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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.

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Dodge Journey Climate Control Reset: Step-by-Step Guide

The Dodge is one of the technically built cars with a wide range of advanced connectivity and infotainment features. The Journey climate control helps put a ride under check when you’re driving at a high freezing temp. Not only that, the climate control system also protects you and your vehicle from being exposed to extreme climate conditions. 

What Causes Dodge Journey climate control to malfunction

There are a couple of reasons your Dodge Journey climate control system may go bad. When the climate control malfunctions, one vent will release warm air while cold air comes out from another. There are other signs to look out for. 

When this notification comes on, the first thing that comes to mind is your car’s inability to balance its temp. This is dangerous because when its HVAC system fails, you may suffocate by heat or suffer from excessive cold. 

But what causes the Dodge Journey climate control to malfunction? Here are a few things to know.

A faulty AC Compressor 

Your car’s AC compressor is built to chill the cabin-bound air. However, when there’s a fault with the compressor, the HVAC system won’t function as it should.  

Debris-filed cabin filter

There’s a chance the cabin air filter is dirty and needs some cleaning. The filter usually takes debris and dirt away from your cabin may have been clogged. Normally, you should change the cabin air filter after 16,000-32,000 kilometers. If this doesn’t happen, the filter will become dirty, causing the climate control system to malfunction.

Clogged Condenser

Another reason the climate control system will fail is if the AC condenser is clogged. With time, the condenser will get dirty and will need replacement. As a result, the climate control won’t be able to regulate the in-cabin interior temp. What you should do is clean the condenser; you’ll need a certified mechanic to do a good job. 

Failed orifice cylinder

The orifice tube is another component of the HVAC system that can cause the Dodge Journey climate control reset message to pop up on your car’s instrument cluster. A replacement tube is the best fix, but make sure you allow a professional technician to handle it.  

You may also need to check if there’s a refrigerant leak. This occurs due to an air conditioner malfunction. All you need to do may be to recharge your AC, especially if you notice that the HVAC system releases warmer air over and over again.   

How to Do Dodge Journey Climate Control Reset

When you experience a malfunction in your Dodge’s climate control system, it’s not time to panic or get nervous. Instead, you need to follow this simple but detailed step-by-step guide to fix the issue. 

Troubleshooting a malfunctioning climate control can be tricky, especially if the reason for the issue is beyond the reasons above. 

For instance, a jumbled wiring harness or faulty blower motor can also cause the climate control reset message to pop up.

The first thing to do is to drive to a professional HVAC mechanic’s shop for a proper diagnosis. This should happen before a fix is applied. With an OBD scanner, you may detect an OBD trouble code. This might give you an idea of what exactly is wrong.   

Step 1: Pull over and allow the engine to cool

The first thing to do if you’re driving on a safe highway is to pull over by the shoulder of the road and wait for your car engine to cool off for about 15-30 minutes. 

Step 2: Turn the engine on again

Switch the car ignition on and allow the instrument cluster to display the reset message. This step may not be necessary if you’ve parked your car inside the garage for over 24 hours or more.  

Step 3: Change the cluster setting

Once the climate control reset message pops up, head to the setting of the instrument cluster to change it. Once you change the AC setting to ‘panel, the AC will force air with greater force to the upper blowers. 

Step 4: Press and hold control buttons

While staying with the central control panel, press and hold down the top and bottom buttons. The top button regulates the rear wiper while the bottom button controls the washer fluid in the rear wiper. 

Step 5: Allow the AC light to flash

While pressing and holding these two buttons, wait a few minutes to allow calibration to finish. During calibration, the AC light will begin to beep. Once the light starts to flash, take your fingers off the two buttons. 

Step 6: Wait until the AC light goes off and on

As soon as you release your hand off the buttons, the AC light will flash off and on before it starts to blink. As the blinking continues, press your finger on the AC button. 

There you have it! With these simple steps, you have successfully reset your Dodge climate control system. Once this is done, the AC system will start to work effectively. I won’t recommend a DIY procedure to fix this issue. 

Final Thoughts

The Dodge Journey has a competitive edge over many of its rival pickup trucks out there. Apart from its exciting on-road and off-road perks, this car offers a smooth ride and a comfortable cabin. You’ll experience a smooth ride as the climate control neutralizes the hotness or warmth of the   

A failed climate control system can cause the Journey’s temp to rise, leading to loss of connection and clear climate notification and control. 

If you arrest the issue in good time, you can reduce the insurance cost on your Dodge Journey’s insurance. I hope you’ll find this article a lot helpful.  

I'm James Smith, a car enthusiast and a content writer for Daily Car Tips. I have a passion for all things cars, from classic muscle cars to the latest electric vehicles. When I'm not writing about cars, you can usually find me tinkering with my car or checking out the latest automotive trends.

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Dodge Journey: AC Compressor Not Turning On – Diagnosis

No matter where you live if your Dodge Journey’s AC compressor is not turning on, it can turn a pleasant commute into a nightmare (particularly if you have kids that are riding with you).

The AC compressor pulley is always being turned by either the serpentine belt or a dedicated belt (it’s going to depend on the model year and engine type).  It uses a clutch to grab the pulley and cycle coolant through your Journey’s AC system.  

If this clutch doesn’t grab, the AC compressor will not turn on.

Before opening the hood to see if there is anything wrong with the AC compressor, start the Journey and turn the AC off and back on a few times.  Do it somewhere quiet.  

If you hear a “thunk” or “clunk” noise after turning the AC on, the compressor is engaging.  Something else is the problem. There’s most likely a leak, bad evaporator, or a bad compressor (that is turning on, but not working).  If that’s the case, jump to this article: Dodge Journey AC Not Blowing Cold .

Here’s how to about diagnosing why your AC is not turning on in your Dodge Journey:

1. Inspect Your Journey’s AC/Serpentine Belt

As stated above, your Journey’s AC compressor may be turned by the serpentine belt that turns all of the engine accessories.  Or, it may be turned by an independent belt.  If there are two belts, they’ll both be attached at the crank pulley.

Inspect the belt to see if it is cracked or shiny.  It may just be that the belt can’t turn the compressor anymore.  It could even be missing entirely without you noticing if it is an independent belt.

After inspecting the belt, there can only be two things left that could be happening:

1. The clutch is not getting a signal to turn on.  This indicates some form of wiring problem.

2. The AC compressor is getting a command to turn on but is no longer able to, which would indicate that it needs replacing.

2. Turn the Compressor by Hand

Your Journey’s AC compressor should freely turn by hand when it is not engaged.  Obviously, you’d want to do this with the vehicle off.  It’ll often be located by electric fans.  Even with the key off, treat them like they can still come on.

You don’t want to turn the pulley where it is attached to the belt.  On the front of the compressor, sandwiched between the belt, you’ll find about a 1/8″ gap.  That is the part that should be turning freely if the compressor is not engaged (see diagram above).

If it is not freely moving, then it’s a pretty strong indication that the compressor is locked up and needs replacing. On the other hand, if it is turning freely, we need to determine why it’s not activating.

3. Check Your Journey’s AC Wiring Harness

Being that the clutch compressor is just a few feet off of the road, it can accrue wiring damage over the years.

Inspect the harness to make sure that it doesn’t have any opens or shorts.  If it looks good, it’s time to move on to testing the relay and seeing if you can manually get the compressor to turn on.

The power going to the AC compressor relay is going to be fused, so check that fuse while you’re at it as well.  You can do this in under 2 minutes with a test light.

4. Test the Compressor Clutch

You can use a jump wire to determine if your Dodge Journey’s AC compressor clutch is activating properly. But, first, you’ll need to locate the compressor relay.

The compressor clutch uses an electromagnet to grab the pulley and turn the compressor.  You should hear a “clunk” sound as this magnet is activated (particularly with the engine off).

You’ll need a jump wire.  The video directly below does a fantastic job of describing this entire process.

Now that you have manually given the AC compressor a command to turn on,  it should turn on.  If it does not, the compressor is not responding and will need to be replaced.

AC Blows Cold on One Side and Hot on the Other?

Diagnose and Fix

If the car AC blows cold air on one side and hot on the other, there are a few different causes but it’s likely the blend door actuator , also known as the temperature blend door actuator or vent mode door actuator. We’ll cover what can cause your car’s AC to only blow hot or cold on one side, what other symptoms you might hear, and how to diagnose the blend door actuator if you think it’s the cause.

Signs of a Temperature Problem in Your Car

Ac blows cold air one side and hot air on the other.

There are a few different reasons why the AC might not work in your car . If the air conditioning in your car is blowing hot air on one side and cold air on the other, there could be a simple fix like adjusting the temperature or it could be time to replace a part like the temperature blend door actuator .

AC Blows Hot or Cold Air on One Side with Clicking Sound

If you experience the symptom of the AC blowing hot or cold air on one side but not the other and it’s accompanied by a clicking or ticking sound from the dashboard, it probably means a gear in the temperature blend door actuator is faulty and the actuator needs to be replaced.

Why the AC Blows Cold on One Side and Hot on the Other

Problems with the HVAC control module can be further diagnosed with an advanced scan tool , but here are some common reasons why the AC might be blowing hot and cold air on either side despite the set temperature settings.

Temperature Settings Adjusted Differently for the Passenger and Driver Side

Sometimes the AC blows cold on one side and hot on the other because the settings are set that way. This can be remedied by adjusting the temp on the cold side or vice versa to the preferred degree.

HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) Control Module Program Needs a Reset

After disconnecting the battery, sometimes you can interrupt the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) control module’s program that conducts a self-test to find the blend door actuator’s location. If this happens, the module might read inaccurate data, leading to an inaccurate temp and requiring recalibration.

If the program needs to be recalibrated, sometimes it can be reset by disconnecting the negative terminal on the battery for about 5 minutes. After this, turn the key on and do not touch any HVAC controls. Hopefully this will reset the module.

Faulty Blend Door Actuator

The blend door actuator , also known as the temperature blend door actuator or vent mode door actuator, can break or malfunction over time. A blend door actuator is faulty if the HVAC control module commands it to a certain position but it fails to comply, leading to situations like the temp blowing hotter or colder than its intended setting. A faulty blend door actuator can be identified with an advanced scan tool and sometimes makes a clicking noise from the dash due to worn or broken internal parts.

Mechanical Problem with Vent Door

Sometimes the temperature will blow hotter or colder on one side from mechanical problems with the vent door or blend door inside of the heater box. The heater box is located below the dash and houses parts like the blower motor , heater core , and evap core. When you turn the heat or AC on, the blend door inside of the heater box will direct airflow from the blower motor. This is how hot air enters the cabin, and when the heat is turned on, air will flow from the heater core. Sometimes the blend door can jamb or stick, or have issues being controlled and cause problems with airflow like the ac blowing hot on one side and not the other or the heat to not work.

You can tell if there’s a problem with the blend door once the blend door actuator, which controls the blend door, is removed. A twist-knob will move the blend door. The knob should shift and stop, and you may hear the blend door open and close as you turn the knob. If the knob is loose and can be pulled in and out or twists too freely, like 360 degrees, there is likely an issue with the blend door.

To replace the blend door, steps like removing parts of the interior, like the dash, are common, and it can be time consuming to access and remove the heater box to replace this part. Parts like the heater core and AC evaporator core will need to be disconnected. The evaporator core, for example, will need the refrigerant to be removed by a professional before it can be safely disconnected.

More on how the blend door and blend door actuator can cause the heat to blow cold air

Temperature Sensor Not Working

If the temp sensor isn’t working and the vehicle has a hard time picking up accurate information, this can affect the way the temperature settings work.

Head Unit or HVAC Controls Not Working

Sometimes the head unit or heat and A/C controls cause the A/C to blow hot or cold air on one side. Commands may work intermittently or not at all, making it difficult to control the temperature settings.

How to Diagnose Blend Door Actuators

Blend door actuators are the most common reason for the car air conditioning to blow cold air on one side and hot air on the other. They can be diagnosed with an advanced scan tool. The scan tool can tell if the blend door actuator should be in a different position than commanded. If it does not move with the adjustments and commands, there is a problem with the blend door actuator and it will need to be replaced. If the actuator is clicking, this is another sign it will probably need to be replaced.

Where Is the Blend Door Actuator Located?

The actuator is usually screwed in with an electrical connector on the corresponding driver or passenger side. Sometimes they are placed above or below the heater box, also known as the HVAC box.

How to Replace the Blend Door Actuator Yourself

Replacing the door lock actuator can be an easy repair. These are the steps to replace a blend door actuator on a 00-03 Chevy Monte Carlo

• Remove the Glove Box
• Disconnect the temperature door actuator wiring harness
• Remove the two 7/32 inch bolts from the actuator
• Pull off the actuator
• Line up the shaft with the new actuator
• Push the actuator into place
• Insert the two 7/32 inch bolts into the actuator
• Connect the actuator wiring harness
• Test the actuator by moving the temperature control and watching the actuator
• Install the Glove Box

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How-to Videos with More DIY Repairs to Fix Your Car

Check out this video to see the replacement on an 08-12 Ford Escape. To find videos specific to your year, make, and model, search 1A Auto’s how-to videos .

Shop Parts and Tools Mentioned in This Article

• Blend Door Actuator
• Scan Tools and Code Readers
• A/C and Heater Controls

Related Content

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• Is Your Car Heater Not Blowing Air?

10 thoughts to “AC Blows Cold on One Side and Hot on the Other?”

Can’t believe it! Disconnecting the negative battery terminal for about 6-7 minutes actually worked to correct the issue with the a/c in our 09 Tahoe. The passenger side was cold but the drivers side was “room temperature “. After connecting the battery back I started it up and heard a sort of grinding noise in the dash on the drivers side. Turned the a/c down and fan up and now both sides are blowing cold. We live in Southeast GA and I just replaced the condenser in our other vehicle so this was a real money saver.

2007 dodge 2500 powerwagen blows cold on drivers side, blows hot on passenger side. And ac turns on everytime truck is started?

Nissan Rouge, after battery replacement, AC blew cold on one side. Reset module by disconnecting the negative side of the battery for 5 minutes, has been working great every since. Thank you!

I tried it on my cadenza.. but was not successfull. i may have a blend door actuator issue.

Replaced the driver’s side air blend actuator assuming that was my issue. Nothing changed. Tried disonnecting negative terminal of the battery for 10 minutes. Nothing changed. Any other ideas? The temperature has really started to drop and my feet were freezing yesterday while everyone else was burning up since I turned the heat all the way up.

Hi Rob. Did you ever figure out what caused this in your case. I have changed the drivers side blend door actuator twice on my car and the drivers side is always opposite temperate of the passenger side. Disconnecting the battery didn’t work for me either.

I have a 2018 Dodge Ram 1500. My ac has a mind of its own. After I start the ac the vents change to feet, head, floor (not in that order) and when it goes to defrost it goes to high heat 80 degrees.

The Dodge dealer said it needs a new radio! Any ideas of how that can be connected.

I have a 2008 Honda Accord and recently put on a new battery. Then as I drive everything works fine until I make a turn, usually to the right, I hear a sound almost like a grinding as the air seems to swing over to the passenger side without anything coming from the driver side vents. As I straighten the steering wheel it swings back to work properly again until I move the steering wheel. Could this be the door actuator or something else?

I have a 2013 Nissan Sentra and it cuts of when its hot outside. Running the air only gets half the car to blow cool. Sitting idle makes the car stall out. What could be the cause of this.

My car had the passenger side blowing hot air the drivers side blowing colder air. After searching in google regarding this problem I found your article, it’s really helping me out from this problem.

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• Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan Talk

cold air on driver side, hot air on passenger side

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Please I need guidance in solving this HVAC issue with my Dodge grand caravan 2017 There's cold airflow on driver's side while passenger's side is hot air all the time I have changed the blend door actuator, no luck I have changed the thermostat {had P0128 Error} i function tested the movement , no luck I did the reset of the control, no luck I guess the climate control knob might be the culprit any guidance will be much appreciated  

This would actually need a good scan tool with bidirectional controls and access to the HVAC data pids. If you have dual zone climate controls, there will be individual zone temperature sensors that should be read on the scan tool first. You'd want to run actuator tests on all the motors. Otherwise, the only thing I can think to suggest is that you make sure you changed the right blend door actuator. And make sure that you didn't overlook changing the temperature on the control panel from hot to cold if it's dual zone.  

Thanks for your response The temperature is always in cold but the air on passenger side is always hot. I'm gonna change the climate control to see if it helps pls how many blend door actuator are there in this vehicle  

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I don't have access to service info anymore. The best I can offer is that you turn the key on with engine off and see what you can see on your own under the dash. Turn a knob, dial, or change a button from full hot to cold and try to see which actuator is moving. Do the same with mode switches. Change it from floor to defrost, etc... and note your observations. Try to find your own game plan for moving forward from there. Sorry I can't be of more use than that.  

Thank for the detailed replies you gave me i did figure it after I sent my last reply I changed the upper blend door actuator on the passenger side and it fixed the issue. Initially, I changed the lower blend door actuator (guess it controls the modes, face, floor, frost etc) with a new one but no luck. Then I removed the upper blend door actuator and replaced it with the original lower blend door actuator and it works fine now. Ironically, I tested the upper blend door actuator after I removed it with a 9v battery and it turns.  

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Heat Not Working Properly

2009 dodge journey.

• « back to AC / heater
• Complaints 3K
• Crash Tests 2
• Journey Recalls 8
• Defect Investigations 3

CarComplaints.com Notes: A prime example of why you should never buy the first model year of a new vehicle.

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• replace heater core (2 reports)
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AC / heater problem

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2009 Dodge Journey Owner Comments

Nov 18 2017

Journey SXT 3.5L V6

• Automatic transmission
• 82,642 miles

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

This car has only really provided me with a good strong headache. I'm eternally regretful that I decided to purchase a 2009 Dodge Journey.

- nigelm , Kingston, ON, Canada

Nov 22 2014

Journey RT V6

• 41,000 miles

This 2009 Dodge Journey RT was purchased brand new in 2009. Since 2014, this car has gone in every year for heater issues. The heater core was replaced in 2014 at a cost to me for $1300. Since then, the car has gone back in for the same problem. The core was flushed again in 2015, 2016 and now they tell me I need a new heater core at the cost of $1300. Dodge issued a recall for the heater core in the Dodge Avenger. Dodge needs to issue a recall on the heater core for the Journey. This is definitely a design flaw and people are being charged over and over for the repair. Never in any of my other cars that I have owned have I had to replace anything for the heater. I am tired of being ripped off. Dodge should eat the cost for the heater core repairs.

- Cheryl B. , Downingtown, US

Oct 07 2015

Journey SE 2.4L

• 105,078 miles

Anyone got suggestions for a low cost fix without ruining something? We really like the car and the way it handles, so if it can be fixed @ reasonable cost, we will do it.

- asclow89 , Coeur D Alene, ID, US

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• Climate Control

Radio and heater controls don't work

• heater controls

By Reilywalker97 September 20, 2022 in Climate Control

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Reilywalker97.

Hello guys, I have a 2011 Dodge Journey Mainstreet AWD. Several months ago I loaded my car out to a roommate who had to work nights and on his way home the car went into limp mode and died. We flat towed it home and my boyfriend got to work trying to figure out what was going on. Initially we thought it was the battery or the battery temperature sensor again so we replaced both then realized it was the alternator. I didn't have the money right off the bat and after the laundry list of problems the car has given me we let it sit for a while. Approximately four months. Finally we replaced the alternator only to find that the touch screen for the radio as well as the climate controls did not work anymore, lights don't even come on. The dash cluster and buttons on the steering wheel do though. Then we realized one headlight, one high beam, one break light and two of my four blinkers also don't work. We checked fuses and all are fine. One mechanic said we need to flash the computer stating that due to it being DOA for a while it confused the computer and it was stuck essentially in limp mode. Another mechanic said he could flash it but that it could potentially be an issue of a power surge having fried the system. I don't want to waste more money. I've already paid 11k for the car alone not including everything that has been fixed on it. We've gone to YouTube and other forums and tried all the magic tricks with buttons and checked the fuse behind the radio itself. Nothing is working. Please help.

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To get the vehicle "on the road to recovery" with the least time and aggravation and wasted money on parts that don't fix the issues.......Time to go to a proper shop or DEALER for a thorough computer scan of ALL computer systems and go from there.  

• Locosiete and 2late4u

you could try to do the hard reset to see if that would change anything if you havent already tried that,sounds like you guys are just been  unloading the parts cannon on this without having it checked out properly..What was the problem and codes from going into limp mode? I dont believe a bad alt wouldn't put it into limp mode, after sitting so long was the battery properly checked to see if it was still good? after rereading your post is it just the electronics acting crazy? will it start up and run?   also which engine does it have?

It's been to a mechanic after the alternator was replaced and it had the problems with the radio and heater controls, he said the computer needs flashed by a dodge dealership and that it was confused after sitting so long. When I set up an appointment with dodge and told them what the mechanic said the dodge mechanic's response was well it could be that or it could be that a power surge "fried some things". Said we could start with flashing the computer and if it's not that then it's "fried some things" but didn't specify as to what so I couldn't tell you guys. It runs and drives just fine, battery is fine. Alternator is now fine, we tested it before we replaced it and it was bad which is why we replaced it. But now it runs and drives just has these issues with the stereo and climate controls where they just won't turn on. We've looked at every tip and trick to reset the radio. It has no check engine light on and from what my roommate said it went into limp mode before it completely died and it's never come back out. So it didn't go into limp mode after. Mechanic said that because it went into limp mode and then sat till we could afford to replace the alternator that it confused the system or something and that's why it's stuck like this. 

I do want to add that the car is still blowing hot air so the system works I just can't control it. The radio also works but only way we can control that is with the toggles on the back of the steering wheel since that entire control panel is not working. We also checked all the fuses and none of them were blown. 

You even checked the fuses that are located in the INTERIOR FUSE PANEL located between the glove box and kick panel on the passengers side?

YES there is a possibility that the heat/ventilation module and the radio module(that one also has the CD player in it) could have been electrically "fried" being we don't know exactly what happened to the car initially. These are also BODY CONTROL MODULE (interior functions) computer, and hooked up by small gage wiring to these parts. They can easily be "fried".

Yep, checked the fuses under the dash too along with the ones in the engine compartment. All I know is when he was driving it the radio cut out and the screen went off, headlights dimmed and then the car shut off and wouldn't start back up. After we changed the alternator the car came back on, runs fine, heater is stuck on since I can't control it and the radio plays music but same as the heater I cannot control it. We don't know at this point what is wrong. The mechanic that looked at it pulled the stereo off and checked all the wires and plugs there and said everything looked fine as well. 

• 4 months later...

hahahannah4

On 9/19/2022 at 9:15 PM, Reilywalker97 said: Hello guys, I have a 2011 Dodge Journey Mainstreet AWD. Several months ago I loaded my car out to a roommate who had to work nights and on his way home the car went into limp mode and died. We flat towed it home and my boyfriend got to work trying to figure out what was going on. Initially we thought it was the battery or the battery temperature sensor again so we replaced both then realized it was the alternator. I didn't have the money right off the bat and after the laundry list of problems the car has given me we let it sit for a while. Approximately four months. Finally we replaced the alternator only to find that the touch screen for the radio as well as the climate controls did not work anymore, lights don't even come on. The dash cluster and buttons on the steering wheel do though. Then we realized one headlight, one high beam, one break light and two of my four blinkers also don't work. We checked fuses and all are fine. One mechanic said we need to flash the computer stating that due to it being DOA for a while it confused the computer and it was stuck essentially in limp mode. Another mechanic said he could flash it but that it could potentially be an issue of a power surge having fried the system. I don't want to waste more money. I've already paid 11k for the car alone not including everything that has been fixed on it. We've gone to YouTube and other forums and tried all the magic tricks with buttons and checked the fuse behind the radio itself. Nothing is working. Please help.

Okay so i have a question. What did you do to fix it, if you ever got it fixed lol. I am dealing with the same issues and i have no idea what to do. I just got my car out of the shop for the transmission. Before it went it everything was working fine. When i got it back the radio and heat controls wont work. Like when i turn my car on the heat comes on but i cant turn it off or nothing. I cant use any of the controls for the heat. And same with the radio it will work with the buttons on the steering will  but the touchscreen wont work for me!! If you have any tips please lmk girl!

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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.

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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.

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