CABIN HEAT FROM 04/05 SRT10

[RonnieSRT10]

I am in the middle of making my final decision about picking up eithera Silver 04 or 05 SRT10 tomorrow. My only concern, since it is a daily driver and I drive about 20K miles a year, is how bad is the cabin heat from the side pipes, and can i lve with it or can something be done about it. I am not crazy about using the AC when the top is up, but the top is down quite often for i live in Los Angeles. Thanks much for any input!

 

[VIPER D]

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[quick2tr]

I am in the middle of making my final decision about picking up eithera Silver 04 or 05 SRT10 tomorrow. My only concern, since it is a daily driver and I drive about 20K miles a year, is how bad is the cabin heat from the side pipes, and can i lve with it or can something be done about it. I am not crazy about using the AC when the top is up, but the top is down quite often for i live in Los Angeles. Thanks much for any input!

Congrats! Im sure your purchase will be enjoyable, the vehicle orientation my dealership gave was very thorough. For me, the cabin heat is controlled comfortably with the top up (up to about 100'f.) and works best when using the "circulate" (2 leftmost) settings. With the top down it's a bit hotter than other convertibles, but much worse when crawlin in <30mph traffic. It feels like the engine heat is exiting the hood and wafting right around the windshield into my face. When you blast the A/C through the vents it is marginally better. I save the convertible part for mornings and night, more enjoyable. I have heard mention that some folks redirect air down using the visors with success (I removed mine). As to fixing it, I am sure others will post, but I have read that removing the 2nd set of cats will reduce the overall cabin temperatures.

Now you have to decide how your going to break it in . . . Have fun!

 

[RonnieSRT10]

I just spoke to Danny, a Viper Tech at visions of speed, and he said that the late 04's and 05's do not have that problem...and, if the heat does come over the windshield, i am thinking that i am happy being 5'7!!! Danny also said that for the first 1k miles, drive it but don't slam it, but don't baby it either!

 

[FLOORIN04]

My 04 is not hot.And my ac doesn't work.On very hot humid days drive alot faster. Really i have had mine 5.5wks 800 miles with no ac feet get a little warm on passagner side according to my wife after about a hour and a half ride. Everyone i talk to says high flow cats greatly reduce heat.I waiting to hear one before i switch.

 

[Viper X]

Hey Ronnie,

I am in Orange County, so I'm relatively close. Funny, this was my first post after buying the car, excess interior heat. Don't let anyone tell you that the cabin in this car won't be warmer than most, it will be, especially on a warm day in traffic in so Cal. The A/C works quite well and will freeze you out of the car on the warmest days with the top up, if you want it too. I always run with the A/C on top up or down except on the coldest days. Use the re-circ setting. You can cool the interior a bit with the visors angled down into the passenger compartment while moving, if the air outside is cool.

Here are a couple things you can do to cut down on the heat;
1) Remove the four OE cats and replace them with two high
flow cats. This made a big change for me.
2) If you don't want to go that route, at least eliminate the exhaust crossover behind your back. I installed a Corsa Track Exhaust and was very happy with it until I added headers (way too loud with headers). The Corsa Track reduces back pressure and cooled the sills and interior considerably.
3) You can add insulation to the sills, headers, etc. The company is in Santa Ana, the name escapes me. Email me later if you're interested and I'll dig it out for you.

I have adjusted to mine, and the car is worth the trouble.

Good luck,

Dan

 

[Skip White]

Here is the bottom line on cabin heat. Exhaust upgrades, delay it a bit, due to less backpressure. The heat is generated by the engine, and will eventually migrate into the car somewhat, but it's only after much around town cruising, or extended highway running, that you start to notice it. If your running around in trafic in the hot sun, this will bring it on quicker. I really only drive around at night, and hardly ever run the A/C as it takes from the driving experiance, and creates heat buildup of it's own. There are a few other fixes for this heat buildup. Ron I'll email you some good info on what I've heard.



As Dan said, he has adjusted to his, so have I.

If someone said I had to drive this car in the Texas heat for several hours a day, I may have a problem with that, but then I would be running the A/C You really don't need it at night, with the windows down. After you park the car, for lets say for an hour or so, then get back in, you'll notice much heat has came into the car. It will fade somewhat once you start moving. Just think of the advantage in the cooler parts of the year.

Don't let this discourage you from buying the car at all, and as I said you can delay it's onset a bit, and knock the temp down a little also. Only the peak summertime will you take notice to this.

I'm going do some R/D on this soon.

Skip White

 

[SylvanSRT]

the heat that comes into the car is minimally from the exhaust system(cats by drivers foot), I have been told by one of the chief designers of this car, that in aerodynamic tests that "It seems like we designed the car in such a way that hot engine air is intentionally(though it was not) pumped into the cockpit"!!!! The vents on the hood are the culpret, they should have been more forward( like the Carbon SRT concept). The stock placement and the cars aerodynamics cause this vented hot air to come up and over the windshield, or around the windshield or windows. The parts design of the Carbon concept hood has been given to MetalCrafters in Kalifornia and those parts maybe available soon if not already.

 

[GregSRT-10]

Okay, one more thought, this time from Socal...

The heat problem on my '03 is real, but only after the car has been parked a bit. The engine and exhaust heat build up in the cabin and it takes a long time with A/C to bring everything back in line. I've gotten used to using A/C in the recirculation mode to minimize the problem with top down.

Still enjoy the car a heck of a lot, though!

 

[sbtviper]

I have found that if you leave the (A/C,vent) switched off, the inside of the car is alot cooler. I live in Ohio not California. Good luck on your decision.

 

[Viper94/05]

I just took delivery on an 05. I also have a 94 RT/10. Still having heat problems in traffic with the 94. Have installed bleeder valve. I am ordering a new aluminum radiator and fan. Any other ideas to cool it down. Car cools fine on highway. By the way, I love to walk to the entry door from the garage late at night and flip the lights on. Somebody pinch me, there's two Vipers in my garage !

 

[NOMERCY]

I have no issues with heat. I have a Corsa Exaust and my AC works fine ...

 

[turbodoc]

I don't have any heat problems with my 04. I like that you can touch the pipes immediately after the car is turned off.

 

[SilverSnake]

I have the complete Belanger headers and exhaust system. I live in Phoenix,AZ so the heat issuse was a BIG problem. Since i made the change the cabin temps have decreased 90 %
to the point that during the heat of the day the sills aren't the temp. of the sun. The hp factor is also a beny.
The cost of the change is not cheap but worth every penny for the temp. difference.

Robert

 

[Y2K10 SRT#39]

I live in western Washington. Went for a ride this afternoon. I turned the heat UP all the way and the fan on full. It was never too warm for me. Had a two hour drive and found out I need a glove for my right hand. It was sunny, calm and dry. the temperature was just about 50 degrees F. Let me tell you. HEAT IS NOT A PROBLEM HERE!!!
PBR
10 of 50

 

[pauljkopick]

Paul R. 10 of 50 what does that mean? You own 10 of 50 seagulls? That in 50 tries you made it to the bathroom in time, 10 times?

 

[Michael Hatch]

Hi Robert,

How loud is the car with the complete Belanger exhaust and headers?
Compared to stock I mean.
Thanks
Michael

 

[SilverSnake]

high intensity,

It's nice and loud. below 2300 rpm's sounds stock but if you get on it or rev it past 2500 get ear plugs


Robert

 

[Art 138]

Like all the setups I see in the pics; How do you keep this baby tuned??? Or is the shop around the corner? Art138 White Mamba

 

[GTS Dean]

With the top down, you can flip the sun visors forward to deflect more airflow into your lap & footwell areas. Obviously, this doesn't help when stopped, but a suprising amount of air moves in at 15-20mph.