[catwood]

On the way to work today trying to stretch the tank to the next station car seemed to run out of fuel going up a slight incline. It started again after I pulled over and I hightailed it to the station where it started sputtering again. Fill it up but it only took 14.5 gallons. I thought the tank was bigger?

Anyway, tried to start and it wouldn't fire. After about 5 minutes of checking stuff it fired up and off I went. About a mile down the road in traffic it died as I stopped for a traffic light. Again after about 5 minutes it fired up again, drove a while and died again.

Drove it home with it dying every couple of minutes. Most of the time as I stop at lights but sometimes while under way. Once it goes it seems to run fine for the few minutes. Good throttle response.

So I suspect FP overheated and is now stopping once it gets warm.

Or possible crap in the fuel tank sucked up and plugged the fuel filter.

I can hear the fuel pump cycle when I hit the key.

I figure to check fuel pressure in the driveway as it's running to see if it drops before it dies.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks,
Carl

 

[_Mark_]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

battery maybe? A weak or dying battery has wierd effects on these cars. Also, maybe a plugged cat? Definitely not the fuel pump - as when it goes, you just can't start the car anymore.

Probably not anything plugging the fuel line either because it would just stop or constantly sputter.

DW might have a better idea.

 

[catwood]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

battery maybe? A weak or dying battery has wierd effects on these cars. Also, maybe a plugged cat? Definitely not the fuel pump - as when it goes, you just can't start the car anymore.

Probably not anything plugging the fuel line either because it would just stop or constantly sputter.

DW might have a better idea.

Battery is real new. Put in an Optima. Voltage shows good. It's not throwing any codes either....

It seems as though something is getting hot and shutting off. /images/graemlins/confused

 

[RockStar]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

I bet your battery is pooched. I just went throught the same thing. Alternator is fine, so the guage shows 14V, but the battery isn't taking the charge and every time the car idles down it stalls.

Change the battery and it should be fine.

 

[RockStar]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

Haha, nevermind. I didn't see your previous post.

 

[txlen]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

ya know...how many miles ya got on it??..ya jus mite check the fuel filter for grins...the pump has a screen on it but i've seen the fuel filter get pretty clogged up before...that might be why ya hear the fuel pump cycling..it should be pretty quiet...and when ya get it off...drain it and try to blow thru it in the direction of the flow...see if it's easy to blow thru..and watch the condition of the fuel ya dump outta it...you might be surprised!!...

 

[catwood]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

Just turned 10K. I can barely hear the pump and only for a moment when I cycle the ignition.

I thinking the pump got hurt when the tank got low and now overheats after a few minutes and just shuts off.

Will check out this weekend.....


Carl

 

[txlen]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

i'd change the fuel filter first...but you mite be right..ya burned up the pump...thats why i always get gas at 1/4 tank...never any less if i can keep from it..and early in the morning too...Len /images/graemlins/drive

 

[tito]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

Just turned 10K. I can barely hear the pump and only for a moment when I cycle the ignition.

I thinking the pump got hurt when the tank got low and now overheats after a few minutes and just shuts off.

Will check out this weekend.....


Carl

Check your battery, it really does sound like the culprit, especially if you have not changed it before. Pumps usually last a long time, and unless you always run your car around bone dry, i dont see how it could be going out this soon, but defective parts do float around at times.

I agree with Txlen, always try to keep about a 1/4 tank filled at the minimum. Start with the ovbiously simplest checks and work your way up the trouble shooting ladder till you find the problem.

Sounds like a dead battery to me though.

 

[catwood]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

Check your battery, it really does sound like the culprit, especially if you have not changed it before. Pumps usually last a long time, and unless you always run your car around bone dry, i dont see how it could be going out this soon, but defective parts do float around at times.

I agree with Txlen, always try to keep about a 1/4 tank filled at the minimum. Start with the ovbiously simplest checks and work your way up the trouble shooting ladder till you find the problem.

Sounds like a dead battery to me though.

Batter is a couple of months old, pleanty of cranking power (as tested today). Taking 14.5 gallons out of 18 is about 1/5 full or 20%. I think that is typical of my fillups. Although based on the gauge i"d have guessed emptier.

Home now...hope to start checking things....

later & thinks for all the input.
Carl

 

[catwood]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

Well...count it up to luck I think I found the problem. I hooked up the FB guage. It read 54 and was steady. I walked over an blipped the throttle bodies from under the hood. As I did I hit the wires to the TPS and the car stumbled. I move them again and got the same result. Upon further inspection I noticed that the connector/splice was not connected all the way...not latched. I have the BTR 650 kit and there is a connector that goes there for the nitrouss switch. For what ever reason it was loose. I haven't messed with it for a month, the last time I was at the track where I remove the nitrous switch from the circut.

Wohoo!

 

[txlen]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

well congrats man!!!! :thumb:...glad to see ya found it so easily...

 

[Firewater]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

I'l bet you're glad it wasn't something expensive

 

[Jack B]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

The pump could also be bad. It should not deviate from 50-55 psi. For the pressure to be at 44 psi either the regulator, pump impeller or blockage is reducing the pressure. Your injector flow is going to vary drastically at 44 psi. I would guess at WOT and 5000 rpm's the pressure would be off even further. The danger is that in open loop (WOT) the injectors are relying ONLY on 55 psi and pulse width to keep the A/F safe, you are entering a dangerous area especially on the bottle.

You may have solved one problem, however, make sure you check pressure on a dyno at WOT. As I said, the two cars I have had both maintained over 55 psi at 5000/wot and both were in the 600 hp range. This is also the spec from the manual.

 

[catwood]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

I was so excited I made a typo. FP is a steady 54#s.

 

[Gerald]

Re: HELP Viper dying in traffic

The TPS's in vipers are soo tempermental too. I've gone thru 3 in 3 years. I don't understand them. There must be an issue with Dodge becuase they keep redesigning them. I know this because every time I get or oder one, it's a different part number (revision from the latest)...

Glad you fixed your problem..!

G