Damaged Nitro Antenna Disrupts Key Fob & Starting System

Had similar issues with my 2012 Dodge Journey diesel. The car antenna and key fob problems started exactly the same way, remote locking failed and keyless start stopped working. The main problem was the fm antenna base connection which had corroded, causing signal interference with multiple vehicle systems. The deteriorated antenna mount allowed water to seep in, affecting the wiring harness connected to the body control module. After scanning, multiple error codes pointed to communication issues between modules. The fix required: Replacing the complete antenna assembly, Rewiring the antenna connections, Resealing the antenna base mount, Reprogramming the body control module This was a serious repair job taking about 6 hours at the shop. The vehicle antenna system in these models integrates with multiple electronic functions, so when it fails, it cascades into other systems. The car radio was also affected by signal interference until the repair. If you see similar symptoms, get it checked soon as water damage to the electronics can spread if left unaddressed.

Thanks for sharing that experience with your Journey. My Nitro symptoms match yours pretty closely. The corroded antenna mount causing all those issues makes a lot of sense given how my central locking and starting problems developed. I plan to have my local shop diagnose it next week. Really helps to know about the potential wiring harness damage and module reprogramming needs. Since your repair involved quite a bit of work, would you mind sharing what the total cost was? Also curious if youve had any recurring antenna issues or other electrical problems since getting it fixed?

Since getting the antenna system repaired on my Journey, everything has worked perfectly. The car radio reception is clear, and the key fob functions are back to normal. The mechanic found that the main issue was indeed a faulty cable connection at the automotive antenna base, which was causing the interference problems. The fix was simpler than initially expected, no need for extensive rewiring or module reprogramming. The total repair cost came to 95€, which covered fixing the defective connection and sealing the vehicle antenna mount properly to prevent future water damage. The central locking and keyless start have been working flawlessly for months now. No recurring issues with the fm antenna or any other electrical systems. Getting the antenna connection fixed early prevented more extensive damage to the electronics. Your Nitro symptoms sound identical to what I experienced, so hopefully youll have a similarly straightforward fix. The key is addressing the antenna problems before water damage can spread to other components.

I finally got my Nitro checked at the shop today and wanted to update on how it went. The mechanic confirmed the vehicle antenna issues were causing the problems, just like with your Journey. The automotive antenna mount had deteriorated and water got into the connections, creating signal interference with multiple systems. Luckily, we caught it before any serious damage occurred to the electronics. The repair was straightforward, they replaced the fm antenna assembly and properly sealed the base mount. Total cost was 120€ which included parts and labor. The central locking and keyless start are working perfectly now. Even the car radio reception has improved significantly. The mechanic cleared all the stored error codes and everything is back to normal. Really glad I addressed this before it led to more extensive damage. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it helped me understand exactly what needed fixing.