Dodge Journey Dodge Journey forum for discussion on the popular Dodge Crossover and CUV.

2011 journey 2.4 p2173 cannot figure this one out

Old Jan 6, 2026 | 10:53 AM
  #1  
kburger's Avatar
kburger
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default 2011 journey 2.4 p2173 cannot figure this one out

Hello,

new to the forum here. I been a mechanic long time. New to dodge. Got p2173 high airflow vacuum leak detected. Car warms up for a minute then rpm goes up to 1500 and lightning bolt turns on the instrument cluster. Tried 3 throttle bodies last one was a Bosch. The learn procedure does work. I hear some clicks when it does the verify. Smoke tested it twice now small leak in oil fill cap. No other leaks found. Pressing hard on brakes no change in rpm. Removing the oil cap I do have mild vacuum there. I’m stumped. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I do have brown oil/gas on the throttle body and a small puddle at the bottom of intake behind throttle body. When I remove TB there is a layer of oil/gas on the back of it. I did replace the pcv valve but old one seems to work fine. I replaced the map sensor too. My scanner is pretty good so I can check a lot of stuff. Thanks in advance.

24 hours no reply. I ordered tps/gas pedal assy.

tps/accelerator pedal assembly did not fix it. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

looks like it’s the ecm. Gotta love it. Flashmasters says 2009,10,11 ecm fails a lot with the lightning bolt etc problem. 325 bucks shipped for ecm programmed to your VIN. Hey. It’s only money!!
kburger
 

Last edited by kburger; Jan 9, 2026 at 03:01 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 9, 2026 | 10:46 PM
  #2  
D16's Avatar
D16
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 7
Likes: 5
Default

I would closely inspect the engine air intake tube for cracks. Smoke test it as well.

Use the new pcv valve.
 

Last edited by D16; Jan 9, 2026 at 10:50 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 15, 2026 | 11:34 AM
  #3  
kburger's Avatar
kburger
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by D16
I would closely inspect the engine air intake tube for cracks. Smoke test it as well.

Use the new pcv valve.
thanks. Smoke tested twice using vacuum port on driver side of valve cover. No leaks. Replaced pcv valve and map sensor. Replaced ecm. No fix still p2173 high airflow vacuum leak detected. I’m stumped. Throttle body replaced twice. Are the throttle bodies I’m using junk. Is there a certain manufacturer I should use? I assume when you say air intake tube you mean the one from air box to throttle body. I’ll remove it again and carefully inspect it but I had nice smoke coming out of the front air inlet and nothing from that tube.
kburger
 
Reply
Old Jan 16, 2026 | 10:20 AM
  #4  
kburger's Avatar
kburger
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default

Now I have p0171 fuel system 1/1 lean

kburger
 

Last edited by kburger; Jan 16, 2026 at 10:20 AM. Reason: Forgot signature
Reply
Old Jan 17, 2026 | 04:49 PM
  #5  
kburger's Avatar
kburger
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by kburger
Now I have p0171 fuel system 1/1 lean

kburger
have a decent scanner if anyone can tell me what data to check I can report values back here to help figure this out. Even with 2 smoke test passed there gotta be a leak somewhere. I haven’t removed air box to throttle body hose yet weather is bad and I work outside.
 
Reply
Old Jan 18, 2026 | 03:54 PM
  #6  
D16's Avatar
D16
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2025
Posts: 7
Likes: 5
Default


This is the list from Dodge for code P2173.

Start easiest -

I would exam the air intake tube carefully.

Check the vacuum line into the map sensor and brake booster. Any other vacuum lines there is.

Have you smoke tested the engine intake manifold and throttle body?

 

Last edited by D16; Jan 18, 2026 at 04:03 PM.
Reply
Old Jan 19, 2026 | 11:29 AM
  #7  
kburger's Avatar
kburger
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default

Originally Posted by D16

This is the list from Dodge for code P2173.

Start easiest -

I would exam the air intake tube carefully.

Check the vacuum line into the map sensor and brake booster. Any other vacuum lines there is.

Have you smoke tested the engine intake manifold and throttle body?
i ran the smoke test through the vacuum line to the valve cover. For at least half an hour. Smoke was coming out the air inlet port at the front of the hood. Only leak was oil fill cap I replaced that. Appreciate the response. The exhaust pipe is separated but it’s under the center of the car. I don’t see how that can cause this p2173. I guess because there is no maf the map sensor is used to detect vacuum leaks. back pressure in the exhaust affects crank case pressure. Your list for p2173 says exhaust restriction as a cause. That would increase pressure. But I guess not enough pressure could cause it too. I’ll put a temporary wrap to seal the pipe will see what happens. I’m really starting to appreciate having a MAF sensor in cars. Any machine you can’t figure out gotta fix what’s obviously broken if it’s even remotely related to the problem.
thanks,
kburger
 

Last edited by kburger; Jan 21, 2026 at 09:14 AM.
Reply
Old Jan 31, 2026 | 06:50 AM
  #8  
kburger's Avatar
kburger
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default

Can anyone confirm that an exhaust leak can cause a P2173 code? The exhaust pipe is separated underneath the rear seats. Isn’t that too far back to cause this issue ?
kburger
 
Reply
Old Feb 1, 2026 | 05:13 PM
  #9  
kburger's Avatar
kburger
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default

Repaired the exhaust leak did not fix p2173. I guess I’m gonna take it to the dealer since nothing seems to fix this.
kburger
 
Reply
Old Feb 3, 2026 | 10:19 AM
  #10  
kburger's Avatar
kburger
Thread Starter
|
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2026
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Default

Took it to dealer. 200 dollars to tell me to replace the throttle body that I replaced 3 times already. Does anyone know what the numbers should be for voltage and airflow with the map sensor? Help me use the diagnostic data to figure this out.
kburger
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:20 AM.