redtomatoman

I'm interested. I'd like to see results with the k&n and then 6 months later. Peace.

How often does it happen? Mine will cut for like a half second every 30 mins or so. I think its just a quirk of the stereo system. Lebowski knows what causes it, I believe. Can't remember what he posted regarding this behavior. Peace.

Those of you who have navigation can synchronize your clock with GPS time under settings and never have to set the clock again. Peace.

Mine does this too. Peace.

Yes. It does. Peace.

First of all, you are correct. I should not work that way. My 2011 does not consistently work that way. It does occasionally get confused and re-index following a shut down. Although, my system does not re-index on shut down very often, I have found that pushing the "pause" soft key prior to ignition shut down will eliminate this tendency to re-index on my DJ. Work around, yes, but try it to see if that does not at least improve your re-indexing headaches. Honestly, I think some of the problem is the iPod itself. They have some buggy tendencies; especially their batteries. I think sometimes a tiny blip in the iPod as the ignition shuts down and the iPod goes to its battery power will confuse the Uconnect system into thinking that there has been a content change. I will sometimes disconnect the iPod after shut down. Not sure if this has any effect, but the computers in the DJ do stay awake for some time after shut down and may add to the Uconnect confusion. Hope this is helpful to you. Peace.

I put an R/T on the front of my DJ. I think the red R/T badge really makes the front look sharp. Peace.

I think I can feel where lebowski is going with his comments. I'd feel left out too if fiat folks got everything while I was frustrated with some aspects of my Dodge vehicle. Not sure if Dodge/Chrysler support the freemont or if lebowski is left without the help of anyone to deal with fiat. Certainly I now have a better appreciation for his frustrations with the radio/uconnect in his freemont. I think I feel more realism in lebowski's comments than negativity. Besides, if there were only happy touchy feely posts, Dodge Chrysler Fiat would never do anything to solve anyone's issues. Peace.

The dealer applied a long crank time flash which seems to have fixed the problem, at least for now. I believe the sound was the starter remaining engaged even after the engine was running. DJ starts fine and check engine light is no longer on. I'll post if this changes. Peace.

Good Luck. Keep us posted. Hope you get a new motor. Three consumption tests is too much. Peace.

Went to start the DJ and it made a metal scratching sound on initial start up and the engine light came on with a single ding from the dash. Ran fine after that. Seems to start up and run fine now but the light continues to come on and it still dings on start up. Have not driven it. Feel like there is a small chance it is something serious and will first drive it to the dealer tomorrow. Just wondered if anyone had an idea what that metal sound on start up was. Tightening the gas cap did nothing. Thanks. Peace.

Something likely IS rubbing on the rotor. Take it to the dealer. The rotor would be under warranty if something is defective. The dealer will be able to figure out what is rubbing. Peace.

It's not that I decidead to do anything yet. My neighbor will have leftover insulation and he offered. I still don't know if I want to take the panels off. I hate rattles. Peace.

Not sure what forum category this should go under, but whatever. . . Does anyone have any idea what (if any) sound insulation Dodge puts in the DJ? Any Journey owner knows that the interior cabin is pretty damn quiet and relatively devoid of both road and wind noise. The reason I ask is because a neighbor of mine does car audio upgrades as a hobby and has offered to sound deaden (insulate) my DJ for me. Not sure if I really need it, but quieter is always better. I hate the idea of taking off the panels if it is not necessary as this may lead to future creaks and rattles. According to him, under the carpet is a must. I'd hate disassemble the panels and seats only to find that there is already insulation on the floor. Peace.

I'm no mechanic, but as I said above, I think K&N filters are probably not effective. My opinion. I think they very likely only treat the driver and do nothing for the car. If Chrysler could gain 1-2 MPG and increase HP by doing nothing other than copying K&N, they would do it, and this discussion would never occur anywhere. Placebo affect is strong. I am partial to objective measurements rather than anecdotal recommendations. That's why I use paper filters and change when necessary. Peace.

Ditto for me. I find this more of an inconvenience than a real problem. I just continue filling until I see some gas refluxing out of the spout and I can get it full. If Chrysler offered a tank fix, I'd take it, but messing with the gauge would add another variable into the equation. Peace.

Not necessarily. My 2011 is at nearly 17K miles (~27000 km) with no problems whatsoever. I think brakes are a known issue on this forum. I personally have not had confirmation that all Journeys have brake issues. Reduced brake life can be from poor quality or poor design certainly, but brake life can also be driver dependent. Some maintain that the brakes are too small and hence wear out sooner. I'm neither a mechanic nor an engineer, so I'm not sure, but mine seem fine so far. I also think the brake issues are more prevalent on the '09 and '10 Journeys. Good luck with your Journey and your brakes. Peace.

Anything new MWG?

Anyone try Brembo brakes? I believe they come on the SRT models. I suppose you could say they are "stock". I have not had any brake issues yet. I try to drive more like D07. Does Brembo make a kit that will work for the journey? Peace.

It definitely would be easier and certainly cheaper. I may not even be possible, even if it was, the cost in absolute dollars and labor hours would be ridiculous. Peace.

Everyone told me I should be using synthetic oil in my 2011. I have been using dino oil in my Dakota for all of its 217 K miles with changes every 3-4 K. Although I can produce no data myself, I have this internal feeling that changing the oil more frequently is just better. Clean lubricant in the engine more frequently just feels better to me. I don't get the same warm fuzzies from the thought of leaving synthetic in my engine 10 K + miles. I do live in the desert, so maybe I have done the right thing completely by accident. It has worked for my 'kota, which, as i say above, is still running strong at 217 K. If you have any doubts about your warranty, keep running dino oil and change more frequently. It is likely a wash either way. Synthetic fans will likely tell you their reasons why synthetic is better than dino. Probably merits to both. . . On a related note, having that 25 point inspection that goes along with those oil changes more frequently would likely be a good thing. Never know what they may find on an inspection that needs to be fixed. Peace.

Ok. Fine, some shaft may have been given. I don't feel that way. I respect your right to feel differently. I think you said it yourself; you "don't understand why". Maybe there is more to the story. That's all I'm saying. Maybe Dodge intentionally gave all 2011 buyers the shaft. That possibility can't be ruled out, but there are also other possibilities that us as buyers may be unaware of because we are not privy to all the facts. Maybe an update is coming. Along with the gracenotes update. We can only hope. Peace.

I agree, I do wish we had the SMS (texting) function. I'm not sure you can say we got the shaft. None of us know the whole story. Maybe it just wasn't available in 2011? Maybe Dodge fumbled the snap and just left if off after putting it in the manual? Maybe there was some other snag? Who knows? All that aside, newer cars will have newer and additional features that older ones do not. Its a fact of technology. Evidently the technology line for 2011 was drawn right before addition of the SMS function, but what can you do? I have very few gripes with my Journey (so far). If I did not think the Journey had SMS, I'd never have missed that function in the first place. Hell, I didn't even want BT at first. I love that now. If I had SMS, I'd probably like that too. Woulda, coulda, shoulda. Peace.

I am assuming that the poor quality sound is actually the stereo and not the video quality, but it seems to show a stereo that skips very frequently. For my 8.4, the iPod will skip only one time every 20-30 minutes. It is not very frequent like that video seems to show. Even one time every 20-30 minutes is mildly annoying, but I have let it go because either no one else on this forum has that problem or they don't think occasional skipping is a problem. So it is unlikely that I will get any traction at the dealer for a problem they have never heard of. Additionally, I will certainly have a hard time reproducing the skip since it happens for only a fraction of a second every 20-30 minutes. Skipping like that on the video would drive me crazy. I agree with Mcgusto, your radio is just broken. Forget trying to fix it, I'd demand a new one. If they acknowledge the problem but have no fix for Fiats in Spain, that makes me wonder if the 4.3 Journeys in the US and Canada are the same. If not, order a Dodge unit from the US and have Fiat install that. Good Luck. Peace.

Best of luck with your new Journey. I love my 2011 so far. Has been a great vehicle. I think its interesting that you say the pentastar pulls almost like a hemi. I'm sure the mopar purists would lose their minds if they read that statement! LOL. Peace.