dodge journey heater core recall

Home » Troubleshooting » Dodge Journey heater not working – causes and diagnosis

Dodge Journey heater not working – causes and diagnosis

The heater in Dodge Journey ensures comfortable temperature in the passenger compartment when the weather is chilly. There are many reasons for poor heating performance in Journey, which are explained in this article.

The heater may stop working in Dodge Journey due to low coolant level or air in the cooling system, clogged heater core, bad thermostat, faulty blend door actuator, bad water pump, dirty cabin air filter, bad blower motor, or HVAC control unit malfunction.

1. Low coolant or air in the cooling system

Low coolant level or air in the cooling system can cause the heater to stop working properly in Journey. If the cooling system is not full and bled properly, the water pump will not be able to push the coolant around the system efficiently.

The heating system in Journey uses hot coolant or antifreeze from the engine block to heat the interior of the vehicle. The hot coolant is pumped through the heater core located behind the dashboard. When you turn on the heating, air gets blown through the heater core, warming the air in the cabin. If there is air trapped inside the heater core, the coolant will not be able to flow through it properly. Since the heater core is usually slightly higher, the air will accumulate in there first. By filling and properly bleeding the system the heat should come back.

Sloshing water sound

Low coolant level or air in the heater core can sometimes cause sloshing sound from behind the dashboard when the engine is running. The sound is most prominent right after you start the vehicle.

Check coolant level

Checking coolant level in Journey is a fairly some job. You just have to locate the coolant overflow reservoir and inspect the level of coolant in it. If the coolant level is low, open the cap and pour some coolant into the tank until it is between minimum and maximum mark.

Recommended video

2. Clogged heater core

Clogged heater core is one of the leading causes of heating not working in Dodge Journey. The design of the heater core is similar to the radiator, it has narrow internal channels through which hot coolant flows. Over time, the heater core can begin to rust or mineral deposits can form in these channels, blocking the flow of the coolant.

How to check if the heater core is clogged

You don’t have to remove the heater core in your Journey to check if it is clogged. Locate two rubber hoses that connect to the heater core through the firewall area. Feel both the rubber lines going in and out of the heater core after the engine has warmed up. Both should be hot. If one is hot and the other is cold, you have a plugged heater core.

Flush the heater core

Before you consider replacing the heater core in your Journey, it is recommended to flush the existing heater core. Flushing is done by pushing water through the outlet hose of the heater core and draining the gunk from the inlet hose. There are flush kits available in the market that can help you do the job yourself.

3. Bad thermostat

Thermostat is a part of the cooling system in Dodge Journey which ensures that the engine reaches its optimal operating temperature as quickly as possible and maintain it under all operating conditions.

Thermostat is stuck open

When you start your Journey when the engine is cold, the thermostat cuts off flow of coolant through the radiator in order to quickly reach the optimal engine operating temperature. But if the thermostat has developed a defect and is stuck to open position, the coolant will continuously flow through the radiator and the engine may take a long time to reach its optimal operating temperature.

Heater takes a long time to blow hot air

Since the heating system in Journey relies on the hot coolant from the engine to heat the interior, the heater will blow cold air until the engine reaches its normal operating temperature. But if the weather is too cold, the engine may never reach its optimal operating temperature with a stuck open thermostat. Your vehicle may also consume more fuel than normal.

5. Bad water pump

The water pump is the heart of the cooling system in Journey responsible for pumping coolant throughout the system and cooling the engine. If the water pump has worn out and the coolant is not being circulated as effectively as it used to, it can cause the heater to stop working properly because there’s less coolant available to transfer heat between the engine and the heater core.

Water pumps usually last for more than 100,000 miles, but they can fail at any time. A bad water pump will not only cause poor heating, but can also result in engine damage due to overheating. Therefore it is important to diagnose a failing water pump at early stages to avoid expensive repairs later on.

6. Faulty blend door actuator

Blend door actuator plays a role in controlling the temperature inside your Journey. If the blend door actuator fails to fully open the blend door towards the heater core, it will result in poor heating performance.

The most common symptom of a faulty blend door actuator in Dodge Journey is a slight clicking sound (or other unusual noise) repeatedly coming from under the dashboard. The sound will be most prominent for a few seconds when you turn on the air conditioning or adjust the temperature.

Symptom: knocking sound

A knocking noise from behind the dashboard could be an indicator of a bad blend door actuator in your Journey. The sound is something like a light tapping on the door and it typically happens when you turn on/off the air conditioning system or start the engine.

Symptom: creaking sound

One side hot, other side cold.

A common symptom of a faulty blend door actuator in vehicles with dual zone climate control system is one side blowing hot air while the other side is blowing cold air.

Replace the faulty part

A bad blend door actuator usually cannot be repaired and must be replaced with a new one. Due to the complexity of the replacement job, it is not recommended as a DIY project. The blend door actuator may require recalibration after replacement.

7. Dirty cabin air filter

Dirty cabin air filter is the leading cause of weak heater airflow in Dodge Journey. The pollen filter, also known as the cabin air filter or microfilter, is responsible for filtering the air that the passengers breathe in the cabin. A dirty filter causes the overall ventilation of the interior to deteriorate resulting in reduced heating and airflow.

There is no fixed time for replacing the cabin air filter, but most manufacturers recommend a change after 10,000-20,000 miles. If you drive your vehicle in dusty or polluted environment, the filter can get dirty much sooner than manufacturer’s recommendation. Additionally, if you drive your Journey with AC system set to fresh outside air most of the time, your cabin air filter will get dirty much sooner as compared to air recirculation mode.

Replace the filter at the start of every winter for optimal performance

It is generally recommended to replace the cabin air filter every year at the start of the winter season. Spring and summer seasons are hard on the cabin air filter because of pollen and bugs, and in the fall they can get clogged with leaf debris. This gives you a fresh start for the winter, improves defroster performance, and reduces chances of mold or mildew growth.

Can you clean a dirty cabin air filter?

Instead of changing the cabin air filter in Journey, it is often recommended to first clean the filter. This can be done, for example, with a vacuum cleaner or a compressed air system, removing at least a large part of the visible dirt particles. Unfortunately, this procedure does not allow you to get into the deeper layers of the filter. Therefore, the filter performance will not increase significantly even after cleaning. As a rule, there is no avoiding a change if the filter is dirty.

8. Sluggish blower motor

If the blower motor in your Journey is not spinning fast enough either due to an internal defect or due to a fault in the resistor/control module, the airflow from the AC vents will be weaker and the heating performance will be degraded.

When a blower motor goes bad, it usually makes unusual noises when in operation, and the passengers may feel reduced airflow from the air vents. Keep in mind that reduced airflow doesn’t always indicate a problem with the blower motor, as it can also happen due to a clogged cabin air filter, dirty evaporator, or a bad mode door actuator. So, all of them must be inspected when diagnosing poor airflow.

9. Dead blower motor (no airflow)

If there is no air flow from the air vents in the dashboard when you turn on the heater in your Dodge Journey, it means the problem is related to the fan or blower motor function.

The most common causes for blower motor not working in Dodge Journey are blown fuse, bad relay, resistor or control module malfunction, and faulty blower motor. However, a bad electrical connector or broken wire, or a defect in the climate control unit can also cause the blower motor to stop working.

10. Dirty evaporator

Dirty evaporator can cause weak airflow and reduce the heating performance in Journey. Although, the evaporator coil is a component of the cooling function of the air-conditioning system, but the air always first passes through the evaporator and then flows over the heater core.

The cabin air filter captures most of the dirt or other airborne particles, but some particles escape and can get lodged on to the evaporator. Over time, these particles build up on the fins and block the air flow through the evaporator, causing reduced air flow in the cabin and poor heating or cooling.

Function of the evaporator in heating mode

When the heater is turned on and the AC turned off, the compressor does not turn on and the evaporator is not cooled. When you press the AC button in heating mode, the compressor turns on and the evaporator cools and dries the air before it enters the heater core. This mode is useful for clearing fog from the windows.

11. Faulty HVAC module

Climate control module is the brain of the air-conditioning system in your Dodge Journey, responsible for controlling all the components in the system. In rare cases, a fault in the climate control unit can cause the heater to stop functioning. This would require a scan tool to confirm correct operation.

12. Blown head gasket

The head gasket is responsible for providing the seal between the engine block and cylinder heads. Its purpose is to seal the combustion gases within the cylinders and to avoid coolant or engine oil leaking into the cylinders. Leaks in the head gasket can cause all sorts of problems in your Journey including poor heater performance. This is mostly common in older vehicles.

Leaking exhaust gases

A blown head gasket can cause the exhaust gases from the engine to enter the cooling system and plug the heater core. Clearing the air from the heater core will not help until the head gasket has been replaced.

Leaking coolant

A blown head gasket can cause coolant to leak into the combustion chambers and burn off. If your Journey is losing coolant, that means there is a leak somewhere or it is getting burned up inside the engine.

How to check if head gasket is leaking in Journey?

You don’t have to go to a workshop to check for a leaking head gasket in your Journey. There are test kits available in the market in which you just have to insert a tube filled with colored liquid in the radiator (in place of the radiator cap), and then start the engine. If the liquid changes color, then there is a leak in head gasket.

Switch on air recirculation mode

When the outside temperature drops too low, the heating performance may be reduced in Journey if the air conditioning system is set to outside air. To improve heating efficiency, it is recommended to switch on air recirculation mode. Don’t worry, there is no risk of suffocation, as the air recirculation mode still allows up to approximately 10 percent of the air coming from the air vents to be fresh air from the outside.

There are many reasons why the heater in your Dodge Journey is not working properly. When looking for the reason, you should start with the most obvious causes: low coolant level or air in the cooling system, and clogged heater core.

In any case, it is advisable for laypersons to visit a workshop. A professional mechanic can swiftly diagnose the heating issue for you.

• How to access contacts on BMW
• Peugeot 5008 uneven tire wear causes
• MG3 dead battery symptoms, causes, and how to jump start
• Pontiac Torrent low AC refrigerant symptoms, how to recharge
• Mercedes-Benz A-Class dirty cabin air filter symptoms, when to replace
• How to use Trail Control on Ford Ranger
• Nissan GT-R steering wheel vibration causes and diagnosis
• Toyota Avalon pulls to the left when driving
• How to update SYNC 4A system on Ford Mustang Mach-E
• VW Touran dashboard lights flicker and won’t start – causes and how to fix it
• Audi Q8 burning smell causes and how to fix it
• Dodge Neon bad O2 sensor symptoms, causes, and diagnosis
• Lincoln Continental low oil pressure light is on – causes and how to reset
• Citroen C5 Aircross low AC refrigerant symptoms, how to recharge
• Dodge Grand Caravan Bluetooth not working – causes and how to fix it
• Jeep Gladiator bad ignition coils symptoms, causes, and diagnosis
• Ram 3500 Heavy Duty airbag light is on – causes and how to reset
• VW California battery light is on – causes and how to reset
• Renault Talisman bad gas mileage causes and how to improve it
• Kia Telluride uneven tire wear causes

Common Dodge Journey Problems: 1st Generation (2009 to 2020)

Common 1st gen Dodge Journey problems include no heat and issues with the throttle body. Learn the common problems on the 1st generation of the Dodge Journey, years 2009 to 2020, and their symptoms, causes, and fixes.

Top 5 Issues with the 1st Gen Dodge Journey (2009 to 2020)

1. heater core problems, symptoms of heater core problems.

• No heat when the heat is turned on
• Heat temperature is lower than normal

Causes of a Bad Heater Core

The heater core can clog on the 1st gen Journey from sediment in the coolant.

How to Fix a Bad Heater Core

As a temporary fix you can flush out the heater core by disconnecting the coolant hoses that lead into the firewall and connect to the heater core.

Replacing the heater core includes removing the dash, the steering wheel, and electronics like the radio. The A/C evaporative core is also part of the heater box, so the A/C system will need to be recovered and recharged.

2. Throttle Body Problems

Symptoms of throttle body problems on the 2009 to 2020 dodge journey.

• High RPMs at idle
• Rough running engine at idle
• Check engine light for code P2112 or P2110

How to Fix Throttle Body Problems

Cleaning the throttle body will not fix these problems on the 2009 to 2020 Dodge Journey. The problem is an issue with the internal sensors and motor, so the throttle body will need to be replaced.

3. Key Fob Failure

Symptoms of a bad key fob.

• Vehicle won’t start
• Door locks don’t work

How to Fix a Key Fob

If there is another remote, see if it works. If it doesn’t, replacing the key fob battery usually fixes this issue.

4. Thermostat Failure

Symptoms of a bad thermostat.

• Check engine light for code P0652

How to Fix a Bad Thermostat

To replace the thermostat, the thermostat needs to be replaced with the housing as one piece. Since a bad heater core can also cause the symptom of no heat, if the temperature gauge is not in its usual position, the thermostat likely has an issue.

5. Wiper Relay

Symptoms of wiper problems.

• Wiper speeds not working
• Windshield wipers not working

Causes of Windshield Wiper Problems

Windshield wiper problems on the 1st gen Dodge Journey tend to stem from issues with the wiper relay. If the wipers won’t turn on, it could be the motor relay, and if the wipers have issues with the settings, it could be the wiper speed relay.

How to Fix Wiper Problems

Remove the fuse box cover from the fuses in the engine bay.

Since the relays are the same part number, they could be swapped, so if the wipers are not turning on, try swapping them to see if it’s causing the issue.

If there is an issue with the wipers’ speed, the wiper speed relay will need to be swapped with a new relay to test it.

1st Generation Dodge Journey Model Years

• 2009 Dodge Journey
• 2010 Dodge Journey
• 2011 Dodge Journey
• 2012 Dodge Journey
• 2013 Dodge Journey
• 2014 Dodge Journey
• 2015 Dodge Journey
• 2016 Dodge Journey
• 2017 Dodge Journey
• 2018 Dodge Journey
• 2019 Dodge Journey
• 2020 Dodge Journey

Related Content

• Car Heater Not Working?
• Is Your Car Heater Not Blowing Air?
• How to Tell if a Relay is Bad in a Car, Truck, or SUV

Shop 1st Gen Dodge Journey Parts

• Engine & Engine Management
• Heating & Cooling

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

NOW OPEN – DIRECT CONNECTION BROUGHT TO YOU BY DODGE POWER BROKERS

• Shop Parts & Accessories
• ®</sup>" role="button">Learn About Uconnect ®
• View Owner's Manual
• Pair Your Smartphone
• Purchase EV Charger
• Shop Merchandise
• EXPLORE FAQs
• FIND A DEALER
• SCHEDULE SERVICE

Recall Information

See if your vehicle has been affected.

To find out if your vehicle has any current recalls – or, to get reimbursed for previous recall-related costs – please enter your VIN or sign in to your existing Mopar ® account.

Here's How to Find Your Vin

What is a vin.

A VIN is a Vehicle Identification Number. It is a 17-character alphanumeric identifier or a manufacturer’s serial number. Each character in the VIN number has a significant meaning. Together, they create a number that provides information about the vehicle and its unique history.

Where is the VIN located?

The VIN can be found on the VIN plate located on the driver's side of the dashboard just below the windshield (1). The VIN can also be found on the driver-side doorframe label (2), as well as on documents related to the vehicle's registration, title and insurance.

Don't drive a Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep ® , Ram, FIAT® or Alfa Romeo vehicle but need recall information? Visit the CheckToProtect.org website

TAKATA AIRBAG STOP-DRIVE ADVISORY

• Find a Dealer

Whether you want to purchase genuine parts, customize with accessories or get maintenance from a Mopar ® certified technician, you'll find it all at one of our authorized dealers. Simply search below to find one near you.

Choose by Features

Your preferred dealer has been successfully updated.

FCA US LLC regards the safety and security of our customers and their families as paramount. Please see our FAQ list below to learn more about recalls and the precautions we take to keep you safe. If you don't see your concern listed, chat with us and one of our representatives will help answer any questions you may have.

Takata Airbag Inflator Recalls

FCA US is conducting a safety recall of certain vehicles with driver and/or passenger airbag inflators manufactured by Takata Corporation. Enter your VIN to see if your vehicle is currently included in one of these safety recalls, or click Learn More for more information. To schedule an appointment for a FREE Takata airbag inflator recall repair, please call 833-585-0144.

Did you receive a Stop-Drive Advisory notice for your 2003 Dodge Ram Pickup Truck or 2005 – 2010 Chrysler or Dodge brand vehicle? Call 833-585-0144 – or contact your dealer – to discuss the best options for your immediate free repair.

ECODIESEL SETTLEMENT

FCA US LLC is offering an emissions control system software update (the “Approved Emissions Modification” or “AEM”) free of charge for all model year 2014-2016 Ram 1500 and Jeep ® Grand Cherokee vehicles equipped with 3.0L EcoDiesel engines (“Subject Vehicles”). The AEM is intended to ensure that the Subject Vehicles’ emissions are in compliance with the emissions standards to which they were originally certified. There are no hardware changes associated with the AEM. To receive the AEM, you can call the FCA call center at 1-833-280-4748 or contact your preferred authorized dealer to schedule an appointment.

SHOP FOR YOUR NEXT VEHICLE

• Roadside Assistance
• For First Responders
• Chat with Us
• Owner's Apps
• Owners Manual
• Maintenance Schedule
• Warranty Information
• Parts & Accessories Catalogs

For Dealers

• &reg;</sub> Repair Connection">Mopar ® Repair Connection
• &reg;</sub> Dealers">Mopar ® Dealers
• &reg;</sub> CAP">Mopar ® CAP
• DealerCONNECT
• Legal, Safety & Trademarks
• Terms of Use
• Accessibility

Privacy Center

• Privacy Policy
• Manage Your Privacy Choices
• Cookie Settings

SERVICE SCHEDULING MADE EASY

Conveniently book an appointment with your preferred dealer

Did you know creating an account allows us to save vehicle information and preferences so future bookings are even simpler? Register Now

• © 2024 FCA US LLC. All Rights Reserved.
• Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Mopar, SRT and HEMI are registered trademarks of FCA US LLC.
• ALFA ROMEO and FIAT are registered trademarks of FCA Group Marketing S.p.A., used with permission.
• FCA US LLC strives to ensure that its website is accessible to individuals with disabilities. Should you encounter an issue accessing any content on Mopar.com, please call us at 1-800-399-2668, for further assistance or to report a problem. Access to https://fcagroup.my.site.com/Mopar/s/knowledge?language=en_US is subject to FCA US LLC’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Select a vehicle to explore. Sign in (or create an account) to receive access to even more exciting content

Your preferred dealer has been successfully updated.

Thanks for visiting.

You are now leaving the Mopar ® U.S. site and will be logged out of your account.

modal title

One moment please.

Safety Ratings.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings help consumers compare vehicle safety when searching for a car. More stars mean safer cars.

Combines Driver and Passenger star ratings into a single frontal rating. The frontal barrier test simulates a head-on collision between two similar vehicles, each moving at 35 mph.

Combines Side Barrier and Side Pole Star Ratings into a single side rating.

Combines the Side Barrier Driver and the Side Pole Star Ratings into a Front Seat rating. The Rear Seat rating is derived from the Side Barrier Rear Passenger rating.

The Side Barrier test simulates an intersection collision between a standing vehicle and moving barrier at 38.5 mph.

The Side Pole Barrier test simulates a crash into a fixed object like a tree or utility pole.

The Rollover Resistance test measures the risk of rollover in a single-vehicle, loss-of-control scenario.

Recommended Safety Technologies

These features have been either verified by NHTSA or reported by the vehicle manufacturers as meeting NHTSA’s performance criteria.

Learn about safety technology

Recalls & Safety Issues.

This is a record of safety issues for vehicles of this year, make, model and trim. If you are a vehicle owner, search for recalls by your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The vehicle identification number tells you if your car is affected.

Learn about our recall process

Have a safety problem?

Report a problem with your vehicle, tires, car seats or other equipment. We review every problem as we work to keep our roads safe.

Report a safety problem

Find recalls by VIN.

Every vehicle has a unique VIN. Enter a VIN to learn if a specific vehicle needs to be repaired as part of a recall.

Recall information from this VIN lookup tool is provided by the manufacturer conducting the recall. NHTSA does not record VIN information or results provided through this tool.

Unable to load safety issue details.

Recently searched, vehicle comparison.

CarComplaints.com : Car complaints, car problems and defect information

Latest news.

• Jun 1: Tesla Recalls 125,000 Vehicles
• May 31: Tesla Settles Casey Speckman Wrongful Death Lawsuit
• My Account |
• Investigations
• Search Complaints
• Update Carcomplaints
• Add Complaints
• Recent Trends
• Best Vehicles
• Worst Vehicles
• Worst Complaints
• Dodge »
• Journey »
• 2012 »
• AC / heater
• Lamborghini
• Mercedes-Benz
• B2500 Cargo Van
• Conversion Van
• Grand Caravan
• Power Ram 50
• Ram 2500 Power Wagon
• Ram Conversion Van
• Ram Van 1500
• Ram Van 2500
• Ram Van 3500

Heater Not Working

2012 dodge journey.

• « back to AC / heater
• Complaints 679
• Crash Tests 2
• Journey Recalls 6

Most Common Solutions:

• replace heater core (4 reports)
• not sure (3 reports)

AC / heater problem

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

Helpful websites

• No one has added a helpful site for this 2012 Journey problem yet. Be the first!

Find a good Dodge mechanic

A free service from CarTalk.com

Search for Car Problems

Example: "Bad Brakes", "Toyota Recall", etc.

2012 Dodge Journey Owner Comments

Dec 01 2019

Journey SXT 3.2L V6

• Automatic transmission
• 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Heat only on drivers side. Just replaced thermostat and did coolant flush. No change. Freezing my way through the winters. I'm assuming the heater core might need to be replaced?

- Erik S. , Haslet, TX, US

Nov 09 2018

Journey 3.2L V6

• 84,244 miles

Madison, Indiana 47250

- Anitra C. , Madison, US

Sep 01 2018

• 100,000 miles

Overall, this car has been an absolute nightmare and will be getting rid of it asap. Never again will I buy a Dodge!

- Kenda C. , Harbor Springs, US

Feb 07 2019

Journey Crew 3.6L V6

• 74,565 miles

(The radiator defect allegedly occurs because Chrysler fails to sufficiently purge casting sand from the cylinder head during the manufacturing process. This excess sand gradually “seeps out” and causes the Jeep Wranglers’ radiators and oil coolers to “fill with a sludge-like residue that damages and ultimately destroys these and other components,” according to the Jeep Wrangler class action lawsuit.)

- Chris C. , Coaldale, AB, Canada

Nov 16 2018

• 84,000 miles

I purchased this Dodge Journey in June 2018. The heater was not putting out very much heat. When I took it to the dealer to have it checked out said need a new heater core put in. On Monday January 14th, 2019, I am having McCubbins fix for me will take 2 days. Chandler Chevrolet would not fix it and the warranty company would not pay either. I bought this 2012 Dodge Journey in June 2018 and should not have had this kind of problem. Will cost over $1300.00 and cost of renting a car also.

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

Oct 01 2017

Journey XLT 3.6L

• 70,000 miles

I went back to the shop I took it to and they were stumped. I took it to another shop, and they flushed it for a long time, but they said they just kept getting sludge out of it. They said they could try to put another heater core in it, but could not guarantee it would fix it. They could not understand where all of this sludge was coming from. So I had to pay them another $300 for their time in flushing and diagnosing the problem. So I have invested ~$1300 in the car, and still have a car with no heat and no way to fix it. This has also caused several safety incidences as the defrost is unable to keep my windshield clear when I was driving to work.

- Dan G. , Bellevue, IA, US

Oct 31 2017

Journey RT AWD 3.6L

• 104,917 miles

THIS HEATING ISSUE IN THE WINTER COULD REALLY CAUSE A BIG SAFETY ISSUE IF THE WINDOWS DO NOT DEFROST THE REAR HEAT WORK GREAT BUT THE FRONT HEAT IS NON EXISTENT! FROM THE QUOTES WE HAVE HAD WE ARE LOOKING AT A COST OF 1800.00 TO FIX THIS. WE BOUGHT THIS BECAUSE OF THE AGE AND FIGURED BUYING NEWER WE WOULDN'T HAVE THESE ISSUES. WE HAVE HAD TO SCRAPE THE INSIDE OF THE WINDOW

- brenton , Peterborough, ON, Canada

DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME: Link must be about this specific problem or it will be deleted — it must be free & helpful, like a video or web page or forum thread about this exact problem. NO FORUM HOMEPAGES. If you have a for-profit service, contact us .

Preview your link:

Not what you are looking for?

• Remember me Not recommended on shared computers

Forgot your password?

• Engine & Transmission

No heat passenger side...

By rainmaninwa May 29, 2021 in Engine & Transmission

• Reply to this topic
• Start new topic

Recommended Posts

Rainmaninwa.

So right off the bat, I will apologize for the length of the following post, but I think it is worth sharing on the forum with all of you that are struggling with the apparently common “no heat from the passenger side heat outlets” issue. This is my no heat story...

I started into trying to address this issue by reading all I could find out about it both here on the forum and on other auto tech sites to try to get a understanding of the best way to approach this problem on my 2012 Journey SXT 6 cyl. SUV... Smokin hot air out of the drivers side outlets and barely lukewarm air out of the right. all three outlets... regardless of the control settings. 

All the DIY info started me out with the pretty obvious RH heater door actuator replacement option. Since I was just starting into this it seemed a good way to begin since it was not too difficult or expensive to do the actuator replacement under the dash. Easy enough if I ignore the sore neck from laying on my side to get to it... 

Rock Auto provided me with a new actuator and after replacing the old one, I disassembled it to find to my disappointment that the gears were NOT stripped out and that there was essentially nothing wrong with it. Accordingly there was NO noticeable change in the right side no heat problem. While I had the glove box out, I replaced the cabin air filter which was pretty jammed up with dirt and I think it made a slight difference in the overall air output, but gave me no change to the output air temp. While I was at it I messed about with the other actuators as well and determined that they were indeed moving the outside air and cold/hot mix doors in the heater box when the proper controls in the dash were selected. 

The next issue down the list to address was the possibility that the heater core could be clogged, especially since my new (used) 2012 has 90K miles and the coolant/hoses all appear to be OEM installs, I figured that a total cooling system flush was in order anyway.

I put a big tub under the car in the area of the water pump and removed the thermostat housing/outlet and the lower radiator hose while trying to capture as much of the old coolant as I could in the tub. Since the coolant is the goofy brown HOAT antifreeze, I wasn't able to determine if it looked overly contaminated or rusty, but it smelled gross and and I was really surprised to find a lot of SAND in the bottom of the shop sink when I dumped the tub. (see picture 1). Anyway, I then did a back flush of the whole system thru the lower radiator hose and out the open thermostat recess (engine running) as well as the coolant reservoir. The reservoir was coated internally with brown ooze partly filled with crud. (see Picture 2, it clearly shows the stuff I sucked out of it that settled out overnight.) and I ultimately had to remove it from the car to take it to the sink to get at it with brushes, etc to get it cleaned out, it's practically impossible to clean. When done I reinstalled the tank and the thermo/outlet and radiator hose. 

Filled the cooling system with plain water and went for a drive... When fully warmed up (210 deg) Seemed like there was minor improvement in the R/H outlets temperature, but still not nearly as hot as the drivers side. Accordingly I figured that maybe some cooling system flush from the local auto parts store might be helpful to further remove any debris from the cooling system/heater core. Accordingly I got some “heavy duty” cooling system cleaner and added it in. The instructions on the cleaner said that I could run it for a couple of days and then drain it out, so I drove it around town for 3 days and then drained it again. More SAND... (see picture 3) but not nearly as much as the first time.

So I found online that the 2012 V6 had a big service recall regarding problems with the engine block manufacturing CORE SAND not being totally removed from the castings when the engine blocks were made at the foundry. This apparently resulted in engines overheated and ruined resulting in total engine replacement in some instances... I am really sure that issue accounts for all the sand I found upon flushing as well (picture 3). 

Filled it with water again and went for a drive... NO HEAT whatsoever from either side of the car....??? Checked the temp indicator and see that the engine is now only getting up to 145 degrees!

Back to the garage and removed the Thermostat housing/water outlet (again) and sure enough... Thermostat not closing at all (wonder if my radiator cleaner was to blame?). Back to the parts store for a new thermostat/housing and installed same. Upon driving again, engine temp is back to 207 degrees and the R/H air outlets are putting out even more heat than before, but unfortunately not as hot as the drivers side... 

At this point, with my frustration level rising, I was reminded of the U-Tube videos I had watched showing the actual process for replacing the old heater core which apparently do often get flow restricted. Being sure that I didn't want to do that nasty job under the dash, I opted to try a direct flush of the heater core itself, which I had also seen on U-Tube. Not nearly as complicated... but a mess nonetheless...

The vids I watched involved removing the heater hoses from the core inlet/outlet pipes coming thru the firewall (picture 4) and then directly back flushing thru the heater core by itself. I modified this plan to remove the hoses from their connections up front at the engine and flush them from there where I could get to them easier.

Realizing that whatever was still plugging up the heater core would require pretty aggressive flushing to remove, I opted to make myself a flushing gun so I could really force the water back thru the core to clean it out. (see picture 5). I used a old HFT air blow gun and added a copper tube and hose connection so I could force air/water thru the core and really clear it out. One of the vids also suggested putting some radiator flush directly into the heater core and letting it sit for a few minutes before doing the reverse flush process to to the core to loosen whatever is stopping it up. I elected to try that. Bought some 5/8 I.D. clear plastic tubing to use with the flush gun, disconnected the heater hoses and rigged it up. 

This is where this story gets really stupid... In my garage I had a small plastic jug of CLR (Calcium Lime Rust remover) on my shelf with my other chemicals. Since I was only going to leave it in the core for a couple of minutes, I figured I could use that instead of getting more radiator flush from the parts store. The CLR is acidic but very mild, but even so I elected to mix it 25% with water. 

The CLR was sitting on the shelf next to another identical plastic bottle, only it was phosphoric acid concrete cleaner... Yep, thats the jug I mistakenly picked up, mixed into my jar with water and poured it down the line into the heater core. Duh! I let it set for about 5 minutes and looked at the plastic tubes and you wouldn't believe the crud that was bubbling out. Lots of white looking flakes and globs of white pasty stuff (see Picture 6). Amazing there was any heat coming out of the heater at all. I drained the tubes of the gook and then hooked up the flush gun and gave it a gentle shot (don't hit it with full air/water pressure or you'll likely damage something.) with water/air and got more globs & white debris. Continued the flush for several minutes from both directions and when done, reconnected the heater hoses. Only when I had completed this did I realize I had used the wrong stuff!!!

Well, what a lucky break I guess... Refilled the system with water and I got heat on both sides now... Probably wouldn't have cleared it out without mistakenly using that super duty Phosphoric acid floor cleaner. I don't think it hurt anything but time will tell I guess. I refilled the system with good old green antifreeze because I'm tired of that orange HOAT stuff turning to brown guck and plugging everything up. I know, I know, its not supposed to be used but at this point I don't care. I'll see how it all works. Can't say I would recommend using that acid product to anyone else but the process seemed to work pretty well for me, and I'm really happy with how the flush gun worked. No to mention, I didn't have to do that nasty heater core replacement job... 

Link to comment

Share on other sites.

hate bring this up but i would be ready to replace the heater core esp since you used such a strong acid by mistake,usually when you backflush a heater core it will start leaking down the road as the heater cores are a more fragile cooler than the rad. hoping for that not to happen to you tho,,to be honest replacing the heater core does not look that bad as some youtube videos show how to do a shortcut on doing it, and also by replacing it you would have to not worry about it starting to plug up again or worse start leaking inside the cabin at a difficult time or place, great write up on a frustrating repair that never seems to end...sounds like you are a good mechanic or car guy so guess you know your transmission is about to need to be serviced as well at 100k,,,take care and stay safe.....

I mentioned the core sand months ago, after speaking to a neighbour and, having your exact same issue. Glad to hear the thought was confirmed ...kinda ?  Decided to live with it until the 2012 is replaced, not changing the core again. Awesome write up, really hope your fix works for a long time, you did a lot of work ( making a air / water flush gun )  LOL 

John/Horace

Your early rad failure Probak118 might also be tied to the sand residue in system. Friend had the similar  problem with a 3.6 in a 2012 Ram. Cylinder head that year was the most $ problem, mainly passenger side I think.

seams like i read somewhere that they heater core has 2 separate sides for left and right? that might account for this problem ,but it just doesn't sound right 2 separate cooling zones.

Need the right left diverter for accurate depiction. Heater core box has two chambers for diff temp.

So partly plugged heater core you would think would affect both sides equally. So I agree problem may have some other variable we don’t know about. Sticking or internally broken door actuator comes to mind.  Actually temp probe stuck in vent is nice for accurate data.

Hey everybody....  Thanks all for your inputs.    I did some more lookin around online to try to get a better idea of why this heater core plugging issue seems to cause differential heat from one side to the other... I was able to capture a screen shot of a vid somebody posted with their old heater core cut open.    I think it pretty definitively nails down the cause.    The plugging seems to occur on the right side of the heater core away from the inlet port from the engine... seems to make some sense that any debris would be pushed back to the end of the passageway, congeal  and collect...(see picture).    I also reposted one of my pics of the jar full of coolant that I removed from the coolant tank on my '12 and the beginning of this exercise and I note that the two different pics convince me that it's that common colored green gook that collected at the bottom of the jar that is also collecting in the right side of the heater core inlet tank.   A restriction such as this in the right side of the core would also tend to supply the vent chamber side of the heater box assembly somehow.    Wish I had one to take apart and look at...  

• John/Horace and 2late4u

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

×   Pasted as rich text.    Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.    Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.    Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

• Insert image from URL
• Submit Reply
• Existing user? Sign In

More Forum Apps

• Online Users
• Leaderboard

|| Forum Activity ||

• All Activity
• Create New...

Dodge Journey: Heater Not Working Diagnosis

One of the most common (and inconvenient) problems with the Dodge Journey is when it has no heat coming from the heater. Not having a functioning heater makes driving much less comfortable, and can be a sign of certain issues.

At the simplest level, there are two main reasons why the heater is not working.  If it’s not coming on at all, it’s usually either the blower motor or some other wiring issue.  If the heat is blowing, but blowing cold, it has something to do with the coolant getting to the heater core, or the heater core itself.

Journey No Heat:  How the Heater Works

At the simplest level possible, the heater works by passing hot coolant from the engine into a tiny radiator called the heater core.  At this point, the blower motor blows air across the it and the newly heated air blows on to the driver and passengers.  If the heater has stopped working in your Journey, this process has failed in one way or another.

Dodge Journey Heater Not Working:   Diagnosis

A word of caution :  If there is no coolant in your overflow, you can refill it by adding more to the overflow  reservoir.  There is almost never a situation where you would need to take the radiator cap off of the radiator to add coolant. The exception to that would be when you would have reason to believe that the hose going from the reservoir to the radiator is clogged. Anytime you’re putting your hand around the radiator or fans in the engine assume that they are hot and that the fans can kick on at any time, even without your key in the ignition.

Low Coolant

While not having enough coolant may make your engine run hotter, it can also cause your Journey to not be able to create enough heat.  Is there isn’t enough line pressure, due to low coolant, then the heater core will not be able to get any coolant itself.  

You can verify this by checking the coolant level by taking a peek at the overflow reservoir. The overflow reservoir will be connected to the radiator by a tube coming from the top (usually right by the radiator cap).  It should have separate lines to indicate “cool hot” and “cool cold”.  Some vehicles only have full hot.  Never touch the radiator cap unless the vehicle is ICE COLD.

Bad Thermostat

The job of your Journey’s thermostat is to regulate the temperature of the engine.  It does this by allowing water to enter the engine when it is getting hot, and by keeping coolant from entering while the vehicle warms up.

Sometimes when a thermostat goes bad, it stays stuck open.  This allows the coolant to continuously enter the engine.  When this happens it’ll feel like the heat is barely working, or you may notice that it’ll work if the vehicle isn’t moving, but if you get on the highway it stops working.

If your Journey has a built in temperature gauge, take a look at it and see if it is in the spot it is normally in after a bit of driving.  If it looks like it is colder than normal, that’s a pretty good indication that there is something wrong with the thermostat.

Heater Core

The heater core itself can go bad.  Over time, they are known to clog and fail.  If you have a heater core that clogged, it’s not going to be able to pass coolant through.  Without the warm coolant going through it, there can be no heat.  A bad heater core can also leak, so watch out for that.  Feel your passenger floorboard to see if it’s wet. 

Heater core’s are typically pretty affordable .

Hose to/from the Heater Core

There are two hoses coming to and from the heater core.  They both should feel warm or hot to the touch with the engine on.  If one of the hoses is hot, and the other one is cold, that is a pretty good indication that the heater core is clogged.  If the neither hose has any heat, you may have air in the cooling system, low fluid, or low pressure.

If you look at your temperature gauge, and the engine is running hotter than normal, but there is not heat coming from the heater you may be having issues with the water pump.  Try taking the vehicle out of gear and revving the engine a little.  If you feel the heat start to blow hot for a few seconds that’s an indication of a bad water pump or low coolant.  Also, the serpentine belt going to the water pump going bad can it not turn as fast as it needs to.  

Here’s symptoms of a bad water pump from Autoblog.

Conclusion:  Heat Not Working Dodge Journey

It can be tough to find why your Journey’s heater is blowing cold.  But, using the info above about how and why a heater would fail can make it a lot easier.  If there is anything you would like to add, please feel free to leave a comment below. 

Dodge Journey

The Dodge Journey is a mid-size crossover SUV manufactured and marketed by FCA's Dodge brand since model year 2009, with a mild facelift for 2011 model-year.

Justin Cease @justincease

Posted: Mar 25, 2021

• Unsubscribe

No heat in the front, but heat works in the rear.

We just bought a 2012 Dodge journey SXT two wheel drive v6. We were told that the car had a blower motor issue in the front before we bought it. I have replaced the blower motor and the resistor. Now the fans in the front work but there is no heat coming out of either side in the dash. The heat in the rear still works fine.

What do you think the issue is

Is this a good question?

4 Comments:

Currently having same issue Actuator has been replaced and it still blows cold air (in front half) rear heat works fine

Jan 30, 2023 by Cecil Hedgepeth

I figured it the problem with my car and recorded this https://youtu.be/N4hxHT84Rpc

Maybe it will help

Jan 30, 2023 by Justin Cease

would that be a diy ?

Jan 30, 2023 by Kenneth Schel

Yes. Long story short the blender door actuator moves the blend door. My blend door broke so the actuator was moving nothing. I knocked a hole in the HVAC housing to move the door for heat.

Allan Barr @barriphone

Barr iPhone Repair

Posted: Mar 27, 2021

It could be a valve in the coolant hose, it could be a blend door actuator which lets in air from the heater core and the ac evaporator and moves it so certain amount of air comes in from one or the other so it's at the temperature you requested. I believe dodge had problems with the blend door actuator. I would look for technical services bulletins to if there was an issue with your vehicle.

Was this answer helpful?

2 Comments:

Would you say its a diy?

It can be some are easier to get to but I believe that the 94 to 2001 trucks took 4 to 6 hours by the book rate so I would look up the labor time or get a manual and see how hard it is. I have had to pull dashes off of cars to access heater parts. I haven't worked on cars professionally for 10 years so I'm not up to date on your model but it could be buried or it could be right in the front.

Feb 4, 2023 by Allan Barr

Add your answer

Past 24 Hours: 0

Past 7 Days: 4

Past 30 Days: 25

All Time: 2,235

Car Insurance

Home & renters insurance, car repair estimates, read car content, jerry data & research, dodge journey climate control reset.

Dodge Journey climate control reset instructions

Other reasons why your dodge journey a/c isn’t working, how to diagnose a dodge journey climate control malfunction, how to keep dodge journey insurance costs low, don't get ripped off, malfunctioning hvac fuse, blend door actuator malfunction, a/c refrigerant leak, a/c compressor failure, faulty a/c control module.

 “I thought my previous insurance rate was the best I could get, since I have a luxury SUV. After Jerry found me quotes, I ended up paying only $80 a month for the same exact coverage. I’ll be shopping for auto insurance through Jerry from now on!” —Petra S.

Toyota Climate Control Reset

Dodge Ram Climate Control Reset

Chevy Climate Control Reset

Read advice from car experts at jerry.

How to Check and Decode a GMC VIN

How to Check and Decode a Buick VIN

The Most Common 2016 Acura ILX Problems

Browse Questions from Car Experts

How do you connect bluetooth in a 2013 ford escape.

How do I connect to Bluetooth in a Hyundai Veloster?

Why won’t my Ford F-150 connect to Bluetooth?

Browse More Content

Insurance resources.

• Is Jerry Legitimate?
• Types of Car Insurance
• Car Loan Payment Fluctuations
• Buying a Car With No Credit
• How to Lower Insurance Premiums
• Bad Insurance Decisions
• Why is Car Insurance so Expensive?
• Buying a Used Car
• Adding a Name to a Car Title
• Removing a Name From a Car Title

Insurance for Your Car

• Ford Thunderbird Insurance Cost
• Toyota Tercel Insurance Cost
• Nissan 240Sx Insurance Cost

Insurance in Your State

Insurance in your city.

• Evanston WY Insurance
• Point Pleasant WV Insurance
• Wautoma WI Insurance
• Ephrata WA Insurance
• Okanogan WA Insurance
• Spencer WV Insurance

Easiest way to compare and buy car insurance

Car insurance by make, car insurance by model, car insurance by state, car insurance by city, car loan by make, car insurance by company, car loan by state, car repair by service.