Is this specific to the Journey?

 

There was an article in the newspaper in march regarding a problem with the key fob spring from on to accessory position. They are recalling 250,000 awe journeys and grand caravans.

I have been having this problem with mine as well. As they said above it seems more common in warm weather.

I took it to the dealer last august, and they said it is not a problem.

It is at the dealer now, and they are saying that they have not identified my vehicle as being part of the recall. I told them that it should be, that it IS happening, and I need it fixed.

They are still hemming and hawing about it.

I have found that when this occurs, you can shift to neutral and redraft it rather than stopping and putting it in park. This at least allows you to keep moving, and may be safer than stopping in traffic.

 

I have done some experimentation on the problem and I believe it is related to the ignition key and how it responds when released from my fingers the split second the engine starts and I release the key.

If I let the key "snap" out of my fingers when it starts, it will almost always stall while the vehicle is in motion. If I gently start the car and deliberately return the key to the ON position without letting the key snap from my fingers, I do not experience the issue.

I believe the spring tension of the key cylinder must be great enough if "snapped" out of your fingers to put the key in a position where the slightest bit of motion to the key will allow the cylinder to fall into the OFF position. This is especially true when the key is connected to a big ball or keys, key chains and crap like my wife carries (you all know what talking about). I believe the extra weight of the dangling junk, in a turn, helps to pull the key into the OFF position.

I may be totally wrong, but try driving your vehicle with just the key and nothing dangling from it along with keeping your hand on the key until it returns to the ON position. That's the only thing I've done differently and I have not stalled since.

 

I found someone else with this issue and they had the Win Module replaced. I went back to the dealership and asked that they replace on my vehicle as well. They did not think that would have anything to do with the problem but they eventually replaced my Win Module. Now neither my Journey or the other person that I found with the same issue have had any problems since. This has been over 5 months for me. It is ridiculous that this is not being communicated to all dealerships and mechanics that deal with these vehicles. This is a dangerous issue. I personally know three people that have had the same issue with their Dodge Journey.

 

OK......while at the shop to get the front rotors replaced, under the extended warranty (26,676 miles), and having the ORV? module checked due the the recall, they tried to tell me that the stalling problem was caused by "the key being loose" in the switch.

I actually had to show them the article from the newspaper to let them know about the key fob recall.......a Chrysler rep was at the dealership, and he did authorize them to install a new WIN module, which is what was to have happened with the recall.

I also discovered as the earlier poster reported, that if you gently turn the car on, and don't let the key snap back into place, that it usually didn't stall.

Hopefully the replacement of the WIN module will fix things. Chrysler states that they are still in the process of identifying which VINs had this problem.

Also the brakes are no longer trying to shake the wheel out of my hands

Below is the article that I had mentioned about this recall.

Washington, D.C.—(ENEWSPF)—March 3, 2011.
Summary: Chrysler is recalling certain Model year 2010 Dodge Journey, Grand Caravan, and Chrysler Town & Country Vehicles manufactured from August 3, 2009 through June 17, 2010. Some vehicles may experience inadvertent ignition key displacement from the run to accessory position while driving causing the engine to shut off.
Consequence: Engine shut off while driving could increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the win modules free of charge. The Safety Recall is expected to begin during April 2011. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-853-1403.
Notes: Chrysler Safety Recall No.L02. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Source: dot.gov

 

Is there really such a thing as a "highly trained" Mopar tech? I'm thinking thats just a myth because the yahoos at my local Dodge dealer could'nt find their a$$es with both hands...

 

Hi there, been reading up on the Journey stalling issues and I have a 2009 Dodge Journey that kept stalling last summer. Supposedly, the dealership fixed it in October 10' and I have not had any issues until last week. I think I just put two and two together when I read the Master Tech's response regarding the PCM. I was using the A/C up until October and now just started using it again! Surely, the dealership would have checked this wouldn't they have? Chrysler did have a recall for Journey's on that exact problem with the PCM and stalling. I called and they said my VIN was not included in the recall. My 09' Journey is out of warranty. Does the Power Train cover this?

 

This is my first time on this web site i hope Iam doing it right,, We also have a 2010 journay and we just got a recall in the mail that your journey may shut off well driving it had something to do with the key, So take it to your dealer and tell them you need to have it looked at ASAP. We have not had that happen to our journay yet but ours is in at the dealer as we speek as we have had BREAK FADE really scary as you are driving and then the next thing when you go to stop there is breaks and then there gone. WE have had this looked at 3 times before and they said nothing was wrong. I lost my breaks the other day when I was pulling out of the store thank god we live in a small town and no one was coming. I sure hope that they find something to fix as we do not like taking it to the city anymore.
I hope this helps you

 

Has any one had trouble with there Journey with BRAKE FADE we have a 2010 journay and we have had this trouble for over 6 months. What happens is your driving and when you go to stop there is brakes but they fade away right to the floor. i was driving the other day coming out of the parking lot and there was no brakes at all really scary, we live in a vary small town and thank God no one was coming down the road. We have had it in to the shop 3 times and they keep saying nothing is wrong, we fianlly took it to the city to have it looked at, at a bigger dealer there and we should know something in a few days, we were just seeing if anyone else had the same trouble as us.

 

I finally received my recall notice, too. I can only assume that the Dodge people must read these forums, too.

And if they do....YOU'RE WELCOME for my diagnosis.

We are also experiencing the brake issues. Now I can kill two birds with one stone at the dealer.