This article will provide an explanation of the meaning behind “Battery Saver Mode” coming up on your Dodge Journey, including its main causes and solutions for resetting the alert.
Without further delay, let’s dive in!
What Does “Battery Saver Mode” Mean on a Dodge Journey?
The battery on your Dodge Journey plays a critical role in the operation of your vehicle.
It provides power to run all of the systems in your Dodge Journey, including the air conditioning, radio, and navigation system.
And when you start your engine, it also powers up the starter motor so it can turn over.
If the battery voltage drops below a certain level, the computer will automatically shut down some of these systems to save the battery.
This is known as “Battery Saver Mode” and is designed to protect your battery from draining completely, causing your car to stall.
Here are some things you might experience when the Battery Saver Mode alert appears:
- Your Dodge Journey may fail to start.
- Interior and exterior lights may become dimmer.
- The infotainment screen may stop working.
- The car may stall.
- Windows may malfunction.
- Battery Saver Mode Alert
What Causes the Dodge Journey “Battery Saver Mode” Alert?
Now that I have briefly explained what “battery saver mode” is,
Let’s now look at the main possible causes of this fault message.
1. Worn Out Battery:
The number one cause of the “battery saver mode” message on your Dodge Journey is a bad battery.
The most likely cause is that your battery is old and has reached the end of its life.
Over time the battery losses power, and its ability to hold a charge diminishes.
When this happens, the alternator can’t charge your battery properly,
And your Dodge Journey may enter “battery saver mode” in an effort to prevent the battery from over-discharging while you driving.
From my experience as a mechanic, a Dodge Journey battery should last at least 3-5 years before needing to be replaced.
If your car battery is older than this, then it may be time to replace it.
The quickest way to tell if your battery is bad is to jump-start your vehicle.
If this solves the problem, then you can be confident that the battery is bad and needs to be replaced.
2. Faulty Alternator:
The second most likely cause of the battery saver active problem is a damaged alternator.
The alternator is responsible for generating electricity that is used to charge your car battery.
If the alternator fails, it will be unable to generate enough power to keep up with the demands of starting your vehicle or performing other electrical functions.
This can cause your Dodge Journey to enter “battery saver mode” since the battery is not getting charged.
In fact, the opposite effect is happening.
One trick to check if the problem is caused by a bad alternator is to start the vehicle,
Then leave it running for a few minutes (3-5 minutes).
After that, disconnect the negative battery terminal.
If your Journey switches off as soon as you disconnect the negative battery terminal, then it’s a sign the alternator is bad.
If the car continues to run although you disconnected one of the terminals, then the problem is not with your alternator.
3. Loose Battery Terminals:
Another reason why your Dodge Journey is displaying “Battery saver mode” on the dashboard is that the battery terminals are loose.
When battery terminals are loose, it makes it difficult for power to flow from the alternator to the battery.
This makes it hard for your vehicle battery to charge and run at full capacity.
If you have a loose battery terminal, it can cause your Dodge Journey to enter Battery saver mode.
4. Worn Serpentine Belt:
The Serpentine belt (Also known as the Alternator belt) is a rubber-like belt in your Dodge that connects the pulley on your alternator and other components like the power steering pump and air-con.
If this belt breaks due to wear and tear, the pulleys won’t turn, which causes the alternator not to work.
As a result of this, a “Battery saver mode” warning message will come on.
How to Fix and Reset Dodge Journey’s “Battery Saver Mode” Message
Lastly, let’s look at how to go about combating this warning message.
Check the Battery Terminals
The first thing I recommend that you do is check the battery terminals and make sure that they’re tight.
If they’re loose, tighten them as much as you can with a screwdriver.
Whilst you are still there, you also want to check if there is no visible sign of corrosion on both terminals and the battery itself.
If there is corrosion, clean this off using a wire brush and hot water.
Then reconnect the battery terminals, if the message is still there, move on to step two.
2. Replace the Battery
If you have checked the battery terminals and there is no sign of corrosion, then you need to replace your car’s battery.
But before changing the battery, make sure that you have it tested (You can do this at your dealer or auto stores like Autozone).
The reason for this is that if you have a dead battery, it could be caused by something else, like not driving long enough.
You don’t want to replace the battery only to find out that it didn’t fix the problem (Unless your Dodge Journey battery is more than three years old)
So once you have changed your car battery, restart your car and see if the message still appears on your dashboard.
In most cases, replacing the battery will fix the problem.
3. Have the Alternator Tested/Replaced
If the battery is still in good condition, then the alternator may be the problem.
Have it tested to see if it’s working properly, or replaced it if necessary. A good alternator will read anywhere between 13.5 to 14.5 volts when you are idling.
Please Note: Other things like a Blown battery sensor fuse or bad ground wire can also trigger this alert, but from my experience, it always boils down to these three leading causes.
Additional Sources
https://www.lhmdodgeboise.com/dodge-battery.htm
https://www.autozone.com/lp/battery-services
https://www.dodgejourneyforum.com/topic/11913-intermittent-battery-drain/