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Viper won't start

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1.7K views 8 replies 6 participants last post by  Persian Delight  
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#1 ·
Not sure if anyone can help me.

Bought a 1996 Viper RT-10 last month. Mint condition. less than 5K miles on it. Ran great. Drove it just about every other day for a couple of weeks. Everything working optimally. Put about 200 miles on it.

I get in the day before yesterday to start it up and the battery appeared dead. The solenoid wouldn't click, no idiot lights, no interior lights, nothing.

Thought it to be unusual for it to be the battery but figured I'd give it a shot and pick up a new one, (optima gel). Took an hour replace it but I changed it out.

Interior lights bright, idiot lights on, everything seemed to point to my suspicion... the battery.

Got in the car. Put the key in the ignition. Turned the key to start the engine. There was a loud click and immediately thereafter... all the lights go out. The only thing that showed any life was the blinking and clicking of the "Alarm Set" idiot light and even that was very dim. Either way... I'm right back where I started. No clicking of the solenoid. No interior lights. No idiot lights. Nothing.
 
#2 ·
Test the battery. Optima's suck donkey balls. I bought/installed a new one and it was bad. Just like you it lit the dash/interior lights and wouldn't start the car. Battery was defective.
 
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#3 ·
The "there was a loud click" thing has me a bit concerned. Was that not a normal loud click? Whatever normal loud starting clicks have been on your car for the 200 miles you drove it? Could that be the starter defective? Shorting to ground? Starters can do that although I would say it's more normal for them to open the circuit i.e. do nothing, as opposed to closing the circuit and draining the battery to ground.
 
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#6 ·
Did you mess with the remote positive terminal under the hood? I messed with it and I would get clicking as power went on/off. Try slightly moving it by hand and see if you get a clicking noise. DO NOT USE A WRENCH TO TRY AND LOOSEN IT.
 
#7 ·
I agree, sounds like a loose terminal or connection somewhere.

You can use a wrench. Don't impact it or anything, but make sure it's snug. The scary remote terminals didn't go on the 96 RT - still a Gen1 under the hood, just the chassis is Gen2. It doesn't require a complete harness if it breaks, but it won't.

96 RT/10 - The Bastard Year
- Dave6666 AKA 4x4 FGT
 
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