I’m so grateful for extended warranty

[Devin 97 Blue GTS]

I am so grateful for extended warranty; the following parts and labors have been addressed for the last past two months:First with the AC leak, the mysterious leak could not be found and then the dealer went to work. Evaporator was replaced then the Heater core, then the Air plenum box and now the Condenser (Second dealer actually found it). Second the Antifreeze leak, the water pump was replaced but still had the leak. It was of the timing chain cover. (Second dealer also found it)

Just in case the Heater core and the Air Plenum box was replaced BECAUSE THE FIRST DEALER BROKE IT ALL AND FLOODED INSIDE OF MY CAR WITH ANTIFREEZE.

 

[BADVENOM]

Hey Devin, I know what you mean. I just had my gen 1 motor head gaskets leak. All I can say is thank god for DC extended warranty and last but not least "THE VIPERWIZARD, Chuck Tator"

Adam HIP HIP HOORAY : BOUNCE:

 

[Devin 97 Blue GTS]

I wished the Wizard would be closer but at least I can buy parts from him and receive great customer service.

 

[Birvini]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Devin 97 Blue GTS:
I wished the Wizard would be closer but at least I can buy parts from him and receive great customer service.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


Ditto.

 

[Tomer]

The Wizard is moving to Northern California, sorry about that

Chuck, start pack'in!!

Tomer

 

[Devin 97 Blue GTS]

I think he would be happier with the sites of the babes on South Beach --Plus Air Fare is cheaper Chuck .

 

[Robert1994]

I spoke with Chuck just last week, and I'm sure
he said something about making house calls to Hawaii.

 

[Hisser]

The way I see things is you are keepers of one of these two things:
<FONT size="10">Lots of money or an extended warranty</FONT s>

 

[malcoll]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by adam96:


Hey Devin, I know what you mean. I just had my gen 1 motor head gaskets leak. All I can say is thank god for DC extended warranty and last but not least "THE VIPERWIZARD, Chuck Tator"

Adam HIP HIP HOORAY : BOUNCE:

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Adam, you had leaking head gaskets on your 1996 RT? What did they do to correct? I have a slight coolant smell occassionally... I am going in for a warranty check next week?

Thanks, Lance

 

[SneakyPete]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by malcoll:
Adam, you had leaking head gaskets on your 1996 RT? What did they do to correct? I have a slight coolant smell occassionally... I am going in for a warranty check next week?

Thanks, Lance

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Lance,

Gen I's are known for their problematic head gaskets, they actually came out with a new design to fix the problem. If you do have a blown head gasket, an arrow rebuild will be required if you have an extended warantee. Have Ben do a block pressure test to test for leaking coolant or the dye test to see if hydrocarbons are getting into your coolant. He should still have the tools from when they were trying to fix my other car.

Sean had a 95 RT that got rebuilt for that reason, but they put the old style head gasket back in and it started leaking again about 10 months later, had to be sent back again for another rebuild

 

[Bandit3]

I'm also smelling coolant after a hard drive. Does this mean they won't replace the gaskets (if that's the problem), only the entire engine?? Although that probably is a better event for me, the thought of the car sitting for a long time----withdrawls. John

 

[Roadkill]

Ok.. I don't get this.. why does the car have to be sent in for a rebuild if the head gaskets leak?? If the issue is the head gasket material, then why don't they just pull the head, replace with the newer material and reassemble? or is this a case that people are soaking dodge for a new engine when they don't need em? I mean sheesh.. if i get an oil pan leak cause of a faulty gasket and the engine is still running fine i wouldn't expect the engine to be pulled for a rebuild

 

[Matt M PA]

As I understand it...on Gen 1s, the reason the headgaskets leak is due to the cylinder sleeves moving. This is the reason for the engine rebuild. Also, you guys are right..Chuck is the man for Viper work. Since my recall was done at his place, I am SO relieved to know that I finally have a place I can trust for warranty/recall/work can't do. Chuck's is 140 miles from me and worth the trip.

 

[coiled]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Roadkill:
Ok.. I don't get this.. why does the car have to be sent in for a rebuild if the head gaskets leak?? If the issue is the head gasket material, then why don't they just pull the head, replace with the newer material and reassemble? or is this a case that people are soaking dodge for a new engine when they don't need em? I mean sheesh.. if i get an oil pan leak cause of a faulty gasket and the engine is still running fine i wouldn't expect the engine to be pulled for a rebuild

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>


I think a head gasket is a little different than a oil pan!

Not 100% sure But, I think it has to do with the majority of these so called viper tech's can barely do normal maintence work on these cars without messing them up, do you really think they could pull apart that engine and get it right. Plus arrow racing is the one that warantee's the engines to Dodge, they build them, so its probably their cost of doing business. Mabye the Viper wizard can chime in.

There have been 2 Gen I cars here that also got arrow rebuilds due to head gaskets problems.

 

[BADVENOM]

Hey guys,

My car is with the wizard as we speak doing borlas, high flow cats etc. At the same time he said to me that since I am a new first time owner that he would take the car in and give a complete once over, again back to references by others on this post : And treat it as if it were his own". In reference to he head gasket issue, he explained it to me its simply a design material fault of the originally installed head gasket. He said to me that they put in a triple steel gasket now as opposed to the original soft gasket.

Met him for the first time after after numerous conversations through posts and phone conversations and let me tell you, He's the most knowledgable viper expert person I have ever met.

With the way he talks and jokes with you he kind of looks
and reminds me of "RICHARD PETTY"

adam
PS..It took me 45 minutes from Port Washinton, Long Island, N.Y
to him..LIFE IS GRAND!

 

[Jeff Torrey]

I think that Roadkill makes a very interesting point. Why rebuild the complete engine if the head gaskets leaked? When most of the time it is just seaping and at first sign the cars are sent in for service.
But under warrantee, this is how Dodge has delt with the problem. Why? Liability!
It is my understanding that the extended warrantee acts as an insurance policy. I do not know who the insurance company is. But if its Diamler Chrysler. I am sure there are accountants somewhere that are finding ways to offset the losses.
Next time you order parts for your car and wonder why they cost so much.
I am sure some the money we spend on parts is covering the losses.

 

[95Viper]

Can you look at the engine and see what gaskets you have? Are the old crummy ones visible compared to the new ones?

 

[joe117]

Yes, you can see the edges of the gasket. There was a post with pictures last week or the week before.

 

[SneakyPete]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Roadkill:
Ok.. I don't get this.. why does the car have to be sent in for a rebuild if the head gaskets leak?? If the issue is the head gasket material, then why don't they just pull the head, replace with the newer material and reassemble? or is this a case that people are soaking dodge for a new engine when they don't need em? I mean sheesh.. if i get an oil pan leak cause of a faulty gasket and the engine is still running fine i wouldn't expect the engine to be pulled for a rebuild

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
+
I have to agree with coiled, for the majority of the viper mechanics, the viper is not there primary responsibilty. So they will not have the skills of Tator, Session, Levins, Welch, Macedo.....etal. So it is probably the only way to really get the car fixed.

Not sure if you have a viper or not, but I am on my third and the first 2 were damaged by these "so called viper tech's", its pretty bad. Sued the first dealer for the cracked hood and got $12,500.00, then sold the car without fixing. Second car, went in for a failed waterpump, they replaced it and decided to wash it for me, great right! no, they used one of those hard bristle brushes on a stick and scratched every pannel on the car.

Do a search, there are so many stories likes these, you have to be really carefull what dealer you take your car to. It's a literal nightmare!

 

[Tiepilot]

I have thought about shipping my Viper to Tator for warranty work if I need head gaskets. $2000.00 round trip from Atl to NY on an enclosed trailer (insured). I think the trade off is an expensive Arrow rebuild and the Recall work done well without damaging any part of my car. I know Chuck will treat my Viper like it was his own and do the job correctly the first time.

Then there is the question of damage to the car from the shipping company. What are you suppose to do?

 

[Roadkill]

I did research the archives prior to posting. I could see an engine rebuild based on serious issues within the engine.. ie: sleeves shifting.. but the common concensus on the boards was that the gen I engines leak due to faulty head gasket materials. Statements by longtime board members often state that the leak issue is not a "if" but a "when". I am saying that I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to replace a head gasket.. again many of the forum's "experts" state that the job isn't a complicated one to replace the gaskets for the competent mechanic. So.. does it boil down to 1)that your local dodge dealer has inept mechanics incapable of replacing a head gasket? or 2) there are other issues involved in head gasket leaking that require a rebuild? or 3)people soaking the warranty for what it is worth and getting a rebuild out of a gasket replacement? The oil pan reference for those of who did not catch it was that it is a replaceable gasket (as should be the head gasket) that would normally not require an engine rebuild.

 

[FRANK]

Matt M,

I think you may be off the mark saying that the sleeves cause the gaskets to leak. The Gen 1 head gaskets are crap and "rot." I met with Doug Levin a few years ago and he showed me the horrible design and makeup of those gaskets. I had a set in my hands. They are thin as paper and have no sealing qualities whatsoever. I have replaced several head gaskets on many Chryslers throughout the years especially on 2.2 and 2.5 motors. Chrysler always seems to skimp on making head gaskets used at assembly. Usually within a year or two Chrysler always comes out with a new head gasket design regardless of what motor it is. This is true with both the 2.2's of the 1980's and the 2.5's as well. Also, think about all of the Dodge Neon motors with 2.0's that have head gasket problems. All due to a crappy design...

Also regarding cylinder sleeve "creep." I would venture to say that after speaking with a few people who regularly work on these motors have told me it is rare when the sleeves have shifted. If the sleeve has shifted, it can be corrected with removing the oil pan, rod and piston and reinstalling a new sleeve.

I would absoltely love to see how many pre-new head gasket motors rebuilt at Arrow begin to leak again. I bet that 90% of all motors rebuilt at Arrow using the old style gasket will wind up leaking again.

Having motors rebuilt is really a joke in my opinion. We'll also see once all of these extended warranties expire if people have their motors sent to Arrow because of a head gasket leaking.

Right now, my head gaskets are leaking on my 1994 RT10. Once I get a chance I am going to retorque the heads and see what that does for me. If that does nothing I will be calling the wizard for a set of top end gaskets. I will keep everyone posted...

 

[SneakyPete]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Roadkill:
I did research the archives prior to posting. I could see an engine rebuild based on serious issues within the engine.. ie: sleeves shifting.. but the common concensus on the boards was that the gen I engines leak due to faulty head gasket materials. Statements by longtime board members often state that the leak issue is not a "if" but a "when". I am saying that I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to replace a head gasket.. again many of the forum's "experts" state that the job isn't a complicated one to replace the gaskets for the competent mechanic. So.. does it boil down to 1)that your local dodge dealer has inept mechanics incapable of replacing a head gasket? or 2) there are other issues involved in head gasket leaking that require a rebuild? or 3)people soaking the warranty for what it is worth and getting a rebuild out of a gasket replacement? The oil pan reference for those of who did not catch it was that it is a replaceable gasket (as should be the head gasket) that would normally not require an engine rebuild.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I dont know for sure. I would guess 1 or 2. I dont think it is #3, ever since Daimler bought Chrysler, they have really gotten cheap and clamped down on warantee repair work, double and triple checking, making owners pay 75% of a repair when it use to be covered 100% (like side sill corrosion, hood cracks due to defective gel coats).