cooling DODGE VIPER 2008 ZB II / 2.G Owners Manual

²Avoid excessive idling.
²Check the engine oil level at every fuel fill.
NOTE:A new engine will consume some oil during the
first few thousand miles of operation. This should be
considered as a normal part of the break-in and not
interpreted as a sign of difficulty.
SAFETY TIPS
Exhaust Gas
Do not run the engine in a closed garage or in confined
areas any longer than needed to move your vehicle in or
out of the area.
If it is necessary to sit in a parked vehicle with the engine
running, adjust your heating or cooling controls to force
outside air into the vehicle. Set the blower at high speed.The best protection against carbon monoxide entry into
the vehicle body is a properly maintained engine exhaust
system.
Whenever a change is noticed in the sound of the exhaust
system, when exhaust fumes can be detected inside the
vehicle, or when the underside or rear of the vehicle is
damaged, have a competent technician inspect the com-
plete exhaust system and adjacent body areas for broken,
damaged, deteriorated, or mispositioned parts. Open
seams or loose connections could permit exhaust fumes
to seep into the passenger compartment. In addition,
inspect the exhaust system each time the vehicle is raised
for lubrication or oil change. Replace as required.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 57
2

Operating Tips
NOTE:Refer to the chart at the end of this section for
suggested control settings for various weather condi-
tions.
Summer Operation
The engine cooling system in air-conditioned vehicles
must be protected with a high-quality antifreeze coolant
to provide proper corrosion protection and to protect
against engine overheating. A 50% solution of ethylene
glycol antifreeze coolant in water is recommended. Refer
to ªMaintenance Proceduresº in Section 7 of this manual
for proper coolant selection.
Winter Operation
²
Use the Defrost mode to direct cold air away from the
occupants during engine warm-up in cold weather.
²The blower air will heat faster in cold weather if you
use only the low blower speeds for the first ten
minutes of vehicle operation.
²Use of the air Recirculation mode during winter
months is not recommended because it may cause
window fogging.
Vacation Storage
Anytime you store your vehicle, or keep it out of service
(i.e. vacation) for two weeks or more, run the air condi-
tioning system at idle for about five minutes in the fresh
air and high blower setting. This will insure adequate
system lubrication to minimize the possibility of com-
pressor damage when the system is started again.
126 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL

²In city traffic ÐWhile moving, shift into the highest
gear possible to reduce engine RPM.
NOTE:There are steps that you can take to slow down
an impending overheat condition. If your air conditioner
is on, turn it off. The air conditioning system adds heat to
the cooling system and turning off the A/C removes this
heat. You can also turn the Temperature control to
maximum heat, the Mode control to floor, and the fan
control to High. This allows the heater core to act as a
supplement to the radiator and aids in removing heat
from the cooling system.WARNING!
A hot cooling system is dangerous. You or others could
be badly burned by steam or boiling coolant. If your
temperature gauge pointer is in the red area, turn off
the engine immediately. You may want to call a service
center for service. If you decide to look under the hood
yourself, see Section 7 of this manual. Follow the
warnings under the Radiator Cap paragraph.
TIREFIT KIT
Small punctures in the tire tread can be sealed with
TIREFIT. Foreign objects (e.g., screws or nails) should not
be removed from the tire. TIREFIT can be used in outside
temperatures down to approximately -4ÉF (-20ÉC).
WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 177
6

JUMP-STARTING PROCEDURES
WARNING!
²Take care to avoid the radiator cooling fans whenever the hood
is raised. They can start anytime the ignition switch is on. You
can be hurt by the fans.
²Take care to avoid the accessory drive whenever the hood is
raised. You can be hurt by the moving components.
²Do not attempt to push or tow your vehicle to get it started.
Unburned fuel could enter the catalytic converter and once the
engine has started, ignite and damage the converter and
vehicle. If the vehicle has a discharged battery, booster cables
may be used to obtain a start from a booster battery or the
battery in another vehicle. This type of start can be dangerous
if done improperly, so follow this procedure carefully.
²Battery fluid is a corrosive acid solution; do not allow battery
fluid to contact eyes, skin, or clothing. Don't lean over battery
when attaching clamps or allow the clamps to touch each
other. If acid splashes in eyes or on skin, flush contaminated
area immediately with large quantities of water.
²A battery generates hydrogen gas, which is flammable and
explosive. Keep flame or spark away from the vent holes.
²Do not use a booster battery or any other booster source with
an output that exceeds 12 volts.
NOTE:The battery is located underneath an access
panel inside the rear compartment on the left side of the
vehicle. A remote battery terminal is located in the engine
compartment for jump-starting.
1. Wear eye protection and remove any metal jewelry
such as watchbands or bracelets that might make an
inadvertent electrical contact.
2. When boost is provided by a battery in another
vehicle, park that vehicle within booster cable reach, but
without allowing the vehicles touch one another.
3. Set the parking brake, place the transmission in neu-
tral, and turn the ignition OFF on both vehicles.
4. Turn off the heater, radio, and all unnecessary electri-
cal loads.
186 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES

NBattery Save Feature...................210
NAir Conditioner Maintenance.............212
NPower Steering Ð Fluid Check............213
NFront & Rear Suspension Ball Joints........214
NSteering Linkage......................214
NBody Lubrication.....................215
NBody Mechanism Lubrication.............215
NWindshield Wiper Blades................217
NWindshield Washers...................217
NExhaust System......................218
NCooling System.......................219
NHoses And Vacuum/Vapor Harnesses.......224NFuel System.........................224
NBrake System........................225
NTransmission........................228
NHydraulic Clutch.....................228
NRear Axle...........................230
NWheel Bearings.......................230
NAppearance Care And Protection From
Corrosion...........................230
mFuses (Power Distribution Centers)..........234
NFuses (Power Distribution Center).........234
NFuses (Mini-Power Distribution Center).....237
mVehicle Storage........................238
192 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Air Conditioner Maintenance
For best possible performance, your air conditioner
should be checked and serviced by an Authorized Dealer
at the start of each warm season. This service should
include cleaning of the condenser fins and a performance
test. Drive belt tension should also be checked at this
time.
NOTE:If A/C performance seems less then normal,
check the front of the A/C condenser (located in front of
the radiator) for dirt and insect accumulation. Clean with
a gentle water spray as required. Front end fascia protec-
tors may reduce air flow to the condenser and radiator,
reducing A/C and engine cooling performance.WARNING!
²Use only refrigerants and compressor lubricants
approved by the manufacturer for your air condi-
tioning system. Some unapproved refrigerants are
flammable and can explode, injuring you. Other
unapproved refrigerants or lubricants can cause
the system to fail, requiring costly repairs. Refer to
Section 3 of the Warranty Information book for
further warranty information.
²The air conditioning system contains refrigerant
under high pressure. To avoid risk of personal
injury or damage to the system, adding refrigerant
or any repair requiring lines to be disconnected
should be done by an experienced technician.
212 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Cooling System
WARNING!
²When working near the radiator cooling fans,
disconnect each fan motor lead or turn the ignition
switch to the OFF position. The fans are tempera-
ture controlled and can start any time the ignition
switch is in the ON position.
²You or others can be badly burned by hot coolant
or steam from your radiator. If you see or hear
steam coming from under the hood, don't open the
hood until the radiator has had time to cool. Never
try to open a cooling system pressure cap when the
radiator is hot.
Coolant Checks
Check engine coolant (antifreeze) protection every 12
months (before the onset of freezing weather, where
applicable). If coolant is dirty or rusty in appearance, the
system should be drained, flushed, and refilled with
fresh coolant. Check the front of the A/C condenser/
radiator for any accumulation of bugs, leaves, etc. If dirty,
clean by gently spraying water from a garden hose
vertically down the face of the condenser/radiator.
Check the coolant recovery bottle tubing for brittle rub-
ber, cracking, tears, cuts, and tightness of the connection
at the bottle and radiator. Inspect the entire system for
leaks.
With the engine at normal operating temperature (but
not running), check the cooling system pressure cap for
proper vacuum sealing by draining a small amount of
coolant from the radiator drain cock. If the cap is sealing
properly, the engine coolant (antifreeze) will begin to
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 219
7

drain from the coolant recovery bottle. DO NOT RE-
MOVE THE COOLANT PRESSURE CAP WHEN THE
COOLING SYSTEM IS HOT.
Cooling System Ð Drain, Flush, and Refill
The system should be drained, flushed, and refilled at the
intervals shown on the ªMaintenance Schedulesº in this
manual.
If the solution is dirty or contains a considerable amount
of sediment, clean and flush with a reliable cooling
system cleaner. Follow with a thorough rinsing to remove
all deposits and chemicals. Properly dispose of old
antifreeze solution.
Selection Of Coolant
Use only the manufacturer's recommended coolant. Re-
fer to ªFluids, Lubricants, and Genuine Partsº for the
correct coolant type.
CAUTION!
²Mixing of coolants other than specified HOAT
engine coolants, may result in engine damage and
may decrease corrosion protection. If a non-HOAT
coolant is introduced into the cooling system in an
emergency, it should be replaced with the speci-
fied coolant as soon as possible.
²Do not use plain water alone or alcohol-base
engine coolant (antifreeze) products. Do not use
additional rust inhibitors or antirust products, as
they may not be compatible with the radiator
engine coolant and may plug the radiator.
²This vehicle has not been designed for use with
Propylene Glycol based coolants. Use of Propy-
lene Glycol based coolants is not recommended.
220 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE

Adding Coolant
Your vehicle has been built with an improved engine
coolant that allows extended maintenance intervals. This
coolant can be used up to 5 Years or 100,000 miles (160
000 km) before replacement. To prevent reducing this
extended maintenance period, it is important that you
use the same coolant throughout the life of your vehicle.
Please review these recommendations for using Hybrid
Organic Additive Technology (HOAT) coolant.
When adding coolant:
²The manufacturer recommends using Mopart
Antifreeze/Coolant 5 Year/100,000 Mile Formula
HOAT (Hybrid Organic Additive Technology).
²Mix a minimum solution of 50% HOAT engine coolant
and distilled water. Use higher concentrations (not to
exceed 70%) if temperatures below234ÉF (237ÉC) are
anticipated.
²Use only high purity water such as distilled or deion-
ized water when mixing the water/engine coolant
solution. The use of lower quality water will reduce
the amount of corrosion protection in the engine
cooling system.
Please note that it is the owner's responsibility to main-
tain the proper level of protection against freezing ac-
cording to the temperatures occurring in the area where
the vehicle is operated.
NOTE:Mixing coolant types will decrease the life of the
engine coolant and will require more frequent coolant
changes.
Cooling System Pressure Cap
The cap must be fully tightened to prevent loss of
coolant, and to insure that coolant will return to the
radiator from the coolant recovery bottle.
MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE 221
7

The cap should be inspected and cleaned if there is any
accumulation of foreign material on the sealing surfaces.
WARNING!
²The warning words ªDO NOT OPEN HOTº 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 scald-
ing or injury, do not remove the pressure cap while
the system is hot or under pressure.
²Do not use a pressure cap other than the one
specified for your vehicle. Personal injury or en-
gine damage may result.
Disposal of Used 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 children,
do 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
222 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLE