I have a 2012 Dodge Journey SXT. I’ve had it for over 3 years and haven’t had too many issues. Recently the heater has stopped blowing hot and if it does blow hot it’s just out if 1 vent - left of the steering wheel and the rest cold. The coolant was low at the time so I thought possibly that and topped it off. Nothing. I just brought it to a mechanic and had him check it out and told him it’s possibly the thermostat, he confirmed it was and charged $340 for a new thermostat and called and said the car was ready and it was blowing hot again.
Took it home and it is absolutely not blowing hot. I’ve called up there and they’re just a bunch of idiots and acting like it was working when I picked it up.

Long story short… what can I do? I’m in Cincinnati and it is cold out here and I need this working. I’ve looked up a million videos. Could be the heater core. That’s the only other thing I can think of. I’ve pulled off the glove box and checked out the actuators and there moving consistently when I change the temps but I’m not sure. I just want to start doing all the small things myself to my car because I just hate paying for something I could’ve done myself.
if anyone has any tips or suggestions please let me know. I’m very inexperienced and have limited tools but I am eager to learn.

Heater stopped blowing hot. I thought it was the thermostat so I replaced that and still no. Ive checked the actuators and they seem fine but I’m no expert. I know it could possibly be heater core or an air pocket but what can I do to find out? I have little to no experience on working on cars but I’m just sick of taking it to the shop and paying 10x what it costs for parts and it’s something I could’ve done myself at home. It’s cold where I live in Cincinnati and I need this working asap

 

i have heard that is what happens when the heater core is pluged. a flush can fix it if not plugged to bad

 

So I tried to start the engine cold with coolant cap off. Started the car and let it idle with heat on high and fan on low. Squeezed the upper radiator hose, loosen the bleeder screw. And it started to work slightly but not how it use to be. Driver side heat works but passenger is cold. I read that I need to slightly jack up the front end and do all that but I don’t even have a jack

 

Do you have the V6 3.6 engine?

I would get the the heater core flushed out.

 

Yeah V6 3.6. I was thinking that too I just haven’t done that before but I guess it’s time to learn.

 

On YouTube SMA video Journey heater core
flush using CLR.

He is one of my favorite honest YouTube automotive repair channels.

 

Thank you that’s the exact same problem I’m having. Far left vent is hot and it gets colder and colder to the right. Flushing it out seems easy but I don’t have the same things he has like the pump he connected but I’m sure I can buy one. Also he didn’t show him disconnecting the heater core hoses and putting them back.

 

[img alt="The heater core is the 2 rubber hoses going into the car.

I believe he used bulk 5/8"]https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/dodgeforum.com-vbulletin/2000x1504/img_20260106_092825_2_d453f2e1f58e4caecc9f911737cf 58a5e8a53673.jpg[/img]
The heater core is the 2 rubber hoses going into the car. I believe he used bulk 5/8" heater hose to connect to the heater core. Line in for water and chemical and a return line to a bucket. Regarding CLR it says not to use on aluminum. Plenty of people do use it on heater cores. I would try not using too much. Flush out really well. I have never done| this. Just sharing what I know .