Service engine light came on after dead battery

[SSSSE YA]

First off, I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

I left the back hatch open for weeks, I reviewed the posts on the Viper board search to see what other people have done in the past. So I bought a charger and charged the battery, it is now fine, but the car would not idle at all. So I drove the Car around the block a little on the hard side with the A/C on the discussion board said and the Service engine light came on. I have tried the on/off thing about 5 times now, but the light is still on. Anybody have any other idea's what to do, should I disconnect the battery and try again? I do not want to take the Viper to my local dealer, they are not Viper friendly in my book.

Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Supercharged Vipermad]

How old is the battery? my initial thought is that the battery is toast, and I (personally) would replace it. Not really the easiest thing to do on these cars....but it is a step in isolating a problem. If you simply street drive, any battery spec'd for the Viper will do...I got mine at Napa. If you are more agressive, then you might want something a little more extreme. I'd wager dinner at McD's (LOL!!!!) that once you replace the battery all will be right in the world.

 

[Fast Viper Dan]

I have had my check engine light come on several times over the last four years. The check engine light was just on two weeks ago. There are several sensors that can trip this light. I have learned that as long as I have oil presser and the water temp is ok I keep driving the car and after one or two hundred miles the light goes out. I am not saying that you should ignore the warning. Do check the oil and water levels. Probably the only way to know for sure is to have your tech plug in his diagnostic reader. A simple back fire will trip the engine light.
My guess would be that after the battery failed and you recharged it, Then started the car, it ran rich and triped an O2 sensor. After disconnecting the battery for any reason the car will not idle for a short period of time. Just keep playing the gas peddle until it will idle. Then drive the car for a few days and the light will probably go out.
Good Luck!
Dan

 

[Ulysses]

Scanned for codes yet? Helps in diagnosing the problem.