2009 DODGE VIPER service

Change Brake Fluid
Brake fluid will tend to absorb moisture from the atmo-
sphere over time. If the fluid becomes contaminated with
water, brake performance will deteriorate. Therefore, the
brake fluid must be changed at the intervals specified in
“Maintenance Schedules” in Section 8 of this manual. See
your authorized dealer for service.
Manual Transmission
Transmission Fluid Level Check
Check the fluid in the transmission when performing
other underhood services.
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. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants,
and Genuine Parts” in this section for the correct fluid
type.
CAUTION!
Using a transmission fluid other than the manufac-
turer’s recommended fluid may cause deterioration
in transmission shift quality and/or damage to the
transmission. Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and
Genuine Parts” in this section for the correct fluid
type.
Change Transmission Fluid
Change the fluid at the intervals specified in “Mainte-
nance Schedules” in Section 8 of this manual. If contami-
nated with water, change the fluid immediately. See your
authorized dealer for service.
Hydraulic Clutch
Master Cylinder — Clutch Fluid Level Check
Check the fluid in the clutch master cylinder when
performing underhood services.
224 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Clean the top of the master cylinder area before removing
the cap. If necessary, add fluid to the reservoir.
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.
Use only the manufacturer’s recommended clutch fluid.
Refer to “Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in this
section for the correct fluid type.
WARNING!
Overfilling the clutch fluid reservoir can result in
spilling clutch fluid on hot engine parts and the
clutch fluid catching fire.Use only clutch fluid that has been in a tightly closed
container to avoid contamination from foreign matter.
CAUTION!
•Do not allow petroleum base fluid to contaminate
the clutch fluid, all clutch seal components could
be damaged causing partial or complete clutch
failure.
•Clutch fluid can damage the finish of your vehicle.
Do not allow clutch fluid to contact any painted
surface.
Change Clutch Fluid
Clutch fluid will tend to absorb moisture from the
atmosphere over time. If the fluid becomes contaminated
with water, clutch performance will deteriorate. There-
fore, the clutch fluid must be changed at the intervals
specified in “Maintenance Schedules” in Section 8 of this
manual. See your authorized dealer for service.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 225
7

Rear Axle
Axle Lubricant Level Check
Check the exterior of the axle for evidence of gear oil
leakage every 12 months or 6,000 miles (10 000 km). This
check should be made with the vehicle level and sup-
ported by the suspension, with the vehicle on the ground
or raised on an axle and wheel type hoist. The axle
lubricant level should be between the bottom of the filler
plug and a point approximately 3/8 in (9.5 mm) below
the filler plug. If adding axle lubricant, use only the
manufacturer’s recommended axle lubricant. Refer to the
“Fluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Parts” in this section
for the correct fluid type.
NOTE:The Limited Slip Differential requires that a
friction control additive be added when draining and
refilling the axle lubricant.
Change Axle Lubricant
Drain and fill the axle at the intervals specified in
“Maintenance Schedules” in Section 8 of this manual.
Change the lubricant immediately if contaminated with
water. See your authorized dealer for service.
Appearance Care And Protection From Corrosion
Protection of Body and Paint from Corrosion
Vehicle body care requirements vary according to geo-
graphic locations and usage. Chemicals that make roads
passable in snow and ice, and those that are sprayed on
trees and road surfaces during other seasons, are highly
corrosive to the metal in your vehicle.
The following maintenance recommendations will enable
you to obtain maximum benefit from the corrosion
resistance built into your vehicle.
226 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

VEHICLE STORAGE
We recommend that you follow these guidelines for
storing your vehicle for extended periods.
•Fill the fuel tank. This will prevent water condensation
inside the tank. If you plan to store your vehicle more
than two months, add an anti-oxidant fuel stabilizer to
the fuel tank.
•Change the oil to remove any corrosive combustion
related acids in the crankcase.
•Check that the radiator coolant level of protection is to
at least -20°F (-29°C).
•Make sure that all tires are inflated to the optimum
pressure.
•Wash and wax the vehicle to protect the finish.
•Store the vehicle in a dry, well-ventilated location.
•Move the wiper blades away from the windshield.
•Block the wheels. Do not apply the parking brake.
•Cut blocks of plywood about the same size of the tires.
Cover each block with indoor/outdoor carpeting and
place them between the tires and concrete. This will
prevent tire flat spotting.
•For long-term storage, remove the tires and put the
vehicle up on blocks. Stack the tires on plywood and
cover with a tarp to prevent flat spotting.
•If the vehicle will be subjected to freezing tempera-
tures, either remove the battery and store it in a dry,
well ventilated area or connect a trickle charger
(1.5 Amp) with automatic shutdown / overcharge
protection to the battery. However, do not leave the
trickle charger hooked up to the battery without being
plugged in to a 110 Volt AC outlet, as this will result in
further drain on the vehicle’s battery. If the vehicle is
not going to be driven in the next three weeks, perform
the battery recharge procedure in the Service Manual.
234 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Then, either disconnect the battery at the negative
terminal or use the “Battery Save Feature” to conserve
battery power. Refer to “Battery Save Feature” under
“Maintenance Procedures” in this section for details.
NOTE:Disconnecting the battery causes the engine
control system to lose memory of some “learned” func-
tions. After reconnecting the battery, the engine may run
rough until the control module “relearns” these func-
tions. Using the Battery Save Feature will prevent the
engine controller from loosing its memory.
CAUTION!
Use care when disconnecting the remote positive
cable. It is connected to the battery and can short out
to any metal on the vehicle. Always tape or wrap the
exposed cable end to prevent electrical shorts.Check the battery every four to six weeks to ensure that
the voltage is above 12.40 Volts. The voltage will drop
more rapidly in hot temperatures. If battery voltage
drops below 12.40 Volts, follow the battery recharge
procedure in the Service Manual.
NOTE:To help prevent the battery from discharging
during shorter periods of inactivity, perform the follow-
ing:
1. Make sure that the trunk/liftgate, hood, doors, win-
dows, and convertible top are completely closed.
2. Make sure that Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) transmit-
ter is operating and that the battery is good.
3. Make sure that the HOOD, TRUNK/LIFTGATE, and
DOOR switches are in adjustment. Perform the quick
system check, which follows:
Use the remote transmitter to set the alarm. If the alarm
SET light comes on and flashes, the system is operating
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 235
7

properly. If not, there is a problem with a switch or the
system. See your authorized dealer for service.
•Cover the vehicle whenever possible to prevent acci-
dental damage to the finish.
REPLACEMENT BULBS
LIGHT BULBS — Interior Bulb Number
Message Center Indicators.................. 103
Cluster................................ 103
Gauge Pack............................ 103
Heater Control........................... 37
Interior Light..........................212–2
Courtesy Foot Well Lights.................. 194
Cargo Light (Coupe Liftgate)................ 168LIGHT BULBS — Exterior
(Convertible Models) Bulb Number
Low/High Beam High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Headlight.... Serviced at authorized dealer only
Auxiliary High Beam Headlight......(HB3A) 9005XS
Front Park/Turn Signal Light.............3157AK
Fog Light.......................(H10 U) 9145
Front Side Marker Light..................2886X
Center High Mounted Stop Light (CHMSL). . . 16 LED
(not serviceable)
Tail/Stop Light.........................3157
Taillight............................... 194
Rear Marker Light........................ 194
Backup Light...........................3157
Rear Turn Signal Light..................3457AK
License Light........................... 168
236 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

LIGHT BULBS — Exterior
(Coupe Models) Bulb Number
Low/High Beam High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Headlight.... Serviced at authorized dealer only
Auxiliary High Beam Headlight......(HB3A) 9005XS
Front Park/Turn Signal Light.............3157AK
Fog Light.......................(H10 U) 9145
Front Side Marker Light..................2886X
Center High Mounted Stop Light (CHMSL). . . 16 LED
(not serviceable)
Tail/Stop/Turn Signal Light................3157
Rear Marker Light........................ 194
Backup Light...........................3157
License Light........................... 168
NOTE:Upon turning the High Intensity Discharge
(HID) Headlights on, there is a blue hue to the lamps.
This diminishes and becomes more white after approxi-
mately 10 seconds as the system charges.BULB REPLACEMENT
Auxiliary High Beam Headlight, Front Park/Turn
Signal Light, Front Side Marker Light
1. Remove the push pin from the upper outer corner of
the splash shield and remove the splash shield.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 237
7

2.Turn the appropriate bulb and socket assembly counter-
clockwise, and then pull it out of the headlight assembly.3. Pull the bulb out of the socket assembly.
4. Push the replacement bulb into the socket assembly.
5. Reinstall the bulb and socket assembly into the head-
light assembly, and then turn it clockwise.
6. Install the splash shield and push pin.
High Intensity Discharge Headlights (HID)
The headlights are a type of high voltage discharge tube.
High voltage can remain in the circuit even with the
HEADLIGHT switch off and the key removed.Because
of this, you should not attempt to service a headlight
bulb yourself. If a headlight bulb fails, take your
vehicle to an authorized dealer for service.
1 — Front Side Marker Light
2 — Front Park/Turn Signal Light
3 — Low/High Beam HID Headlight
4 — Auxiliary High Beam Headlight
5 — Headlight Adjustment — Aim Up and Down 238 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE