I am very upset and unhappy. Engine ticking

[TheJackal]

I had just bought this 2010 Dodge Journey from the Burnsville Minnesota Dodge dealership..., this being my first purchase of a vehicle, and I come to find that 2 days after owning the vehicle that the engine has a ticking noise. I asked my sales rep before purchasing this vehicle if it had any problems I should know about, and I was told "no" while being shown a carfax report.. What makes me even more angry is that this vehicle was sold as is while having been lied to, this now putting me out 11k just a few days after purchase >:/ I can't even exchange for a different vehicle! Now while having looked up this problem, it appears that nobody seems to have an answer as serviced vehicles are shown to redevelop the problem shortly after supposedly having been fixed, and I don't have the money to even attempt to fix it... I basically bought what is a lemon with just 86,604 miles on it. So I am left turning to this forum in hopes of actually receiving help in either getting it fixed or replaced. If this isn't fixed, I will certainly never buy another Dodge vehicle again..., selling cars with known engine problems that the consumer isn't being made aware of ought to be illegal, especially when coaxing them into buying a vehicle that has no warranted and sold "As is". That is in my book predatory selling.... I feel will be lucky to get 500 at the junk yard.. :/

Edited May 8, 2016 by TheJackal

[jkeaton]

Good luck. Buying a used vehicle is always full of surprises and salesmen will tell you anything to make a sale. Could you describe the issue in more detail? Does it do it idling? While driving? How is the oil level and condition? what engine are we talking about? I understand your frustration but we need more information if we are expected to assist you.

Edited May 8, 2016 by jkeaton

[bramfrank]

You bought it from a retailer. Have you even bothered to discuss the issue with them?

I don't know what the laws are in your state, but I suspect that there is an implied warranty and that you have recourse. Make them fix it or refund your money, noting that HOW you approach them likely affects the ease of getting the matter resolved.

[larryl]

Is this for real??

Nothing like an 82000 mile lemon good thing no other car maker does this

[OhareFred]

Did you test drive it? A carfax report isnt going to tell you about repairs, its about accidents, or am I mistaken about that? I mean, if you do your own maintenance nothing will show up on Carfax. Salesmen will lie to their mothers to get asale, buyer beware. Thats why I buy new and get an extended warranty. Not everyone can do that, I understand. You bought it from a Dodge dealership, Im sure they will listen to your concerns. Contact Dodge customer care and get them involved. Who knows.

Anyway, there is ticking and then theres ticking. The 3.5 is kinda noisy, mine tics since day one. Sometimes you can hear it with the hood closed. Most times not. Doesnt mean the engineis bad. I just did 1,000 miles over three days, ran like a top and got 28 mpg doing 78 mph. Do you have any other noises,symptoms? Again, we need more info.

Edited May 8, 2016 by OhareFred

[SeanTacular]

How loud is the ticking cuz fuel injected cars have a slight/mild ticking sound. It's the solenoid in the injector opening a valve and letting fuel spray into the cylinder. This is normal. It's usually a very sharp ticking sound.

[dhh3]

Which engine? Could also be an electrical tick (arc). Find a really dark place, and search all around the top of the engine.

Also, why is it Dodge's fault that you purchased a 6 year old vehicle?

Edited May 8, 2016 by dhh3

[jkeaton]

In starting to think one rant wonder here.

[xcaliber81]

Buyer beware with used vehicles. I paid 600 for my 94 grand cherokee but I knew it had issues so I didn't care.

[TheJackal]

Good luck. Buying a used vehicle is always full of surprises and salesmen will tell you anything to make a sale. Could you describe the issue in more detail? Does it do it idling? While driving? How is the oil level and condition? what engine are we talking about? I understand your frustration but we need more information if we are expected to assist you.

Sounds exactly like this, except not quite as loud (probably because I am not in a garage) ... :

It could be this issue regarding the timing belt, but I am not a car expert..., I am pretty ignorant when it comes to cars :/

The oil, and other fluids were fine. The Engine is the 3.5L..., this to which brings up another possible problem with the engine (http://www.dodgejourneyforum.com/topic/4387-2010-dodge-journey-sxt-35liter-6speed-auto-tranny-engine-noise-with-drone-noise/). This noise is noticeable inside the car with the hood down regardless if the car is idling or not. It picks up when you give it gas and gets a bit louder.

Also, why is it Dodge's fault that you purchased a 6 year old vehicle?

I never said it was there fault that I purchased a 6 year old vehicle.. This appears to be a question of the strawman, or bad attempt to suggest it is my fault that Dodge may have sold me a lemon.

Could also be an electrical tick (arc)

Took a look..., this is definitely not an electrical problem of this kind.

In starting to think one rant wonder here.

I'm sorry, some of us have jobs to be at and can't respond ever minute of the day.. If your commentary is of no help, why are you here?

How loud is the ticking cuz fuel injected cars have a slight/mild ticking sound. It's the solenoid in the injector opening a valve and letting fuel spray into the cylinder. This is normal. It's usually a very sharp ticking sound.

My only measurement of how loud it is, is that I can hear it inside the car with the hood shut, and that it is loud enough to hear it more than 10 feet away with the hood up.. I am not sure how loud this tick above should be, but I hope that this is what I am hearing rather than what I believe to be hearing. My father took a video of it, I will see if I can get that from him and post it..

Did you test drive it? A carfax report isnt going to tell you about repairs, its about accidents, or am I mistaken about that?

Yes I test drove it, but I am not well versed in car engines. I thought it was just engine noise... Sadly I am a compute / home theater tech kinda guy, no real background in dealing with cars..., especially when I've used public transportation most of my life. :/ I also am aware that carfax doesn't give those details, my point was that I had asked my sales guy if the vehicle had any problems I should be aware of while we were looking at carfax to see if it had been in any accidents and what it's oil change history was. So no, you're not mistaken about that

[TheJackal]

Buyer beware with used vehicles. I paid 600 for my 94 grand cherokee but I knew it had issues so I didn't care.

Big difference, you knew it had problems, I was given the impression that it didn't have any problems.. I understand the buyer beware, but that is pretty difficult when you may be lied to at a dealership, especially if you know nothing about cars. A salesman selling you a vehicle without disclosure of the problems with the vehicle, especially when asked, comes off as predatory selling. I can't exactly decide if I care about the problems if I am not made aware of them..

[xcaliber81]

People get rid of cars for a reason it's up to you to find that reason.

[Dusty256]

very short video . have you checked belts pulleys ect. could be something simple or the timing belt .

[OhareFred]

Kinda sounds like a lifter knock....I saw you checked the oil level, wonder if its the correct weight...

Also, not trying to be a smart ass, but Im fairly sure all of us have jobs, lives, etc. We are not Dodge mechenics (well, some are actually) and are just trying to help. We get people who bitch and whine about buying a lemon and then never respond. At least you came back. You posted a vague rant then were gone a bit, what did you expect?

[2late4u]

i have to say didnt you hear the noise before you bought it????if you bought it at a dodge dealership then you might have some recourse going higher up thur the chain of command. but if it was a car lot other than dodge then more likely buyer beware,,, good luck on what ever you find out

[Dusty256]

I would have the timing belt changed and tensioner too. will cost you less now then if it fails and it's about due to be changed anyway because of the mileage.

afraid you are going to have to throw a little cash in to it . but when you buy a used car you are buying someone else's problem.

also since you bought it used expect to have to change the brakes etc . also check to see the age of the battery . I bet it's still the original one

[bramfrank]

Why would you buy a car 'as is' without having it checked out.

[larryl]

Well Im no genius but the video shows a 3.6 ltr which has a totally different method of coupling the cam to the crank -chain vs belt so the noise you are hearing might not been the same issue as this video shows.Like many have said why buy it?

[Dusty256]

Well Im no genius but the video shows a 3.6 ltr which has a totally different method of coupling the cam to the crank -chain vs belt so the noise you are hearing might not been the same issue as this video shows.Like many have said why buy it?

the bottom video is the 3.5 and how the timing belt adjusters can make that noise . i think changing the belt would be cheap insurance

[jkeaton]

Good luck.

Edited May 9, 2016 by jkeaton

[2late4u]

well as you all know my granddaughter van got wrecked last week so we have been out looking at cars her dad wants her to buy a used car or van up to 10 k we looked used and new she told me why do i want to buy something old and poss have to put money into it, so she is looking at a 2016 kia soul about 17 k out the door 5 yr 60 k bumper too bumper with a 10 yr 100 k power train, not happy she wants a import but they do drive great and gives her 5 yrs with no $$$ out for repairs, reviews on line have been good about them havent really seen anything bad so at 23 yrs old, i think she has thought it out and is making a good decision....her big argument is she would rather pay for a new one then a old one that was someones else problems

[silenze]

well as you all know my granddaughter van got wrecked last week so we have been out looking at cars her dad wants her to buy a used car or van up to 10 k we looked used and new she told me why do i want to buy something old and poss have to put money into it, so she is looking at a 2016 kia soul about 17 k out the door 5 yr 60 k bumper too bumper with a 10 yr 100 k power train, not happy she wants a import but they do drive great and gives her 5 yrs with no $$$ out for repairs, reviews on line have been good about them havent really seen anything bad so at 23 yrs old, i think she has thought it out and is making a good decision....her big argument is she would rather pay for a new one then a old one that was someones else problems

You can get a dodge grand caravan for that kind of money

[bramfrank]

You can get a brand new leftover 2015 Journey for that also - it depends on inventory where you live. But the Kia will get better gas mileage than anything she'd consider from FCA and there is the warranty. A 23 year-old without children doesn't usually need anything like the Journey, let alone anything in the Caravan class.

On top of this, with the reduced warranties on the '16 FCA models in the US I think they've done a disservice to the marketability of the product.

[TheJackal]

the bottom video is the 3.5 and how the timing belt adjusters can make that noise . i think changing the belt would be cheap insurance

I know, I referenced it to give an idea of what my engine sounds like.. At this time, I have setup an appointment at a different dodge dealership to have their mechanics look at it.

Why would you buy a car 'as is' without having it checked out.

Because I thought I could trust Dodge to have done that. As stated, I had asked them if there was "anything" wrong with the car, and they said no. I would have done as said if I had gone to some mom and pop dealership vs a dodge dealership... However, and if the engine is fubar, they should have told me when I asked.

if you bought it at a dodge dealership then you might have some recourse going higher up thur the chain of command.

Bought it at a Dodge Dealership, and in the process of going up the chain of command as of this past afternoon.

I would have the timing belt changed and tensioner too. will cost you less now then if it fails and it's about due to be changed anyway because of the mileage.

Will do, and thank you! .. Just out of curiosity, how often should this be done? Furthermore, I could perhaps be the timing belt giving the noise is coming from the left side of the engine... I can't quite tell if it's that or internal to the engine

also since you bought it used expect to have to change the brakes etc . also check to see the age of the battery . I bet it's still the original one

The brakes are in excellent condition, but I will check the Battery... I also have a scheduled appointment to have the car completely checked over to see what it needs, I had this planned prior to buying the vehicle

..

[carritt11]

Dodge of Burnsville is a shady dealership. I've heard of problems from them and also had a personal experience when my father and I stopped by to check out Rams for him. They only care about taking your money. If you're able I suggest driving down to Jeff Belzers in Lakeville. My father and I have both bought vehicles from them and have had very good experiences with them, sales reps and service reps. Good luck.