Another power steering cap fire posted on the other board with pictures. Investigators show fire started in the area which most likely means the cap came off or a line broke. This time melted down a blue/white coupe. Other posts in there about them coming off during track events.
Another power steering cap fire
- Thread starter 95Viper
- Start date
V10SpeedLuvr
Enthusiast
The Roe (or Archer Racing) p/s vent tube kit should be a mod done on everyone's Viper! For $20 its about as cheap of a Viper saving mod that you're ever gonna find. My p/s cap was never loose (I checked everytime I popped the hood), but I still went on and bought the p/s tube kit just for piece of mind after owning my Viper for a couple months. Its a shame to lose any Viper, but to have one burn to death (while you likely have to stand by and watch) would be a real tear jerker.
DEVILDOG
VCA Member North TX
I agree. I got mine from Craig at HiPo who developed and manufactures the kit even though my cap was never loose. There has been enough discussion on this engineering flaw and the dire consequences that everyone should have corrected this problem on their Viper. If you have not then when your car burns to the ground you have no one to blame but yourself. However, DC is also aware of this issue and should have done a recall to protect all owners especially the non-VCA members and owners that do not frequent this Board. Shame on DC for not protecting their Viper owners. I guess they figure $20 per Viper is too expensive versus fighting the first lawsuit when someone gets burned along with the car.
GTSnake
Enthusiast
I'm really surprised there isn't even a TSB on this. Then again it may lead to lawsuits if they issue a TSB.
Vic
VCA Venom Member
- Joined
- Nov 12, 2000
- Posts
- 6,764
- Reaction score
- 1
I guess they figure $20 per Viper is too expensive versus fighting the first lawsuit when someone gets burned along with the car.
There is a history of not spending a few cents per vehicle to fix known dangers. You remember that one certain popular minivan, where the back door would fly open in an accident, spilling kiddies into the street? The fix would have cost an extra 50 cents per vehicle.
But you see its a numbers game, where on the one hand, you total the co$t of an upgrade, and on the other hand, you estimate the co$ts of judgements against the company, and if the scale tips towards ignoring the problem to save some money, they will choose to save money, regardless of the cost to human life. There are many examples of this.
I'm surprised Daimler even wanted to look at buying Chrysler, knowing the history. But I guess they are turning a profit now, so good for them. Hopefully their quality will continue to improve, and I'm sure it will, with the German influence at the helm.
ruckdr
Enthusiast
A must.
Actually, you don't even to spend $20. A buddy of mine with a '96 b/w coupe has a simple 12"-18" length of rubber tube stuck on the power steering cap ****** that looks to me to be a *better* solution - it hangs down below the headers and is zip tied to not interfere with anything, and it prevents the cap from turning. (I have a Roe chrome vent tube and didn't see his solution until after I installed it.)
I lost the power steering cap while on the track from my '95 RT/10, (and found it sitting on the suspension later on) *without* causing a fire, I know I barely missed the bullet of a power steering fluid fire.
98viperGTS
Viper Owner
could some one post the link for the P/S cap fix for $20 bucks.
carguy07
Viper Owner
GTSnake
Enthusiast
Actually there are many instances where Chrysler's quality is better than Mercedes. Check the figures for the M-class. That car has had abysmal quality.
I have the hippo peice to works a treat, never had a loose cap but is peice of mind, we have had a guy of here luckily only smoking on track (no fire) when his cap came off
http://www.hipoengineering.com/PowerSteeringTube.asp
http://www.hipoengineering.com/PowerSteeringTube.asp
JiPi
Enthusiast
I'm going to order one.
Which one looks better on a stock engine, the nickel or chrome finish?
Which one looks better on a stock engine, the nickel or chrome finish?
carguy07
Viper Owner
I bought the nickel, but I would get the chrome if I was ordering another one. I wanted it to blend in, but it is too plain looking to me.
V10SpeedLuvr
Enthusiast
I bought the chrome and even though nothing else under my hood is chrome, it still looks good. Doesnt stick out or give too much of a "bling bling" look like i was worried about.
Similar threads
