I recently removed my center console in the car and discovered that the rubber shifter boot that is located bellow the leather boot of your shifter was completely ripped and I could see the top of my transmission. this was letting exhaust fumes in the car, not a good thing. This is off a 2006 SRT10 Viper with 35,000 miles.
You can easily check this part too. Use a 5mm allen wrench and remove the bolts that hold the trim ring on around your leather shifter boot. Underneath you will be able to see the rubber boot that goes around your shifter and mounts to the transmission tunnel. Here is what my boot looked like.
The part is held on with 8 large pop rivets. These can be drilled out fairly easy. Make sure you use a nice sharp bit and good powerful drill for the job.Drill out the rivets and the boot just lifts off. The replacement part is available from VPA Rubber gear shift boot #5037319AA. https://www.viperpartsofamerica.com/index.php/products/2003-2010-dodge-viper-srt10-rubber-gear-shift-boot-04865679ac (https://www.viperpartsofamerica.com/index.php/products/2003-2010-dodge-viper-srt10-rubber-gear-shift-boot-04865679ac)
However the part does not come with replacement rivets so be sure you can get them.You can order them online, they also have them at Harbor Freight tools. I had to purchase a larger pop rivet tool as well $18.00. It comes with the rivets you will need to do the job.
http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-17-1-2-half-inch-hand-riveter-with-collection-bottle-66422.html (http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-17-1-2-half-inch-hand-riveter-with-collection-bottle-66422.html)
The replacement rivets are 1/4" in diameter. When I put the new part in I also used the high temp silicone under it first before replacing the rivets.
Here is the photo of the removed and damaged rubber shifter boot.
(http://www.hirkophoto.com/img/s8/v81/p1473958222-5.jpg)
Here is the new and freshly installed part
(http://www.hirkophoto.com/img/s4/v69/p1473962708-4.jpg)
Nice job Scott. >v
If your boot is just "torn" and not wasted, like Scott's, you can tape them up with black gorilla tape. This has worked pretty well for me.
Dan
Mine was beyond tape!