Newbie in need of quidance

Viper owners,
I bought my '96 GTS in August and only got to enjoy it for a couple weeks while I was home on leave in September from Afghanistan. While I was home I got caught in a bad rain storm and my car was parked outside in it for over 5 hours. I've tried to look up the info on this but couldn't find anything about it.>>The black box under the hood on the right side obviously has an inlet under the right-side hood vent and I'm assuming this box has something to do with the AC/heat vents inside the passenger compartment. The day after the rain storm I was backing up in my driveway and when I hit the brakes going backwards on a slight incline, about a 20 ounce bottle's worth of water spilled out onto the passenger side floor from up underneath the dash. My first assumption was that "well, I guess vipers aren't meant to be left out in the rain at ALL."

Am I correct in assuming that if I get caught out in the elements for any length of time that I should put some sort of cover over the right side vent? Also, can anyone give me an explanation of just exactly what that black box with the rubber gasket under the hood is for? Since I'm still out here in Afghanistan I haven't been able to learn the ins and outs of the mechanics of my car but I just recently bought two of the large service manuals so I can learn every inch of it.

Final question> When I wash my car at the car-wash or even just at home using the garden hose, should I always cover up that inlet in the hood to prevent unwanted water in that box?

Please go easy on me! The viper has been my dream car ever since I grew up watching the TV show "Viper." I assure you all that I definitely mean no harm to my snake! LOL

Happy, SAFE driving this summer fellow owners! Maybe I'll see you at a meet in or around Pennsylvania after I return home in late July.

Regards,
Cody

Sorry that happened to you. My GTSs have never had that issue and I have been caught in the rain a few times. I believe what you're describing is the "airbox" and it should be reasonably well sealed when the hood is closed. Perhaps others who've experienced the issue can advise on the mechanisms for the gasketing to be compromised, but I can say that this situation can be remedied. Have you checked the seal around the airbox inlet?

The air box is open to the elements through the hood screen as you know, however the air box is designed to drain via a single small duckbill valve underneath the unit, accessible from the side with the hood open.

With time the rubber gets hard and sticks shut, holding the water and ultimately flooding your passenger footwell. During intense rain, even a properly functioning valve will restrict the outflow enough to cause interior leakage though so while washing and normal rain should be no problem, intense rain requires a method of protecting the air box.

I dry the air box from above with a towel after a wash just to keep it pristine.

The water that came in may have occured around where the wiper motors mount. When the cars get wet, water builds up around the cowl area and can make it inside. One thing you could try is to park the car on an incline (nose of car at lower level than rear). That would cause the water to run away from the cowl area. Doesn't mean it won't come in from somewhere else though.

Thanks for the information guys. I'll be looking into all of your suggestions when I get back home!

Have a safe summer enjoying your snakes.

Cody

ViperJohn said:

The water that came in may have occured around where the wiper motors mount. When the cars get wet, water builds up around the cowl area and can make it inside. One thing you could try is to park the car on an incline (nose of car at lower level than rear). That would cause the water to run away from the cowl area. Doesn't mean it won't come in from somewhere else though.

Click to expand...

What He Said...... the cowl is likely leaking into the cabin, NOT the HVAC intake plenum (rubber donut.) You could use silicone sealer prudently under that easy-remove cowl. Common in 96-98.

CODY: Thank you for your service. Email me your minimum particulars, your car info, and postal PCS addy or APO. You'll be GLAD U did.

[email protected]

Washing a Viper at the car wash...Oh NO

CODYUSAF..... I think you may have called, since I got a sat-phone call about using a brushless car wash. {a first in 21 years}

But I did not put 1+1 together as YOU.... So I still need your POSTAL Address [email protected]

JonB said:

CODYUSAF..... I think you may have called, since I got a sat-phone call about using a brushless car wash. {a first in 21 years}

But I did not put 1+1 together as YOU.... So I still need your POSTAL Address [email protected]

Click to expand...

JonB…no that wasn't me…sorry.

Cody where you live in PA. iam around pittsburgh i have a 1996 gts !

I'm about 35 minutes northeast of Harrisburg, but I'm in Afghanistan right now.

Watch your APO Mail.............