Rattling noise going uphill

Tiny
DHARRY1960
  • MEMBER
  • 2017 DODGE JOURNEY
  • 3.6L
  • 6 CYL
  • 4WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 25,000 MILES
I just recently purchased the vehicle listed above GT model. When I go up a hill (when the vehicle sits overnight), there is a loud banging sound underneath the vehicle. Sounds like coming from the front. Took it to the local dealer and they replaced the trans-axle coupler. Didn't fix the problem. It also squeaks when going over/rolling over bumps. Anyone else have this problem? Any help or assistance would be greatly appreciated.
Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 8:38 AM

11 Replies

Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,907 POSTS
Any chance you have two new tires on the front or rear of the vehicle? Chances are this is in the PTU or rear drive unit. If the tires are not the same size then it will cause the 4WD to try and engage and due to the tires spinning at different rates it causes this type of issue.

We need to check the tire circumference and not just the tire size that is on the side of the tire. That means we need to measure the outside diameter of each tire to make sure they are the same size.

Let us know and we can go from there. Thanks
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 8:46 AM
Tiny
DHARRY1960
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  • 6 POSTS
I measured the circumference of all the tires to include checking the tire size. Everything matches.
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 12:56 PM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. Good. At this point is the noise loud enough to get a recording of it? If we can hear it we can get a better idea as to what the issue could be.
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Friday, June 19th, 2020 AT 7:12 PM
Tiny
DHARRY1960
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Here is a audio of the noise. Please listen to the complete video. You may need to turn up the volume. Thanks again for your help.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 1:00 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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  • 18,907 POSTS
Okay. That is great. Can you give me a little more detail about when this happens? Is it only after it sits overnight? Does it go away when it gets hot? Does it have any relation to you accelerating or braking?

Also, it appears you are just barely still inside the basic warranty so whatever this is, should be covered. Have you made plans on taking this back to the dealer or a different dealer and taking them for a drive to show them what it is doing? I find it hard to believe a dealer could not find that noise. It may be a little harder for us to find it but I am on the internet with you and I think we will figure this out because that is pretty loud and clearly not that hard to duplicate.
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Saturday, June 20th, 2020 AT 8:36 PM
Tiny
DHARRY1960
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
You are exactly correct. It happens only after it sits overnight. Once the vehicle sits overnight is when I can duplicate it. Also, once it warms up, the noise goes away. It gets louder after I get to the top of a steep hill and just barely getting on the accelerator in the morning. It doesn't do it on level ground. Once I peak the hill, I make a right hand turn and as long as I don't accelerate quickly you will here the noise. If I take my foot off of the accelerator while it is making the noise, it will go away. It is out of the basic warranty (3/36000), but still covered by the 5/50000 drive-train warranty.
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Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 AT 5:43 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
  • MECHANIC
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Okay. Since they replaced the coupler that tells me they think it is related to the 4WD system or engagement.

I am thinking they were close but need to look at the rear driveline module. This is basically the system that links the rear suspension to the front when 4WD is needed. I suspect that clutch is slipping.

Since you have the GT module, I believe you have a dial where you can select Mud/Snow/Sand/Normal? If this is true, can you put it in snow and tell me if it still makes the noise?
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Tuesday, June 23rd, 2020 AT 7:47 PM
Tiny
DHARRY1960
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Unfortunately there is no dial to select any options. The only option is to place it in manual shift by moving the shifting lever. This allows me to place it in a gear of my choice by shifting either right or left when it's in the manual shift position. I did this a few days ago going up a fairly steep hill and it didn't make the noise. When it is in the normal drive position "D" I can duplicate the problem. Any other ideas?
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Wednesday, June 24th, 2020 AT 7:12 AM
Tiny
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Okay. I meant to mention that as well. Can you shift through the gears manually and see if any of them make the noise? If it only makes the noise in drive then that is great info.
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Wednesday, June 24th, 2020 AT 7:41 PM
Tiny
DHARRY1960
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I went uphill and went through the gears and didn't hear the rattling noise. Seems to only do it when in drive.
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Thursday, June 25th, 2020 AT 7:31 AM
Tiny
KASEKENNY
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Okay. That is good info. Let's try unplugging the rear drive unit that is at the back of the drive shaft before the differential. Basically this is a clutch that gets engaged when it needs 4WD on. If this does not make the noise when this is unhooked then we know the RDM is the issue. We can get into that detail if this proves out. If not, we will go in a different direction but we are getting close now that we can get things to make it happen and not to make it happen.

When you drive it with this connector unhooked, you may get a code but that is okay. Let me know if you have questions on this. Thanks
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Friday, June 26th, 2020 AT 11:29 AM

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