2001 GTS Overheating

[toddt]

Does the lemon law in california apply to used cars (still under factory warranty)?

No, I'm having no probs...but I may get tired of painting my side sills someday.

 

[GTS Bruce]

I have on various vehicles completely lost brakes and drove around for several days when I needed to using shifter and hand brake.Have lost power steering/belt a couple of times and wrestled it through an exit ramp.Have been stuck at WOT a couple of times and managed to drive it and park it safely.Blow out at speed.Well so what?Motor hand grenade in a flat out corner.Car runs too hot?***?That one's a piece of cake.Happened a lot of times.Thermostat,Pump,belt,radiator.... Watch the temp go up and the oil pressure go down.PUll over and turn it off before meltdown.I guess I just don't get it.I don't understand not sweeping mirrors and gauges.I don't understand driving until melt down.I don't understand didn't see it coming because it doesn't happen instantly.I don't understand waiting for idiot light to come on.I guess I'm just too old to understand it and it pains me to see a fine piece of machinery turned into a piece of garbage. Bruce

 

[SneakyPete]

I am going to start posting all these emails I am receiving about 2001 engine overheating problems.

Names and numbers with held.

Another victim
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
hello.
i am a fellow Viper owner and V.C.A. member.
when i saw your post regarding overheating i about fell on the floor.
i also have the same problem. my car never heats up during normal driving, but as soon as you get the least little bit aggresive it pegs the temperature needle. my car only has 600 miles on it and has done this from day one.
i have only owned the car for 1 month.
this is my 5th Viper GTS. i have owned a 96,98,99,2000 and now this 2002. i am very frustrated. if you can give me any advice or help i would appreciate it. none of my other cars have done this. all i get is people telling me that they run hot. i then tell them, is it supposed to run 250 degreess and puke coolant on the ground?
none of my other cars did this.
if you would call me or e-mail me, i would really appreciate your advice. if i can at least find the problem causing the overheating, i have a chance at getting it fixed.
thank you.

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<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by SLITHRN on 05-30-2002 at 10:00 AM</font>

 

[SneakyPete]

Another victim:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
OK, well I guess I'm late! I thought this was a new post and I just realized that it was originally posted 3 months ago. I have a 2001 too and I think I'm having the same problem. What was the problem with yours?
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<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by SLITHRN on 05-30-2002 at 10:01 AM</font>

 

[SneakyPete]

# 3
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
you have a bad water pump, the damage to you engine was done the minute your car really overheated the first time! your engine will need to be taken out and rebuilt, more than likely. how many times has the car been in service or for how long ( total days)? how long have you owned the car? had the same prob.

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<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by SLITHRN on 05-30-2002 at 10:01 AM</font>

 

[SneakyPete]

# 4


<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
give me a call during the day eastern time, I had the same symtoms as you. (***) ***-xxxx
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<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by SLITHRN on 05-30-2002 at 10:01 AM</font>

 

[SneakyPete]

# 5

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Slith:

I'm with you-had my 2001 GTS taken on a buyback for a sprung door that was never able to be repaired right. Had to war with them until they caved in through LL's etc. Drivers doors on
many GTS's had sag problems but hey problems are so typical for any exotic made. I've owned all kinds and not one was perfect-all had some issue.

Guess its the sign of the times try'n to find quality out there. Hope you find another "good Viper"
out there. By the way what makes them run so hot? On my old one (01 GTS) besides the door I had to change my pump for impellar and it still ran hot much of the time. My new 02 runs on the \|/ third 190 line and sometimes goes to the next line above that but no overheats so far. Wish you the
best of luck-ya should get your check soon from the (ids?) negotiators. Make sure they give you any lease deposit back if one-they will try to keep but can't. I even made them cover my Reg.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE> Type your text here



<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by SLITHRN on 05-30-2002 at 10:01 AM</font>

 

[SneakyPete]

# 6

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
slitherin,

went through same ******** that you are going through.
waterpump failure, car never ran at a normal temp again, they kept telling it was normal. they finally bought the car back. All I can say is there is a definate defect, and the only fix is a complete rebuild.

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<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by SLITHRN on 05-30-2002 at 10:02 AM</font>

 

[Viper Specialty]

what about an aftermarket water pump installed when the car is new? head problems off at the pass...? is the Water Pump the ACTUAL culprit here, or is it the electrical cooling system? could it be a first bad water pump damages the cooling system so that it can not be repaired without a rebuild? is it even possible to buy the old style pumps anymore? If not, do the older GTS's have problems with the newer style pumps? Are the replacements bad as well-or just the originals?

(sorry for all the questions...lol)

 

[SneakyPete]

# 7

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
hi.
i am in xxxxxxx.
i bought the car from ABCDEALER in a state.
i have only had the car for a month. i will not let the idiot mechanics around here touch my car. ( long story, very incompitant Viper mechanic )
i have SEVERAL issues with this car i am trying to work out.
they are being helpful, but i am so frustrated with this car, i am not sure what to do. i have babied this car for the first 500 miles, so the overheating hasnt been an issue until now. the car will idle all day long at 195 deg. but as soon as you start getting even mildly aggresive with the engine rpm's the electric fan comes on and cant keep the car cool, so the tepmperature sky rockets to 250 deg.
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<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by SLITHRN on 05-30-2002 at 10:02 AM</font>

 

[SneakyPete]

I wish I would of kept all the emails I got when I first started this thread 4 months ago. There must of been another 15 emails about this same problem.

Does anyone see a pattern.



<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by SLITHRN on 05-30-2002 at 10:02 AM</font>

 

[SapphireGTS]

Its a dodge. Not a benz. Dodge is fampus for Crappy customer service.
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Here's a hint - you are probably not going to get the best level of help available when you come to a Viper site already talking about Lemon Laws and crappy service... Many VCA members have been helped WAY before a VCA member's level of frustration has reached the point that you are at.
Have you worked with your local club? Zone officer? Different dealer? Used the resources of this board and your local club before drawing your guns???

We'd all like to help - and it appears that you have gotten some SOUND advice to fix your car - from others who have had the same problem to Viper Techs offering thier services via phone.

We really want to help - but it doesn't appear that you want help fixing the car anymore, but help strong arming D-C.

Try the second water pump change - its worked before...
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

You should not have to do ANY of the above on a brand new car. YOu spen 80 grand on a car. It should work. The dealer should go to all ends to make you happy.

I just wish ford would come out with a super car because they back their product. I had a 1992 bronco that was out of warranty. I bought it used and asked the dealer to look at the tranny (Is has hesitating when putting it in reverse) The dealer called ford and ford told them to rebuild the tranny at their cost because I had just bought the vehicle. THATS CUSTOMER SERVICE! You buy a viper and they say "its supposed to do that" when it over heats. Thats a Lambo shops excuse. Good luck. I hope you can get a viper you are happy with!

 

[SneakyPete]

k

<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by SLITHRN on 05-30-2002 at 10:03 AM</font>

 

[treynor]

FWIW, my '01 RT/10 had this problem as well and it was positively diagnosed (by Ted May) as being a water pump impeller problem. Replacing the water pump cured the problem. Unfortunately it didn't cure the problem before I overheated the car enought to do some internal damage to the engine

. Fortunately, all the parts which were damaged by overheating have been replaced as Doug built up the engine to handle all that boost we'll be running

I agree -- Dodge customer service seems to be, well, varied.

 

[MichaelP]

OMG GTSBruce more and more people what are we going to do?? You must be in such pain.

 

[King GTS]

I'll admit that the 2nd anonomous Post was mine! I noticed the problem @ a month ago. I get my Viper back this week & we'll definitely see. I had this SAME problem with my 97 GTS years ago. I pray I don't have to go through it again. Especially not after over $75,000 in recent upgrades!

 

[SmokinV10]

Trey,
$75K in upgrades? Come on, spill the beans. Whats the new project? Tell me, just a little. One whiner to another... Youre killing me with the suspense.

 

[SneakyPete]

Victim #8

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
slithrn, can you help me. I just bought a 2001 yellow gts with 2300 miles on it. Drove it once at the dealer and bought the car. went for a drive after getting it home and starting driving a little harder and running through the gears on back road. the temp gauge went right to 250 and the car overheated. went to dealer, only thing in service history was a waterpump replacement. dealer is telling me, its normal to run that hot. the quote was "some of them run hot". i could not believe it.

please give me a call ***.***.xxxx collect and give me a little insight on what the real problem is.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

 

[Jerry Dobson]

Appears that the overheating problems for the most part are on the newer cars. Makes me feel better that I own a older 98.

I don't understand why some of the replies where against you? A Viper is America's flagship car. You should be treated like a King when you walk into the dealership. But this is not happening. Remember DC, you can buy many Neons for the price of one Viper!

I will have to agree that Ford backs their cars much better than Dodge does.

 

[C O D Y]

Have there been any changes made to assure that it will not happen again? If you get the motor rebuilt, do they use an older model water pump?

 

[SneakyPete]

Jerry Dobson wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Appears that the overheating problems for the most part are on the newer cars. Makes me feel better that I own a older 98.
I don't understand why some of the replies where against you?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jerry you are exactly right, I just bought a 1997 due to this.
There are actually 2 problems that cause these cars to overheat or run hot. One covers 1999 and up and the other is the waterpump fiasco, which is only 2001 cars I think. I have not heard of a 2002 with bad water pump.

From what I was told, from a person who had their car bought back, quite a few of the DaimlerChrysler Executives own these cars and are on this board, or atleast read whats going on.

So when someone that has a problem like I did, and posts it and airs some dirty laundry accidently, I think they try to put out the fire by either discrediting the person who posted or responding in the post in a very negative way, to make it seem like it is not possible that there might be a defect or 2!

Bad press points to Bad business. Why would anyone care if I lemon lawed my car or not. It does not affect them in anyway.
All I wanted and these other people want is there cars fixed or atleast the truth.

 

[Vic]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by SLITHRN:


act touch

act tough? I can understand that one, but the next one...Well...

I would rather vent and lash out at my bad luck experience than beat his children.

Huh?

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Has anyone checked to see if the oil pick up tube has enough space between the pick up and the bottom of the pan? I have heard of a case where an engine was getting oil starved, especially at higher rpm's.

 

[Vic]

 

[SneakyPete]

Vic, I see what you mean. Butterfingers.

SLITHRN wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>
Hey everyone don't worry about GTS BRUCE, he is probably trying to compensate for something he is lacking in his life and makes him feel special to act touch on an internet discussion board.
I would rather vent and lash out at my bad luck experience than beat his children.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I was just commenting on GTS BRUCE's attitude on this subject and meant to say this.

Hey everyone don't worry about GTS BRUCE, he is probably trying to compensate for something he is lacking in his life and makes him feel special to act tough on an internet discussion board.
I would rather have him vent and lash out at my bad luck experience than beat his children.

 

[Vic]

Slith-

I'm very glad that you don't want to beat his children!!

Now that you are getting taken care of, ahem,.. Have you any thoughts about the GT40?

I posted a long diatribe about DC, buybacks, liability, p.r., sweeping the problem under the rug, yada, yada, yada, but it only makes me look bad to rant like that.

So I deleted my thesis on water pumps, and instead posted about changing my water pump to a better one, before it grenades my car.

Do you have any leads on a better water pump for the 2001?

 

[SneakyPete]

AQX,

You bring up some good points. There is a bigger problem here than just water pumps that affects 99 and newer cars overheating.

I think what Vic is getting at is that Chrysler is not fixing the engines on these cars after the water pump failure and telling customers its normal to run that hot and making them jump through hoops to make the car right again.

So why not get a better water pump and save yourself the headache. Its a tough call.

Chrysler should of just recalled the water pumps, instead of lying to their customers.

 

[SapphireGTS]

You guys change your own oil? You know these cars take more than 5 quarts.

 

[SneakyPete]

AQX,

I know Sean Roe personally, he works on my car and drives in our group.

The problem that we are talking about here, is not going to be fixed by a larger radiator, fan kit or Roe Ram Air bottom breather kit and such, I already tried that with Seans help.

There are 2 defects in the new gen 2 motors that cause some of these motors to run hot and overheat.

I will have more information on this next week.

 

[SneakyPete]

p

<FONT COLOR="#ff0000" SIZE="1" FACE="Verdana, Arial">This message has been edited by SLITHRN on 06-24-2002 at 09:29 AM</font>

 

[SteveT]

SLITHRN,

Did you get your check? Tell us the rest of the story...