What Did You do to your Journey Today

[jkeaton]

First oil change. Did not wait for the stupid oil change indicator to come on. We've had it for 6 months and about 6000 miles. Thats about all I can stand for oil change intervals. Walmart had Valvoline Synpower on sale for $20 for a 5 qt jug, then found out it takes 6 quarts....

Edited May 23, 2014 by jkeaton

[lorinclark88]

Haha yeah I only advertise Dodge as it's American and I love everything American lol. Yeah world cup should be good. Missing England are we?

[DodgeFan72]

First oil change. Did not wait for the stupid oil change indicator to come on. We've had it for 6 months and about 6000 miles. Thats about all I can stand for oil change intervals. Walmart had Valvoline Synpower on sale for $20 for a 5 qt jug, then found out it takes 6 quarts....

I never wait on the indicator either. I change mine somewhere between 5000 and 6000 miles and use synthetic.

[jkeaton]

I never wait on the indicator either. I change mine somewhere between 5000 and 6000 miles and use synthetic.

Yeah, I got an app on my phone so I can track intervals. Got it set for 6000 miles or 6 months. I have 5 vehicles, so I gotta keep track of all the maintenance somehow! lol

[DodgeFan72]

Yeah, I got an app on my phone so I can track intervals. Got it set for 6000 miles or 6 months. I have 5 vehicles, so I gotta keep track of all the maintenance somehow! lol

I still track mine old school - notepad in the glovebox.

[khnitz]

I'm performing some maintenance on my in-laws' 2014 Journey this week.  The last bit of service I did on it was in 2022 (replaced LF wheel bearing/hub) while on the road at their home in IL, but this time I brought it back to my house in MI to tackle the work.

 

 

On the to-do list:

• Oil & Filter Change
• Bleed/flush Brakes
• Rotate Tires
• New Serpentine Belt, Tensioner and Idler Pulley
• New Spark Plugs
• New Air Filter
• Remove the "wings" (large-platform running boards)
• Install a Panavise mount for a phone holder

There's just under 57k miles on it now, so this should give it a nice refresh.

[5rebel9]

OK, so now I'm ENVIOUS! No wonder WHY you preferred to bring it to your home to do the work Indoors AND a hoist!!!!!!

Makes life {work} SO MUCH EASIER!

[khnitz]

I completed the maintenance work over the last couple of days and the 300+ mile drive back to IL went without a hitch.  I average 23.3 mpg at, let's just say *quick* speeds, (according to the Fuel Economy reading on the IC) on the last 200 miles - I reset it after my last fill-up.  That was about 2mpg better than I saw on the drive from IL to MI before all the work.  Granted, that's a small sample size for comparison.

 

Here are some pictures of what was done...

 

Old vs. New air filter.  I couldn't read the make of the old (original??) air filter, but the new one is an AC Delco.  I like the additional pleats vs the old one.

 

In looking at how-to videos on removing the upper intake manifold to access the spark plugs, the ones I found talk about completely removing the rear intake bellow (somewhat under the cowl, between the throttle body and the upper intake manifold) first, and having to remove coolant hoses, etc. to make room to slide it out.  I actually found it easier to move that bellows off of the TB and move it just a little back to access that last upper intake manifold bolt that is hidden by it, and then remove the upper intake manifold first.  Then that bellow comes out easily and completes access spark plugs on the rear cylinder bank.

 

The spark plugs were the OE Champion, and I used NGK Iridiums as replacements.  Here are the old plugs, and a comparison of an old and new plug.

 

I also rotated the tires and bled the brakes.  While bleeding the brakes, I noticed the rear brake pads were getting low, so I went ahead and changed them.

 

While I had the upper intake manifold off, I took a picture down of the back of the intake valves.  They look pretty good/clean.  Again, my in-laws' Journey had ~57k miles on it at this point.

 

I also removed the platform running boards they had on there (they are hurting, more than helping, access at this point of their mobility).

 

Let's see, what else...I topped off the coolant and power steering fluids.  Oh, and I replaced the serpentine belt, its tensioner and idler pulley, as well - with the car being 10yrs old and the belt being original, it was just a preventive measure at this mileage.

 

Another item - the lower seat side trim piece on the passenger side had been broken loose from repeated entry/exit to the seat.  I found a way to use a hole on the seat frame and a trim panel clip to drill a 5/16" hole and secure that trim piece.  Aside from having to live with the appearance of the trim clip, it holds that plastic piece securely and works for us.  I'll get a picture of that later today and post it.

[2late4u]

1 hour ago, khnitz said:

I completed the maintenance work over the last couple of days and the 300+ mile drive back to IL went without a hitch.  I average 23.3 mpg at, let's just say *quick* speeds, (according to the Fuel Economy reading on the IC) on the last 200 miles - I reset it after my last fill-up.  That was about 2mpg better than I saw on the drive from IL to MI before all the work.  Granted, that's a small sample size for comparison.

 

Here are some pictures of what was done...

 

Old vs. New air filter.  I couldn't read the make of the old (original??) air filter, but the new one is an AC Delco.  I like the additional pleats vs the old one.

 

In looking at how-to videos on removing the upper intake manifold to access the spark plugs, the ones I found talk about completely removing the rear intake bellow (somewhat under the cowl, between the throttle body and the upper intake manifold) first, and having to remove coolant hoses, etc. to make room to slide it out.  I actually found it easier to move that bellows off of the TB and move it just a little back to access that last upper intake manifold bolt that is hidden by it, and then remove the upper intake manifold first.  Then that bellow comes out easily and completes access spark plugs on the rear cylinder bank.

 

The spark plugs were the OE Champion, and I used NGK Iridiums as replacements.  Here are the old plugs, and a comparison of an old and new plug.

 

I also rotated the tires and bled the brakes.  While bleeding the brakes, I noticed the rear brake pads were getting low, so I went ahead and changed them.

 

While I had the upper intake manifold off, I took a picture down of the back of the intake valves.  They look pretty good/clean.  Again, my in-laws' Journey had ~57k miles on it at this point.

 

I also removed the platform running boards they had on there (they are hurting, more than helping, access at this point of their mobility).

 

Let's see, what else...I topped off the coolant and power steering fluids.  Oh, and I replaced the serpentine belt, its tensioner and idler pulley, as well - with the car being 10yrs old and the belt being original, it was just a preventive measure at this mileage.

 

Another item - the lower seat side trim piece on the passenger side had been broken loose from repeated entry/exit to the seat.  I found a way to use a hole on the seat frame and a trim panel clip to drill a 5/16" hole and secure that trim piece.  Aside from having to live with the appearance of the trim clip, it holds that plastic piece securely and works for us.  I'll get a picture of that later today and post it.

the ones on the passenger side break real easy, I had one replaced under warranty and then it broke again so I just held it in place and drilled a small hole thru the plastic trim and also the metal bracket behind it and then used a small black screw worked so good I did the drivers side even though it hadn't broke yet

[5rebel9]

Nice job! 

  Other than removing running boards {mine don't have them}, I did the same work late last summer in my DRIVEWAY on low jack stands on 2 of our 3 Journeys! One of them also got Valve cover gaskets and seals replaced too, and the other also got rear struts changed!

 

Everything would have been much easier if I had a HOIST to make things easier!......LOL

[khnitz]

38 minutes ago, 5rebel9 said:

Everything would have been much easier if I had a HOIST to make things easier!......LOL

Indeed ?

 

I finally got to put one in about 2.5yrs ago and it has made a world of difference.  To be able to work on brakes while standing up is sooo nice.  The installation saga for mine is documented here .

[khnitz]

Here is a picture of the trim clip I used on the that passenger seat trim.  Disregard the small hole above it - my aim was off when I drilled the first pilot hole.  The trim clip is lined up with a hole in the seat frame behind it that is for a clip on the back side of the panel that cracked off (I think it was for a clip, as it's not there anymore because it was broken off).  The hole size was close enough with a 5/16" drill bit to match the hole in the seat frame and fit the panel clip.  The clip I used is one where the base is pushed in, and then the center pin is pushed into it to lock it in place (like a hollow wall anchor).  It is solidly in place, now.

 

There is a clip on the driver's side seat trim that is broken off, too, but I don't think the panel clip solution will work over there because of the power seat switches.  When it comes time to fix that, I think I'll use a rivet nut in the hole in the seat frame, and then a bolt with a low profile screw head but either and integrated washer or wide flange to secure it.  And, I'll also put a spacer over the bolt on the back side of the trim to hold it in the proper standoff position.

Edited March 22, 2024 by khnitz

[2late4u]

should have just used a small black screw, it hides better that was the same spot I put mine as well,,,,LOL

 

[khnitz]

Some other details I made note of, but forgot to add to the summary post...

 

The old spark plugs looked to be original, Champion RER8ZWYCB4.  The new plugs I used were NGK Iridium LKR7DIX-11S .

 

The air filter I removed (maybe it was original?) had 23 pleats and the extra debris (charcoal?) filter membrane.  The new air filter was an AC Delco A3618C with 78 pleats.

 

The oil filter that was removed was a Napa 2100010 with 48 pleats.  The new Mahle OX1213D has 57 pleats.

[khnitz]

Wow - I was the last one to post here, And that was a year ago ?

 

Yesterday, I towed my next project home yesterday (it's 4th or 5th on the list). This is my oldest son's vehicle, but the transmission is slipping (2009 Journey FWD with 161k miles). I paid what the junkyard was going to give him, and we'll see if I can find a good transmission in the local U-pull yards to put it right.

[Locosiete]

Well, in accordance with Texas Law I had to add something Texas to my car. Anyone that's ever been to Texas will get that joke lol.

Added this sign to cover the air manifold since it's nothing special to look at. BUT may even move the sign again 

 

[khnitz]

Added a drain plug to the transmission oil pan so that it is easier to drain the fluid and make less of a mess at the next transmission filter replacement service.

 

 

My neighbor helped with brazing the drain plug bung onto the pan (I did the prep work).

 

 

 

 

The new Wix transmission oil filter kit included a gasket for the pan (so I didn't have to use RTV), but 2 of the holes on the transmission housing for the oil pan bolts were stripped and could not be torqued to spec. I wound up tapping them one size larger (up to 7mm, from 6mm), and fortunately I had suitable size bolts left over from stripping down a Volvo last year.

 

I also installed new transmission cooling lines. The old ones had signs of weeping/failure at some of the hose crimps.

 

 

Edited August 18, 2025 by khnitz

[jkeaton]

53 minutes ago, khnitz said:

Added a drain plug to the transmission oil pan so that it is easier to drain the fluid and make less of a mess at the next transmission filter replacement service.

 

 

My neighbor helped with brazing the drain plug bung onto the pan (I did the prep work).

 

 

 

 

The new Wix transmission oil filter kit included a gasket for the pan (so I didn't have to use RTV), but 2 of the holes on the transmission housing for the oil pan bolts were stripped and could not be torqued to spec. I wound up tapping them one size larger (up to 7mm, from 6mm), and fortunately I had suitable size bolts left over from stripping down a Volvo last year.

 

I also installed new transmission cooling lines. The old ones had signs of weeping/failure at some of the hose crimps.

 

 

Glad you are posting here as well as the other forum. Nice to see these vehicles being brought back to life!

[khnitz]

I finished installing the power steering lines this weekend, and then filled and bled the power steering system and filled the transmission to the proper level, too.






I've made a couple of short (2-3 miles) test drives and everything is working well.  The engine runs great!  After reading through some of the paperwork my kids had in the glovebox, that showed that the vehicle had the headgaskets replaced at 132k miles (there is 166k miles on it now).  At that time, the timing belt and waterpump were replaced, too, as well as the spark plugs.

And, after all the reassembly and test drives - there are no leaks!

I spent yesterday detailing the interior front to back and it cleaned up nicely!

[Locosiete]

Well not sure i would say i did something to my DJ but definitely something with it. Did a small roadtrip. Split it up, drove up to meet with my brother to do some fishing and drove 

 

But did catch a small fish

 

 

Then flew home, left my car at my brother's in portland, flew home for 2 weeks. And now I am on the return trip. Currently about a quarter of the way home.

 

But as you can see it's only a couple miles left to go 🤣🤣

 

[5rebel9]

11 minutes ago, Locosiete said:

Well not sure i would say i did something to my DJ but definitely something with it. Did a small roadtrip. Split it up, drove up to meet with my brother to do some fishing and drove 

 

But did catch a small fish

 

 

Then flew home, left my car at my brother's in portland, flew home for 2 weeks. And now I am on the return trip. Currently about a quarter of the way home.

 

But as you can see it's only a couple miles left to go 🤣🤣

 

So YOU caught a small fish..... So does that mean your brother is the better looking {and better fisherman} than YOU?????   LOL

 I trust you are having a GREAT time!!!

[Locosiete]

11 hours ago, 5rebel9 said:

So YOU caught a small fish..... So does that mean your brother is the better looking {and better fisherman} than YOU?????   LOL

 I trust you are having a GREAT time!!!

I'm the one wearing the sunglasses... and I am way better looking than him 🤣🤣🤣

[khnitz]

I bought a new battery for the rechargeable flashlight in the luggage compartment - the light is working great, again!  I did have to clean up the contacts for the battery, though.

 

I used a Varta V600-HRT battery from Amazon.

 

[Locosiete]

On my recent roadtrip, somewhere in the mountains of Wyoming, I hit a fox while doing 70 mph. It could have been a coyote but he didn't hold up a sign that said "yep!" so pretty sure it was a fox 🤣🤣🤣. Under the circumstances the damage was minimal. Broke the lower valance but otherwise that was it. 

I did learn the answer to the question of what sound a fox makes. It goes "Thump, Thump, Thump!"

 

[5rebel9]

Darn those animal hits! Glad that the damage was just that.

Our usual driving has us constantly watching out for deer, bears, turkey, fox, dogs, cats cows, horses, Amish children walking in the roads, and Amish buggies {real bad at night with practically NO LIGHTING at night}, rather than watching out for other vehicular traffic like those in more urban areas!!!!!