Plugged Cat ---->> Ruined Engine.. and I\'m not alone...
I just wanted to share my experience with the forum regarding what my 04 Viper has been through in the past few months...
On August 20th, I left a stoplight in normal fashion. After shifting to second, and apply the gas, the car suddenly stumbled badly and lost power. I could barely get to 3000 rpms. Being that I was only a few miles from the Dodge dealer, I chose to drive straight there. I barely made it. By the time I pulled in, black smoke was coming from the left sidepipe. After a few days, the diagnosis was plugged cat. A new one was ordered and installed after about a week. At that point, the car would rev fine but the smoke was still there and the car had no power. The technician contacted Dodge and was told to pull the motor, all attachments, computer, wiring harness, etc. and "send em in"... You can imagine my reaction!... In the end, the engine had to be rebuilt at 7600 miles. Apparently the trapped heat and unburned fuel washed the oil from the cylinder walls and the rings then scratched the walls destroying compression. 8 weeks later, I have my car back.. with no idea WHY this happened... Sadly, Dodge cannot explain it either..
Now... they can't explain the plugged cat but were fairly open that this is not the first of these events that has happened. In fact, two SRT-10 Ram Pickups had the same problem at my dealer. The reason they wanted the full system from my car was to get one that hadn't been opened up. They investigated the computer, engine, everything.. Apparently this problem is occuring around the country.. For some reason, either spark is failing or injectors are staying open allowing raw fuel to enter the exhaust where it burns inside the cat, destroying it, and sometimes damaging the motor as well..
The good news? Dodge didn't hesitate for one second to repair the problems under warranty and they provided a loaner car for the entire duration.. Despite the loss of my Viper for months, my dealer and Dodge totally stood behind the car! For that reason alone, I'd buy another...
Unfortunately, one week after getting my car back, I'm forced off the road by an oncoming car in my lane.. short trip in the ditch to a tree, and a totalled viper..
Rough few months and end to an otherwise great Viper experience.. I loved this car.. I may replace it but got a very good deal on the 04 (new, $67,000) in December last year.. I'm considering a Copperhead the dealer has on the floor for the past 4 months.. asking price is $78,000 (sticker is 88,500).. maybe I'll have a better experience on round II....
I just wanted to share my experience with the forum regarding what my 04 Viper has been through in the past few months...
On August 20th, I left a stoplight in normal fashion. After shifting to second, and apply the gas, the car suddenly stumbled badly and lost power. I could barely get to 3000 rpms. Being that I was only a few miles from the Dodge dealer, I chose to drive straight there. I barely made it. By the time I pulled in, black smoke was coming from the left sidepipe. After a few days, the diagnosis was plugged cat. A new one was ordered and installed after about a week. At that point, the car would rev fine but the smoke was still there and the car had no power. The technician contacted Dodge and was told to pull the motor, all attachments, computer, wiring harness, etc. and "send em in"... You can imagine my reaction!... In the end, the engine had to be rebuilt at 7600 miles. Apparently the trapped heat and unburned fuel washed the oil from the cylinder walls and the rings then scratched the walls destroying compression. 8 weeks later, I have my car back.. with no idea WHY this happened... Sadly, Dodge cannot explain it either..
Now... they can't explain the plugged cat but were fairly open that this is not the first of these events that has happened. In fact, two SRT-10 Ram Pickups had the same problem at my dealer. The reason they wanted the full system from my car was to get one that hadn't been opened up. They investigated the computer, engine, everything.. Apparently this problem is occuring around the country.. For some reason, either spark is failing or injectors are staying open allowing raw fuel to enter the exhaust where it burns inside the cat, destroying it, and sometimes damaging the motor as well..
The good news? Dodge didn't hesitate for one second to repair the problems under warranty and they provided a loaner car for the entire duration.. Despite the loss of my Viper for months, my dealer and Dodge totally stood behind the car! For that reason alone, I'd buy another...
Unfortunately, one week after getting my car back, I'm forced off the road by an oncoming car in my lane.. short trip in the ditch to a tree, and a totalled viper..
Rough few months and end to an otherwise great Viper experience.. I loved this car.. I may replace it but got a very good deal on the 04 (new, $67,000) in December last year.. I'm considering a Copperhead the dealer has on the floor for the past 4 months.. asking price is $78,000 (sticker is 88,500).. maybe I'll have a better experience on round II....
