Page 141 of 236
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
m8.3L Engine Compartment................144
mOnboard Diagnostic System (OBD II).........145
mEmissions Inspection And Maintenance
Programs............................146
mReplacement Parts......................147
mDealer Service.........................147
mMaintenance Procedures..................148
NEngine Oil..........................148
NDrive Belts Ð Check Condition And Tension . . 152NSpark Plugs.........................152
NCatalytic Converter....................153
NIgnition Wiring System And Ignition Timing . . 154
NCrankcase Emission Control System........155
NAir Cleaner Filter.....................155
NMaintenance-Free Battery................156
NBattery Save Feature...................158
NAir Conditioner......................160
7
Page 155 of 236

Manual for the proper procedure to be followed for
checking ignition cable resistance. Cracked, damaged, or
faulty cables should be replaced.
Because of the plastic body shell on your Viper, ignition
cables should be replaced with the specially designed RFI
cables available at your dealer.
Ignition timing cannot be set on this vehicle.
Crankcase Emission Control System
Proper operation of this system depends on freedom
from plugging due to deposits. As vehicle mileage builds
up, the Crankcase Ventilation Valve orifice may accumu-
late deposits. If a valve is not working properly, replace it
with a new orifice. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CLEAN THE
OLD ORIFICE!
Check the ventilation hose for indication of damage or
plugging deposits. Replace if necessary.
Air Cleaner Filter
Under normal driving conditions, replace the air filter at
the intervals shown on ªMaintenance Schedule Aº. If,
however, you drive the vehicle frequently under dusty or
severe conditions, the filter element should be inspected
periodically and replaced if necessary at the intervals
shown in ªMaintenance Schedule Bº.
WARNING!
The air cleaner can provide protection if the engine
backfires. Do not remove the air cleaner unless such
removal is necessary for repair or maintenance.
Make sure that no one is near the engine compart-
ment before starting the vehicle with the air cleaner
removed. Failure to do so can result in serious
personal injury.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 155
7
Page 204 of 236
Miles 3,000 6,000 9,000 12,000 15,000 18,000
(Kilometers) (5 000) (10 000) (14 000) (19 000) (24 000) (29 000)
Change engine oil and engine oil filter.XXXXX X
Inspect the brake linings. X
Change the rear axle fluid. X
Inspect and replace, if necessary, theair
cleaner filter.X
Lubricate the front and rear suspension ball
joints.X
204 SCHEDULE ªBº
8
M
A
I
N
T
E
N
A
N
C
E
S
C
H
E
D
U
L
E
S
Page 205 of 236
Miles 21,000 24,000 27,000 30,000 33,000 36,000
(Kilometers) (34 000) (38 000) (43 000) (48 000) (53 000) (58 000)
Change engine oil and engine oil filter.XXXXX X
Lubricate the front and rear suspension ball
joints.X
Inspect the brake linings. X X
Change the rear axle fluid. X X
Inspect and replace, if necessary, theair
cleaner filter.X
Replace thespark plugs.X
Change the transmission fluid. X
Inspect and replace, if necessary, thePCV ori-
fice.*X
Change the brake and clutch fluid. X
SCHEDULE ªBº 205
8
M
A
I
N
T
E
N
A
N
C
E
S
C
H
E
D
U
L
E
S
Page 206 of 236
Miles 39,000 42,000 45,000 48,000 51,000 54,000
(Kilometers) (62 000) (67 000) (72 000) (77 000) (82 000) (86 000)
Change engine oil and engine oil filter.XXXXX X
Lubricate the front and rear suspension ball
joints.X
Inspect the brake linings. X
Inspect and replace, if necessary, theengine
air cleaner filter.X
Change the transmission fluid. X
Change the rear axle fluid. X
206 SCHEDULE ªBº
8
M
A
I
N
T
E
N
A
N
C
E
S
C
H
E
D
U
L
E
S
Page 207 of 236
Miles 57,000 60,000 63,000 66,000 69,000 72,000
(Kilometers) (91 000) (96 000) (101 000) (106 000) (110 000) (115 000)
Change engine oil and engine oil filter.XXXXX X
Lubricate the front and rear suspension ball
joints.X
Change the rear axle fluid. X X
Inspect the brake linings. X X
Inspect and replace, if necessary, theair
cleaner filter.X
Replace thespark plugs.X
Replace theignition cables.X
Inspect and replace, if necessary, thePCV ori-
fice.*X
Inspect and replace the Auto Tension Drive
Belt as needed.X
Change the brake and clutch fluid. X
Change the transmission fluid. X
SCHEDULE ªBº 207
8
M
A
I
N
T
E
N
A
N
C
E
S
C
H
E
D
U
L
E
S
Page 208 of 236
Miles 75,000 78,000 81,000 84,000 87,000 90,000
(Kilometers) (120 000) (125 000) (130 000) (134 000) (139 000) (144 000)
Change engine oil and engine oil filter.XXXXX X
Lubricate the front and rear suspension ball
joints.XX
Inspect the brake linings. X
Change the rear axle fluid. X
Inspect and replace, if necessary, theair
cleaner filter.XX
Replace thespark plugs.X
Change the brake and clutch fluid.X
Inspect and replace, if necessary, thePCV ori-
fice.*X
Inspect and replace the Auto Tension Drive
Belt as needed. ³XX
Change the transmission fluid. X
208 SCHEDULE ªBº
8
M
A
I
N
T
E
N
A
N
C
E
S
C
H
E
D
U
L
E
S
Page 209 of 236
Miles 93,000 96,000 99,000 102,000 105,000
(Kilometers) (149 000) (154 000) (158 000) (163 000) (168 000)
Change engine oil and engine oil filter.XXXXX
Inspect the brake linings. X
Change the rear axle fluid. X
Inspect and replace, if necessary, theengine air
cleaner filter.X
Lubricate the front and rear suspension ball joints. X
Change the transmission fluid.X
Inspect and replace the Auto Tension Drive Belt as
needed. Not required if the belt was previously re-
placed.X
Flush and replace engine coolant. X
* This maintenance is recommended by DaimlerChrysler
Corporation to the owner but is not required to maintain
the warranty on the PCV orifice.
³ This maintenance is not required if previously replaced.Inspection and service should also be performed anytime
a malfunction is observed or suspected. Retain all re-
ceipts.
SCHEDULE ªBº 209
8
M
A
I
N
T
E
N
A
N
C
E
S
C
H
E
D
U
L
E
S