StevenG_2009SXT

I start with the car locked and headlight switch in the OFF position. Then I press the key fob unlock button once and the driver door unlocks. Unfortunately the headlights turn on. If I open the door, grab what I forgot, then press the key fob lock button, the headlights stay on. They eventually go out but sometimes not until the battery is drained and I need a jump start. How can I reduce/eliminate the automatic headlight on "feature". I don't have the fancy EVIC controls so the part of the manual that reads "The headlight delay time is programmable on vehicles equipped with the EVIC" doesn't apply. Is it not something that can be changed? Aside from the expense of replacing the battery often it's just a PITA to get to. There is an AUTO setting on the headlight switch but I just use the ON and OFF settings. It would be really nice if OFF actually turned off the headlights...

The door lock doesn't work manually -- not sure how broken wires could cause that. I'm considering adding a relay to the horn wire. Normally open but closed when the car is on. Bonus points if I can also connect the steering wheel horn button into energizing the relay. jkeaton "Clock spring has been identified as a possible culprit for the alarm issue" What is a "Clock spring" in the Journey?

We bought a used 2009 Journey SXT with about 90k miles a few months ago. We've had to repair the A/C (needed more than just the stated re-charge), the emissions system test pump (threw the error code about a week after we bought it), four tires + TPMs (there wasn't just one bad one -- there were 3 bad ones and one just completely left the tire). So like I said, off to a rough start. Next problem was the passenger side back door won't lock either manually or electrically and our local shop doesn't even want to try to deal with it. Need to find out the part number of the mechanism and replace it. The biggest issue now is the alarm. It keeps sounding an alarm at night. I can't find a way to keep the alarm from arming. I have tried locking the doors with the remote while the driver door is open, then manually unlocking the driver door, then manually locking the driver door and then closing it. That should have kept the alarm from arming but I found out at 3:00 am that it didn't. Now I'm dealing with the battery being discharged and of course, that awful decision to hide the battery behind the front driver-side tire. As much fun as the Journey is to drive and how nice it is to have room for two parents and four children, the maintenance is just so high on this car. Sorry for the rant, just had to vent a little. /rant