2010 DODGE VIPER Owners Manual

12. Start the engine in the vehicle with the discharged
battery. If engine does not start in 15 seconds, stop
cranking engine and allow starter to cool down before
cranking again.
13. When removing the booster cables, reverse the above
sequence exactly. Be careful of the moving belts and fans.
WARNING!
Any procedure other than above could result in:
•Personal injury caused by electrolyte squirting out
the battery vent.
•Personal injury or property damage due to battery
explosion.
•Damage to charging system of booster vehicle or
of immobilized vehicle.
FREEING A STUCK VEHICLE
If your vehicle becomes stuck in mud, sand, or snow, it
can often be moved by a rocking motion. Turn your
steering wheel right and left to clear the area around the
front wheels. Then shift back and forth between RE-
VERSE and FIRST gear. Using the least accelerator pedal
pressure to maintain the rocking motion without spin-
ning the wheels is most effective.
CAUTION!
•When “rocking” a stuck vehicle by moving be-
tween 1st and REVERSE, do not spin the wheels
faster than 15 mph (24 km/h), or drivetrain damage
may result.(Continued)6
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 205

CAUTION! (Continued)
•Revving the engine or spinning the wheels too fast
may lead to transmission overheating and failure.
It can also damage the tires. Do not spin the
wheels above 30 mph (48 km/h) while in gear (no
transmission shifting occurring).
WARNING!
Fast spinning tires can be dangerous. Forces gener-
ated by excessive wheel speeds may cause damage, or
even failure, of the axle and tires. A tire could
explode and injure someone. Do not spin your vehi-
cle’s wheels faster than 30 mph (48 km/h) or for
longer than 30 seconds continuously without stop-
ping when you are stuck. And do not let anyone near
a spinning wheel, no matter what the speed.
TOWING A DISABLED VEHICLE
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Only use flatbed
equipment. Always comply with applicable state or local
towing ordinances.
CAUTION!
Towing with equipment other than flatbed types may
damage your vehicle.
206 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE
CONTENTS
Engine Compartment — 8.4L ............. 209
 Onboard Diagnostic System (OBD II) ....... 210
 Emissions Inspection And Maintenance
Programs ............................ 211
 Replacement Parts ..................... 212
 Dealer Service ........................ 212
 Maintenance Procedures ................. 213
▫ Engine Oil ......................... 214
▫ Engine Oil Filter ..................... 216
▫ Engine Air Cleaner Filter ............... 216 ▫
Maintenance-Free Battery .............. 217
▫ Battery Save Feature .................. 219
▫ Air Conditioner Maintenance ............ 221
▫ Body Lubrication .................... 223
▫ Windshield Wiper Blades ............... 223
▫ Adding Washer Fluid ................. 224
▫ Exhaust System ..................... 224
▫ Cooling System ..................... 227
▫ Brake System ....................... 232
7

▫Manual Transmission ................. 235
▫ Hydraulic Clutch .................... 236
▫ Rear Axle .......................... 237
▫ Appearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion .......................... 237
▫ Aero Group — If Equipped ............. 241
 Fuses .............................. 244
▫ Power Distribution Center .............. 244
▫ Mini-Power Distribution Center .......... 247
 Vehicle Storage ....................... 247
 Replacement Bulbs .................... 250
 Bulb Replacement ..................... 251
▫
Auxiliary High Beam Headlamp, Front Park/
Turn Signal Lamp, Front Side Marker Lamp
. . 251 ▫
High Intensity
Discharge Headlamps (HID) ............ 252
▫ Front Fog Lamp ..................... 253
▫ Taillamp, Tail/Stop Lamp, Rear Marker
Lamp ............................. 254
▫ Taillamp, Tail/Stop Lamp, Rear Marker
Lamp (Coupe Models) ................. 255
▫ Backup Lamp, Rear Turn Signal Lamp ..... 256
▫ License Lamp ....................... 259
 Fluid Capacities ...................... 260
 Fluids, Lubricants, And Genuine Parts ....... 261
▫ Engine ............................ 261
▫ Chassis ........................... 262
208 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

ENGINE COMPARTMENT — 8.4L
1 — Coolant Pressure Cap6 — Clutch Fluid Reservoir
2 — Engine Oil Dipstick 7 — Power Steering Fluid Reservoir
3 — Power Distribution Center 8 — Engine Oil Fill
4 — Remote Jump Start Positive Battery Post 9 — Air Cleaner Filter
5 — Brake Fluid Reservoir 10 — Washer Fluid Reservoir
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 209

ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (OBD II)
To meet new government regulations and promote
cleaner air, your vehicle is equipped with a sophisticated
onboard diagnostic system called OBD II. This system
monitors the performance of the emissions and engine
control systems. When these systems are operating prop-
erly, your vehicle will provide excellent performance and
fuel economy, as well as engine emissions well within
current government regulations.
If any of these systems require service, the OBD II system
will turn on the Malfunction Indicator Light. It will also
store diagnostic codes and other information to assist
your service technician in making repairs. Although your
vehicle will usually be drivable and not need towing, see
your authorized dealer for service as soon as possible.CAUTION!
Prolonged driving with the light on could cause
further damage to the emission control system. It
could also affect fuel economy and driveability. The
vehicle must be serviced before any state emissions
tests can be performed.
If the light is flashing, severe catalytic converter damage
and power loss will soon occur. Immediate service is
required.
If the gas cap is not tightened properly, the light may
come on. Be sure the gas cap is tightened every time you
add fuel.
210 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

EMISSIONS INSPECTION AND MAINTENANCE
PROGRAMS
In some localities, it may be a legal requirement to pass
an inspection of your vehicle’s emissions control system.
Failure to pass could prevent vehicle registration.For states that require an Inspection and Mainte-
nance (I/M), this check verifies the “Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL)” is functioning and is not
on when the engine is running, and that the OBD II
system is ready for testing.
Normally, the OBD II system will be ready. The OBD II
system may notbe ready if your vehicle was recently
serviced, recently had a dead battery or a battery replace-
ment. If the OBD II system should be determined not
ready for the I/M test, your vehicle may fail the test. Your vehicle has a simple ignition key-actuated test,
which you can use prior to going to the test station. To
check if your vehicle’s OBD II system is ready, you must
do the following:
1. Turn the ignition switch to the ON position, but do not
crank or start the engine.
2. If you crank or start the engine, you will have to start
this test over.
3. As soon as you turn the ignition switch to the ON
position, you will see the MIL symbol come on as part of
a normal bulb check.
4. Approximately 15 seconds later, one of two things will
happen:
a. The MIL will flash for about 10 seconds and then
return to being fully illuminated until you turn OFF
7
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 211

the ignition or start the engine. This means that your
vehicle’s OBD II system isnot readyand you should
not proceed to the I/M station.
b. The MIL will not flash at all and will remain fully
illuminated until you turn OFF the ignition or start the
engine. This means that your vehicle’s OBD II system
is ready and you can proceed to the I/M station.
If your OBD II system is not ready,you should see your
authorized dealer or repair facility. If your vehicle was
recently serviced or had a battery failure or replacement,
you may need to do nothing more than drive your
vehicle as you normally would in order for your OBD II
system to update. A recheck with the above test routine
may then indicate that the system is now ready.
Regardless of whether your vehicle’s OBD II system is
ready or not, if the MIL is illuminated during normal
vehicle operation you should have your vehicle serviced before going to the I/M station. The I/M station can fail
your vehicle because the MIL is on with the engine
running.
REPLACEMENT PARTS
Use of genuine MOPAR
parts for normal/scheduled
maintenance and repairs is highly recommended to en-
sure the designed performance. Damage or failures
caused by the use of non-MOPAR parts for maintenance
and repairs will not be covered by the manufacturer’s
warranty.
DEALER SERVICE
Your authorized dealer has the qualified service person-
nel, special tools, and equipment to perform all service
operations in an expert manner. Service Manuals are
available which include detailed service information for
your vehicle. Refer to these Service Manuals before
attempting any procedure yourself.
212 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE