incompetent 998 999 recall work.

[Nadine UK GTS]

Re the 998 and 999 recall...I have been appalled and shocked re this recall incompetent frame work that's going on in the UK. Some of the Chrysler UK dealers are screwing the work up! My concern is owners trust work has been done satisfactorily, and this is far from the truth.

One dealer confidently claims to have done 6 Vipers including a GT2, they ignored the rear (on the 998 which needs much work on pre March '99 cars, but argued with me it doesn't! YIKES!) They have put the frame gussets on over the top of the old ones!! They are part riveted (doesn't even look like with the proper rivets) and part welded as they won't fit well with the old ones in place still. I couldn't believe what I've seen. I just had a quick look-see at a few of the cars done when we met up this weekend. Another dealer screwed up on the rear U splicer brackets, the driveshft was rattling around. Gussets were riveted on the wrong way around facing rearwards! Yet they also claim to have serviced the snake since doing this, how did they get that oil filter out?! The owners are unaware; they have rightly expected it's been done properly. This is criminal.

Am I glad I bought some 998 kits from the Wizard, so I can be sure my Beloveds done properly, thanks Chuck.

 

[Marv S]

Long time..Where you been?

Anyway, Just make sure the brackets get on the correct side or....
http://vca2.viperclub.org/forums/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=UBB14&Number=263685&page=21&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1

 

[ViperJoe]

I can see the front gussets were done on my car and thankfully correctly, but would someone post a pic and / or describe the work that is supposed to be done to the rear suspension (before / after pic?)?
THANKS!!

 

[GTS Dean]

Pics of the rear reinforcement installed correctly.

I have to wonder if the factory recall instructions are really *that* difficult to understand, or if it's just that there are an amazing number of "mechanics" who coulnd't find their butt cheeks with both hands? All you have to do is hand-fit the parts together loosely and tape them in place, step back and think about things for a few minutes before you drill holes. Morons.

 

[GTSnake]

AAAAAHHHHGGGG!!!!!
After reading this string I decided to take my car into the dealer who just did this recall and see for myself that it's was done right. I didn't think it would be a big deal but just wanted to be sure.
To my horror as the lift went up and I looked at the frame the sight was exactly the same as the pictures above labeled wrong installation. My blood started boiling and I'm sure I had steam coming from my ears.
I told the mechanic "how do you expect to take the oil filter off?". All I got back was silence. As I berated them for a few minutes all I got was dumb looks and again silence. The Viper tech spoke up finally and said how he would correct it. He proposed to weld a metal plate over the riveted holes and zinc plate it. Then get a new recall kit and install it correctly over the lateral holes. He said he would guarantee the structural integrity of the repair. So I replied with "fine but I'm gonna need that in writing".

Now I'm in the process of drafting up a letter spelling out how they would be responsible for the recall and repair work for the life of the vehicle. Let's see if they sign it.

BTW. I think I have an idea of why there are so many recalls done incorecctly. The brackets may be mislabeld. There are stickers on the brackets that say "LH" and "RH". Everyone assumes that "LH" means drivers side and "RH" means passenger. But I think in this case they may be backwards. Either that or the tech installed them upside down.

So not to name names but the dealership was Anderson Dodge in Bloomfield Hills, MI. They told me they have 2 Viper techs there so I "ASS-U-ME-D" that they were competent. MY BAD... It turns out that I was the first lucky guinea pig that they did this recall on. So anyone doing this recall can pretty much be assured that they will do it right the next time because I gave them a thorough lesson.

 

[Gerald Levin]

GTSnake, that sux the big one. The thought of that being done to my car would cause my mild mannered temperment to go into nuclear meltdown. I just had mine done here in Indy and unless the viper tech called in sick and had a replacement do mine, I know it was done right as he's done over 50 of these. (Maybe all 50 of these were done wrong as I have not looked at it since it was done.) It amazes me to think that with all the discussion on this website that there are some vipertechs that are still clueless on this and are doing this for the first time by trying to read the instructions and hope that everything turns out right! Absolutely friggin crazy. You would think that every dealer would go thru some sort of training program with their tech and conclude the training that if its done correctly, they continue to work for the dealership. If its installed backwards, they are fired on the spot. Incompetence on this recall is totally unacceptable and I'd be talking to an attorney if this happened to me. Okay, time for me to settle down on this.....

 

[ViperJoe]

I have the front gusset plates on, but it looks like my rear was not done. Is the rear the 999 update, and are 98's supposed to get that portion?
Thanks

 

[Neil - UK]

front and rear is 998 recall, cars built between 1996 - 1st March 1999

front only 999 recall, cars built after the 1st March 1999 to the end of 2000

 

[ViperJoe]

Thanks Neil,and REARis a ONE SIDE only fix?

 

[Steve-Indy]

Rear is on left side only.

 

[ViperGTS]

I will bring my car on Monday to one of two (!) authorized dealers in Germany to do the 999 recall. I truly hope that he knows what he is doing or I will ......

 

[Mike Brunton]

GTSnake,

Be very careful here. If you wrote a contract stating they "would be responsible for the structural integrity...." - be sure you specify the consequences if the part ever fails. If you don't, they will want to just cut and re-weld the frame if it ever broke - would you be happy with that?

The bottom line is your frame has been damaged. Personally I would not touch a car that had a misinstalled frame recall done - too many Vipers out there to worry about what COULD happen. What if the dealer goes under? Then what? Or what if this tech leaves and the owner denies coverage? What if they flat out refuse coverage later - your only option would be to sue (which costs $$$$).

Better to get it fixed 100% now and get yourself compensated for the "loss".

Is this tech (same same one who screwed your frame by putting the plates in backwards) really qualified to design a solution to fix the frame? Does he know the loads involved and what structural damage he has done from his "repair"? Or will he just make it look nice and trust it will be OK? After all, HE personally isn't liable.

I would say the ONLY acceptabe solution would be something PVO and Dodge can put their "stamp of approval" on. Anything less is only as good as the tech is at structural engineering. And I doubt he's too good at that.

If I were you, I would want a notice from Dodge detailing what they consider a structurally sound repair to this problem. If their solution is to cut that section out and re-weld, that means now you have a car with a f***ed frame that was repaired - no different than accident damage, IMO. Frame damage is THE most scary thing for most people. And if you must live with a damaged frame, you should be compensated for the loss of value to the vehicle because of the accident (again no different than a collision, IMO) your car suffered.

Take a poll of the folks here and see how many wouldn't ever touch a car that had questionable frame repair. I sure wouldn't. I feel bad for you - I hope you get made whole again.

 

[ViperJoe]

My rear fix is only welded in place with no bolt attachment as is shown in the pic of someone elses fix, is this OK?

Why only the one side on the rear, torque?

Thanks

 

[GTSnake]

Mike,
Thanks for your input. I will specify that the repair is made to my satisfaction as well as consequences if not done right. I'm not even sure they would sign the letter. If they don't I will have to pursue legal means. Like you said this is major damage as well as irreversible. Every time I start thinking about this it makes my blood boil.

 

[DEVILDOG]

My rear fix is only welded in place with no bolt attachment as is shown in the pic of someone elses fix, is this OK?

Why only the one side on the rear, torque?

Thanks

Should have been bolted at top at existing mounting point with existing hardware and riveted at bottom. NO welding should have been done. Left side only due to directional rotation of driveline. I suggest you take to a competent Viper Tech for inspection and correction. Good Luck.

 

[Steve-Indy]

...as DEVILDOG said...AND check for possible frame damage from welds...and be sure that you get NEW straps/bolts for the diff.

 

[ViperJoe]

Bueler did it on my car before I got it, and I was told that they have done enough of them and enough correctly not to worry (per the Wizard). Now seeing one bolted / rivited and mine being welded in place got me worried. This looks like a can of worms