Sick Viper

[HOdbleFman]

I've got some problems. My Viper won't run. I drove it a week ago and it ran fine. I went to start it up today and it started for a second and quit. Then, it took several seconds of turning before it would start again. Then the only way it will run is if I hold down the gas and keep the rpm's to 1500 or above. It runs fine if you hold the gas down, but dies when you let off. Is it possible I got some bad gas or is there something more here? Rumor has it that there was some bad gas going around my area, but I don't know how true it is. Help guys.

 

[MichaelP]

How about the gas filter.

When is the last time it was changed?

 

[Leonard Knight]

Try cleaning the idle control motor sensor. I think there was a thread about this a few weeks back. I had this problem and cleaning it fixed the problem.

 

[Torquemonster]

Bad gas won't cause problems under light load.

Have you got a vacuum leak - maybe a hose come off or got loose?

 

[Finally got it !]

My car had the same exact problem. Changed battery and never came back..

 

[JonB]

The Year Matters


Not knowing the year or mileage or anything USEFUL, it is hard to help. 98 GTS in your sig? I hope so. Mileage? But an old battery is a common culprit.

 

[snakebitdave]

I have experienced this as well. Charged the battery-problem gone.

 

[JonB]

I've got some problems........Then the only way it will run is if I hold down the gas and keep the rpm's to 1500 or above. It runs fine if you hold the gas down, but dies when you let off.

If you turn on the a/c and fan while this is happening, after 3.0 sec the idle should self-correct! Culprit is old battrey - low voltage or old-dirty ISM as Leonard stated (Gen 2-3 only)

 

[joe117]

You would think that someone would build a little mod that would light up an indicator if the computer voltage was low enough to cause this.
So many people have had this problem caused by a weak battery. It should at least set a code that you could read.

 

[HOdbleFman]

Thanks guys, but I went outside and put in some moisture remover in the fuel tank and let it set for a few minutes and she runs smooth as silk now. Man am I relieved. The car only has 18,000 miles on it by the way JonB. I still may try and clean the ISM.

 

[HOdbleFman]

Where is the ISM? Torque, wouldn't a vacuum leak trip the check engine light? I damaged the vacuum pump at one point and it tripped the light. I replaced the pump several months back and reset the light and it's been fine since then until today.

 

[Joseph Houss]

Unless I missed something, nobody mentioned the infamous "relearn".

Here's the deal, if the battery dies (or I'm assuming loses enough voltage to create low voltage situations), the computer module loses its' memory, and the unit goes into a "relearn" condition. When this happens, the car will not idle.

All it needs is about 5 minutes either idling (with the help of your foot, of course!) or driving (please be very careful if you do this, as you can obviously stall the car in a very precarious situation), and then all will be good.

Considering your original post, you may want to consider opting for a new battery.

Just my humble opinion.