09RT

I've been looking at timing belt kits all morning and the reviews of the part quality in the kits do not make the kits look like they're worth it. Almost all of the kits with reviews featuring pictures showed the replacement tensioner pulley for the serpentine belt broken in two after 'x' amount of miles and trashing the engine. Considering the pulley tensioner on my Journey made it past 100K with no issues, I think simply replacing the bearing in the pulley wheel itself and keeping the stock tensioner is a much better idea. I'm not as sure about reconditioning the water pump - I may try to find that separately somewhere.

@2late4u - The transmission is also on my list. The original pan was damaged, broke the seal and the fluid leaked out. I have a replacement pan and new filter. I just need some RTV sealant and transmission fluid for that job. Is there anything else with the transmission I should look at? @OhareFred - Good call on the timing belt. I just watched some videos online and it looks like I need a whole kit (timing belt, hydraulic press, tensioner pulley and water pump + gasket). Any recommended kits? Any to stay away from?

I have to replace the condenser / radiator support which will involve tearing down quite a bit of the front-end. While everything is apart, what are some other things I should tackle? My journey is a 2009 3.5L V6 with about 120K on it. Some things I've thought about are: 1) Engine mounts 2) Spark plugs (I've already replaced the forward 3 - I just need to get to the back 3). 3) Belts Anything else that should be added / removed from the list?

I have a 2009 R/T 3.6L and I'm looking at the full replacement kits with struts and springs. Are there any strut manufacturers that are recommended for the Journey? Any I should definitely steer clear of? I could probably get away with reusing the springs and just get the struts, but if I already have it taken apart, I figure I might as well update everything as I think everything's stock and the car is 11 years old now. Thanks!

@DeanC1985 - Good timing - I just started working on this again. I pulled the fender off last weekend and removing it is fairly easy. There are a few bolts on top, on the side and a couple underneath that are a bit tricky to get to if you want to use a socket. You may want to use a wrench so you don't have to remove the skirt that runs the length of the car. I still need to get the paint issue sorted, but the actual disassembly / assembly is very straight forward. Like @NavalLacrosse suggested, check online and local yards for a color matched fender to save yourself money / time. I did this for some other parts that needed replaced and even though the parts were a model year apart, they were a perfect match color-wise - just a color-matched fender has been harder to find for my Journey.

My 2009 3.6L Journey has sat for about 3 years now. When it was parked, it had about 3/4 of a tank of gas in it, so there should still be about that much in the tank that definitely needs replaced. I found a couple of videos online: How To Recover Gas From A Dead Car Dodge Journey How To Disconnect Fuel Line I'm in the dark on newer fuel systems, so can someone either correlate those two videos or explain how I could jump the Journey's fuel pump to drain the system (if that's safe / won't damage the pump) or if there is another safer / preferred method, what the process for that is on my specific model Journey. Thanks!

Read through this thread here. It looks like there are several issues. The first, as you suspected, is it looks like only the USB port on the dash can read video files. The second is there appears to be a maximum width / height the video can be. Also, ensure that your MP4 is using a compatible codec. The manual should provide specifics on the supported file types, etc.

The TCM was replaced under warranty, so I'm not sure what the actual cost would be. I had the same waiting period problem as well. Usually letting it sit overnight would fix it. This was also during the winter time, so, before I knew it was TCM, I thought it was a wiring problem where the day / night shifts in temperature were causing thermal expansion problems. I was also randomly experiencing total loss of power to the wheels from the engine and hesitation when shifting. Since what you've described so far doesn't sound like you have a lot of transmission-specific issues, your starting issue may be completely unrelated to anything transmission-related, but one thing I did that did fix the issue immediately after a non-start event was to rock the car back and forth. If you have flat land to try it on, put the car in neutral and move it forward a bit and see if it will start after that (if you're on a grade, then stay in the car, put it on neutral, let it roll a bit). I was only able to try that fix once before it was repaired, so again, it may have been unrelated, but it's worth a try if you're stranded.

Any error lights on the dash? I had a Ford randomly stop starting. It turned out to be the Transmission Control Module. Given the age of your Journey, it could be something similar. Have you noticed any issues with the transmission (odd shifting, etc)? The first thing I'd recommend is getting it to a local parts store that does free battery testing and have it tested to eliminate the battery. If it's holding a good charge, then you know the battery is good and the alternator is doing its job. While you're there, they can also run a scan tool diagnostic to let you know about any hidden errors codes. When you turn the key over when it's not starting, do you hear the starter relay click?

Happy to see this thread resolved. I wanted to reply to the quoted post in case the solution in this thread doesn't help. I think you're referring to my thread here.

Thank you for the suggestions. Unfortunately, local isn't an option as my only options are the main chains and they're asking twice as much as online. The 500235 ones can be purchased on Amazon right now for $25 each (Prime shipping included), so that should get here quick enough and also be an easy return if necessary. I wish Rock Auto was a more affordable option. While their item prices are sometimes lower than, say, Amazon, once you go to checkout, the paid shipping makes it cheaper to shop elsewhere. Thanks again for your help!

I have a 2009 R/T 3.5L V6. I need to replace the ball joints, but I'm getting some conflicting information about which is the correct replacement. I'm looking to use MOOG ball joints. JC Whitney is saying the 500120 is the correct replacement, but everywhere else is saying it's not compatible. The alternative seems to be the 500235. Which one? 500120 or 500235? Thanks!

I need to replace the fender on my Journey and the one I'm ordering says it comes primed. When I called a body shop to get an estimate, I was asked if it was a "three-stage" paint, but I wasn't 100% sure. The quote for materials / labor was almost $300 which sounded like a bit much to cover a single fender, in white, no less. Am I correct in thinking the "three stages" are primer, paint, and clear, or is it another process that may not apply to my R/T Journey and may have caused a higher than necessary quote?

Thanks for the confirmation.

Can someone identify the black corrugated plastic (guards?) behind the front bumper cover and on each side of the radiator / condenser? Replacements are needed for a 2009 3.5L Journey. Thanks in advance for any help offered.