2009 Dodge Journey Fuel Pump Location: Where It Is and How to Access It

The bottom line up front: On a 2009 Dodge Journey, the fuel pump is located inside the fuel tank, which sits underneath the rear of the vehicle. There is no access panel cut into the floor under the rear seat, so the fuel tank itself must be lowered or removed to reach the pump. That makes this a labor-intensive job that typically runs 2 to 3 hours of shop time in addition to the cost of the part [⁹].

Where exactly is the fuel pump on a 2009 Dodge Journey?

The 2009 Dodge Journey uses an in-tank electric fuel pump. This is the most common design on modern vehicles. The pump sits inside the fuel tank, mounted to the top of the tank through a round opening that is sealed with a lock ring [²].

To get to it, you have to work from underneath the vehicle. The tank is held up by straps. On most trims, you will need to disconnect the exhaust, the driveshaft on AWD models, the fuel filler neck, and all electrical and vent lines before the tank can be carefully lowered down [⁹]. On all-wheel-drive versions, the rear driveshaft can make tank removal trickier than on front-wheel-drive models.

There is an access procedure that some owners try by cutting an inspection hole in the floor pan, but that is hack work and not recommended. It damages the structural integrity of the floor and creates a safety risk. The correct and safe approach is to remove the fuel tank.

How the fuel pump works on your Journey

The fuel pump does one thing. It pulls fuel out of the tank and pushes it to the engine at high pressure. On the 2009 Journey, the pump is part of a bigger assembly called the fuel pump module. That module includes the electric pump, the fuel level sending unit (the float that operates your gas gauge), the pressure regulator, and a strainer or sock that catches debris [²][]. When the pump goes bad, most owners replace the entire module as one unit. That is cheaper than buying the pieces separately and replacing the sender unit inside the tank [²][].

The 2009 model year came with three different engines: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder, a 2.7-liter V6, and a 3.5-liter V6. Two different pump part numbers were used. For the 2.4L and 2.7L on front-wheel drive, the primary pump is at the left side of the tank and fits part number 68039210AG [³]. The 3.5L V6 uses a separate assembly, and if your Journey has all-wheel drive, the pump is different again from the FWD version [⁹]. The original equipment manufacturer part number for the 3.5L AWD system is 68038901AF [⁵].

It should be noted that used aftermarket pump assemblies designed for FWD 2.4L models will not fit AWD vehicles [⁸]. The float arm geometry and the fuel tank shape are different between the two drive configurations. The ethanol, so before you order a pump, you need to know your exact drivetrain and engine.

Common symptoms that mean the fuel pump is failing

A fuel pump rarely fails without giving you warnings. Those warnings fall into a few patterns that about diagnosing.

1. You hear a whining or clattering noise from the rear of the car. A pump that is on its way out often makes noise because the motor bearing is failing or the pump is trying to move fuel against a clogged strainer [²][][].
2. The engine cranks but won't start. If the pump is dead, no fuel gets to the injectors, so the engine swings over but never starts [²][].
3. The car starts after sitting but stalls when it gets warm. This is a classic sign of a pump motor that overheats. The motor has reached some near-the-end life level and expands when hot, causing the bushes inside the electric motor to lose contact [⁹].
4. Loss of power under load. You press the gas and the engine feels flat. The issue is that the pump cannot keep enough pressure up when the engine is demanding maximum fuel flow [²][2].
5. Very poor fuel economy. Running a rich condition because the pressure sensor gets an incorrect read or the PCM is seeing low pressure that it manually offsets long term. This can cause the engine to run rich, delivering more fuel than needed [⁹].
6. The check engine light comes on. The PCM might set a diagnostic trouble code for fuel system performance or pressure. Common OBD codes include P0001, P0002, and P0003. These mean the fuel pressure is not meeting its expected range [¹].

If the engine is cold, a failing. Pump can also cause extended cranking before the engine finally starts [³][].

How a shop diagnoses the fuel pump honestly

When you take your Journey to a mechanic because it won't start, the first thing. They will do is check the fuel pressure at the fuel rail via a fuel pressure gauge. A fuel injection pump should have a constant pressure target of around 58 psi across most Mopar models. If the gauge reads zero, the pump is not getting power or the pump motor is dead [²][2].

The mechanic will then do a quick electrical check. They will measure the voltage at the wiring connector that plugs into the top of the pump module. If the connector is getting battery voltage while the key is in the crank position, then the pump is getting electrical. If the voltage is low like 8 volts, the wiring harness has too much resistance, and the circuit needs attention [²][].

Even if the pump is getting battery voltage and running, it may not be delivering enough fuel volume. A failing pump can run but produce low pressure. The shop checks the fuel filter and then the pump mechanical condition, not just the pump electrical ability [²][]. If they find the pump restrictions on a clogged screen, they'll know the pump is the root cause.

Keep this in mind: some shops replace a fuel pump when the problem is actually the fuel pump relay or the wiring. The Journey has a relay behind the interior fuse panel, but an experienced mechanic will verify that the relay is flipping before they quote parts. That protects you from a needless repair [¹].

Replacing the fuel pump yourself vs. having it done

Replacing the fuel pump on a 2009 Journey is not a beginner-wrenching task for a do-it-yourselfer. There is no easy access. You have to get the vehicle high in the air, drain the fuel, and likely drop the exhaust. On a AWD, the transfer case or driveshaft has to come out of the way as well. Then you need a special lock "ring removal tool to open the tank and pull the module. It is disassembling work that on the assembly line takes trained technicians an hour and a half to complete. For a DIY, plan or set aside most of a weekend [²] [9].

The steps in a professional shop will sound like this.

1. Disconnect the battery. This drastically reduces the risk of a fire starting from a spark while you are working near fuel lines and the pump wiring [²].
2. Relieve the fuel system pressure. You either remove the relay and run the engine until it dies or use a fuel pressure gauge and vent the rail. In certification classes they tell you to vent the pressure slowly, never drop the fuel line off hot under pressure [²][].
3. Raise the vehicle and remove the exhaust section that runs under the tank or along the shield. On the Journey, that bracket hides sometimes the tank supports, make access difficult [²][].
4. Lower the tank with a transmission jack or a good floor jack and a board spreader. The tank is heavy, so. You will need to support it while the hoses and the fuel filler connect come free [²][].
5. Release the lock ring and lift the old pump module out. Be careful to drain the fuel that remains in the tank up to the lip level where the pump mounts. The tank is not dry inside even when you think it is empty [²].
6. Install the new pump module. Hook up the returns, the fuel lines, the EVAP hose, and the electrical connector. A filter that came new in the box is built into the module [⁹].
7. Refill the tank with fresh fuel and test. A shop will run the engine and check the supply line and if the pump is noise, with over the leaks. They will also validate the fuel pressure under.

EVAP? Yes, the top of the pump module also has a fitting for the evaporative emissions system. That's the line that vents fuel vapors to the charcoal canister. Put it back correctly to avoid a leak that will trip the Check Engine light with evaporative fuel system codes [²][].

What the replacement actually costs

The cost of replacing the fuel pump on a 2009 Dodge Journey depends entirely on the parts and labor that you use.

Parts. A brand-new dealer OEM fuel pump module. If ordered through Mopar, the list price is somewhere in the 600-dollar range for the single unit, and the newer version appears around 912 CAD, or the 68038901AF, whose price was $606.89 CAD [³][] and some factory remaining at about $1025 for an AWD auxiliary module kit [²][]. A good, top-tier aftermarket module sells for between $80 and $250 [9]. A used but tested original pump can run $45 to $90 out of a recycler [⁹][]. There is even a under-$100 used OEM pump going to the low part of the market but scrutineer inspect the condition of it before you buy [⁹][].

Labor between shops. Independent shop labor rates run $75 to $130 per hour, and the job should book between and how it goes at 3 to 5 hours [¹⁰]. If you have a dealership do it, your labor is, or the shop rates are higher, a dealer will definitely charge by the book not by a computerized approach. A dealer is also "the OEM part only" and will generally quote $1,100 for that combination [⁹]. You entire day and do the job on jack stands, the part is your only real cost.

Total cost often ends this way. In a repair shop with an aftermarket part, the brand of job usually lands between 350 and 550 for the part and labor [¹][][⁹]. Independent for the new OEM costs from roughly $700 to $900 at independent shops and can reach $1,400 dealership totals [][]4[9]. Some RepairPal pages show 1,543-1,674 for 2009 models, but that is a dealer figure not what a good independent shop charges [²]. You should get a written quote before you drop the keys.

When you should skip the "budget" fuel pump

This is a place where the price of a fuel pump is never the thing to go cheap about. The pump is kind of the heart of the car. The fuel system is going to run at high pressure. You have the tank behind you, and a bad "new" pump that was built to a low fitment can show trouble in weeks. It might deliver the wrong pressure, have an inaccurate fuel level sender, or fail from production defects [⁹].

A used or a budget-treated pump also can have the electrical connector pins already swayed from the previous vehicle they were saved from which is why they were removed []. The electrical phenolic connector can melt and char, smoothing the connection [⁹]. Reputable suppliers like Go-Parts and auto salvage yards that bottle a warranty always picture those conditions for you before they ship [⁹][].

It is always smart to inspect the fuel tank for debris before you install a replacement pump. If there is sand or heavy sediment in the tank, you are going to clog the screen on the new pump and the same failure returns. Old fuel he also forms a sticky varnish that kills strainers. Cleaning needs to be part of the job.

The good part about replacing the pump module as a unit: you fix the fuel pump, the fuel gauge-sending, the tank seals, and the O-ring all in one box. For the 2009 Journey, you also do not have to finish with a separate fuel filter. There is a removable in-line fuel filter on this car. There is only a "strainer" screen inside the pump module itself plus (on some models) a filter on the frame rail []. Some other vehicles use an external canister filter that you are presumably replacing the same with.

Understanding the location: a second look

Important for 2009–2010 models: Many SUVs before 2009, such as the Dodge Grand Caravan, have an access cap under the trunk carpet that lets you reach the pump without dropping the tank. The Journey has no such cover[]. That means the location issue is the only one that matters for your job. The pump is physically located at the rear floor pan, below the third seat area, inside the gas tank. There is absolutely no safe way to "peek" at it from the trunk side, so you must go under the vehicle.

Key facts for the 2009 Journey to manage a DIY strip:

• You must relieve the fuel pressure and disconnect the battery before any disassembly . Fuel is. Flammable and a static spark can light it ⌠[²].
• Don't replace the pump if the car has not been diagnosed. A huge, for fuel pump is actually a bunch of grounding or relay or wire that you can fix. A mechanic with a scanner should prove to you with fuel gauge that the pump is the problem before you pay.
• If you are ordering a pump by yourself, use your vehicle's VIN to match your trim: front wheel rear drive motor vs. all-wheel and 2.4L vs. 3.5L will matter for part shape and the regulator arrival [³][].

Frequently asked questions about the fuel pump location and replacement

Is the fuel pump on the 2009 Journey on the driver side or passenger side?
The pump sits inside a fuel tank module; the tank mounts center underneath the vehicle, generally behind the rearmost axle, on both drive types. Your fuel tank itself is transversely arranged, so the pump is central-feeling. There's no easy side access, so try to choose by hardware.

Can I get the pump by removing the back seat?
On this exact model generation there is no access panel under the rear seat bolt removal. The tank drop is required.

**Does the 2009 have a "fuel pump fuse" that I can check?
Yes. The fuse and relay live in the +plus; The Tipm (Totally Integrated Power Module) under the hood. A cheap test for a starting problem is to turn the key that cranks on listening to the gas tank; your ear at the rear drivers (right) side. If you don't hear a 2 second hum that rises and falls, it could be the pump, fuse, or relay.

How long does a fuel pump last on a 2009 Dodge Journey?
The OEM MOPAR unit is built to last. Most of them do a really long time until 125,000–150,000 miles, and some go well past 200,000. Running the tank beyond low often is the pump; it uses fuel as a cooling agent inside the container, and if the tank level gets too low, the motor has less chance to shed heat [²][]. Clean fuel filter and a full tank a third filled at least keeps it healthy.

Top recommendation: Choosing a KEMSO Fuel Pump for Great Replacement Durability

Here's a reliable option you should consider: the KEMSO fuel pump. KEMSO makes excellent quality fuel pumps that are the definition of high-performance and OEM replacement. They offer a lifetime warranty, so if the pump fails at any point, you are covered long into the future.

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So, your final list of everything to open:

1. Verify the pump is really the issue – test pressure and voltage to the pump using the correct diagnosis. Filter out the relay, fuse, and wiring before you [²].
2. Try the pump with the key – if the engine starts, be absolutely certain you want to swap this out before you take on that full tank job.
3. Get the exact pump part on your vehicle – 2.4L and FWD vs AWD changes the pump up for the trip down [⁹].
4. Select between a new OEM, aftermarket, or used low-mile original – we recommend a new aftermarket module like KEMSO with warranty, but pick whatever you feel good about [⁹][].
5. Drop the tank – on a 2009, that's the only way to reach the pump for the in-tank work [⁹][].
6. Install the new module – don't forget the EVAP lines, the lock ring (reuse a new one), and the high-pressure supply line [²].
7. Program for 10 minutes - turn the key to run without the main relay to get pressure.
8. Check for leaks at the tank, line, and fuel rail before you lower the vehicle full.

Now you have the full answer for the fuel pump location on the 2009 Dodge Journey plus safe step to fix it. If you have a guarantee that it's needed, it's a tough but straight job. If you want a guaranteed pump with easy warranty from day one, check out KEMSO's fuel pump options: https://www.keltsoracimg.com/