Last year the horn started beeping for no reason, on it's own. I had something in the steering column replaced (I would have to look up the invoice to say what it was, but it was a large part with wires). That didn't work and I had to take out the fuses and drive without a horn. This past week, for some reason, the drivers side door misaligned itself (no reason why) and I had to bend the front panel to get out of the car. It bent because the door seemed to be misaligned and slightly over the front panel. Then at night, something is drawing on the battery. I come out to the car and it's dead, the doors are unlocked and the windshield wipers are straight up. The car is possessed. Anyone know what the issue is? It's expensive trial and error at this point. I already spent over a thousand dollars on the horn issue with no solution. Any ideas are welcome.

 

Just great! After getting zero information off these forms, just a bunch of people with essentially the same issue with no answers, I now have to pay 3 or more hours of diagnostics just for them to play around to see if they can figure out the issue. And that is only for the draining battery issue because they said the horn issue is a different issue. This is just ridiculous!

 

Hi Tammy, I completely understand your concerns and frustration. To clarify, have you already scheduled a new appointment with your local dealer? With your concerns, your dealer is going to be in the best position to help.
Rob
DodgeCares

 

Hi Dodge Cares,

I appreciate your response. I came to the forum to see if anyone had any solutions for the symptoms I am facing. It seems nobody knows what the issue is. To clarify, yes, I left my care at my local dealership and I am really upset at this point. I told them that it seemed something was drawing on the battery, as well as the symptoms. They purposefully failed the battery test and tried to say that it was the battery and that because it was under warranty from Mr. Lube that I should get it replaced and if I was still having the same problems they would further investigate. They acted like they did me a favor and said they were only charging me 1 hour diagnostic.

CCA for all Dodge Journeys are 525. Why would the dealership purposefully fail the test? They tested at 730 and got a fail at 406. Also, right in the report they clearly said "AVR tested battery. Battery FAILED load test after being charged... removed left front wheel and fender liner to check battery cable ends. AR OK showed service manager." Wouldn't that indicate that something is drawing on the battery?

When I took it to Mr. Lube they said the dealership purposefully failed the battery test and speculated why, which I am not going to get into because it was just posturing. They tested the battery at 525 CCA and came out with a 411. Their test says that the battery performance has started to decline and it should be replaced, however because the dealership report said that the load test failed, they would not replace the battery until the dealership finds what is draining the battery.

I have not found any thread that said the symptoms they were experience was because of battery issues. When I went into the dealership, I told them that I didn't feel hopeful that they would be able to find the problem because out of all the threads I read on here and other places people have been just pulling fuses. I haven't found anyone that knew for sure what the issue is. The dealership was like... well you brought it to the best place to find out. But after this experience I have to ask... did I? I mean why purposefully fail the battery test? Why test it at 730 and not 525? Then tell me nothing is drawing on the battery when it failed the load test? I don't understand that.

 

Hi Tammy, I am sorry to hear that you have concerns regarding your Dodge Journey. We recommend visiting another Dodge dealer for a second opinion. If you do work with a dealer again, we would be more than happy to provide you with additional support.
Rob
DodgeCares

 

There has to be something draining that battery.
An experience I had on my '05 Ram 1500 may or may not help. My battery was randomly discharging on me after just sitting in the driveway over night. On a couple occasions I walked out to this truck, the radio is playing and the blower motor running..... with no key in the ignition! Open the door and the chimes start playing like the key is in the ignition. So I changed the ignition switch (32 bucks) myself and haven't had the issue for 2 months now.

IMO, If they are not finding your issue, make sure you are turning EVERYTHING off at the switches rather than rely on the system electronics and the key. That may at least help the battery stay charged for you.

 

Thanks very much for your response! So... after 5 trips to 2 different Mr. Lube stores and 3 to the same dealer, it is suspected that the wrong size battery was the culprit.

I spoke with the Service manager, not a technician. After questioning why they tested at 730 CCA and told me nothing was drawing on the battery when it failed the load test, he told me that my particular make and model specs say I need a 730 CCA battery. However, he only recommended a 690 CCA battery. Because of where the battery sits on this car (behind the drivers side wheel) it's an 86 boot and even the dealership says they only use a 690 CCA battery. While also stating that the battery is only needed to start the car. So I went back to Mr. Lube because they held the warranty on the battery.

Mr. Lube deals with Interstate and Interstate's book says my make and model only needs a 525 CCA, 86 boot. They purchased the battery, from the dealership at $194 and installed it into my car. Because they feel they had the wrong specs they did all this free of charge and will deal with Interstate over the costs. Interstate will have to change all their books if this is in fact the issue. I haven't checked my owners manual yet, but everywhere I look on the internet it says the battery required is a 525 CCA, 86 boot.

It warmed up on Saturday and my car started. This was before I had the conversation with the dealership manager on Monday. So I went back to Mr. Lube and the battery test was failing, however when they took off my tire and tested directly from the battery it passed. This was the 525 CCA. They were willing to put another battery in, but I told them to wait until after I speak with the manager at the dealership because nothing was making sense and I wanted to make sure. Throughout the whole process Mr. Lube was very transparent and showed me the specs they had for my vehicle and I even watched them test directly from the battery. I was really concerned at that point it was the computer system... which is a $2,500 bill.

After Mr. Lube put the right battery in on Monday, I went back to the dealer and they retested the load test and it passed. The dealer claims that if there isn't enough power, these anomalies can occur. So far, I have my horn back and my car is starting in the morning. I have no idea, but I will come back to this post if I have any further issues.

 

The "solution" to the problem was short lived. I had to take the fuses back out because the horn started beeping again. Also, something is causing a draw from the battery because I was sitting in the car, with the key out, talking to a friend and we heard a pulse that made the windshield wipers move. So far the battery is starting the car in the mornings, but I am afraid this will be short lived because when I came out this morning the wipers were standing straight up again.

 

Hi Tammy,
We sincerely regret to hear your sentiments here. Please follow up with me via DM at your earliest convenience so we can have this looked into further for you.
Rob
DodgeCares

 

Not a solution, but, while I wait to get my vehicle repaired, I simply disconnect the negative jumper terminal from the stud after work and reconnect in the morning to prevent any draws. I have absoltuely no idea if this is even advisable however, so take my 2 c for what it's worth.