Cut screw below coolant bottle in facia! Do it today.

[95Viper]

This is a task for everyone this weekend who hasn't already performed it. We continue to hear about people with coolant overflow bottle punctures. This is a 5 minute task.

Locate coolant overflow bottle in front of passenger front tire. Turn wheel to the left and see the coolant level window. Directly below the bottle is one of a series screws holding on the front facia. Remove the one below the bottle. Be sure you removed the one below the bottle.

Cut the sharp tip off the end of the screw, cut about 1/3 off of it. File it smooth, reinstall. No more punctured tanks unless you REALLY hit something hard.

 

[Wild Bill]

Is this a problem for all years or just Gen 1?

Bill

 

[V10SpeedLuvr]

I've gotta wash my car today. I'll do this then. Thanks for the reminder

 

[EllowViper]

I have my facia off my 2001 GTS for painting and have looked at my coolant bottle up close and personal. There are no screws remotely close to mine..at least on the Gen II GTS. I'll take some photos today and post FYI.

 

[Steve 00RT/10]

I have my facia off my 2001 GTS for painting and have looked at my coolant bottle up close and personal. There are no screws remotely close to mine..at least on the Gen II GTS. I'll take some photos today and post FYI.

The screw in question is one of the screws that holds the fascia on.

DC should have changed out this screw years ago to a bolt set up. It should have been shorter right from the get go. No need for it to be near this long for the job it does. I re-did mine several years ago. I shortened and ground the heads down on all the screws in that area. I think it was 2 or 3.

Steve

 

[EllowViper]

Photos posted in my gallery. Again, this is for a 2001 GTS.

 

[pocketAA]

What happens if this bottle fills up to the top? What is the purpose of this bottle?

 

[Ulysses]

What happens if this bottle fills up to the top? What is the purpose of this bottle?

It overflows - thus the name "coolant overflow bottle"

It's purpose is to provide a way for air to escape the system without drawing in any air, and to draw in coolant if needed.

 

[grcforce327]

Photos posted in my gallery. Again, this is for a 2001 GTS.

Same thing here!Nothing close to bottle on my Gen 1!

 

[Toby]

Photos posted in my gallery. Again, this is for a 2001 GTS.

A fram oil filter?

 

[SNAKE BITE]

Someone has already taken the clip off on this photo. The hole under the bottle is the one that is a problem. Removing it totally like done here is also an option.

 

[Larry Macedo]

There was a nice little article in Viper Mag years ago regarding someone very intelligent that came up with this idea...

 

[AJT]

What years are affected???

 

[scottgf]

I removed mine also, AFTER I bumped into a parking lot curb and cracked my tank...Replaced the tank and left the screw off the facia....
Do this now or you may regret it later...
Cheers,

 

[AZTVR]

I can attest to the fact that it is definitely an issue on a 2002 GTS. Remember, that is all flexible or semi-flexible material in the front. It doesn't take much of a "mistake" to push that sharp screw point into the bottle, and there won't necessarilly be evidence of an unusual hit to the bottom of the car. It sure is cheap insurance just to remove the screw or modify it as recommended.