Roe Viper started smoking like a friggin gas stack.............

[VIPERCANE]

Beautiful Saturday here in Orlando. Took the beast out for drive to Target etc.
Have not driven her in so long as just lost interest after my wife was diagnosed with ****** cancer. Wife will be fine as luckily it was caught early. So things are looking up once again. Leaving Target, hit it on the straight, and all of a sudden car sounded like it was a lawn mower. The loud roar had been tamed. Then clear smoke started bellowing out of the exhaust, and under the hood escaping thru the hood vents. Smell of gas was very overwhelming. Pulled into my driveway, shut it down, popped the hood and allowed it to cool. Figured that the plugs were shot, and boy were they. Replaced them, and cranked the car, sounded awesome once again, and then the smell of fuel and smoke once again. It seemed that there is fuel leak on the bottom end by the passengers side and it is spewing the fuel on the pipes causing it to smoke like a burning Iragi tank. It was getting late so just parked it and called the man known as Larry Macedo..........Help!!!!!!! Larry was in Jacksonville but still answered his phone and hopefully will be able to make a house call on Monday, right Dr. Macedo????? Will check to see where the leak is originating from today. Anybody had similar problems with their beast? What could it be?
Thanks

Bindy

 

[Viper Specialty]

Uh, oh... Please post a picture of the spark plugs that you replaced, close-up of the electrode if at all possible.

also, if fuel is indeed leaking anywhere near the exhaust, do not run the car! you are ASKING for a fire of explosion.

 

[Torquemonster]

I'd be wanting some answers - a fuel leak that bad should NEVER happen. You are lucky you got home at all, how the fuel didn't ignite and turn your car into a blow torch is a miracle!

 

[RedGTS]

Not too long after the first batch of kits shipped, Sean sent out a new fuel line fitting to everyone due to an issue with one of the stock fittings. I don't even remember where it went, but apparently there were one or more people that had a fuel leak after installing the s/c. I'm sure Larry knows what I'm talking about, or will find the problem in any event.

 

[2MANYTOYS]

Larry will have you fixed up in no time.

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

Yikes !! Yes I would definetly check your old plugs, if changing them made THAT much of an improvement, that means your old ones were probably burned up due to "too lean" or detonation !!

Check to see if eletrodes are missing, or is the plugs have been "shut somehow" (means piston pieces hit it).

Best of luck 2 U, I hope the fuel fire didnt burn anything..


Jon

 

[VIPERCANE]

Thanks guys. The car is being flatbedded to Larry's in the morning and I am sure he will figure out what the heck happened. I was close to my home when it happened, so I quickly pulled in and shut the sucker off. Yes, I am lucky that it did not light up. Some of the plugs were extremely blackish and some were real whitish. Too lean is what I am thinking too. None of the electrodes are missing. As for the fuel line fittings and the replacements, I was one of them that had that initial problem, and it was replaced.

I don't know about this car anymore. Since I have had the Roe installed, this is my fourth nightmarish experience. The first three were fuel leak, blower freezing up, car would not start due to VEC 2 acting up ( at a car show no less) and now this. The best part is I don't even drive this car much and when I do it is never hard. I will open it up but with respect and care. Before the Roe, never had a single problem with it. I hope this is not SC related as that will just make me want to get rid of the blower. This car seems to be flatbedded more to Larry's than me driving it there. Kind of getting old.

Well, I will keep all posted as to what Larry finds. At least it did not blow up with me in it.

 

[ceieio]

If you can show the tuner the plugs and ID which cylinder they came from it could be a big help to sorting things out.

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

Very dissapointing... Stock Vipers are VERY reliable...

Jon

 

[VIPERCANE]

Craig, I have kept the old plugs and have them in order. Jon, yes, stock Vipers are sooooooo much more reliable. But, I guess that's what we pay for added power. I won't let this get me down as this is nothing compared to when my wife was first diagnosed with BC. Whew!!! This is a walk in the park compared to that day. And even more to rejoice is that my wife is going to be just fine, than sulking over this continuos breaking down of my SC beast. Such is life, I guess.

Bindy

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

Good for you Craig !! I totally agree.. even the viper is trivial and pales in comparision to the value of a loved one !!

Dont let it get you down. ITs an easy fix... go back to stock !! (But let Larry do his magic first !! Might be just what you car needed !!)

Jon

 

[FrankBarba]

Who did the Install? Who did the replacement of fuel lines?

 

[VIPERCANE]

Frank, Larry was the one that did the installation. My car was the very first install he ever did with the Roe SC. Then, when the fuel lines were leaking, he replaced them with the newer parts Sean sent him. I am sure when Larry takes a look at it, he will be able to solve this mystery.
I have the very highest regards for Larry and I know he is not only my tuner, but a close friend. He will come thru as as usual. Never failed me yet. LOL!!

 

[SapphireGTS]

Sounds like it being a Roe car has nothing to do with the problem. Just a misinstalled fuel line.

Good luck.

 

[VIPERCANE]

Sapphire, never said that it being a Roe car was the root of the problem. Seems that the last three times it has gone to the shop, it was SC related. So, one can only wonder. It is probably a fuel line like you said........I hope. The car is already at Larry's and we should know something soon. If it is SC related, I am sure Sean will chime in when needed. He always has been there to assist when called upon. That is what is great about Larry and Sean. Always there when needed.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Thats cool. I just saw some posts about returning it to stock when all the other posts pointed at feul line problems.

Good luck though!!

 

[Larry Macedo]

What I don't get is how the guy @ Auto Authority here in town couldn't identify the problem as a stuck open injector when all the tell-tale signs point in that direction. I mean if you go back to the right side tailpipe while the vehicle is running and it blows fuel all over your hand, you'd think a little light would go on in that individuals head. Instead he tells Bingy to change the plugs and off Bindy rides into the sunset with fuel puking from the tailpipe. That seems pretty damn safe if you ask me... The fuel supply hose issue was diagnosed and repaired almost a year ago and never was a problem with "our" installation.

 

[SapphireGTS]

So you have his car and its a stuk open injector. Thats good news. You replace it and all is ok, or is their a fix.

 

[Shelby3]

Very dissapointing... Stock Vipers are VERY reliable...

Jon

Jon, How reliable has your Viper been with the Paxton setup? Any degradation in reliability? You seem to be advocating stock and yet are running a blower on your own car.

 

[VIPERCANE]

Hi all. Just got back from Larry's. First, we had to do what's most important........lunch at WingHouse for some sight seeing. Larry's guess is that it is an injector but seems to think that too much fuel is shooting out of one tailpipe for it to be just one injector. We will see when he pulls the plugs out to determine which ones are dripping with fuel. Hopefully, it is just one.

While I was there, I decided to just go ahead and upgrade to the 8Lb pulley/larger injectors. If the injectors have to be replaced, might as well get them done. Then, we will have the valve covers repainted Blue. Looks good as Larry had a set there. Then she will go up on the dyno. This dam car is addictive.

Well, its funny how I was not upset about the car at all.
Frustrated, yes, but not upset. Again, it is just a toy.
Life is too short to get bent out of shape with toy problems. My wife's situation has thought me to put things in perspective. The snake will run once again.

Now Larry has got me going on SC the H2. That %$^$#@^!!!
LOl!!!

Larry misunderstood what I told him about the tuner at Auto
A. He just came over to assist when he saw my car with its hood up smoking like a cuban cigar. His summation were to change the plugs cause the car sounded like crap. No big deal there.

The funny thing about this is when the tow truck came, the driver goes " I flatbedded this the last time". LOL!! He remembered it broke down when the blower froze up. That's not a good sign!! Oh well!!!

 

[Shelby3]

What was the cause of your blower freezing up? If you liked the 5lb pulley, your gonna love the 8lb.

 

[RedGTS]

Was yours the blower that ate a screw from one of the throttle bodies, or was there a problem with the blower?

 

[SapphireGTS]

Was yours the blower that ate a screw from one of the throttle bodies, or was there a problem with the blower?

I heard about that too. I thought sean said that the screw blower was still working though. Even with a screw in it??

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[VIPERCANE]

Yes, I was the lucky one to have the throttle body screw get sucked in the blower and grind my car to a halt. Yes, this was on Christmas Day 2002. TBs were purchased from Sean, including T & Ds. Installed on Christmas eve, and broke down on Christmas day. Yep, what a present that was.
From what I was told, that blower is sitting in Sean's office on a mantle. Was told that it was a defective TB from the manufacturer.

Larry pulled the plugs out and #2 was dripping w/fuel. So he is going to check out the pulse on it with the VEC2 to see if that is the problem or just that one injector. Should know soon. Beast will have more power when its done (hope so). Wife said that more power doesn't mean squat if the car is always breaking down and in the shop. True. As the saga continues...........

 

[JDR]

If you're not shooting flames... doesn't that mean "no spark"? (Did you loose a coil or sparkplug wire?)

 

[RedGTS]

Bindy, you've had a run of bad luck, but as you perceptively observed earlier, it's not too bad when you compare it to other more important things. I think it's a good thing you went with the blower instead of just going to larger t/b's--not sure what would have happened if the blower hadn't stopped it and that screw had gotten sucked into one of your cylinders.

 

[fuelman]

Hi Bindy,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. Your car has been a test bed for a lot of us that have had no problems. I'm sure Larry will get it back on a smooth flight path. Have you ever owned a boat? If you don't use them they tend to break a lot. Maybe the same is true for your Viper, she needs to be taken out and run more.

I'm happy to hear about your wife!

 

[VIPERCANE]

JDR, there were no flames. Larry is deciphering what happened so we will know soon.

Ronnie, I am glad that did not happen. Not that it would, as I only got the TBs after the SC was installed and was told that it would make a difference with the SC. If I had not gotten the SC, I would not have put the TBs on. No big deal......life is too short to worry about what if's etc.

I just have to laugh about it now. My wife said I should get a Turbo Beetle like hers that never breaks down. Yeah Right!!!!

Larry will have the beast running soon with more power and then I will just wait for it to conk out again, and post my new nightmarish experience then.

John, I am with you about driving the car more. That's what Larry said today. Just go out and run it. I will after this episode. Saw your beautiful car at Larry's. Love that engine bay. Just awesome looking!!!!!!

 

[2002_Viper_GTS_ACR]

Very dissapointing... Stock Vipers are VERY reliable...

Jon

Jon, How reliable has your Viper been with the Paxton setup? Any degradation in reliability? You seem to be advocating stock and yet are running a blower on your own car.

I will tell you this, (when refering to buying a paxton DIY KIT) Hold off for now . I dont recommend ANY DIY supercharger at this time. Stay tuned for my take on PAXTON's offering. No I wont respond to emails or PM's regarding this right now. Sorry.

Jon

PS. I advocate stock becasue I NEVER had problems stock.. so you can take the flip side of that relative to mods.