Taking my viper in for service...

[gtsfe21]

I am taking my Viper in Friday to get all the fluids changed... but, I have seen so many horror stories on how the dealership destroyed my viper already. Any suggestions on how to keep them from doing this to my baby?

 

[supersnake]

When I take mine in for service, I drive it in there shop and stand and watch the tech and when he is done drive it out. No one gets behind the wheel of our cars, That way there is No stories about smashed up Vipers.

 

[SA HEAT]

There's no way to be 100% sure. I watched a local Dodge dealership's Viper Tech drive mine right into a curb in the service drive after I gave him the "treat my baby right" speech when I took it in to get the toe set (they paid for the scraped up wheel). Search the forum/get a service manual, take your time, and do the fluid changes yourself. You'll learn a lot about your car, save a lot of money and have the satisfaction of doing it yourself and knowing it was done right.....just my two cents.

 

[aacrewchief]

Yeah, unfortunately there is no way to be sure your baby will be pampered and cared for like you want when taking it in for service, especially after you leave the premisis. I always stay within eyesight of my viper when I take it in for service (if I can afford to hang around), but I just bought a set of service manuals because I prefer to do the work myself knowing that it will be done right, and there will be absolutely no negligence or horror stories involved! Plus, the $$ savings on DIY is amazing.

 

[Sneaky Pete]

D.I.Y.!!!!

 

[01sapphirebob]

Like everyone else has said above, there is no real way to know. I recall the second time I took my '01 in for service The Viper tech was training another tech and they were trying to drive the car up onto 2x4's so they could lift it up. I was near the shop and I hear the sound of a 2x4 shooting across the shop and when I turned around I saw my car heading towards the wall!!

 

[ghengishahn]

Search the forum/get a service manual, take your time, and do the fluid changes yourself. You'll learn a lot about your car, save a lot of money and have the satisfaction of doing it yourself and knowing it was done right.....just my two cents.

DIY. I did the antifreeze last week. Easiest I have ever encountered. And yes it is a good learning experience.

I found a thread that lead me to Ebay to buy the new shop manuals for about $40. Well worth it.

 

[GTLaser]

I am taking my Viper in Friday to get all the fluids changed... but, I have seen so many horror stories on how the dealership destroyed my viper already. Any suggestions on how to keep them from doing this to my baby?

Well if they destroyed it why take it back????

I would never take it to a dealer that didn't have a Viper Tech with a good reputation. Everything on my car I have done myself, even things under warranty because I can't trust some kid working on my car.

Fluids may be the easiest thing to change too....

 

[FrankBarba]

Here in the PA - NJ area wew have some viper techs that are now comming to your place to do the work for you instead of taking to the dealer. They do great work. I just had thme in my garage to do a full fluid change on one of my Vipers. They will be comming back in a few weeks to do another.

 

[TheMilkman]

I found that asking other owners about the dealership or where to take your car to works the best if you can't DIY.

I think I would like to try and do some stuff myself, but I don't own a lift, the tools, or have a good garage for working in.
I heard there are a few Bay-Rental places around town where you can rent all that is needed (work bay, lift, tools, Enviro-disposal, etc), but at that point might as well have someone experienced do the work.

Of course I say this when everyone here it town as told me to go with one guy, and I still go to the local Stealership because they are 2 miles from work, have been nice, and have been working A LOT with my Viper (hum?). Convenience overruled the experienced, but if things were truely ***** I would switch.

 

[Venomiss]

I am taking my Viper in Friday to get all the fluids changed... but, I have seen so many horror stories on how the dealership destroyed my viper already. Any suggestions on how to keep them from doing this to my baby?

Yes, contact some of your local Washington VCA viper owners and ask who they use for service first. Bill Sand is the president there.

VCA Home

If you cannot stay with the car then take pictures of the inside including odometer and outside of your car before you leave it.

 

[RobZilla]

It's just fluids... DIY

 

[scottmcc]

I just took mine to a local fast oil change shop called fast Eddy's. They charged me $110 to change oil and transmission fluids and let me go into the pit to watch everything as it happens.. Big benefit to going to local shop where Dodge dealers may not let you go back to the shop...This was thier first Viper and they treated her like a queen. I was very impressed with the level of attention they gave to my car. All they wanted was a burnout when I left...(Why is it everyone wants a burnout?) They are so effortless.. So I gave them one and hit redline which I have never done, now I feel so guilty.. I know the engine can handle it but I feel sick to my stomach... Kind of like the first scratch you get in a car..

 

[agentf1]

Here in the PA - NJ area wew have some viper techs that are now comming to your place to do the work for you instead of taking to the dealer. They do great work. I just had thme in my garage to do a full fluid change on one of my Vipers. They will be comming back in a few weeks to do another.

PLease send me the info on this. I usually do all my maintenance myself but would like to change the antifreeze and am not sure I can get the system air free. I probably should od it myself but it could not hurt to watch somebody do it the first time. Obviously I do all the oils myself since they are super easy.

 

[VIPERUSA]

Thank God for Chuck Tator !!!