IMHO, GOOD INFO, (PICS)

[WANTED]

thought i would post this for what its worth, thinking never ASSUME. if it
helps someone then it was well worth it.

i just took my new 04 srt/10 in for its first oil change. 643 miles old, OH NO,
i missed the 500 mile mark, lol, i think it will be fine. you would think
this was my first viper as i took over 200 pics of work being done. i just love
this fricken silver bullet. thought i might be able to help some
newbe's with this info.


1) to start with always use a 5 star dealer with at least one viper tech. my
dealer has 2 which is a bonus. get to know the tech so he knows who you are and
knows what you expect when they are working on your car.

2) always take your camera, helps to document everything.

3)one thing i was taught at the young age of 14 i think(lol) when changing the
oil always fill the new filter with oil pryor to installing it. THIS WILL NOT
HAPPEN UNLESS YOU ARE THERE AND REQUEST IT. it is VERY IMPORTANT to do this as
when starting the engine after a oil change it will **** nothing but air for a
very short time. this is only MHO.

4) JACK LOCATION POINTS and what they LOOK LIKE along with LOCATION

5) type of oil. 03-04 5W30, 05 0W40. (MOBIL 1)
IMPORTANT - DO NOT PUT 0W40 IN THE 03-04 AS DODGE CAN BACK AWAY FROM WARRANTY
i found this information while i was getting the oil change done. the service
advisor called factory 800# used for all questions pertaining to warranty issue's.

***** THE REASON GIVEN FOR THE FACTORY CHANGE TO 0W40 IN 05 - MILES/GALLON *****

BEST POLICY - USE WHAT IS RECCOMENDED.

6) thought this pic showed exhaust location well which shows why it gets so
hot some times and what gets removed when deleting crossover.

7) tire pressure, ALL 4 TIRES WERE LOW ON AIR BY 5 POUNDS, tech advised me
that the sensors dont pickup low pressure warnings until after approx 1k miles,
this really surprized me.

8) this pic - I JUST LIKED IT

HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE, AS I STATED, JUST DIDN'T WANT TO ASSUME WE ALL KNOW
ABOVE INFO.

 

[SRTRICKY]

Good info...I called the 800# myself and they told me the same thing. use the wrong oil and the warrenty is void!

 

[unreelviper]

Wanted, thanks for the info...especially since I should be purchasing a Gen 3 at some point this year.

 

[PDCjonny]

While it is all well and good to have a dealer with a Viper "tech" on staff, that doesn't guarentee any level of workmanship and competence, especially when it comes to any engine work. Changing oil I can do. I had an oil leak misdiagnosed by a dealer Viper tech who wanted to tear the engine down and rebuild to the tune of 3K or more for my out of warrantee car. Fortunately, I got a second opinion on it from the best tech in the northeast and it was a leaky timing chain gasket which he spotted in two minutes and fixed.

Not saying that your dealer doesn't have quality techs, just relating my experience with a dealer tech who either was just wrong (bad) or wanted to hose me on a huge repair bill (really bad).

 

[VIPER D]

Don't quote me on this but i think that the tires have to be at least 7lbs low b/f the light goes off. not the 1000 miles deal.


vd..

 

[Casey]

Looks like they got it done correctly!


Can anyone tell me of a Dodge Dealership that is NOT a 5 star dealership?

 

[Ken Lally]

thought i would post this for what its worth, thinking never ASSUME. if it
helps someone then it was well worth it.
i just took my new 04 srt/10 in for its first oil change. 643 miles old, OH NO,
i missed the 500 mile mark, lol, i think it will be fine. you would think
this was my first viper as i took over 200 pics of work being done. i just love
this fricken silver bullet. thought i might be able to help some
newbe's with this info.
1) to start with always use a 5 star dealer with at least one viper tech. my
dealer has 2 which is a bonus. get to know the tech so he knows who you are and
knows what you expect when they are working on your car.
2) always take your camera, helps to document everything.
3)one thing i was taught at the young age of 14 i think(lol) when changing the
oil always fill the new filter with oil pryor to installing it. THIS WILL NOT
HAPPEN UNLESS YOU ARE THERE AND REQUEST IT. it is VERY IMPORTANT to do this as
when starting the engine after a oil change it will **** nothing but air for a
very short time. this is only MHO.
4) JACK LOCATION POINTS and what they LOOK LIKE along with LOCATION
5) type of oil. 03-04 5W30, 05 0W40. (MOBIL 1)
IMPORTANT - DO NOT PUT 0W40 IN THE 03-04 AS DODGE CAN BACK AWAY FROM WARRANTY
i found this information while i was getting the oil change done. the service
advisor called factory 800# used for all questions pertaining to warranty issue's.
***** THE REASON GIVEN FOR THE FACTORY CHANGE TO 0W40 IN 05 - MILES/GALLON *****
BEST POLICY - USE WHAT IS RECCOMENDED.
6) thought this pic showed exhaust location well which shows why it gets so
hot some times and what gets removed when deleting crossover.
7) tire pressure, ALL 4 TIRES WERE LOW ON AIR BY 5 POUNDS, tech advised me
that the sensors dont pickup low pressure warnings until after approx 1k miles,
this really surprized me.
8) this pic - I JUST LIKED IT
HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE, AS I STATED, JUST DIDN'T WANT TO ASSUME WE ALL KNOW
ABOVE INFO.

Wanted: thanks much for the post- I see you are in the DC area, I am in NOVA can you recommend a service provider?

Ken

 

[Lee00blacksilverGTS]

Tom is using Keene Dodge, north of Baltimore not sure what town. I know he has spoken very highly of them the last few times we were together. You might want to check with Ron Hickey for a dealer in your area. Although my acute sense of deja vu, and a remembrance of a pm from Pemberton is telling me you may have done that already. Don't forget Heffner in Glen Burnie.

 

[MAVERICK]

nice post

 

[SRTRICKY]

How much air is supposed to be in the tires anyways?

 

[Frank 03SRT]

Do I see a slight oil leak/stain at the back of the pan? I had to work on the pan bolts to stop mine.

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

Can you recite what performance spec the 03-04 5W30 oil has (or not) vs. the 05 0W40? It's a real curiousity since oils are usually intended to be backwards compatible. Thanks.

 

[WANTED]

How much air is supposed to be in the tires anyways?

29lbs look at the drivers door.

 

[WANTED]

Do I see a slight oil leak/stain at the back of the pan? I had to work on the pan bolts to stop mine.

not a leak, its where the oil plug is. the plug hadn't been screwed back on
when i took the pic.

 

[Vic]

Good use of the forum, info sharing, helping newbies, Wanted gets the VCA Citicen Award!