sexyRTboi Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Just went out to grab coffees, while pulling out from our side road onto a 5 lane main road, I suddenly had NO power to accelerate -- felt as if the DJ was trying to start from 4th gear -- the entire steering wheel and dash were shaking like crazy and the check engine light began flashing at me -- felt like it was going to stall right there ! I'm DAMN lucky the cars coming at me saw that something was going on and they slowed down otherwise I would've been t-boned. I wasn't hammering the gas or anything, there were cars coming but I had plenty of time to easily pull out across traffic. Light went out and everything went back to normal, until the next red light - all was well until I went to go .... again, violent shaking in the steering wheel, check engine light flashing and the DJ was just chugging very slowly ... again, as if I was trying to start in 4th gear. Decided to turn around, unfortunately having to make a left turn into a parking lot to turn around across lanes of traffic .... same thing. Once I had pulled into the lot, the Journey shook hard than stalled totally. I turned it back on, same thing AGAIN ... So here I am, back home, NO COFFEE .... and really puzzled. It drove totally fine coming home from work when it was parked this morning. Being Sunday evening, the dealers closed of course, so I'm hoping to drop it off in the morning w/o an apt Anyone else EVER have this? any thoughts? ... so weird ! *** 2012 DJ R/T with 56,000kms *** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trains123 Posted March 17, 2014 Report Share Posted March 17, 2014 Have you tried to drive in manual mode? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexyRTboi Posted March 18, 2014 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 to be honest it happened so quickly that I was never even thought to drop it into manual ..... hasn't happened since Sunday, and we've been intentionally driving it more than usual to see if it'll do it again. Could it be possible there was some "bad gas" ? ... I had filled up Friday evening, so I was running with a full tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bramfrank Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 Sounds more like a possibly corroded electrical connection to a sensor - do not drive it around or the code could roll off the computer. Take it to the dealer and get the OBD read out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jkeaton Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 (edited) Sounds more like a possibly corroded electrical connection to a sensor - do not drive it around or the code could roll off the computer. Take it to the dealer and get the OBD read out. NOOOO!! Dont take it to the dealer they will charge you to read the code (unless covered by warranty, then OK). You got places like Advance auto or Autozone there that reads codes for free?? Also, the code will not "roll off the computer" once it is set, it stays there and can only be cleared by a code scanner. Unless you disconnect the battery. Edited March 18, 2014 by jkeaton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolly Posted March 18, 2014 Report Share Posted March 18, 2014 You can call Part Source and ask them if they offer free scans., Here is their website, it will give you the local Part Source number and location www.partsource.ca Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journeyman425 Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 Possibly a faulty cam phaser. I've seen similar symptoms in a couple of 3.6's - an early Journey Lux (nice car!) a Grand Cherokee and a Chrysler 200. All were 2011 models. Flashing electronic throttle light, engine light on or flashing, no power, sluggish shifting. Usually a key cycle will clear the symptoms temporarily. The problem seemed to be confined to 2011 models but, like the cylinder head issues, there could be some early production 2012's with the same issue. Diagnostic codes will certainly be stored; there's probably a bevy of them based on your description. I realize that many of you are less than thrilled with dealer visits, but this issue should probably be dealer-diagnosed, and if there is service contract or warranty coverage, then surely. These cam phasers are precision components that are engine-oil lubricated. Synthetic oil might be of future consideration if you do not use it already. It is the reason why I switched to synthetic oil in my Journey for the first time in any car that I have ever owned. The last case of a bad cam phaser that we had involved the GC that I mentioned above. The customer went 14,000 miles between her last oil change (she has a very legit reason) and the problem occurred a few thousand miles later. Could be coincidence but the FSM does mention contaminated oil as a possible cause of failure. Let us know what the dianostics reveal. 08 - Electrical/8I - Ignition Control/SOLENOID, Variable Valve Timing/Description DESCRIPTION The 3.6L engine is equipped with Variable Valve Timing (VVT). This system adjusts the timing of all four camshafts independently using solenoids and oil control valves to direct oil pressure into the camshaft phaser assemblies. The camshaft phaser assembly advances and/or retards camshaft timing to improve engine performance, mid-range torque, idle quality, fuel economy, and reduce emissions. The four VVT solenoids are located on the front of the cylinder head covers. The pintle should move freely within the solenoid body. Do not attempt to disassemble the solenoids, they are not serviceable. The solenoids are identical but should be installed in the same location as removed. jkeaton and Addicted to Dodge 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journeyman425 Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 DESCRIPTION The engine is equipped with Variable Valve Timing (VVT). This system adjusts the timing of all four camshafts independently using solenoids and oil control valves to direct oil pressure into the camshaft phaser assemblies. The camshaft phaser assembly advances and/or retards camshaft timing to improve engine performance, mid-range torque, idle quality, fuel economy, and reduce emissions. The four phasers are located on the front of the camshafts, behind the VVT solenoids, inside of the engine timing cover. The exhaust phasers are identified with EXH and the intake phasers are identified with INT. The exhaust phaser has a clockspring, the intake phaser does not. The camshaft sprockets are integrated with the camshaft phaser and are serviced as an assembly. Do not attempt to disassemble the phasers, they are not serviceable. Phasers are interchangeable between the right and left cylinder heads but should be installed in the same location as removed. The engine has an Oil Control Valve (OCV) for each phaser. The OCV also acts as a bolt for mounting the Phaser to the camshaft. The OCVs spool valve is spring loaded and should move freely within the OCV body. The four OCVs are identical but should be installed in the same location as removed. jkeaton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hawaii Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 NOOOO!! Dont take it to the dealer they will charge you to read the code (unless covered by warranty, then OK). You got places like Advance auto or Autozone there that reads codes for free?? Also, the code will not "roll off the computer" once it is set, it stays there and can only be cleared by a code scanner. Unless you disconnect the battery. LOL... !! You know it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexyRTboi Posted April 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 OKAY SO ! Had the Journey at the dealer for her monthly visit (I swear its a girl ... if you know what I mean) ..... took it in for a vibration in the steering wheel at highway speeds ... (turns out I need new tires .... fml) Anyways, while waiting for the shuttle, I happened to mention about this little issue I had that night with the rough driving, flashing check engine light etc .... they said they'd scan for codes while its in .... I received a call a few hours later, they scanned it and sure enough they found some codes .... apparently there was/is a misfire in cyl 2 and 5 ... they pulled the spark plugs and they were incredibly gunked up, black and as the service advisor said, "the worst hes ever seen in a vehicle with only 55,000kms" .... so they replaced the plugs, wires and did a heavyduty carb cleanout .... he even said that when they do that, it has to "soak" for a few hours than they take it out and run the hell out of it for a couple mins .... He said once they hammered the gas onto a 2 lane highway, the BLACK SMOKE just came pouring out the tail pipes, so much so that when they turned around to come back, they could still easily see the lingering cloud from all the carbon. So ya, didn't expect THAT at all .... but I can tell you its running SO SO much better and the gas mileage is suddenly a lot better !!! .... funny how you tend to just fall into place and not notice things as time goes on ... I cant believe how much I had just learned to live with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Journey_SeXT Posted April 5, 2014 Report Share Posted April 5, 2014 What was the reason why so much carbon? That doesn't seem normal unless you've done absolutely no maintenance to the vehicle in the past 55,000 km's. jkeaton 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sexyRTboi Posted April 11, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 11, 2014 no reason for the carb build up ... and have been keeping up on maintenance ... funny part is, my fiancé made mention that he cant believe I could possibly have carb build up due to the way I drive ... I do seem have the condition of "lead in foot" .... the dealer even knew that I drive a lot hwy to and from work so he said he knows right now its not due to short drives and being too easy on it. something to follow I guess. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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