Shack to add the satellite radio, so we're in the same boat. If you figure out something good, I'd love to know!

[DodgeCares]

I'm in the same boat as many of you. I bought a 2011 Journey Mainstreet last week thinking it had the Voice command module in it, since the brochure says it is standard with the 8.4 uConnect system.

I've also been in contact with a dealer(not the one I got the car from) and customer assistance. Customer assistance has been next to useless. The dealer thinks the part should be ready soon. However he seems to think that it won't have steering wheel buttons, and they will have to run a wire for the mic(hes not sure where the mic will be yet). The mic is normally in the mirror.

I for one amy very dissapointed in the sound of this solution. I did not purchase a brand new car to get some wires or dongles hanging all over the place. I also don't understand why we can't get the parts from the factory. I recommend everyone emails chrysler/dodge customer assistance about this to try and get the issue raised to a priority.

Capn,

I have raised this issue here at Chrysler about voice command on the 8.4 in the Journey's. I have posted on other threads on this issue. As soon as I hear anything conclusive I will post it. Not sure about why they would need to run wires if a solution does become available as they would simply install a mirror that has the feature if need be. Don't want to bring bad news but the radio that does not have the hardware so it cannot simply be a software upgrade and all is well. I will let everyone know if I hear anything.

[Armendegga]

Chris - Thanks for your help with this and raising the issue on the Chrysler end. I understand that mistakes can happen, and while this one was a large mistake that affected numerous customers, the most frustrating thing has been that we haven't been able to get any answers, and there isn't any kind of solution that has been available yet to get BT. I appreciate that you are advocating for us, and will post back with any information that you have available!!

[capnhowdy21]

Capn,

I have raised this issue here at Chrysler about voice command on the 8.4 in the Journey's. I have posted on other threads on this issue. As soon as I hear anything conclusive I will post it. Not sure about why they would need to run wires if a solution does become available as they would simply install a mirror that has the feature if need be. Don't want to bring bad news but the radio that does not have the hardware so it cannot simply be a software upgrade and all is well. I will let everyone know if I hear anything.

Thanks for looking in to it. It is as Armedegga says, part of the problem is the lack of answers. I've calmed down considerably on the issue, partly because I found out that not many phones support the reading of text messages through the speaker(which is largely what I wanted from this.)

I do want to reiterate what I told customer assistance in stating that I really do enjoy my new Journey and it was only this one small feature that was an issue. I don't want to let this ruin the whole car for me. It is just upsetting that we may have to deal with a less then ideal solution for something we thought we had. But to be fair, I have not seen the solution, it may exceed my expectations.

[Paddy Jay]

Unfortunately a lot of dealers were misinformed about uConnect and what it actually includes. For the Journey, all uConnect refers to is the touchscreen... Whether it be the 4.3 or the 8.4... It was very poorly worded when it came out and the VC and BT was an extra $200 add on. From everything I understand there is no current way to get VC and BT if it didn't come with it from the factory unfortunately. I have also heard from my dealer (correct or not) that the Mopar bluetooth isn't even compatible with the new uConnect setup in the 2011's.

First of all I appreciate being able to monitor these discussions on the various issues around the Journey. I have a 2011 V6 R/T. Great features and options and a great vehicle. Alas, I am without Bluetooth VC as well. I purchased mine in May and have been really frustrated at not having and not being able to get it. I am using an interim measure but its not what I wanted nor what I thought I was getting.

In having said that, I under the impression that "someday" it will be available. I ordered the build-sheet for my vehicle and discovered that the dual mics are in my mirror and that the add-on would simply mean a software update to the UConnect 8.4 and that the wires are in the wheel to receive the buttons that would be part of the upgrade. On another note, my mirror has a forward facing sensor that is suppose to dim my highbeams with oncoming traffic. You MIGHT be surprised to know, that doesnt work either because it is not an option on my car even though its all in place.

Sometimes I feel like the guy looking through the window at the supermarket but cant find a way to get at the food inside.

Still love the car though but I will be very skeptical about another Chrysler.

[Armendegga]

I'm not sure if this is what you meant, but the rear view mirror doesn't dim headlights with oncoming traffic. The front facing sensor is merely a light sensor (to tell when it's dark outside so it knows when to allow the mirror to dim), and then there is a sensor on the mirror itself that will dim when there are vehicles behind you that are shining their lights at you. The mirror does not dim your highbeams though. It merely dims the mirror so the cars behind you don't blind you.

[generaltso]

the rear view mirror doesn't dim headlights with oncoming traffic.

Yeah, this is Chrysler's "SmartBeam" technology. It's mentioned in the Journey owner's manual and it shows up in Journey how-to videos, but it would appear that it's never actually been offered as an option on the Journey. It is an option on the Charger and Chrysler 300.

[Armendegga]

Ohh, this I didn't know. I didn't even notice it in the manual. My bad

[bramfrank]

At least you got a manual.

[bigtsr]

I read about the feature on the net,could have been on Chrysler site.

I have the lens on the windshield side of the mirror also and have not really

tried it out with highbeams on at nite.

I wonder if it is active but only with the headlight control set to "AUTO".

[drb227]

The Journeys do not have the Smartbeam feature. It's an error in the manual. The AUTO setting on the headlight switch uses the sensor that is close to the windshield at the centre of the dash to know when to turn on/off the headlights.