A couple of questions about my new Viper

[cmqq]

Hey everyone!

Last night after the great responses to my original post in this forum, I went home and spent some intimate time with my 96 RT. While I did familiarize myself with more of the car, I still have a few questions.

1. The battery. I looked behind the left rear wheel with a flashlight and couldn't really see anything. Do I have to pull the wheel off? If so, then what? Are there some panels I need to remove?

2. On the passenger side of the engine bay, what is the little airbox that is fed by the hole in the hood for? Obviously the air intake for the engine is at the front, so I'm trying to figure out what this thing does.

3. Is there anything between the seats and the turnk, and if so, what is it and how do I get to it? It seems like there are several inches of space between the back of the cockpit and the start of the trunk. Anything of importance in there?


Other than that, I think I'm good to go. I ordered a service manual for the vehicle, so that'll help a lot. I also learned what you guys mean by "smooth tubes" and they are now on the way along with my K&Ns.

Thanks again everyone for your help and hospitality!

 

[SUN RA KAT]

1. The battery is located behind your left rear wheel well. It helps provide weight for traction and there was no space under the hood to put it.

2. The passenger side under-the-speaker-looking thingy is your air intake for the interior- air conditioner, heater, & fresh air. Your air conditioner runs full cold and can't be adjusted warmer, though the defroster setting can be adjusted for temperature.

3. The space between the seats & the trunk is where your gasoline rests for a short time before going through your fuel injectors. Refill your tank frequently.

Congrats on getting a great true sports car and perhaps, the most beautiful car in the world.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

Yes, you have to remove the rear wheel to access the panels to get to the battery.

 

[Tomcat]

1. If just curious, get under the car on drivers side rear and look up in back of the rear wheel and you can see the inside of the battery. Sort of hard to describe. To remove or inspect the battery: remove wheel, remove inside rear bottom fender panel and there she is.

2. Fresh are intake for cabin.

3. Gas tank.

now, easy on thay go pedal if you are not straight. they tend to come around.

tw

 

[snakebitdave]

1. You must remove the wheel and remove the access panel to service the battery.

2. The airbox is the intake for the interior heater. Assuming you are referring to the round opening with the soft rubber gasket surrounding it, directly below the "radio speaker" grille on the hood (some people actually believe this).

3. The fuel tank is mounted inbetween.

 

[Wild Bill]

As another new Viper owner be sure you look to see where to place your hands when closing the hood, spidering the paint is NOT a good thing to happen.

"perhaps, the most beautiful car in the world." I must disagree with the 'perhaps' portion-it IS the most beautiful, voluptuous vehicle ever produced! (of course I may be a little prejudiced

When do we get to see a pic.?

Bill
(don't forget the Zaino)

 

[Tomer]

Wild Bill, shame on you for having NO mods...

cmgg, have you tried operating the right most switch located in front of your gear shifter?

Tomer

 

[95Viper]

Go to Illustrated Upgrades off home page...it helped me a lot

 

[cmqq]

Where are you supposed to put your hands when closing the hood?

I just noticed those two switches in front of the shifter this afternoon while driving around. I assume one is foglights, but the other... ?

I ordered an owner's manual to go along with my ordered service manual today, so hopefully I will soon be able to stop asking all these dumb questions

 

[SUN RA KAT]

I use the backs of my fingers while my hands are in fists when closing my hood so I don't get fingerprints on it. Place your body in the center front of your car and place the backs of your closed fists straight out and facing upwards from where they are on your body between where the top of the center air intake is and the bottom of the vents on the side of the top of your hood and shove down equally & don't let the bottom part of your palms touch the hood while doing so. Then feel around the sides of where the hood closes by the headlights and if they are equally spaced on both sides, then you've got both latches latched & your hood is closed.

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

Where are you supposed to put your hands when closing the hood?

What Kenny said, but I carry two diapers (tucked down on the side of the driver's seat...and one on the passenger seat for gassing)....no fingerprints! Paul Ronald taught me that. Also....for good meaasure (also taught by Paul) I gently pull up on the side, by the headlights, to make SURE they are latched.

 

[SylvanSRT]

if you can get a copy of the owners video or manual and they will decribe where to put hand when closing hood.

 

[Fred(DrivingSchool)Kinder]

Look at the underside of the hood. Notice where the brackets attach to the hood? Place you hands(100% clean cotton cloth between hands and paint) over the area where the bracket attaches to the hood. Result is closing the hood without using the hood as a lever which can crack the hood. Pushing on top of the bracket attachments area is like pushing on the bracket only the cloth and hood are between your hands and the bracket.

 

[MoparMan]

if you can get a copy of the owners video or manual and they will decribe where to put hand when closing hood.

Ok...stupid question here...when I get a Viper (assume 2000 through 2002) should it come with both a video and a manual?

 

[Daffy Duck Viper]

Ok...stupid question here...when I get a Viper (assume 2000 through 2002) should it come with both a video and a manual?

That's not a stupid question. I want to know the same thing.

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

You must be registered for see images

 

[Gavin]

cmqq- welcome to a great "family" of Viper owners
Hope you have the same experience I did after getting my car - a complete lifestyle change - club events to go to - eventually put the car on the track, met another strange group of people - a group I now include myself in that feverishly look for the next open track event on all the websites.
Good Luck with the car - learn to roll on the loud pedal and you will avoid the rear end stepping out - drive under the speed limit in the rain - the wide tires aquaplane pretty easily. DRIVE IT EVERY DAY!

 

[SylvanSRT]

I would imagine that if you buy it new, or from a considerate owner these things should be included w/ the car. If they are not i am sure you can get a copy of the video made(copied). The owners manual should be w/ the car, i think there are sources for these also.