Multiple Issues

[Karla Talley]

Good morning,  This is kind of a long post since there are multiple issues going on with my 2018 Dodge Journey Crossover.  These issues have been happening randomly for about 2 months now. Any insight or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.  I am listing everything that has been going on and what we have tried.

 

Issues:

5-6 times:  Without warning or any specific time/condition: Dash warning lights come on and starts chiming for Electronic Throttle Control, Malfunction Indicator light and Electronic Stability Control Off.  Doesn’t seem to drive any different (no “limp” mode or other changes), Turn car off then on again and it goes away (except the Malfunction Indicator light which eventually goes off after driving it for a bit). (the time we had the Malfunction Indicator light checked while it was still on after the 2^nd time this happed it said manifold absolute pressure sensor circuit low). A couple of times we would take the gas cap off and put it back on and the Malfunction Indicator light would go away (coincidence? probably)

 

Twice Without warning or any specific time/weather condition: Sitting at an idle, with the gear in “Park” the car just stalled, no sputtering or anything just shut off.

Once only: Check “Service Keyless System” message kept flashing and chiming. Then it stopped and has not come back on. This happened after a Electronic Throttle Control, Malfunction Indicator light and Electronic Stability Control Off incident above), we turned the car off and back on to continue driving.

 

6 -8 times:  First thing in the morning (no specific temperature or moisture) If you are not In the car driving but have it unlocked (loading, unloading, getting gas or whatnot) the vehicle will Lock/Unlock repeatedly when not pressing the key. Whether the door is opened or closed doesn’t matter.  Try to use the key to unlock and before you can get the door opened it locks again. With the horn honking (indication of the alarm arming/disarming).

 

Many times:  No specific time/condition: The Red dot light showing that the alarm is armed will be on (while driving) and the Push to Start ignition button lighting will pulse.

 

Several times No specific time/condition: the car has failed to turn off with the push of the Start/Stop button.

 

We have had in to the dealer, spent $340.00 (plus another $350 for a rental car for the week they had it), they removed an aftermarket Theft Patrol system that the dealer I bought it from installed and said this was my issue and removing this devise will fix all my issues.  6 hours after picking up my car while I was driving, it did the Electronic Throttle Control, Malfunction Indicator light and Electronic Stability Control Off again and has continued to do all the other stuff mentioned above, so No it did not fix the issues.  Any Ideas or suggestions would be great, I have it scheduled to go back into the dealer tomorrow (Wed), but not holding out hope that they will "fix it" I can't afford to keep dumping money into this car nor can I afford to buy a new one?

 

 

 

[John/Horace]

Is the car still in warranty.?How many miles on it?  Removing the aftermarket alarm system would have been a logical starting point. Now you may have another issue, or the real issue.  Have it scanned for codes  All the problems may be caused by one part, like a bad electronic throttle body unit.

 

[Karla Talley]

So Update, The dealer cannot find any issue and cannot recreate the problem, the service writer has stopped taking and returning my calls, I have even called the service manager with no help.  The alarm issue just stopped happening, so have most of the other issues except the "Dash warning lights come on and starts chiming for Electronic Throttle Control, Malfunction Indicator light and Electronic Stability Control Off."  It does go into “limp” mode now and we have been able to consistently recreate it by sitting at an idle and in park, after 10-20 mins it will happen.  I suppose I will have to take it to another Dodge Dealer and have them try to fix it (this will make the 3rd one for this same issue). 

[Karla Talley]

On 12/21/2021 at 12:52 AM, Locosiete said:

If you have an aftermarket alarm or remote start it can play havoc with it. I installed mine and had a bad connection and mine went crazy. One time wouldn't start unless i pressed the clutch in. That one was definitely weird. Fixed the loose wire and it resolved my problem. 

 

So if i had to guess if you don't have a aftermarket alarm may have a bad connection at one of the computers. 

 

On 12/14/2021 at 6:38 PM, John/Horace said:

Is the car still in warranty.?How many miles on it?  Removing the aftermarket alarm system would have been a logical starting point. Now you may have another issue, or the real issue.  Have it scanned for codes  All the problems may be caused by one part, like a bad electronic throttle body unit.

 

Hi, No the car is not under warranty any longer, less than 50,000 No aftermarket alarm (stock) and the scanned code only shows "manifold absolute pressure sensor circuit low" and the dealer says this isn't the issue.

[larryl]

I wonder if they forgot to disconnect wires when they uninstalled the theft system and something is still messed up?

The IBS connector on the battery could be an issue also depending on how things were wired

[John/Horace]

That sounds like a very frustrating problem. It’s possibly the map sensor or throttle control sensors them selves are ok, but the 1-6 low voltage output signal is not making it back properly to one of the sixty-ish pins on the ecm, main car computer.

 

A damaged wire or bad connection some where in the wire harness, maybe caused by bad work from alarm system install/removal. Mechanics are better at fixing mechanical problems.

 

An automotive electrical specialist with a pin out diagram for the ecm should be able to trace problem and fix it.  
Not really a good diy opportunity. Random part swapping won’t fix this problem.