New owner saying hello and question about engine not starting

[JMC08]

Hello fellow Viper enthusiasts/owners! My wife and I just purchased one of the last remaining brand new 2017 Dodge Vipers. It is a GTC model that was part of the 1of1 program. Special one off graphite grey paint with hints of green and even brown depending upon the light, sepia full laguna leather interior, carbon fiber packages outside and in, hyper black venom wheels, upgraded Harmon Kardon stereo, among other items.

Like many here I'm sure, I have lusted over the Viper since 1992. As a child, my neighbor had ordered a new Viper in 92. We have been privileged to own many other exotics and high-end vehicles and are happy to add a final year Viper to the collection.

We designed a Viper as part of the 1of1 program in 2016, but backed out last second once we learned 2016 would not be the last year, but 2017 would be. Unfortunately, we forgot about placing the 2017 order until it was too late and the orders were all filled up. However, we lucked out as the owner of the Dodge dealer we bought from had designed our Viper for himself, but decided not to take possession of it. The car sat in their showroom Since late September until we purchased it a couple weeks ago. We are beyond ecstatic as it is equipped identically to how we were planning on building back in 2016, with the exception of the exterior color (which we love what we got). According to the dealer, ours is one of the final five produced.

With that being said, here comes my potential concern. I have been driving manual transmissions since my very first car. My wife has not. I had planned on teaching her how to drive the Viper. We went out today so she could begin her lessons. She did relatively well, but did stall the car three different times. After the third stall, the car would not start back up. The car would try to start up, but just would not do it. We switched seats and I tried. After four attempts, the car started up...somewhat rough, but settled into its groove. Additionally, shifts were off. The engine revs would climb after putting my foot all the way in on the clutch in order to shift gears. Why was the engine revving up, after pushing the clutch pedal to the floor without having my foot on the accelerator?

I plan on taking it out tomorrow to see if it is still acting funny. If it is, I will take it in for service. The car only has 300 miles on it.

Any and all advice/opinions are welcome. Thank you in advance for your expertise. I am excited to be here and look forward to many years of Viper ownership.

[ViperSmith]

should be fine. happened in exact same scenario with my and my wife trying to learn how to drive it. car ran like a champ 6000 more miles before i sold it.

[JMC08]

Thank you for your thoughts. I have never experienced that before on any car. I figure it has something to do with her not knowing how to drive it well. I wonder if the clutch was slipping some...but then again, I do not quite understand why it had trouble starting back up. Regardless, I appreciate your input.

[ViperSmith]

Yeah same exact. It took a few tries to get the starter to kick in and the engine to turn over. Worried for a minute. But all was fine in the end. Hope turns out to be nothing for you - these engines are rock solid (generally)

[SharpMan]

Do not teach your wife to drive standard on a brand new Viper! I don't know where you live but maybe there's a company like this: http://shifters.ca

[texasram]

Do not teach your wife to drive standard on a brand new Viper! I don't know where you live but maybe there's a company like this: http://shifters.ca

omg omg, this this this, my wife is manual-challenged as well, so unless we can rent a manual sentra, she going to have to learn a different way

[1OF1ACR]

Probably no big deal. It may have not started because the button was pushed too quickly. It kinda acts like a key turn that is just a bump and not turned all the way. Then the car probably went into cold start mode and activated the "choke" which kept the rpm's up. Or the car was just burning excess fuel from the car not starting. I wouldn't even take it in unless it does it again. Most service writers now days aren't that knowledgable. If there isn't a current problem and there is no code, they send you on your way.

Congrats on the purchase!!

[swexlin]

Welcome, and post pics. If it's any consolation, I've been driving manual transmissions for 30 years. Which include a 7.3 Powerstroke F350, a Wrangler with 4L, my mother's 88 RX7 Turbo (which is how I learned) my 2003 Viper, my 2013 Dart, and now my 2013 Viper. The first day I had the 2013 Viper, I stalled it 3 different times. Something about the lightweight flywheel and where the clutch engages. I still occasionally stall if I'm backing into a parking space. It's really not the best car to LEARN how to drive a manual, IMO.

I'm going to disagree with the other posters here. Your hard start issues after a couple stalls doesn't seem normal. Maybe some sort of protective programming, but I don't know. If it doesn't do it again, you're golden. Keep us posted.

On edit: Harold above said he had the exact scenario. Hmmm...computers are funny, and they control the car. Which is why I STILL won't trust a self-driving car. But that's another thread!

[ViperSmith]

Welcome, and post pics. If it's any consolation, I've been driving manual transmissions for 30 years. Which include a 7.3 Powerstroke F350, a Wrangler with 4L, my mother's 88 RX7 Turbo (which is how I learned) my 2003 Viper, my 2013 Dart, and now my 2013 Viper. The first day I had the 2013 Viper, I stalled it 3 different times. Something about the lightweight flywheel and where the clutch engages. I still occasionally stall if I'm backing into a parking space. It's really not the best car to LEARN how to drive a manual, IMO.

I'm going to disagree with the other posters here. Your hard start issues after a couple stalls doesn't seem normal. Maybe some sort of protective programming, but I don't know. If it doesn't do it again, you're golden. Keep us posted.

On edit: Harold above said he had the exact scenario. Hmmm...computers are funny, and they control the car. Which is why I STILL won't trust a self-driving car. But that's another thread!

I think it is just an engine protection mechanism in PCM. Not sure, but that would be my guess.

[ViperJon]

It will be fine. Had the same thing happen to me when I got my first Gen V....the revs have to be much higher when releasing the clutch than previous Gen’s and I stalled it a few times. And it definitely was hard to re-start to the point of concern. But after a little rest it started and ran fine. It’s a computer issue that clears itself.

[Lost me beer]

I would be more concerned about waiting until the clutch is broken in before any learning. Many people forget one of the most important parts of a new cars break in procedure...clutch and brakes!
Good luck, and congrats. Sounds like a spectacular new car!
Troy

[JMC08]

Wow, great to see all of the replies. Thank you for all of the input. I did take the car out today...alone, and it was perfectly fine. The car started up various times with zero issues. I do feel that perhaps between 1-2 and 2-3 up-shifts that the car revs up a tad while depressing the clutch....but nothing like yesterday. I did take photos today. Here are a few. Oh and by the way...yesterday when we got home, we did look up places for my wife to take lessons from. We both feel more comfortable that she learns on someone else's car than our own after her first experience.

DSCF3564.jpgDSCF3574.jpgDSCF3573.jpgDSCF3584.jpgDSCF3595.jpg

[SRT BILL]

nice color combo, sounds like problem solved. Good luck with the new ride they are special.

[Scott_in_fl]

Beautiful car. One of the nicest non-ACR's that I've seen.

[Russ Oasis]

Vipers with 0 miles on them idle at 1000 RPM. As you drive, over the course of 1000 miles, the idle RPM drops to about 650. This is intentional and programmed by the computer. I'm not sure how high the idle was after your wife drove, but it's possible the computer got slightly confused as it's "learning" your driving habits over the course of the early miles.

[ForTehNguyen]

maybe theres a limit on amount of starts per time period on the starter? Big electric motors in the plants have smart relays that limit starts per hour so the coils dont overheat

[Vegaskid]

Don't feel bad, I stalled my H&C Viper 5 times just driving it home the first time...

I'm not sure a brand new viper is really the best car to learn how to drive stick, but hey...to each their own. Just don't turn off the TC!

[ayousef]

I stalled my engine today due to heavy clutch/ light flywheel and it took three times before the engine fired back up, thank god no one was around cause that would have been embarrassing for a brand new car

[Slithr]

Don't do it! Don't teach her how to drive it, you might not ever get to drive it again! Now it's a constant battle, arm wrestling for the keys prior to club events (I let her win most of the time).

Actually my wife drove a Ford Escort GT back in the 90's. When we got our first Viper in 2010 she test drove it, and it was like she never stopped driving a manual. The excess torque made it difficult to stall, but we'll both agree the Gen V does require more RPM to avoid stalling.