2006 DODGE VIPER service

Damaged seals should be replaced to prevent leakage or
contamination of the grease. If there is any movement
within the ball joint, the knuckle or control arm must be
replaced. The ball joints are not serviceable by them-
selves.
Relubrication
Ball joints are lubricated at the factory with a special
grease. They should be regreased at intervals as specified
in the maintenance schedules. When lubricating ball
joints, use only special long life chassis grease, such as
Multi-Mileage Lubricant, intended for this purpose.
Steering Linkage
There are two tie rod end ball joints that require periodic
inspection. The ball joint seals should be inspected when-
ever servicing the vehicle for other reasons. Damagedseals should be replaced to prevent leakage or contami-
nation of the grease. The seals are not serviceable by
themselves, the entire outer tie rod end needs to be
replaced.
Lubrication
The tie rod ends are lubricated for life. No periodic
lubrication is required.
Body Mechanism Lubrication
Body and other operating mechanisms and linkages
should be inspected, cleaned, and lubricated, as required,
to maintain ease of operation and to provide protection
against rust and wear.
Before the application of any lubricant, the parts con-
cerned should be wiped clean to remove dust and grit;
after lubricating, excess oil or grease should be removed.
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Hood Latch
When performing other underhood services, the hood
latch release mechanism and safety catch should be
inspected, cleaned, and lubricated.
It is important to maintain proper lubrication to insure
that the hood mechanisms work properly and safely.
Multi-Purpose Lubricant, NLGI Grade 2, should be ap-
plied sparingly to all pivot and sliding contact areas.
Other Body Mechanisms
The following body mechanisms should be inspected
and, if necessary, all pivot and sliding contact areas of
these components should be lubricated with the lubricant
specified as follows:
Smooth White Body Lubricant - Such as Mopar Spray
White Lube or equivalent:
•Hood hinge
•D/ lid hinge
•Fuel door hinge
•Lock cylinders
•Parking brake mechanism
•Trunk/liftgate latches
•Ash tray
Points That Should Not Be Lubricated
There are many points that should not be lubricated;
some because they are permanently lubricated, some
because lubricants will be detrimental to the operating
characteristics, and some because lubricants will cause
component failures.
In particular, do not lubricate rubber bushings, since this
not only will cause them to fail, but will destroy their
necessary frictional characteristics.
188 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

WARNING!
•The warning words “DO NOT OPEN HOT” on
the cooling system pressure cap are a safety pre-
caution. Never add coolant when the engine is
overheated. Do not loosen or remove the cap to
cool an overheated engine. Heat causes pressure
to build up in the cooling system. To prevent
scalding or injury, do not remove the pressure cap
while the system is hot or under pressure.
•Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or
engine damage may result.
Disposal of Used Engine Coolant
Used ethylene glycol based engine coolant is a regulated
substance requiring proper disposal. Check with your
local authorities to determine the disposal rules for your
community. To prevent ingestion by animals or childrendo not store ethylene glycol based engine coolant in open
containers or allow it to remain in puddles on the
ground. If ingested by a child, contact a physician
immediately. Clean up any ground spills immediately.
Coolant Level
The coolant bottle provides a quick visual method for
determining that the coolant level is adequate. With the
engine idling, and warm to normal operating tempera-
ture, the level of the coolant in the bottle should be
between the ranges indicated on the bottle.
The radiator normally remains completely full, so there is
no need to remove the radiator cap unless checking for
coolant freeze point or replacing coolant. Advise your
service attendant of this. As long as the engine operating
temperature is satisfactory, the coolant bottle need only
be checked once a month.
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•Do not change the thermostat for summer or winter
operation. If replacement is ever necessary, install
ONLY the correct type thermostat. Other designs may
result in unsatisfactory coolant performance, poor gas
mileage, and increased emissions.
Hoses and Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses
Inspect surfaces of hoses and nylon tubing for evidence
of heat and mechanical damage. Hard or soft spots,
brittle rubber, cracking, checking, tears, cuts, abrasions,
and excessive swelling suggest deterioration of the rub-
ber. Pay particular attention to those hoses nearest to
high heat sources such as the exhaust manifold. Inspect
hose routing to be sure hoses do not touch any heat
source or moving component that may cause heat dam-
age or mechanical wear.
Insure nylon tubing in these areas has not melted or
collapsed.Inspect all hose connections such as clamps and cou-
plings to make sure they are secure and no leaks are
present.
Components should be replaced immediately if there is
any evidence of degradation that could result in failure.Brake System
To assure brake system performance, all brake system
components should be inspected periodically. Suggested
service intervals can be found in Section 8 of this manual.
WARNING!
Riding the brakes can lead to brake failure and
possibly an accident. Driving with your foot resting
or riding on the brake pedal can result in abnormally
high brake temperatures, excessive lining wear, and
possible brake damage. You wouldn’t have your full
braking capacity in an emergency.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 195
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Brake, Power Steering, and Fuel System Hoses
When servicing the vehicle for scheduled maintenance,
inspect surface of hoses and nylon tubing for evidence of
heat and mechanical damage. Hard and brittle rubber,
cracking, checking, tears, cuts, abrasion, and excessive
swelling suggest deterioration of the rubber. Particular
attention should be made to examining those hose sur-
faces nearest to high heat sources, such as the exhaust
manifold.
Inspect all hose clamps and couplings to make sure they
are secure and no leaks are present.
Insure nylon tubing in these areas has not melted or
collapsed.
NOTE:Often, fluids are used during assembly plant
operations to ease the assembly of hoses to couplings.
Therefore, oil wetness at the hose-coupling area is not
necessarily an indication of leakage. Actual dripping ofhot fluid when systems are under pressure (during
vehicle operation) should be noted before hose is re-
placed based on leakage.
High pressure fuel system hoses have unique material
characteristics that provide adequate sealing and resist
attack by deteriorated gasoline.
Use only manufacturer specified hoses or their equiva-
lent in material and specification, in any fuel system
servicing. It is mandatory to replace all clamps that have
been loosened or removed during service.
NOTE:Inspection of brake hoses should be done when-
ever the brake system is serviced and at every engine oil
change. If there is any evidence of cracking, scuffing, or
worn spots, the hose should be replaced immediately!
Eventual deterioration of the hose can take place with
possible burst failure.
196 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Brake and Clutch Fluid
These fluids will tend to absorb moisture from the
atmosphere over a period of time. If the fluid becomes
contaminated with water, brake or clutch performance
will deteriorate. The brake and clutch fluid must be
changed every two years.
CAUTION!
Brake fluid can damage the finish of your Viper. Do
not allow brake fluid to contact any painted surface.
WARNING!
Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can result in
spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts and the
brake fluid catching fire.
Master Cylinder
The fluid level in the master cylinder should be checked
when performing underhood services, or immediately if
the brake system warning lamp shows system failure. Be
sure to clean the top of the master cylinder area before
removing the cap. If necessary, add fluid to bring the
fluid level up to the requirements described on the brake
fluid reservoir. With disc brakes, fluid level can be
expected to fall as the brake pads wear. However, low
fluid level may be caused by a leak and a checkup may be
needed. Use only the manufacturer’s recommended
brake fluid. Refer to the Recommended Fluids, Lubri-
cants and Genuine Parts section for the correct fluid type.
Mopar Brake Fluid or equivalent is fluid of this quality
and is recommended to provide best brake performance.
Use of a brake fluid that may have a lower initial boiling
point or unidentified as to specification, may result in
sudden brake failure during hard prolonged braking.
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Use only brake fluid that has been in a tightly closed
container to avoid contamination from foreign matter.
Hydraulic Clutch
The fluid in the clutch master cylinder should be checked
when performing other under hood services. To check
the fluid level, remove the reservoir cap. If necessary, add
fluid to the reservoir. Use only the manufacturer’s rec-
ommended brake fluid. Refer to the Recommended Flu-
ids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts section for the correct
fluid type. Mopar brake fluid or equivalent is fluid of this
quality and is recommended to provide best brake per-
formance. Make sure that the fluid has been stored in a
tightly closed container to avoid contamination with dirt
or moisture. Do Not Overfill. Overfilling can cause clutch
release problems as the clutch wears. A low fluid level
may indicate a leak, in which case, hydraulic clutch
linkage replacement may be required. The fluid level in
the reservoir will rise as the clutch wears - Do Not
Remove Fluid.Do not allow petroleum base fluid to contaminate the
brake fluid — seal damage will result.
Transmission
Lubricant Selection
Refer to the Recommended Fluids, Lubricants and Genu-
ine Parts section for correct fluid type.
CAUTION!
Using a transmission fluid other than the manufac-
turer’s recommended fluid may cause deterioration
in transmission shift quality. Refer to the Recom-
mended Fluids, Lubricants and Genuine Parts sec-
tion for correct fluid type.
198 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Fluid Level Check
The fluid in the transmission should be checked when-
ever other underhood services are done. Check the fluid
level by removing the fill plug located on the left side of
the transmission. The fluid level should be at the bottom
of the fill hole. Add fluid, if necessary, to maintain the
proper level.
Frequency of Fluid Change
Under normal operating conditions, the fluid installed at
the factory will give satisfactory lubrication for the life of
the vehicle. If the vehicle is operated under severe
conditions, change the fluid as specified in Maintenance
ScheduleB. If contaminated with water, the fluid should
be changed immediately.
Rear Axle
Fluid Level Check
Every 12 months or 6,000 miles (10 000 km) the exterior of
the axle should be checked for evidence of gear oil
leakage. This check should be made with the vehicle in a
level position, supported by the suspension, on an axle
and wheel type hoist, or on the ground. The axle fluid
level should be between the bottom of the filler plug and
a point approximately 3/8 inch (9.5mm) below the filler
plug.
Lubricant Selection
Use only the manufacturer’s recommended transmission
fluid. Refer to the Recommended Fluids, Lubricants and
Genuine Parts section for correct fluid type. This Limited
Slip Differential requires that a friction control additive
be added to the gear oil whenever a fluid change is made.
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