Heard a huge bang while driving at 60 mph but no damage whatsoever

[MuRCieLaGo]

Hello all,

Gen 1 1994,

I had a ride in town yesterday, about 30 miles. When I was on the highway at 60 mph in 6th gear, I heard a huge bang. Sounded like a missed gear, but much louder. I was at a constant speed. I stopped the car on the side, no damage, nothing. Went home (5 miles further), cooled the car down, checked fluids, everything is OK. I don't recall hearing such a scary sound in my 13 years of driving different sports cars.

I did not hit anything on the road for sure. It was a clear day and I had my eyes on the road. I even reversed the Viper on the highway to double-check and there was nothing.

Anybody got a clue what it could have been? I'm kind of scared to take the car out now.

[ViperSRT]

The car was trying to wake you up. 60 mph in 6th gear was boring the hell out of the car.

Other than that no idea. Sound from the front, middle, rear ...

[Viper Specialty]

Any indication of front of car, back, middle...?

[MuRCieLaGo]

Definitely from the front, right where my feet were...

[dave6666]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Bang_Theory

[AviP]

It happened to me way back in the 90s. It most probably was a missed gear. Car was fine afterwards and to this day. Obviously, I can't definitively say yours is the same noise.

[capevettes]

My bet is your tire kicked up a rock you didn't see and sent it up into your inner wheel wheel. Had that happen before. 60 in 6th is really lugging.

[MuRCieLaGo]

It happened to me way back in the 90s. It most probably was a missed gear. Car was fine afterwards and to this day. Obviously, I can't definitively say yours is the same noise.

Missed gear? I didn't even change gear!


My bet is your tire kicked up a rock you didn't see and sent it up into your inner wheel wheel. Had that happen before. 60 in 6th is really lugging.

Or maybe the rock went in a pulley for some reason... Maybe you're right.

[Russ Oasis]

Inspect the transmission tunnel for any marks or damage.

[ellowviper]

My 2002 Dodge Dakota does this every so often...yes apples and oranges, but what I isolated it down to was every so often the PCM just seemed to experience some sort of interruption that causes the powertrain to 'slack' and then 'bang' back into action when the PCM comes back alive. I guess one could call it a spurious hiccup that kills the engine for a micro-second and then immediately catches itself and away we go with a drivetrain bang. I recently unplugged the three connectors from the PCM and sprayed the connector pin-outs and PCM connections with electronic cleaner solvent, let it dry, and plugged everything back in. No harm in doing this and who knows? Maybe it will help. So far the truck hasn't done this again...just saying.

[JonB ~ PartsRack]

Oblique Meteorite Strike under nose. Falling at ~17,500 mph in daylight you could not see it. KABOOM ! Lift and inspect.


Also check 25-year old Motor Mount, lugging at 60mph in 6th was all it could handle. KABOOM !

[dave6666]

Turtle strike at 75 mph. Made no noise.

39904

39905

[MuRCieLaGo]

Drove 100 miles since it happened. I'm assuming it was a backfire. Backfires seem to happen once in a while when I open the throttle at low RPMs.

/thread

[dave6666]

You just need to do it while a cute chick is shotgun.

/trim

[gfviperman]

Interesting!!! My 2002 GTS did this just recently. 2 times on a past Saturday run and once two days ago.

On the last one, actually felt like something hit under the floor board.

Definitely sounded like backfire. So I changed all the plugs this morning ... probably past time I did that.

Will take it for a run tomorrow.

Not one issue with this car for 58K miles.

[AviP]

Turtle strike at 75 mph. Made no noise.
A turtle surprising a Viper driver. Now I've heard everything. ROTFL

[MD355]

I had a similar situation with my 2001 Lotus Esprit V8... I was doing 120 mph when I heard a loud bang !!
I though the front windshield had broken... It turned out that the front trunk that opens just like the Gen 1 / 2 Vipers had come loose and it popped open with a loud band... It was scary, but no damaged whatsoever !! Lucky me

[plumcrazy]

could some thing like a control arm have broke but stayed together ? thats the way it felt when mine broke but it was very obvious in mine since the front left corner dove down. i knew something broke

[BK99GTS]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Bang_Theory

Now that was funny!

[gfviperman]

last few drives no issues after installing new plugs ...

will continue to monitor ...

[SlowPoke McGee]

4:10 gears = no luggy luggy

[MuRCieLaGo]

Okay I just wanted to give you guys a quick update, it just happened again while I was decelerating in 6th gear from 90 mph to 80 mph.

It definitely was a backfire.

Thank you!

[ViperSRT]

I doubt a backfire, more likely an after fire in the exhaust system.

[MuRCieLaGo]

I doubt a backfire, more likely an after fire in the exhaust system.

Yes!

Is it a sign of something? I deleted the cats last year, welded empty straight pipes instead. That is the only mod I did to the car!

42417

[ViperTim]

Misfire like that while just cruising?
Sounds like it's time to check some stuff. Check the PCM connections as been stated before, I don't know about Mopar but on Fords you MUST have the battery disconnected if you disconnect the PCM.
Other than that, I'd do plugs, wires and coils. Definetly something with ignition acting up on rare occasions.

[MuRCieLaGo]

Misfire like that while just cruising?
Sounds like it's time to check some stuff. Check the PCM connections as been stated before, I don't know about Mopar but on Fords you MUST have the battery disconnected if you disconnect the PCM.
Other than that, I'd do plugs, wires and coils. Definetly something with ignition acting up on rare occasions.

Not a misfire. It pulls strong, I've got no problem whatsoever. Just a random BIG bang while decelerating at high speed once every 1,000 miles or so. I never changed the spark plugs since I bought the car in 2017 so yes I think it could be a good idea!

[Fatboy 18]

https://thumbsnap.com/s/BU2xDMgy.jpg

[MuRCieLaGo]

Yes exactly!!

[ViperSRT]

During decel you must be loading up the exhaust with raw fuel and once you accelerate the fuel is ignited. Sort of like the old days when someone would turn off the ignition for a second (with a carburetor) and then when they turn it on there would be a nice exhaust explosion. If you had cats you wouldn’t have it as they would burn off the fuel. Somehow you are getting fuel during decels, and inadequate spark. Could be the f/a ratio is too low to ignite until it collects in the exhaust.

- - - Updated - - -

During decel you must be loading up the exhaust with raw fuel and once you accelerate the fuel is ignited. Sort of like the old days when someone would turn off the ignition for a second (with a carburetor) and then when they turn it on there would be a nice exhaust explosion. If you had cats you wouldn

[dave6666]

I've got no problem whatsoever.

Ignorance is bliss? No, you do have a problem. That is not normal and your huge backfire can end up damaging parts.

[AviP]

That's an interesting observation Murcielago.

[MuRCieLaGo]

During decel you must be loading up the exhaust with raw fuel and once you accelerate the fuel is ignited. Sort of like the old days when someone would turn off the ignition for a second (with a carburetor) and then when they turn it on there would be a nice exhaust explosion. If you had cats you wouldn’t have it as they would burn off the fuel. Somehow you are getting fuel during decels, and inadequate spark. Could be the f/a ratio is too low to ignite until it collects in the exhaust.

- - - Updated - - -

During decel you must be loading up the exhaust with raw fuel and once you accelerate the fuel is ignited. Sort of like the old days when someone would turn off the ignition for a second (with a carburetor) and then when they turn it on there would be a nice exhaust explosion. If you had cats you wouldn

Well at this point I wonder what I can do to fix the issue, without touching anything on the exhaust system.


Ignorance is bliss? No, you do have a problem. That is not normal and your huge backfire can end up damaging parts.

You are probably right. But I wonder if there is a solution. I removed the cats to prevent the side sills from becoming too hot (and it worked!).

[ViperSRT]

Possible causes include leaking fuel injectors, an aftermarket tune or an ignition issue (bad plug, wire, etc).

[Camfab]

What’s it been 6 1/2 months of guessing what the non issue is? Just get that Nitrous kit for it, guaranteed it’ll find your issue. I’ll check back in 6 months.

[MuRCieLaGo]

Possible causes include leaking fuel injectors, an aftermarket tune or an ignition issue (bad plug, wire, etc).

Yes it makes sense. I will start with some basic tune-up. I don't think there's an aftermarket tune. Like I said it happens once every 1,000 miles or so. But I will start with plugs, basically. Thank you!


What’s it been 6 1/2 months of guessing what the non issue is? Just get that Nitrous kit for it, guaranteed it’ll find your issue. I’ll check back in 6 months.

"So Cal", I'm sorry you sir don't know what is "snow". I get you, here in Quebec we don't know what is that "COVID-19".

[GTS Dean]

During high vacuum states like decel, your fuel injectors very well could be leaking raw gas way down the exhaust system. Side exit exhaust racecars very often trail flame out the tips while engine braking into corners.

[Fatboy 18]

During high vacuum states like decel, your fuel injectors very well could be leaking raw gas way down the exhaust system. Side exit exhaust racecars very often trail flame out the tips while engine braking into corners.

Yeah,and it looks Great :D

[AZTVR]

During high vacuum states like decel, your fuel injectors very well could be leaking raw gas way down the exhaust system. Side exit exhaust racecars very often trail flame out the tips while engine braking into corners.


Yeah,and it looks Great :D

42439

[Fatboy 18]

What a Picture, Cooooooooor :t1236::t1236::t1236::t1236::t1236::t1236::t1236:: t1236::dude3::dude3::dude3:

[Bill W]

Cool! Saved it to my desktop slide show.

[MuRCieLaGo]

Alright, thank you guys, I'll just consider it as a race car then!

[Fatboy 18]

Alright, thank you guys, I'll just consider it as a race car then!

:car-smiley-003: :drive:;)

Just stick a new set of Spark plugs in her ;)

[Camfab]

Yes it makes sense. I will start with some basic tune-up. I don't think there's an aftermarket tune. Like I said it happens once every 1,000 miles or so. But I will start with plugs, basically. Thank you!



"So Cal", I'm sorry you sir don't know what is "snow". I get you, here in Quebec we don't know what is that "COVID-19".

Of course I know what snow is, that’s what’s in a snow cone. Anyway isn’t that the time most guys pull their cars apart to fix them? Wow, I think I need a long sleeve shirt today, it’s down to 70 degrees:p
As far as COVID19 is concerned, I wouldn’t even joke around about that one, it knows no borders.