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After Starting
The idle speed will automatically decrease as the engine
warms up.
WARNING!
Never pour fuel or other flammable liquid into the
throttle body air inlet opening in an attempt to start
the vehicle. This could result in flash fire causing
serious personal injury.
TRANSMISSION SHIFTING
NOTE:The parking brake should be engaged and the
gear selector placed in REVERSE before leaving the
vehicle, especially on an incline.
Fully depress the clutch pedal before you shift gears. As
you release the clutch pedal, lightly depress the accelera-
tor pedal.Be sure the transmission is in FIRST gear, (not THIRD),
when starting from a standing position. Damage to the
clutch can result from starting in THIRD.
For most city driving you will find it easier to use only
the lower gears. For steady highway driving with light
accelerations, 6th gear is recommended.
Never drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal, or
try to hold the vehicle on a hill with the clutch pedal
partially engaged. This will cause abnormal wear on the
clutch.
Never shift into REVERSE until the vehicle has come to a
complete stop.
NOTE:During cold weather, until the transmission
lubricant has warmed, you may have difficulty shifting.
This is normal and not harmful to the transmission.
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All vehicle wheels and tires must be the same size and
type as the original equipment wheels and tires must be
properly inflated to produce accurate signals for the
computer.
WARNING!
Significant over or under inflation of tires, or mixing
sizes of front or rear tires or wheels on the vehicle
can lead to loss of braking effectiveness.
The Anti-Lock Brake System conducts a low-speed self-
test at about 12 mph (20 km/h). If you have your foot
lightly on the brake while this test is occurring, you may
feel slight pedal movement. The movement can be more
apparent on ice and snow. This is normal.The Anti-Lock Brake System pump motor runs during
the self-test at 12 mph (20 km/h) and during an ABS stop.
The pump motor makes a low humming noise during
operation, which is normal.
WARNING!
Pumping of the Anti-Lock Brakes will diminish
their effectiveness and may lead to an accident.
Pumping makes the stopping distance longer. Just
press firmly on your brake pedal when you need to
slow down or stop.
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NOTE:During severe braking conditions, a pulsing
sensation may occur and a clicking noise will be heard.
This is normal, indicating that the Anti-Lock Brake
System is functioning.WARNING!
To use your brakes and accelerator more safely, follow
these tips:
•Do not“ride”the brakes by resting your foot on the
pedal. This could overheat the brakes and result in
unpredictable braking action, longer stopping dis-
tances, or brake damage.
•When descending mountains or hills, repeated brak-
ing can cause brake fade with loss of braking control.
Avoid repeated heavy braking by downshifting the
transmission whenever possible.
•Do not drive too fast for road conditions, especially
when roads are wet or slushy. A wedge of water can
build up between the tire tread and the road. This
hydroplaning action can cause loss of traction, brak-
ing ability, and control.
•After going through deep water or a car wash, brakes
may become wet, resulting in decreased performance
and unpredictable braking action. Dry the brakes by
gentle, intermittent pedal action while driving at very
slow speeds.
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In the event power assist is lost for any reason (for
example, repeated brake applications with the engine
off), the brakes will still function. The effort required to
brake the vehicle will be much greater than that required
with the power system operating.
If either the front or rear hydraulic system loses normal
capability, the remaining system will still function with
some loss of overall braking effectiveness. This will be
evident by increased pedal travel during application,
greater pedal force required to slow or stop, and activa-
tion of the Brake Warning Lamp during brake use.
NOTE:Your Viper has a very high performance braking
system. The brake pads are a semi-metallic compound
which has been selected for superior fade resistance and
consistent operation. A compromise is that under some
weather and operating conditions, the brakes may squeal
slightly during light brake applications.Brake Pad Break-In
The brakes on your new Viper do not require a long
break-in period, but avoid repeated hard brake applica-
tions from high speeds during initial break-in. Also avoid
severe brake loading such as may be encountered when
descending long mountain grades.
POWER STEERING
The power assisted steering system of your vehicle
provides mechanical steering capability in the event
power assist is lost.
If for some reason the hydraulic pressure is interrupted,
it will still be possible to steer your vehicle. Under these
conditions you will observe a substantial increase in
steering effort.
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WARNING!
Overloading of your tires is dangerous. Overloading
can cause tire failure, affect vehicle handling, and
increase your stopping distance. Use tires of the
recommended load capacity for your vehicle. Never
overload them.
TIRES—GENERAL INFORMATION
Tire Pressure
Proper tire inflation pressure is essential to the safe and
satisfactory operation of your vehicle. Three primary
areas are affected by improper tire pressure:1. Safety—
WARNING!
Improperly inflated tires are dangerous and can cause
accidents.
•Under inflation increases tire flexing and can result in
tire failure.
•Over inflation reduces a tire’s ability to cushion shock.
Objects on the road and chuck holes can cause damage
that results in tire failure.
•Unequal tire pressures can cause steering problems.
You could lose control of your vehicle.
•Over inflated or under inflated tires can affect vehicle
handling and can fail suddenly, resulting in loss of
vehicle control.
•Unequal tire pressures from one side of the vehicle to
the other can cause the vehicle to drift to the right or left.
Always drive with each tire inflated to the recommended
cold tire inflation pressure.
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Carbon Monoxide Warnings
WARNING!
Carbon monoxide (CO) in exhaust gases is deadly.
Follow the precautions below to prevent carbon
monoxide poisoning:
•Do not inhale exhaust gases. They contain carbon
monoxide, a colorless and odorless gas which can kill.
Never run the engine in a closed area, such as a
garage, and never sit in a parked vehicle with the
engine running for an extended period. If the vehicle is
stopped in an open area with the engine running for
more than a short period, adjust the ventilation system
to force fresh, outside air into the vehicle.
•Guard against carbon monoxide with proper mainte-
nance. Have the exhaust system inspected every timethe vehicle is raised. Have any abnormal conditions
repaired promptly. Until repaired, drive with all side
windows fully open.
•Keep the trunk closed when driving your vehicle to
prevent carbon monoxide and other poisonous ex-
haust gases from entering the vehicle.
ADDING FUEL
The fuel tank filler tube has a restricting door about 2
inches (50mm) inside the opening. If using a portable
container, it should have a flexible nozzle long enough to
force open the restricting door.
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Thermostat Housing shown in illustration) of your Viper
and the other end to the engine of the other vehicle. Make
sure that you have a good contact on the engines.
NOTE:When using another vehicle as the power
source, turn off all accessories.
8. Turn off the Theft Security System.
NOTE:If system is not turned off, the Theft System
electronics will prevent the engine from starting.9. Allow battery to charge to at least 12.4 volts before
attempting to start engine.
10. Start the engine in the booster vehicle and let the
engine idle for a few minutes. Then start the Viper
engine. If engine does not start in 15 seconds, stop
cranking engine and allow starter to cool down before
cranking again.
11. When removing the booster cables, reverse the above
sequence exactly.
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The best time to check the oil level is approximately 5
minutes after a fully warmed up engine is turned off or
before starting the engine after it has sat overnight.
Checking the oil while the vehicle is on level ground also
will improve the accuracy of the oil level readings. Add
oil only when the level is below the SAFE mark.Changing Engine Oil
Road conditions and your kind of driving affects the
interval at which your oil should be changed.
IfANYof the following apply to you, then change your
engine oil every 3,000 miles (5 000 km) or 3 months,
whichever comes first and follow the maintenance rec-
ommendations in ScheduleB.
•Day or night temperatures are below 32°F(0°C)
•Stop and go driving
•Extensive engine idling
•Driving in dusty conditions
•Short trip driving of less than 10 miles (16.2 km)
•More than 50% of your driving is at sustained high
speeds during hot weather, above 90°F (32°C)
•Taxi, Police, or delivery service (commercial service)Engine Oil Dipstick
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 165
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