2015 Dodge Journey Starter Problems? Electrical Gremlins? New Dodge Owner Ready To Throw In The Towel.

[MickeyOnTheCoast]

Hey everyone. I'll spare you the narrative of how I wound up buying this vehicle and how disappointed I am with Dodge at this point.

It's counter-productive and I REALLY need to get this resolved ASAP.

 

Here's what happened:

 

I purchased a used 2015 Dodge Journey (3.6) on 12JUL19. Three days ago 13SEP19, while attempting to take my father-in-law to where his big-rig was parked early in the AM, the pushbutton starter would not turn the engine over. Dash gizmos, windows, radio, ac all came on once the push-button was in the run position, but the engine wouldn't turn over. 

 

Thinking it was probably just an ECU glitch caused by the auto-unlock feature and me pushing the unlock on the key fob at the same time, I ran the procedure of overriding the anti-theft cut-off described in the first video posted below. Every icon cycled through the display, I depressed the brake, pushed the starter and nothing happened. I then cracked open the owners' manual and ran through the procedures to reset the dash lights after service. (Press the accellerator down slowly three times in 10 secs, etc).  I depressed the brake, pushed the starter and nothing happened. 

 

Then I unhooked the battery, let it sit for 15 minutes, and then tried to turn it over again. It **almost** turned over, so I tried the anti-theft cutoff procedure (see the video) once again. 

 

Boom. 

 

Car comes to life. 

 

I went back about my business for the day, and I thought I'd fixed the problem.

 

The next day, I went out to start the car to head out to the grocery store. Same scenario Same dash gizmos, radio, ac, etc came on, but the window motors seemed slower than usual. NOTE: I can hear the starter solenoid kick in. I can hear the starter start, but it still won't turn over. NEW PROBLEM: Dash says (every other try) that the key fob is not recognized. 

 

 My neighbor ( a self-avowed car guy ) came over with his code reader. We hooked the 16pin plug up and ran the reader. No codes.

 

At this point, we're both thinking we're dealing with an ECU that's wonky because of a weak battery. So we hooked up my wife's Wrangler and charged the battery for a while. 

 

Same procedures run again. Same results. 

 

I am the proud owner of a stationary audio-equipped and air conditioned spotlight system / paperweight.

 

The only thing that **MIGHT** save my ass is that the problem could still be covered by the 60k mile powertrain warranty.

 

Anyhow, the video of the security reset procedure I ran through is down below. Between the lack of Florida lemon laws, the fact that it's hurricane season and my "reliable car" is a heavily engineered brick right now, any advice you guys have will be greatly appreciated. 

 

Thanks, 

 

Mick

 

 

 

 

[jkeaton]

Closing your duplicate thread before you insult someone else. Thank you for sharing. 

Edited September 17, 2019 by jkeaton