Leaky '02 Viper 7,000 miles

gyrotee

gyrotee

New member
Joined
Feb 4, 2011
Messages
15
Age
45
Location
Fremont Ohio
I've had an '03 Viper since 2007, and I liked it so much I bought a wrecked '02 Viper this season with 7,000 miles on it! I asked if the motor had been rebuilt, but they said no. It still has plenty of power for having that many miles on it. After repairing the belly pan, foot rest, and replacing the rear idler wheels, I've been riding it around the area. I noticed a little puddle of antifreeze under it after riding it and found its coming from the front heat exchanger area. It only drips while its warm, and once its cold it stops with antifreeze left in the resorvoir. I cant figure out why it stops once it cools off. Has anyone else had this problem? Also, anybody else have a Viper with alot of miles? When should I rebuild??
 

Leak probably stops when the cooling system pressure drops. There is likely a crack in the cooler somewhere, a leaky hose, or maybe it's easy as a loose clamp.
 
gyrotee said:
I've had an '03 Viper since 2007, and I liked it so much I bought a wrecked '02 Viper this season with 7,000 miles on it! I asked if the motor had been rebuilt, but they said no. It still has plenty of power for having that many miles on it. After repairing the belly pan, foot rest, and replacing the rear idler wheels, I've been riding it around the area. I noticed a little puddle of antifreeze under it after riding it and found its coming from the front heat exchanger area. It only drips while its warm, and once its cold it stops with antifreeze left in the resorvoir. I cant figure out why it stops once it cools off. Has anyone else had this problem? Also, anybody else have a Viper with alot of miles? When should I rebuild??
Click to expand...

15K miles with no builds on an 02.
Hope you don't have to change the frt exchanger.Buddy just did an SRX and had to pull the motor as well as the suspension.
 
Snowsnake said:
15K miles with no builds on an 02.
Hope you don't have to change the frt exchanger.Buddy just did an SRX and had to pull the motor as well as the suspension.
Click to expand...


no crank issues and same top end? That's great!
 
Mine has probably had as much regular(87) fuel through it as it has super(93).Especially with the price of fuel.As far as oil I ran Yamalube up until a couple of years ago(13k maybe),but now I'm running BRP oil.I get a better deal on the BRP and my son rides an old DOO so I figured WTH.Can't really say I can see any difference,still never been apart and still have to clean the valves every 1,000 miles.I'm only planning on riding it the rest of this year anyway.Time to either get a 4-stroke or get out of it altogether.Right now it's looking like the latter of the two as the Doo(440F MXZ) needs replacing too.It's got 10,800 miles on it without the motor being apart.
 
ajviper said:
no crank issues and same top end? That's great!
Click to expand...
Only money other than regular maint. stuff was an exh. vavle cable that I screwed myself and a jackshaft.Track was replaced at approx. 11K miles when it started spitting clips out,other than being worn it was all in one piece,not even a broken rod.
 
Snowsnake said:
15K miles with no builds on an 02.
Hope you don't have to change the frt exchanger.Buddy just did an SRX and had to pull the motor as well as the suspension.
Click to expand...

15,000 miles is just awesome!! Yamaha 4 life!!
 
Snowsnake said:
15K miles with no builds on an 02.
Hope you don't have to change the frt exchanger.Buddy just did an SRX and had to pull the motor as well as the suspension.
Click to expand...
Any overheating We have two 02 Viper ER and last trip we had overheating problems one has 3000miles and other has 5200 miles
 
03viperguy said:
thats great, hope you can stay in the sport, you must love it to ride that much :)
Click to expand...
Yeah I hate to give it up.Thing is that I didn't ride at all last year(knee operation) and did only maybe 1,000 miles the year before that(poor winter here).The sled was purchased new non-current in 03.Put 6,600 miles on the first 2 years.I'd buy another Viper for the right price,but I would try a different suspension this time round.
 
ShoeMan said:
Any overheating We have two 02 Viper ER and last trip we had overheating problems one has 3000miles and other has 5200 miles
Click to expand...
No overheating on my '02, I just have to top off the coolant before I ride it, and its fine till I quit riding. Thats when it leaks. But it stops right where the coolant tank has the " <PP> " marking. My '02 also has a rear heat exchanger like an SXR, but my '03 doesnt... Did the factory put them on '02s???
 
Last edited:
nope, but there was a deal yamaha was giving to people to put them on. worthwhile investment if you ask me. didnt have one on my old 97 600 twin and that sucker overheated a lot.
 
Found the leak. It's coming from the coolant pump cover on the front of the crankcase. The coolant dripped down and out behind the skid plate and front heat exchanger. Gonna start tear down today.
 
mine actually leaked in the same place. thought I would get to it next summer, then the crank stuck so its apart a lot sooner than I thought! glad you found the problem
 
Okay, I replaced the O-ring on the cover, and put a new hose clamp on the hose that goes on it. But its still leaking out the bottom once it gets up to pressure. Is it common for these pump covers to warp? Or heaven forbid, the crank case?? :o|
 
Last edited:
Gyro theres more info in the forum on a leaky pump seal, suppose to be a pita to get out. I've been putting mine off till summer, someone did an awesome post with pics.
 
Last edited:
I couldn't believe noone posted that earlier. Thats what i was going to post. Had mine checked out 2 times in 02' from dealer. Soon as you wipe your hand under pump you would have seen coolant. Was a common problem.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.


Back
Top