When will the Problems end? Clutch Failure (Again) and now A/C Failure!

[Vipera Russelli]

Some of you may remember a couple months ago I had trouble getting my 2004 SRT-10 Viper into gear, which turned out to be due to two of the eight bolts holding the pressure plate together being backed out a quarter of an inch each for some unknown reason. Well, last night while driving around town, much to my disappointment, which I'm getting quite accustom to I'm afraid, the symptoms came back again (i.e., it became increasingly difficult, and eventually took considerable effort, to force the stick into gear, just like last time). Not wanting to have to flatbed the car to the dealership like I did last time, I drove it there this morning before it got any worse.

While it's there, some AC shut off/temp module is also being replace since the AC coils are apparently over-cooling themselves, resulting in a block of ice that no air, be it chilled or heated, can pass.

Good grief! When will all these problems end? Hey DaimlerChrysler and SRT team, are you listening?
Here is my experience so far with my new 2004 SRT-10 Viper:

Time of Ownership: Six Months
Mileage: 1760 (including 1000 easy break-in miles)
Warranty Issues: SEVEN!!!, and counting (i.e., cam sprocket bolts recall, clutch failure (x2), A/C failure, ABS sensor fell off, leaking front shock, body panel fell off).
Average Distance between Warranty Claims: 250 miles
Average Time between Warranty Claims: 25 days
Evaluation of SRT-10 Viper: Looks awesome; a blast to drive (when it's running); completely unreliable; falling apart.
Confidence in the best of DaimlerChrysler Products: Just guess...

I enjoy driving my Viper so much during those short intervals between getting warranty work performed that I keep deluding myself repeatedly into believing that the last problem will indeed be the last problem for several thousand miles. Each time it breaks again, however, I find myself more disappointed than the time before. When will it end?

Sorry for the rant everybody, I'm just exhausted. What can I do? Suggestions? Thoughts?

 

[Viper Specialty]

find a way to get rid of that car...it must have been built on a friday afternoon!

 

[Skip White]

Realy it's not to bad for such a low production car. The clutch issue is probably the hydro system. Also considering the short time the SRT has been around and is so very different than the GTS, i'ts not to bad. I've had some mass production cars with this many problems.

I know it's frustrating, but it's part of the American build quality.

Skip White

 

[Viperfreak2]

I've got 12,000 miles so far. No clutch issues (local drag strip almost every week) No A/C issues. Bog recall, painless. Flicker recall, ditto. Cooling module replaced, can't tell a difference. Mine musta been built on MONDAY morning, after coffee break!

 

[doctorbob]

Talk to your dealership...look into lemon laws and have DC replace it.

 

[fred]

Build Quality????

 

[Skip White]

Fred I meant, "build quality" as in the car not being like your MB600, but I don't expect it for the price of the SRT.

Skip White

 

[jrkermode]

I'd like to get your guy's input on something...

For a "Dodge" there does seem to be some question as to Vipera's car's quality/reliability. And. I'm sure many of us would say that for $80k, everything should work all the time.

HOWEVER, if it were a Ferrari/Lamborghini/Maserati would we be questioning the cars quality/reliability or would we simply accept these finicky things as endemic to an ultra-high performance, low volume car?

It leaves me wondering if the Gen II Viper may have set new expectations for a Supercar; world beating performance, sub-$100k price and "regular car" reliability.

Thoughts?

 

[Viper IV]

irkermode
I've had the Ferrari, Lamborghini, Mercedes, Jaguar, Corvette, Camaro and a 65
427/550HP AC Cobra.
With this type of high performance auto you learn to expect the "odd" item
breakdowns.
First with the exotic cars, it's a nightmare finding a shop and then waiting
for it to be repaired. (never mind the cost of any repairs)
With the Dodge Viper you can go to most any dealer and find a Viper technician.
This is my first Viper (04 SRT-10) and although it has it's faults, i'm finding
it to be a well made car technically for the money. I myself would have paid a
lot more for the car if it had more power & features. I'm sure there are a lot
of others with the same opinion. But we should expect the minor failure of
parts we stress and otherwise abuse without thinking it's not well made.
There will always be the exception but that does not make them all bad.
With a 7 year warranty how can you go wrong for the money !
Just my .02 cents
Bob

 

[Vipera Russelli]

Update on current clutch and A/C issues:

Clutch: Sure enough the pressure plate bolts had started to back out again. My excellent Viper tech, who was as shocked as anybody that this has happened not once but twice to my car (in a mere total 1700 miles), and with the concurrence of DC, is replacing the pressure plate, the flywheel (which has the suspect threads in it and has some light burning on it), and the pressure plate and flywheel bolts. What's more, to ensure that this doesn't happen a third time (which, by the way, equals Lemon in VA), he's adding LocTite to those damn retreating pressure plate bolts, which is music to my ears. I'm encouraged by all of this, of course, and am hoping mightily that I will get to my next oil change without having any more problems. OH PLEASE, OH PLEASE!!!

A/C: The part being replace on the A/C is a low pressure cycling switch, which tells the A/C to stop chilling once it gets down to about 35F, so as to prevent the unit from turning into a block of ice and ceasing to work at all, as has been the case a couple times.

I'm excited, yet again, to be expecting the return home, yet again, of my high maintenance Mistress. We're getting up, dusting off, and hoping for the best, yet again. I feel somewhat like a hopeless Polly Anna, but my outlook is again positive.

 

[KaiPL]

On the bright side, at least these things are all happening to you while under the warranty period. Would be a lot worse if everything went to hell the month after the warranty was expired.

 

[AviP]

Lemon, lemon, lemon. Three strikes out. Take out the recall stuff and you still have a lemon, lemon, lemon. Need I say to follow up with your state's lemon laws.

 

[Vipera Russelli]

On the bright side, at least these things are all happening to you while under the warranty period. Would be a lot worse if everything went to hell the month after the warranty was expired.

You've got that right and that's a good outlook. This has certainly been an exercise in seeing the glass as half full, and, well, so far so good I guess. When life gives you lemons (or a lemon, as the case may be), make lemonade, right? I'm actually considering a multi-state, couple-thousand-mile round trip and several hundred miles of local driving within the next month or so just to shake out any more problems and determine if this is a hopeless situation or not. At a minimum, I need a few-thousand problem-free miles behind me and quickly.

 

[KaiPL]

I'm actually considering a multi-state, couple-thousand-mile round trip and several hundred miles of local driving within the next month or so just to shake out any more problems and determine if this is a hopeless situation or not. At a minimum, I need a few-thousand problem-free miles behind me and quickly.

Let me know if you're multi-state road trip brings you to Colorado. I'd love to check out your mods on your car, and we've got a very comfortable guest room you could crash in.

Kai

 

[jimandela]

i would say it happens again with the clutch go lemon.
I hope it doesnt go that way for you though... good luck
Jim