BACKNBLACK
Enthusiast
I heard that there have been reports of fire caused by cap popping off power steering... Has anyone heard of this???
How many fires caused by power steering fluid cap flying off?????
- Thread starter BACKNBLACK
- Start date
DodgeViper01
Enthusiast
No I can not say that I have heard of this but it is probably true. Weird things sometimes happen with this car.
Steve 00RT/10
Enthusiast
The cap coming off has happened many times..to many people including me. No fire for me, but it has happened I am told. I was fortunate enough to catch it within a mile or two of it coming off. I now check the cap every time the hood is up. It wouldn't be too hard to crimp something around the center t.t on the cap and tie it back to the fender well or something close by. That way it could only come a little loose if at all. One could also tap a set screw into the cap with a tyrap(with bolt hole in it) to hold it in case it backed out. Just throwing out a couple ideas. I'm sure there's others who have addressed this problem already.
Steve
Steve
Dixter
Enthusiast
Last year one of the Viper Club member had just picked up his new Viper at the
dealer. He was driving it home and about 7 miles away from the dealer the
car burst into flames and melted. There were pic's here last year. From the
investigation it looked like the dealer did not tighten the cap and the fluids
got on the exhaust and a flash fire took out the car.
dealer. He was driving it home and about 7 miles away from the dealer the
car burst into flames and melted. There were pic's here last year. From the
investigation it looked like the dealer did not tighten the cap and the fluids
got on the exhaust and a flash fire took out the car.
monnieh
Viper Owner
Who pays for the car to be replaced? Dodge, the dealer or insurance?
If the cap comes off wouldn't Dodge be liable?
If the cap comes off wouldn't Dodge be liable?
SylvanSRT
Enthusiast
I had a cap come off on my '02 graphite RT/10, lucky no fire idont know how long it was off?
HOGDEALER
Enthusiast
Is there a fix for this problem?
ElDiablo Viper
Enthusiast
I don't believe in fire from just a fluid. You must be very unlucky. When I was road racing at Watkins Glen my power steering high pressure hose rubbed against the belt and got ripped. I lost the whole fluid in one second also while I was in a turn doing about 80MPH. There was a lot of smoke since it sprayed all over but there was no fire...thank God.
HP
Enthusiast
Sounds like a common problem - so much so - that it's got me paranoid.
Whenever I open the hood, I check my cap - and it's always stuck on like glue.
Whenever I open the hood, I check my cap - and it's always stuck on like glue.
MoparMan
Enthusiast
I've only had the car since last Thursday and already I've tightened the cap twice (basically both times I've check it it's been loose). The second time I cranked it down pretty tight.
Since it hasn't been answered by any of the pros on here I'll ask it again: is there a tried and true solution for keeping this cap on the car?
Since it hasn't been answered by any of the pros on here I'll ask it again: is there a tried and true solution for keeping this cap on the car?
SoCal Rebell
Enthusiast
It's happened to myself and MANY of my racing buddies on the track. I bought a set 12" Channel lock pliers and give it that extra 1/8th of a turn after it's hand tight. Don't squeeze too hard or the dip stick can pop off, also you'll need the channel locks to get it off again.
Matt M PA
Enthusiast
Another thought for this...Sears sells a strap type wrench that wraps around items..might be perfect for getting the cap tight.
DG Viper
Enthusiast
That's what I have used on my cap... it has yet to get loose at all. I check it very regularly...
Steve, Hogdealer...here's a fix as posted by NOTED Viper Guru..." Tom,F&L GoR " :
"Fix? Take the cap to the auto parts store. Buy two feet of hose that fits over the cap's ******. Get a hose clamp that fits over the hose. Screw cap on. Slip rubber hose on ******. Attach clamp and tighten. Route hose to hole in fenderwell, or anywhere else to under body (away from manifold.)
Not only will it keep your manifold "dry," it will keep the cap from unscrewing, as it would have to twist the rubber hose to do so. Safe, since it retains the vent in the cap.
~34,000 miles with no problems, after lots of AX and some track time. Good luck."
Hope this helps !!!
"Fix? Take the cap to the auto parts store. Buy two feet of hose that fits over the cap's ******. Get a hose clamp that fits over the hose. Screw cap on. Slip rubber hose on ******. Attach clamp and tighten. Route hose to hole in fenderwell, or anywhere else to under body (away from manifold.)
Not only will it keep your manifold "dry," it will keep the cap from unscrewing, as it would have to twist the rubber hose to do so. Safe, since it retains the vent in the cap.
~34,000 miles with no problems, after lots of AX and some track time. Good luck."
Hope this helps !!!
Chuck 98 RT/10
Enthusiast
I use a pipe wrench and give it a 1/8 to 1/4 turn past hand tight. Haven't had a problem, hope I never do.
ViperGTS
Enthusiast
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My cap came loose serveral times - got it replaced under warranty. Since the replacement it stays in place.
May be the cap comes loose due to high pressure when the vent is blocked.
May be the cap comes loose due to high pressure when the vent is blocked.
Steve 00RT/10
Enthusiast
That would be a pair of 440's in the trade and yes, they work well. I think the hose idea on the ****** sounds like a good way to go.
Steve
SylvanSRT
Enthusiast
Tighten it very hard! and check to see if its there every now and again.
I know of one confirmed fire as a result of P/S cap loss....and the cap itself apparently became wedged against the header, melted, and -probably- began the fire that was exacerbated by the p/s fluid. I doubt the P/S fluid reached ignition point first.
That said, a LOT of p/s caps come off Vipers. You can safety-wire em relatively easily, but a good GRUNT with a rag in hand is a good idea, before every track session, and after ANYONE ELSE checks your P/S fluid. Even the new-car PDI has resulted in many loose-caps.
I dont post that much anymore, but safety catches my eye! As an SCCA emergency worker I have put out 3 car fires in 3 years, all due to engine oil or tranny oil or gasoline. (NO VIPERS) I had none the prior 6 years. Some guys work YEARS and never "Pop A Bottle." Was I unlucky? Or lucky? 3 drivers will usually buy me a beer at end-of day....in each case I ran up yelling "DRIVER OUT--DRIVER-OUT" as we were trained. Gets their attention!
The CajunViper was definitely the most remembered and I also have two "engine fire" cars on my logs that have no been explained off. The other thread with the photochoped fire was also an engine fire but the company selling the car afterwards would not give me the VIN or the details.
Here is one event : Fire #2
150shot
Enthusiast
IS this only a problem with later year GTS (98+) most of the replies look like they are from that year and up...what about the early 96-97 any changes in this??
Ron
Enthusiast
Same system on 1996 ~ 1997. Don't know about pre-1996.
Steve Miehe
Enthusiast
Check to be sure the cap is tight each time you head out in the car to make sure it is snug. You should be fine then.
MuRCieLaGo
Enthusiast
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Well it just happened to me. I suspect I've been driving without a cap for 30 miles.
Been to 2 scrapyards, NAPA, local auto parts stores... No luck. I will have to order one at the dealership.
Tomorrow I was planning to drive 300 miles. That's all I could imagine for now. What do you guys think?
Been to 2 scrapyards, NAPA, local auto parts stores... No luck. I will have to order one at the dealership.
Tomorrow I was planning to drive 300 miles. That's all I could imagine for now. What do you guys think?
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You might GO to the dealer and see if parts has one. I have found a couple that way for "negligent" owners. Sadly, I cannot recall if ours crosses over with another product.
white out
Enthusiast
My ps line would spray on the manifold at full lock, was fun watching smoke come out of the hood vents. . . for months. Eventually replaced it.
Why not get a cap from a dodge . . . whatever from the 90's and see if it fits.
Why not get a cap from a dodge . . . whatever from the 90's and see if it fits.
AZTVR
Enthusiast
I have just cranked the PS cap tight with a channel lock pliers. It never came loose in 6 years of ownership with HPDE days thrown in, and it is VERY tight when I went to take it off to check/change fluid.
This is what everyone was buying from Roe Racing back in the day;
https://bit.ly/2Qll2ZK
Have one on my car. What you don't see is they give you a zip tie that wraps around the reservoir and tube that helps to keep it in place. Should be able to make one for a couple bucks. It just directs the boiling fluid out the bottom. Simple fix.
https://bit.ly/2Qll2ZK
Have one on my car. What you don't see is they give you a zip tie that wraps around the reservoir and tube that helps to keep it in place. Should be able to make one for a couple bucks. It just directs the boiling fluid out the bottom. Simple fix.
