Viper Running REEEEEALLY HOT!

[SapphireGTS]

Good evening race fans.

I looked through past posts but would like some fresh opinions.

I have a 2001 GTS and, since I bought it, have not have 1 problem. (oops).
I have high flow cats.

I know the Viper runs pretty hot, but a strange thing happened today. Its about 80F degrees here and I was sitting in traffic. I had been in traffic for less than 10 mins when I looked down at my gauges I noticed that the temperature gauge was pinned (I didnt even know it went that high) with the temperature light on. I turned on my heat to try to pull some air out of the motor and the temp went back to normal in less than 1 min. I ran it hard the rest of the way home to see if it was still a problem and it DIDN'T get super hot again. In the past I have been stuck in 3 hours of traffic in 100F+ degree heat with the A/C on and it didnt get even close to what it was today?

Any ideas? You think the thermastat was stuck closed?

Thanks for any help.
Keith

 

[Bernard]

Check the impeller on the water pump. I had those symptoms and that was the problem with my 2000 RT/10

 

[NCVCA]

Might also want to "burp" the coolant. Air bubble can cause over heating.

 

[George Murray]

Keith...if that engine gets that hot, shut it down immediately. Mucho expensive to fix...

Check to make sure your fans are cycling on/off. I had a fan speed relay problem on my 99 GTS recently. A Neon horn relay (same item, less dinero) fixed that.

 

[Chuck 98 RT/10]

01 had a problem with the water pump impeller like Bernard said. Dealer should replace free of charge.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Thanks for the info!!!

Id say it was the water pump but if that went out do you think the temp would go back to normal like it did?
Ill do a water pump. Burping and fan relay

Thats what throws me off so much the fact it was about to explode then it went 100% back to normal.

Ill look into all those. I didnt know if there was a common problem that would be an obvious fix?

I have heard about the crappy water pump impellers on these new vipers. Is there an aftermarket heavy duty one? and is it a pain to replace myself.

I dont have much confidence in most dealerships.

Thanks again!

Keith

 

[Viper Specialty]

you can install an Archer Racing HD water pump, but it MUST be installed with an Underdrive system... unfortunatly. if you have any future with an S/C, live in Very hot climate, or have battery trouble... bad idea.

I just had my water pump out the other day to test for the infamous problem...so if you need any help, let me know.

 

[Gavin]

Just so you know.......
The Viper computer will make the engine run super rich (this cools the cylinder walls, pistons and rings) - when you see the check engine light come on as a result of the temp getting into the red on your guage, rest assurred the computer is doing its job - once this has occurred you will need to disconnect the positive battery cable - under the hood, drivers right to rest the computer, otherwise the engine will be in a perpetual rich condition.
Driving the car hard for extended periods, with the temp in the red runs the risk of damaging piston rings, oil control rings and subsequently the cylinder walls.
It is always best to drive the car carefully until until the guage is showing temps in the normal range.

 

[SapphireGTS]

Thanks Daniel. I would really like to upgrade the water pump so I can do my overheating/burping ritual without always thinking its the waterpump. I emailed a couple of vendors to see if there is a good one avaliable. I wouldnt rule out the S/C being in the future so the Archer one is probably a no go.

Was the water pump a pain to take out?

Thanks again all for your advices.

Keith

 

[Viper Specialty]

SAPPHIRE- the stock pumps arent actually a bad design, the 2001's just had issues with quality control on the shaft sizes for pressing the impellers on. I pulled mine off just for peice of mind.

Not exactly a BIG job, but a Pain in the A$$ no less.

-remove your hood (make this MUCH easier, take 2 or 3 people, depending on how comfortable you are with doing it. set it down on 3 peices of 2" thick styrofoam for house sideing and such. remove the 4 bolts on the hood latch, and lift off. simple.)
-jack up front of car
-remove the bolts that hold the "strut bar" in place. 2 bolts per side, plus 1 bottom bolt.
-remove the 2 bolts holding the Power Steering cooler and push it off to the side.
-slide strut bar as far down and forward as possible. you cant actually remove it, you just want as much room as possible.
-remove lower Rad hose from pump.
-remove Serpentine belt
-remove 4 bolts that hold on pump pulley
-remove 5 bolts that hold on pump
-wiggle pump out

Scrape off excess gasket material and reinstall in reverse. ORDER A NEW PUMP GASKET BEFORE STARTING!!!

to test for a bad impeller, hold onto pump pulley and try to twist. If it spins, dead giveaway. if not, try boiling pump in a stove and repeat while still HOTT. If it spins, again, its bad. also look for evidence that the impeller has dislodged and moved around. (gashes in plastic, impeller sticking way off shaft...perhaps even a mark in the end of the shaft that no longer lines up)

Hope that helped!

 

[TOOOFST]

When you upgrade,call me i'll get you the Roe Racing hoses,makes burping a snap with an external relief valve.Comes in Red or Blk.TOOF

 

[Viper Specialty]

TOOOFST- Roe is out of Red right now.

 

[treynor]

Keith - had exactly the same thing happen to my car. The water pump impeller cracked along the shaft, and it would sometimes freewheel (causing the overheating) and sometimes work. It finally failed completely, causing significant engine damage. Take your car to your dealer IMMEDIATELY, tell them the car has already overheated and you are aware of the '01 water pump failures, and make sure it's in the service record in case you have future engine issues related to the overheating (e.g. blown head gasket).

 

[SapphireGTS]

TOOF, I ordered the hoses from Roe. Ill burp. Ill take to dealer because its free.

Daniel. If the dealer is a pain I may do what you say. Thanks for the details.

THANKS TO ALL ONCE AGAIN. Figures that after 2+ years of perfect operation I have this problem the week I wanted to put the rest of my mods on.

Keith

 

[commoditybroker]

Ben,
Was this on the Daytona or your RT??

Zach

 

[treynor]

This was my RT -- the problem happened after I'd already modified it fairly extensively, so getting warranty work wasn't an option. I ended sending it to Doug Levin to fix the engine and (ahem) bolt a few things on in the process

The Daytona never exhibited the problem. Apparently it was limited to a particular batch of water pumps.