Viper Headquarters

Fuel Cut-Out

Q. I just bought a 2005 Dodge Viper convertible with 6,000 miles – after many Corvettes. What a car this is! I really like the exhaust sound, the rumble you get when you let off the gas to slow down. However, as you are aware, after about 4 seconds the fuel cut-off engages and the engine goes completely silent until around 1000 RPMs. Is there some way to disable the fuel cut-out, maybe an adjustment so the computer doesn’t realize the throttle is at idle (without triggering a fault code)? Thanks!

A. Funny you should bring this up. Dick Winkles and I always argue about the decel exhaust pop. I love it and he hates it. To change the deceleration fueling (which controls the pop) takes a reprogramming of the engine controller. Further complicating the situation is the effect it has on the emissions. That’s federal standard stuff so any changes must be recertified – expensive and time consuming. I’ll continue to beat on Dick!