noobie in texas

vipertanz · Apr 13, 2010

Hey just joined the club. I picked up my viper in Dallas last weekend and drove it 6 hours to get home. It's a black 1995 I'll post some pics when it gets out of the shop. I realized I hadn't taken any after I dropped it off. The dealer here has a viper tech and they checked it out and here are what they said needs to be fixed I wonder if these are good prices or if I am getting my head ripped off.
oil change 76.94 I think this is great cheaper than the beemer
fuel filter 136.50
spark plugs 128.76
spark plug wires 115.83
fuel pump 1755.55
valve cover gaskets 397.13
intake gasket 327.55
coolant service 148.88
rear diff service 259.20
transmission service 88.47
All prices are for parts and labor.
Thanks for any input I can't wait till they are done to take it for a spin. I have wanted one of these since I was like 15 finally get one and it spends the first week or two in the shop.

uvbnbit · Apr 13, 2010

How mechanically inclined are you? Plugs are $2/ea and can be changed in about 45 min. Plug wires are too much. A few buck more and you can get AB's wires. All those seem typical "viper taxed" from the "stealership".

TexasPettey · Apr 13, 2010

Where in Texas are you located?

FATHERFORD · Apr 13, 2010

why on earth do you need a new fuel pump?

for that much you can have a really nice aftermarket setup.

99 R/T 10 · Apr 13, 2010

Yes you are getting ripped off. But for those that are not mechanically inclined, it will be the price you have to pay. If you are willing to learn, do searches here, learn what is needed to tackle whatever job it is and become a Viper expert. Do you have a Service manual?

vipertanz · Apr 13, 2010

I'm in Amarillo. I thought about changing the plugs and wires myself but then decided since it was there I would let them knock it all out and I could enjoy driving her on my time off. When I picked her up she was very hard to start I figured with 17000 miles on her she might have been in storage for awhile and driving her would help. When I got home she was still still hard starting I thought maybe the fuel filter was clogged. The dealer hooked it up to a pressure tester they said it should register like 60 pounds of pressure(not sure if it is pounds can't remember) and it only registered 20.

Olddudesrule · Apr 13, 2010

As the others have said, get a service manual if your mechanically inclined at all. I just did a full fluid change on mine (oil, trans, ps, trans and rear end) for @ $150. Took about a day up on jack stands, as I was learning my way around the car (just bought it 3 weeks ago). I can't imagine why you'd need intake gaskets unless you have an air leak, and you would have noticed that on your ride home. Valve cover gaskets aren't needed unless you have a leak there.

I would at least try and do whatever you can to same some $$. I'm all for supporting a good dealership (with my parts $$ that is), but you seem to be getting taken advantage of. Working on your own car also pays benefits if something goes wrong on the road or on a trip.

Best of luck!

plumcrazy · Apr 13, 2010

about 60 pounds is right.

a call into one of the trusted viper techs on this site would be a smart place to start.

chuck tator is one of them 914-763-3136

eucharistos · Apr 13, 2010

welcome aboard :headbang:

you will really enjoy your car once you can drive it freely :drive:

while you are waiting, read as much of this website as you can :search:

if you had hard starting and "she might have been in storage for awhile", a battery may be in your future, our cars need a strong battery :dunno:

FastZilla · Apr 13, 2010

vipertanz said:
I'm in Amarillo. I thought about changing the plugs and wires myself but then decided since it was there I would let them knock it all out and I could enjoy driving her on my time off. When I picked her up she was very hard to start I figured with 17000 miles on her she might have been in storage for awhile and driving her would help. When I got home she was still still hard starting I thought maybe the fuel filter was clogged. The dealer hooked it up to a pressure tester they said it should register like 60 pounds of pressure(not sure if it is pounds can't remember) and it only registered 20.

Look this guy up - PM him. He's in your area and one helluva great guy! Could probably point you in the right direction.

George Farris (VCA username)

TexasPettey · Apr 14, 2010

vipertanz said:
Hey just joined the club. I picked up my viper in Dallas last weekend and drove it 6 hours to get home. It's a black 1995 I'll post some pics when it gets out of the shop. I realized I hadn't taken any after I dropped it off. The dealer here has a viper tech and they checked it out and here are what they said needs to be fixed I wonder if these are good prices or if I am getting my head ripped off.
oil change 76.94 I think this is great cheaper than the beemer
fuel filter 136.50
spark plugs 128.76
spark plug wires 115.83
fuel pump 1755.55
valve cover gaskets 397.13
intake gasket 327.55
coolant service 148.88
rear diff service 259.20
transmission service 88.47
All prices are for parts and labor.
Thanks for any input I can't wait till they are done to take it for a spin. I have wanted one of these since I was like 15 finally get one and it spends the first week or two in the shop.

I'd suggest starting with plugs/wires to see how the starting goes. I'd swap the battery next. Fuel filter would be the next place.

Are your valve covers leaking? If not, I don't think they need to be replaced.

I wouldn't do the fuel pump until absolutely necessary.

Intake manifold gasket should probably cause a vacuum leak. How did they determine there was one & isolate it to the intake gasket? It's possible to do, I'd just ask how they did it vs just telling you that you need one.

The prices on the diff seems high, unless they are doing something to add a drain plug. There is only 1qt of diff fluid plus anti-slip.

The tranny isn't too high if they are putting in the 75w85 instead of ATF.

There's probably an hour of work in the coolant service, just because of the PITA burping to get it right. You could get it done cheaper, but I'd make sure whoever does it knows what needs to happen.

If you had them do everything except the fuel pump, I'd expect it to be 1 day of work.

jdeft1 · Apr 14, 2010

Enjoy!

I miss my '95 (driving a '94 now...) I still wonder why I sold it. Seems to be my "MO" to put a 10-20k mi. on them and sell.. :dunno:

George Farris · Apr 14, 2010

pm has been sent

gb66gth · Apr 14, 2010

You just bought the car for x-thousands of dollars.

For another $1,900.00 odd dollars you can have all that done, the right way, without busting your knuckles and getting dirty, you'll have a freshly serviced car and ready to run in a few days.

Spend the money! It's worth it!

Texas1 · Apr 14, 2010

gb66gth said:
You just bought the car for x-thousands of dollars.

For another $1,900.00 odd dollars you can have all that done, the right way, without busting your knuckles and getting dirty, you'll have a freshly serviced car and ready to run in a few days.

Spend the money! It's worth it!

I agree with above!!! Welcome aboard! Enjoy the beast when you get her back... :drive:

LifeIsGood · Apr 14, 2010

I hadn't worked on an automobile since I got out of college...I swore that once I started making money that I wouldn't wrench on another car. I did a ton of research before I bought mine 2 years ago and didn't really figure on doing a lot of wrenching on this one either. I've actually enjoyed the few projects that I've done. My opinion is that if you don't enjoy doing the projects, then just pay someone else :dunno:

.

vipertanz · Apr 14, 2010

Thanks for all of the replies just stopped by the dealer to check on her since I only got to drive her for like 3 days and the other 7 or 8 I've owned her she has been at the dealers I had to see her for a minute and make sure she is good. I finally got to meet the viper tech and he talked me into going ahead and replacing the thermostat since he was going to be in there anyway so there is another 75 dollars invested whew. I hope nothing goes wrong with the beast at least until the summer fun days are over she should be totally refreshed.

Vreracing · Apr 14, 2010

If you're brave, there's a guy named Barney on the Blvd west who works on mine. If he doesn't know what to do he'll find out how. I agree with calling George. By the way George is planning a trip out to Boy's ranch at the end of July. It would be great if you came. Even though the local dealership is a little expensive, I've had good results with them as well.

I drive the Silver GTS that you may have seen around town.

Eyez0n · Apr 14, 2010

Small world, I picked up my GTS last weekend and was in Dallas. (Bought the car from a friend in Corpus and then had to make a trip to Dallas).

Welcome to the club.

vipertanz · Apr 26, 2010

Yeah, picked up the viper a few days ago. Man what a difference 3700 dollars in engine work makes she rides a ton better money well spent. Here are some pics.

jdeft1 · Apr 26, 2010

vipertanz said:
Yeah, picked up the viper a few days ago. Man what a difference 3700 dollars in engine work makes she rides a ton better money well spent. Here are some pics.

Nice ride sir...!!

(This, from a long time gen1 owner... )

wikkid · Apr 26, 2010

vipertanz said:
Hey just joined the club. I picked up my viper in Dallas last weekend and drove it 6 hours to get home. It's a black 1995 I'll post some pics when it gets out of the shop. I realized I hadn't taken any after I dropped it off. The dealer here has a viper tech and they checked it out and here are what they said needs to be fixed I wonder if these are good prices or if I am getting my head ripped off.
oil change 76.94 I think this is great cheaper than the beemer
fuel filter 136.50
spark plugs 128.76
spark plug wires 115.83
fuel pump 1755.55
valve cover gaskets 397.13
intake gasket 327.55
coolant service 148.88
rear diff service 259.20
transmission service 88.47
All prices are for parts and labor.
Thanks for any input I can't wait till they are done to take it for a spin. I have wanted one of these since I was like 15 finally get one and it spends the first week or two in the shop.

Just wondering why you didn't have it checked out before you bought it? Or you got a great price.

sdaddy · Apr 27, 2010

Check mfg date on tires also. Old tires are the achilles heel of Dodge Vipers. Very dangerous. Lots of tread means nothing if the tires are 5-6 years old. With those miles, the tires may be original and hard as a rock. Your tech would most likely not look at this or make this recommendation. If there is no record of the head gaskets being done, this will also need to be done soon.

slysnake · Apr 27, 2010

Yeah, You might want to look around for another place to service your car in the future. I think they are taking advantage of you.

Texas1 · Apr 27, 2010

Nice ride...looks just like mine!!! :2tu:

Listen on the tires...I had a little mishap in mine about a month ago...she's still in the shop get'n fixed and has new tires now.

vipertanz · Apr 27, 2010

Yep tires are next. The fuel pump temporarily ate up the tire budget. What can ya do? I know I'll have to baby it until I can get them replaced. Thanks for all the good cheer. Today is my Friday and I can't wait to get out there and try to clean up all rhe swirl marks on the car tomorrow. I always said I would never own another black car. They are the best looking (sorry red and yellow it's true) and the most difficult to keep that way.

vipertanz · Apr 27, 2010

Does anyone know the trick to removing the rear window? looks like there are the snaps and what looks like a spring loaded latching bar (for lack of a better term). I think you should just pull those and they should slide out but mine won't move and I am wondering if they screw in?

eucharistos · Apr 27, 2010

the snaps just unsnap

the " a spring loaded latching bar" is key opened from the outside. it is 1/4 turn to open, you should have gotten a separate, smaller key

if you get this far, the rear window then "pops" or slides out. if it hasn't been out in awhile, the gasket may be stuck, so be careful. once out, condition the gasket (seal) and you are good to go.

if you didn't get the small key when you bought, you can disassemble from the inside and take the cylinder to a locksmith who can make a key in less than 5 mins.

rem: top off-->rear glass out

:drive:

kcobean · Apr 27, 2010

vipertanz, welcome to the site and the club! You know what would be an awesome mod to your Gen 1? A 2009 SSG ACR! If you joined the VCA by the 22nd of April, one could be yours for the small sum of $125!

http://www.viperclub.org/downloads/2010RaffleEntry.pdf

eucharistos · Apr 28, 2010

just re read your op and noticed you have a '95

the info about the rear window was for an '02, don't know if it is the same

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