What Did You do to your Journey Today

[14WhiteRTRallye]

I rented a 4 banger Crossroad once. Definitely less push in the corners. Drove it to Florida and back. Saw some high temps on that 4 cyl on the highway. Got it from Hertz, probably down 1&1/2 qts and about a 1/4 inch of bugs on the front of it. I put whatever in it to top up. Lol.

 

Edited November 12, 2025 by 14WhiteRTRallye

[Locosiete]

Changed the oil and and the serpentine belt. Went with a slightly smaller belt as recommended by the alternator manufacturer since it runs a smaller pulley. Seems be fine and didn't blow up. What more can I ask for 😆 🤣 😂 

[khnitz]

I torques all the rear suspension bolts with the suspension loaded and the Journey is off the lift.  The test drive went well, but boy the steering was off (not surprising, given that I replaced the inner and outer steering tie rods).

 

Now it's time to get an alignment and have the new-er tires installed.  Oh, and I'll put new TPMS sensors on, too.

[2late4u]

I am at that point ,that the tires are not toast yet but going into winter time which means 1-3 snows here in Alabama they are reading still in the green but almost in the yellow on my gage and keeping an eye out for a good sale on tires ,damn these 19 inch tires are expensive and of course when I get them an alignment is next on that  list,,,no problems there, but if getting new tires better safe than sorry

[14WhiteRTRallye]

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Kumho-Crugen-HP27-All-Season-Tire-225-55R19-99V/5038583846?classType=REGULAR&from=/search

 

5 bucks more for 235/55r19

[khnitz]

The new(er) tires were installed yesterday and an alignment was done.  The '09 is tracking straight and the engine performed well over ~100 miles of driving.

 

The transmission, however, needs some attention.  It occasionally goes into a "limp" mode, where it stays in 1st (or is it 2nd) gear and doesn't shift.  If I pull the car over, turn it off, lock the doors, and then wait for the security red flashing light on the dash to go out (about 20s - this is probably the time for the CAN bus to go to sleep), and then re-start the car, the transmission goes back to normal operation.

 

P2764 is the DTC that is read (I have a Foxwell NT510 to read and clear codes).  From what I found, it looks like that is for the Torque Converter Clutch solenoid.  So, I'll be draining the transmission again (good thing I added that drain plug to the pan) and replacing at least that. 

 

Any other BTDT experience/help is appreciated.

 

Other than when it would go into that mode (it happens seemingly randomly, but like once per trip at some point), the transmission is shifting smooth and goes through all gears.  When the lump mode kicks in, going into manual shift mode has no effect (and you don't see the current gear in the IC display.

[5rebel9]

I can not find the info needed for your '09. Is it the 3.5 with 6 speed trans or the 2.4 with the 4 speed?....LOL, I just saw a 3.5 that should have the 62te

My now gone '14 showed the code for that (3.6/62te) and it turned out to be the torque converter itself. Which in my many postings is a story all in itself, the new aftermarket converter was bad and had to be replaced again along with the flex plate which cracked from the bad torque converter. My friend made things right with minimal labor charge the second time.

[khnitz]

1 hour ago, 5rebel9 said:

I can not find the info needed for your '09. Is it the 3.5 with 6 speed trans or the 2.4 with the 4 speed?....LOL, I just saw a 3.5 that should have the 62te

My now gone '14 showed the code for that (3.6/62te) and it turned out to be the torque converter itself. Which in my many postings is a story all in itself, the new aftermarket converter was bad and had to be replaced again along with the flex plate which cracked from the bad torque converter. My friend made things right with minimal labor charge the second time.

Yeah, it's the 3.5 with the 62TE.

 

I'll start with that solenoid and see how it goes.  It shifts fine otherwise (when not in limp).

[5rebel9]

Good luck with it being the sensor. When mine went, the symptoms were not going into 6th gear or "overdrive" , but ran and shifted fine thur the rest of the gears(of course having the CEL all the time). I can't say though that it was ever in "limp mode", just R thru 1-5 and operating as normal.

 

At least yours being a FWD, there is a bit less demanding work to pull the trans IF needed than mine all having been AWD.

[John/Horace]

On second page Some info about changing TCC solenoid.

[khnitz]

I finished the work on the Journey over the weekend and drove it into work this morning - so far, so good!  It was a balmy 11deg F when I reached the office 🥶

 

To resolve the P2764 DTC (Torque Converter Clutch Pressure Low), I replaced the Torque Converter Clutch (TCC ) solenoid.

My drive to work is a mix of city and highway speeds.  The transmission did not go into "limp" mode during the ~1hr drive, whereas during the drive last week (before replacing the TCC solenoid) it would go into that mode about once a trip.  I checked multiple times during the drive that I could select manual shifting mode and it worked correctly each time.  Fingers crossed, but this issue seems to be resolved 🙏

 

I also replaced the EGR valve to resolve the P0406 DTC.  Here is a picture of the old and new EGR valves.

It will take a few more trips to be sure, but this should resolve that DTC.  The original EGR valve PN was 04593688AD, and it is now listed as 04593888AC.

 

Lastly, I had to find a replacement lower transmission oil pan and install that as part of the TCC solenoid replacement.  When I added the drain plug to the original pan, I observed some weeping at the joint where the bung was brazed to the pan (this was done on the outside of the pan).  While making the TCC solenoid repair I had a friend weld the bung to the pan from the inside, as well.  Unfortunately, there was still some seepage after the interior welding. 

 

I found a replacement pan in my local u-pull yard and installed that when I closed up the transmission - I wanted there to be no worry of fluid loss.

I ordered a gasket for the front (solenoid pack) cover, instead of using RTV when reassembling everything.  I used a gasket for the lower transmission oil pan, too.

 

I'll drive the Journey through the week and make sure nothing else needs urgent attention, and then it will be going to its new owner in South Carolina in a week or so!

Edited December 1, 2025 by khnitz

[khnitz]

I should have added the picture of it in my office's parking lot to my earlier post as proof of life (😄with a copy of today's newspaper on the windshield, too 😁).

[Locosiete]

Recently went to car event that has a bass competition. I set a new personal best, 154.33 DBs

Needless to say I still didn't come in first place lol

 

 

[John/Horace]

Hey khnitz, nice clear pics of the repair. Glad it worked out. I need to do the same fix soon, no codes yet but occasional rough 3-2 down shifts, fluid done several times since new.  Just curious about the torx bolt on the  new solenoid, was the torque spec 80-90 inch pounds ? You used mopar part ?

 

The right stuff in pic is not RTV, I think it's polyurethane like seam sealer, pricy stuff.  Most tranny shops use it because in service right away no over night curing. Use it on my Ram for diffs and pan seals. Gaskets are fine too.

[khnitz]

12 hours ago, John/Horace said:

Hey khnitz, nice clear pics of the repair. Glad it worked out. I need to do the same fix soon, no codes yet but occasional rough 3-2 down shifts, fluid done several times since new.  Just curious about the torx bolt on the  new solenoid, was the torque spec 80-90 inch pounds ? You used mopar part ?

 

The right stuff in pic is not RTV, I think it's polyurethane like seam sealer, pricy stuff.  Most tranny shops use it because in service right away no over night curing. Use it on my Ram for diffs and pan seals. Gaskets are fine too.

For the TCC solenoid, I found 53 inch-pounds as the value for that torx-head screw.

If I recall, 80 inch-pounds was for the pan-to-transmission-case bolts.

 

On the rough shift you're describing, I also get an occasional hard shift - even with the TCC solenoid now replaced.  But, I have not gone into limp mode or seen the P2764 DTC come back so far.  Overall, the Journey is driving really well!  So, based on what you're describing, I'm wondering if it is one of the solenoids in the solenoid pack, and not the TCC solenoid, that is an issue.

 

In other news, the 0406 DTC has not come back, but I now have an 0401 DTC.  I'm tracking down possible causes/resolutions in this thread.

[5rebel9]

Glad to hear that just the solenoid was the trick. I wish I had been that lucky, but we tried that on mine and did not fix my problem..then went to the torque converter!

[Locosiete]

13 minutes ago, 5rebel9 said:

Glad to hear that just the solenoid was the trick. I wish I had been that lucky, but we tried that on mine and did not fix my problem..then went to the torque converter!

 

Sorry couldn't resist posting this lol.

 

Mine has always had what I considered harder then normal shifts. When I first got it at certain speeds it would shift up and down with little to no change in speed or incline. Dealership said they installed an update and since then the shift points seem further and more aggressive. 

 

 

 

 

[John/Horace]

The way it was explained to me by a transmission mechanic; slightly harder shifts generate less heat and wear on tranny internals, so not a bad thing. If no codes stored about shift ratios etc, it's working as engineered. So far no codes on our 2014, but I was thinking of changing TCC because it's cheap, a wear item more or less.

 

This 6 speed unit in general seems to have a history of funky shifting. But changing fluid and winter weather reduces the frequency of our 2014.  Car is probably going to my daughter next year or so, when they stay in family...you try to be ahead on maint stuff. About 175k miles, has been a decent vehicle. Thanks for the info.

[khnitz]

I changed the burned out bulbs for the HVAC backlighting with LEDs tonight.

 

Also, I removed the EGR tube to the intake manifold and re-seated it to try and resolve the P0401 DTC that popped up post-EGR valve replacement.  Latest details here.

 

I have a radio antenna connection fault I need to resolve, too.  The antenna cable is connected to the radio and I installed a new antenna mast this past week (the original one had shed all its plastic/rubber).  So, I'm wondering if it's an issue with the antenna amplifier in the base of the antenna, or another connection problem along the antenna cable path.

 

Sirius/XM works, but that's a different antenna connection anyway.  Just AM/FM are static-only.

Edited December 5, 2025 by khnitz

[5rebel9]

I'm not familiar with the audio on the first gen DJ's like yours, but from the early similar year Avengers and even certain level radios in the Caravans AM/FM reception was found to be broken solder joints in the radio circuit board that the cable plugs into. . . . Just another MAYBE point to consider. Good luck!

I always disliked reception problems in AM/FM from multi connection cables and the elimination of lead in solder to have real good integrity. I have a similar reception problem with ,my Buick Lucerne when I hit a bump and reception goes "screwy", BUT parts are getting scarce for this dead model .

[khnitz]

4 minutes ago, 5rebel9 said:

I'm not familiar with the audio on the first gen DJ's like yours, but from the early similar year Avengers and even certain level radios in the Caravans AM/FM reception was found to be broken solder joints in the radio circuit board that the cable plugs into. . . . Just another MAYBE point to consider. Good luck!

I always disliked reception problems in AM/FM from multi connection cables and the elimination of lead in solder to have real good integrity. I have a similar reception problem with ,my Buick Lucerne when I hit a bump and reception goes "screwy", BUT parts are getting scarce for this dead model .

Interesting - I hadn't considered a cold or broken solder joint within the radio itself as a culprit.  Great point, thanks!

[2late4u]

was the replacement antenna OEM????

[khnitz]

24 minutes ago, 2late4u said:

was the replacement antenna OEM????

I only replaced the mast (not the base), and no - it is a generic replacement.  The ID resistance that the radio is trying to detect (which triggers the missing antenna DTC) would be a function of the design in the the amplified antenna base, so the mast shouldn't impact that (although a bad replacement mast could definitely prevent reception).  I still have the DTC, so this makes me suspect the amplified antenna base or the connections and cables from the antenna to the radio.  I'll try and look at the antenna connections at the rear under the headliner to the antenna over the weekend.

[erbie78]

3 hours ago, 5rebel9 said:

I'm not familiar with the audio on the first gen DJ's like yours, but from the early similar year Avengers and even certain level radios in the Caravans AM/FM reception was found to be broken solder joints in the radio circuit board that the cable plugs into. . . . Just another MAYBE point to consider. Good luck!

I always disliked reception problems in AM/FM from multi connection cables and the elimination of lead in solder to have real good integrity. I have a similar reception problem with ,my Buick Lucerne when I hit a bump and reception goes "screwy", BUT parts are getting scarce for this dead model .

My wife's 2013 Grand Caravan had a similar issue.  Lost reception and it ended up being the antenna connection within the head unit.  I scrapped it for an aftermarket once since it was the basic radio/cd player.

[erbie78]

Changed the 6 yr old battery in the kiddo's '12.  That was fun.  I don't remember it being as hard to change the one in my 03 Concorde that was in the passenger wheel well.