Christine

Canada day weekend, got in my 2013 dodge journey to pick up chinese food, pushed on brake pedal, went down all the way, pushed start button....and nothing, tried again, brake pedal not going down, all dash lights on, steering wheel unlocked, and message "vehicle not in park". Tried to play with shifter, it is in park mode. Tried to start again, and wipers, dash lights, came on, and heard knocking noise that went on for a few seconds. Used a neighbour's battery charger and had it fully charged, but same thing happened. Battery is the original when i bought it used 5 years ago, and have only had to jumpstart once this past winter when it was extremely cold outside. I know they should be replaced after a time, but I have limited funds, and live by the motto, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". Tried it again hours later (hoping for a miracle), car was locked, had to use my key to get in, and it did all the same things, except this time message said "no bus". Everything I'm researching says there is a communication problem somewhere in the system. Also checked fuses under the hood, (30 amp, square pink one) didn't look burnt out. My biggest fear is the garage will run extensive unnecessary diagnostics, $$$$. Could be loose or damaged wiring, could be the old battery. I'm hoping it's one of those, but fearing it isn't!! If I had some idea of what they need to focus on, given the issues I'm having, I would be prepared, and not "taken to the cleaners". Some mechanics will run up the bill for a women because they think we don't know anything......this has happened to me before, so my trust level is low. Now I do my research, and arm myself with as much knowledge as possible before going in, but still feel stupid! Given the symptoms I described, what do you think might be the problem? Something else, twice over the past year, my clock, and equalizer sound setting went back to factory setting, no idea why? Hope you can give me some insight, thank you.