bramfrank

Thanks for the information. So you know; While FCA doesn't include your vehicle in the R65 recall, the radio they installed last time is the recalled version - they replaced the original radio with a post 2013 revision, and that's the one in the recall list. You can tell because it is running CTP15. As such you OUGHT to be able to get it resolved for free since they installed the recalled version of the radio after the initial failure. Or if they were smart about it the would simply reload the maps and then update the firmware for both the radio and navigator to versions 15.09.D1 and CTP16/6.22 respectively.

Northeast rebates are a bit less, so the base 2016 SE w/AWD is $22,581. A base FWD SE with the 4 has a selling price of $17,541 However a quick check of Carfax shows lots of 2015 models in the NorthEast, most of them at least SXTs with lower mileage and at lower prices than you've been quoted. And if you check out Autotrader.com you'll find all sorts of leftover brand new 2015 models and even some 2014s - there are NO practical differences between the model years in question. Why buy used when you can get new for the same money?

First of all there's nothing wrong with the 4 beyond the fact that the 6 makes the vehicle a rocket - we're spoiled by the available power. Escapes don't have much power - 172 hp in the standard engine, and only 240 hp in their big one, so he'd not even notice. Secondly, if it's AWD it must be a 6.

You did say the engine was off. . . . . and the video clearly demonstrates it.

That seems high to me. And just to check I tried to look up the unit's window sticker and it came up as 'unavailable'. Could it have been a fleet unit? I would check Carfax - and I'd personally shoot for an extended warranty. Depending on your circumstances and the equipment (do you NEED AWD, for example?) you are fairly close to the price of a new vehicle, complete with new tires, brakes and warranty. I don't like mysteries either and I'd personally do a bit more homework before making the leap.

FCA *claims* to have resolved the problem with the latest firmware release, which you can download from the uConnect web site and install yourself. They also claim that the R65 recall only impacts on the 2013+ radios, which is why I had asked about MSP1330's history and version number (which would identify his radio version). For the record, it CAN be addressed by the dealer, but it requires a couple of hours of a tech babysitting the vehicle and it may well be that FCA also does something to perhaps make the unit less prone to glitch electrically, which almost certainly would have involved making component changes or additions which would be beyond the skill set of the shop's techs (not that whatever they did seemed to have helped much, because while only the minority of RB5 owners had problems, those problems seemed to recur - i.e. lots of people complained not of only ONE failure, but that they were having their radios replaced for the second or third time). If indeed the R65 recall (most recent release of firmware) solves the problem, then great. If it doesn't then at least in my case I know how to resolve the issue. It remains, however something beyond what is reasonable to expect the owner to do and beyond the level of patience and ability of the typical owner; and if improperly executed could brick the device.

Has your radio ever been changed before? Or is this the first time. I ask because IF it has been changed, you may have gotten a radio that SHOULD be covered under the recall. If you can post up the software version of the navigator (get it from the splash screen as the navigator starts up) it will tell us if you have the most recent version of the radio.

Good. You're learning. Do your research before making your claims so you'll be right. Not everyone is out in left field, but you often are.

It sounds good, but is wrong because . . . . . They record the radio s/n at time of manufacture. If the radio is reported stolen they blacklist the radio's s/n, not the vehicle VIN. So when the tool is invoked to generate the code it checks the radio s/n database.

AGAIN. No. You do not need the donor vehicle VIN. Not for the RE2/RB5 radios. Because if it was required I would not have working radios in my vehicle.

You may have given the VIN to the dealer, but he didn't use it. The unlock code is an algorithm based 8n the radio serial and the vehicle in which it installed in's VIN. The radio has no idea of the donor's VIN at all, but receives the current VIN over the CANbus on start..

Actually no. You need the radio serial number and the RECEIVING vehicle's VIN to generate the code. And no code is required at all for radios from early series (pre mid-2012) vehicles.

Donor VIN is NOT required.

Welcome to the forum. I have a few questions: 1. Has your vehicle had all of the software updates applied? 2. How did your mechanic establish that it is the stereo? 3. Which stereo do you have? Do you have the premium sound package? I seem to recall that there were some software issues with the subwoofer amplifier that were resolved in software. I also seem to recall that some people had battery rundown issues in earlier series-2 (post 2010) Journeys. In your position I'd ask the dealer to check out the TSBs.

No. They don't even try to update the maps because they don't have them to install - if they did, they would have had to buy them, which they didn't. And no, the 'hard drive' has not gone bad, because there IS no hard drive - the thing has Novram and it has either glitched for some reason, or there is/was some errant code that changed something in the map segments of memory, causing the unit to report a CRC error in the map file during the device's power-up self test. They had no reason whatsoever to spend 2 hours with your vehicle since SOP is to order in a replacement unit when the complaint is 'can't unlock maps'.. They COULD resuscitate them at the dealership, but for some reason they don't seem to want to do that.

What took 2 hours? In 2 hours they could have simply reloaded the maps and you'd be back in business.

Going to HIR is the better option because the filament is properly placed for the reflector - you get about 45% more light for the same power too and it all goes where it is designed to go. The HIR bulbs last longer than traditional halogens as well. Yes, you do have to trim down one tab on each bulb base though I am not certain why they do that longer tab thing for the HIR bulbs since they are functionally identical to the 9005/9006 - (there are lots of templates out there to do this). Perhaps it is to prevent people from putting Halogens in place of HIRs, though if that was the case the Halogen would logically need to be the one that requires trimming. As to cost? A set of 4 HIR bulbs will set you back $73 shipped - marginally more expensive than decent LEDs, but you get a brand name for your money and a flawless beam pattern - and you are essentially street legal, too.

You won't get a new unit and, if the R65 recall has not been performed you won't need to pay for the replacement. And even if it has, you can claim reimbursement in full. You probably would have avoided the issue if the firmware update had been applied (something you could even have done in your driveway at home). For some reason they can't seem to deal with the 'Can't unlock maps' error at the dealership. It is a relatively simple fix. But since you aren't paying anyway, it isn't a serious problem.

'hitting the switches'?

If you wanted to get technical ALL of the Journeys are simply CVPs or AVPs with a bunch of added option packages - there is no inherent difference between an AVP and an R/T except for the bumpers, suspension components and a host of other bits and pieces. The MAKE is Dodge. The MODEL is Journey. The TRIM LEVEL is . . . . . whatever. How they code it on your registration is essentially moot - and while consumers may be willing to pay more for an identical vehicle badged as something special, it is all pretty much the same. And, for the record, the suspension components on the Limited/Crew are not the same as those in the SXT - but after a bunch of years and miles you'd never know by driving them - the overt options; heated seats, garage door opener and so on are more visible. I chose the Crossroad (in Canada it has more base features than the US version(s - now that they have the stripped base Crossroad and the more properly optioned out Crossroad PLUS in the US, go figure) - I wanted my leather seats and mine has heated seats as well - the two options were extra cost paint and the heaters - but mine was on the floor and I decided that if the dealer really wanted to give it to me for cheap who was I to complain? This being my second Journey, I recall the reaction of a friend who got into the car for the first time and her comment? "It looks just like your last one except for the outside color" The previous one was a basic SE Plus; 2.4/cloth/4.3 and so on. Ultimately it doesn't really matter whether it is an SXT or a Crew - they are all features loaded onto the basic vehicle chassis and named for purposes related to marketing.

The 8.4 doesn't scratch - it's the center display (and, for that matter the bezels over the tach and speedo) that are made of soft cheese.

You'd think they'd hard-coat those gauge covers, but for some reason they don't and they are VERY susceptible to scratching. I managed to mess up that piece on both my Journeys and yes, you will learn to live with it.

The defect is well known to many owners - but a safety issue? Steering gets a bit heavier when rolling, but parking becomes a bear. Interesting that the government is now playing the shame game . . . . I hope that this was a last resort in the sense that they pushed FCA who (perhaps not incorrectly) have said it may be a defect, but that it doesn't warrant a recall per-se. Last I heard they switched PS fluid, because the problem was that the stuff would gel in very cold weather and pressure would build and pop the hose. I have not seen many complaints about this lately, which may also say something.

Well this is interesting: When I go to the Dodge site and specify a 2016 Journey it offers me the manual for the 8.4A and 8.4AN - that would be something new. I didn't notice until I got to the section about surround sound . . . . which we who have the regular 8.4 and 8.4N radios do not have. Also, there is no second disc, but if you gently tried to insert one it wouldn't break anything unless you forced it. So feel free to give it a try - it's perfectly reasonable to try and insert a second disc when the radio prompts you for it. Besides, that's what warranties are for!! Does your radio an APPS soft key on the bottom row of the display?

You have a Crew and your dealer is an idiot - all he had to do was to look up the window sticker: http://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=3C4PDCCG1DT698902 Print it out and toss it in his face - the 'Crew' badge on the rear ought to have been a dead giveaway, too.