Page 43 of 264
2.All occupants should wear their lap and shoulder
belts properly.
3.The driver and passenger seats should be moved
back as far as practical to allow the airbags room to
inflate. Additionally, the pedals are power adjustable,
so the driver seat can be moved back and the pedals
moved closer as needed so the driver can be as far from
the airbag as possible. (See section on Power Adjust-
able Pedals for operation.)
4.You should read the instructions provided with your
child safety or booster seat to make sure that you are
using it properly.The airbag system consists of the following:
•Airbag control module and internal crash sensor
•AIRBAG Readiness Light
•Driver and Passenger Airbag/inflator Units
•Passenger Side Airbag On/Off Switch
•Passenger Airbag Off Indicator Light
•Unique Steering Wheel and Column
•Unique Instrument Panel
•Interconnecting Wiring
•Knee Impact Bolster
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 43
2
Page 49 of 264

Maintaining Your Airbag System
WARNING!
•Modifications to any part of the airbag system
could cause it to fail when you need it. You could
be injured because the airbag is not there to protect
you. Do not modify the components or wiring,
including adding any kind of badges or stickers to
the airbag covers. Do not modify the front bumper
or vehicle body structure.
•You need proper knee impact protection in a colli-
sion. Do not mount or locate any aftermarket
equipment on or behind the knee impact bolsters.
•You can be injured if you are too close to either
airbag cover when the airbags inflate. It is danger-
ous to try to repair any part of the airbag system
yourself. Don’t try to repair the airbag system. Be
sure to tell anyone who works on your vehicle that
it has airbags.
You will want to have the airbags ready for your protec-
tion in a collision. While the airbag Supplemental Re-
straint System (SRS) is designed to be maintenance free,
if any of the following occurs, have an authorized dealer
service the system immediately.
•The AIRBAG light does not come on or flickers during
the 6 to 8 seconds when the ignition switch is first
turned on.
•The light remains on or flickers after the 6 to 8 second
interval.
•The light flickers or comes on and remains on while
driving.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 49
2
Page 157 of 264
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
8.3L Engine Compartment................160
Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II).........161
Emissions Inspection And Maintenance
Programs............................162
Replacement Parts......................163
Dealer Service.........................163
Maintenance Procedures..................164
▫Engine Oil..........................164
▫Drive Belts—Check Condition And Tension . . 168▫Spark Plugs.........................168
▫Catalytic Converter....................168
▫Ignition Wiring System And Ignition Timing . . 170
▫Crankcase Emission Control System........171
▫Air Cleaner Filter.....................171
▫Maintenance-Free Battery................171
▫Battery Save Feature...................174
▫Air Conditioner......................176
▫Power Steering (Pump And Reservoir)......178
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Page 170 of 264

To minimize the possibility of catalytic converter dam-
age:
•Do not shut off the engine or interrupt the ignition
when the transmission is in gear and the vehicle is in
motion.
•Do not try to start the engine by pushing or towing the
vehicle.
•Do not idle the engine with any spark plug wires
disconnected for prolonged period.
Ignition Wiring System and Ignition Timing
The ignition cables should be kept clean and properly
connected. Terminals should be fully seated. Do not
remove the nipple assemblies from the coil towers unless
the nipples are damaged or cable testing shows high
resistance or broken insulation. Refer to the Service
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.
170 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
Page 249 of 264

Fuses................................ 197
GasCap .............................. 145
Gasoline.............................. 142
Gasoline, Clean Air...................... 142
Gasoline, Reformulated................... 142
Gasoline/Oxygenate Blends................ 143
Gauges................................ 92
Coolant Temperature..................90,92
Fuel................................ 93
Oil Pressure........................... 92
Speedometer.......................... 86
Tachometer........................... 92
Voltmeter............................ 93
General Information...................... 18
Glass Cleaning.......................... 195
Ground Clearance....................... 141
Hazard Warning Flasher.................87,148Headlights............................ 207
Aiming............................. 212
High Beam........................... 78
High Beam/Low Beam Select Switch......... 78
Passing.............................. 78
Switch............................... 75
Time Delay........................... 76
Heater............................... 104
High Beam Indicator...................... 89
Hood Latch Maintenance.................. 180
Hood Release........................... 71
Hoses.............................188,189
Hydraulic Clutch Fluid.................... 192
Ignition
Key ................................. 11
Timing.............................. 170
Wiring System........................ 170
Infant Restraint.......................... 34
INDEX 249
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Page 257 of 264
Wind Buffeting.......................... 26
Windows.............................. 24
Power............................... 24
Windshield Defroster...................... 51
Windshield Washers..................81,82,182
Windshield Wipers....................... 81
Wipers, Intermittent....................... 82
Wiring, Ignition......................... 170
INDEX 257
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