2008 Dodge Sprinter Owners Manual

data shown in the above illustration.

This marking tells you about the type of cord and number of plies in the side wall and under the tread.

Operation Tires and wheels

Tire and loading terminology

Accessory weight The combined weight (in excess of those standard items which may be replaced) of automatic transmission, power steer- ing, power brakes, power windows, pow- er seats, radio, and heater, to the extent that these items are available as factory- installed equipment (whether installed or not).

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Operation Tires and wheels Air pressure The amount of air inside the tire pressing outward on each square inch of the tire. Air pressure is expressed in pounds per square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or bars.

Aspect ratio Dimensional relationship between the tire section height and the section width expressed in percentage.

394

Bar Another metric unit for air pressure. There are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi) to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa) to 1 bar.

Bead The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped by steel cords that hold the tire onto the rim.

Cold tire inflation pressure Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle has been sitting for at least 3 hours or driven no more than 1 mile (1.6 km).

Curb weight The weight of a motor vehicle with stan- dard equipment including the maximum capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so equipped, air conditioning and addi- tional optional equipment, but without passengers and cargo.

DOT (Department Of Transportation) A tire branding symbol which denotes that the tire meets the requirements of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

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Operation Tires and wheels

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating) The GAWR is the maximum permissible axle weight. The gross vehicle weight on each axle must never exceed the GAWR for the front and rear axle indicated on the certification label located below the driver’s seat on the mounting pillar.

GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) The GCWR is the total permissible weight of vehicle and trailer when weighed in combination including a 150 lbs (68 kg) allowance for the pres- ence of a driver. It is indicated on the certification label located below the driv- er’s seat on the mounting pillar.

GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) The GVW comprises the weight of the vehicle including fuel, tools, spare wheel, installed accessories, passen- gers and cargo and, if applicable, trailer tongue load. The GVW must never ex- ceed the GVWR indicated on the certifi- cation label located below the driver’s seat on the mounting pillar.

GTW (Gross Trailer Weight) The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus the weight of all cargo, equipment, lug- gage etc. loaded on the trailer.

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Operation Tires and wheels GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) This is the maximum permissible vehicle weight of the fully loaded vehicle (weight of the vehicle including all options, pas- sengers, fuel, and cargo and, if applica- ble, trailer tongue load). It is indicated on the certification label located below the driver’s seat on the mounting pillar.

Kilopascal (kPa) The metric unit for air pressure. There are 6.9 kPa to 1 psi; another metric unit for air pressure is bars. there are 100 kilopascals (kPa) to 1 bar.

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Normal occupant weight The number of occupants the vehicle is designed to seat, multiplied by 68 kg (150 lbs).

Occupant distribution The distribution of occupants in a vehi- cle at their designated seating positions.

Maximum load rating The maximum load in kg and pounds that can be carried by the tire.

Maximum loaded vehicle weight The sum of curb weight, accessory weight, vehicle capacity weight and pro- duction options weight.

Maximum tire inflation pressure This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be put in the tire under normal driving conditions.

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Production options weight The combined weight of those installed regular production options weighing over 5 lbs (2.3 kg) in excess of those standard items which they replace, not previously considered in curb weight or accessory weight, including heavy duty brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty battery, and special trim.

PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) A standard unit of measure for air pres- sure. Another metric unit for air pres- sure is bar or kilopascal (kPa).

Recommended tire inflation pressure Recommended tire inflation pressure for normal driving conditions listed on the tire and loading information placard1 or on the tire inflation pressure placard lo- cated on the driver’s door B-pillar. Provides best handling, tread life and riding comfort.

Rim A metal support for a tire or a tire and tube assembly upon which the tire beads are seated.

1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less

than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).

Operation Tires and wheels

Side wall The portion of a tire between the tread and the bead.

TIN (Tire Identification Number) Unique identifier which facilitates efforts by tire manufacturers to notify purchas- ers in recall situations or other safety matters concerning tires and gives pur- chases the means to easily identify such tires. The TIN is comprised of the “man- ufacturer’s identification mark”, “tire size”, “tire type code” and “date of man- ufacture”.

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Operation Tires and wheels Tire load rating Numerical code associated with the maximum load a tire can support.

Tire ply composition and material used This indicates the number of plies or the number of layers of rubber-coated fabric in the tire tread and side wall. Tire man- ufacturers also must indicate the ply ma- terials in the tire and side wall, which include steel, nylon, polyester, and oth- ers.

398

Tire speed rating Part of tire designation; indicates the speed range for which a tire is approved.

Traction Force exerted by the vehicle on the road via the tires. The amount of grip provid- ed.

Tread The portion of a tire that comes into con- tact with the road.

Treadwear Indicators Narrow bands, sometimes called “wear bars” that show across the tread of a tire when only 1/16 in (1.6 mm) of tread remains.

TWR (Tongue Weight Rating) Maximum permissible weight on the trailer tongue.

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Uniform tire quality grading stan- dards A tire information system that provides consumers with ratings for a tire’s trac- tion, temperature and treadwear. Rat- ings are determined by tire manufacturers using government test- ing procedures. The ratings are molded into the side wall of the tire.

Vehicle capacity weight Rated cargo and luggage load plus 68 kg (150 lbs) times the vehicle’s designated seating capacity.

Rotating tires

Warning

Operation Tires and wheels

Vehicle maximum load on the tire Load on an individual tire that is deter- mined by distributing to each axle its share of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and dividing it by two.

Rotate front and rear wheels only if they are of the same dimension.

Changing the tire dimension for an axle

could cause the tire to come into contact with the vehicle body or axle parts. Dam- age to the tire or the vehicle may be the result.

Continued

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Operation Tires and wheels

Warning (Continued)

could result in changes to steering, han- dling, and braking of your Sprinter vehicle. This can cause unpredictable handling and stress to steering and suspension components. You could lose control and have an accident resulting in serious inju- ry or death.

could result in tire overloading and failure, if the tires' load index are not identical. You could lose control and have an acci- dent.

400

Tires on the front and rear axles of vehi- cles operate at different loads and per- form different steering, driving and braking functions. For these reasons, they wear at unequal rates, and develop irregular wear patterns. These effects can be reduced by timely rotation of tires. The benefits of rotation are especially worthwhile with aggressive tread de- signs such as those on On/Off Road type tires. Rotation will increase tread life, help to maintain mud, snow, and wet traction levels, and contribute to a smooth ride.

If applicable to your vehicle’s tire config- uration, tires can be rotated according to the tire manufacturer’s recommend- ed intervals in the tire manufacturer’s warranty pamphlet located in your vehi- cle literature portfolio. If none is avail- able, tires should be rotated every 10000 miles (16000 km), or sooner if necessary, according to the degree of tire wear. The same rotation (spinning) direction must be maintained when mounted, see "Direction of rotation" (컄 page 351).

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Rotate tires before the characteristic tire wear pattern becomes visible (shoul- der wear on front tires and tread center wear on rear tires). The reasons for any rapid or unusual wear should be corrected prior to rota- tion being performed.

!CAUTION If your vehicle is equipped with the tire pressure monitor*, each wheel has an electronic component. Tire mounting tools should not be ap- plied in the area of the valve, as this could damage the electronic compo- nents. Have the tires changed only at an authorized Sprinter Dealer.

Thoroughly clean the mounting face of wheels and brake disks, i.e. the inner side of the wheels/tires, during each ro- tation.

Operation Tires and wheels Check for and ensure proper tire infla- tion pressure, refer to "Recommended tire inflation pressure" (컄 page 361).

Warning

In order to avoid loosing a wheel and in or- der to reduce the risk of fatal or serious injuries or vehicle damage, please follow these safety instructions:

Always replace wheel bolts that are dam- aged or rusted.

Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.

Continued

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Operation Tires and wheels

Warning (Continued)

If a wheel hub thread is damaged, you must not drive the vehicle. Consult an au- thorized Sprinter Dealer.

Only use genuine wheel bolts approved by the vehicle manufacturer and specified for your vehicle’s rims. Check tightness of wheel bolts or nuts regularly and retight- en with a torque wrench, if necessary. Tighten wheel bolts or nuts in a crisscross pattern. For information on mounting bolts and tightening torques, refer to "In- stalling a wheel" (컄 page 548).

Continued

402

After changing a wheel, the wheel bolts or nuts must be retightened after the vehicle has been driven for about 30 miles (50 km)

If new or repainted rims are fitted, the wheel bolts or nuts must be retightened again after about 600 to 3000 miles (about 1000 to 5000 km).

Rotation pattern for single and dual rear wheels

Single rear wheels: 왘 Rotate the tires by axle. Never

change the direction of rotation of your tires.

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왘 Make sure that on one axle just one

type of tire (same size, type con- struction, load and speed rating) is used.

Dual rear wheels: 왘 Rotate front tires by axle and the out- er rear tire side to side if there is no approved direction of rotation. The tires used on dual wheel assem- blies should be matched for wear to prevent overloading one tire in a set.

왘 To check if tires are even, lay a

straight edge across all four tires.

!CAUTION 3500 dual rear tires have only one approved direction of rotation. This is to accommodate the asymmetrical design (tread pattern) of the ON/OFF road tire and the use of Outline White Letter (OWL) tires.

Operation Tires and wheels

When replacing a flat tire, the spare tire may have to be remounted on the rim or installed at a different location to maintain the correct placement of the tire on the wheel relative to the tire/wheel position on the vehicle. For example, if the spare is used to replace an outer rear tire it will have to remounted on the rim so that the wheel is dished inward. That way the tread design of asym- metrical tires and the white writing of the OWL tires will maintain proper position.

For information on wheel change, see the “Practical hints” section (컄 page 548).

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Operation Winter driving 왔 Winter driving Have your vehicle winterproofed at the onset of winter at an authorized Sprinter Dealer. This service includes the follow- ing: 앫 Oil change, if the current engine oil used has not been approved for win- ter use

앫 The antifreeze/anti-corrosion con- centration in the coolant is checked

앫 The addition of a concentrated

cleaning agent to the water in the windshield washer system

앫 Battery check 앫 A tire change

404

You will find information about diesel fuel for use at low outside temperatures in the “Technical data” section (컄 page 614). Please also observe the information about winter driving (컄 page 406).

Winter tires

Winter tires should also be operated as printed on the tire and loading informa- tion placard1 or on the tire inflation pres- sure placard located on the driver’s door B-pillar, refer to “Tires and wheels”

1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less

than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).

(컄 page 362). Not all M+S rated radial- ply tires provide special winter perfor- mance. Make sure the tires you use show M+S and the mountain/snowflake marking . on the tire side wall. These tires meet specific snow traction performance requirements of the Rub- ber Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and have been designed specifi- cally for use in snow conditions. Use of winter tires is the only way to achieve the maximum effectiveness of the ABS, BAS, ASR and ESP® in winter operation.

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For safe handling, make sure all winter tires mounted are of the same make and have the same tread design.

Warning

Winter tires with a tread depth under 1/6 in (4 mm) must be replaced. They are no longer suitable for winter operation.

Always observe the speed rating of the winter tires installed on your vehicle. If the maximum speed for which your tires are rated is below the speed rating of your vehicle, you must place a notice to this effect where it will be seen by the

driver. Such notices are available at your tire dealer or any authorized Sprinter Dealer. 왘 Reactivate the tire pressure monitor. While studded tires improve perfor- mance on ice, skid and traction capabil- ity on wet or dry surfaces may be poorer than that of non-studded tires. Some states prohibit studded tires; therefore, local laws should be checked before us- ing these tire types.

Operation Winter driving

Warning

If you use your spare tire when winter tires are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that the difference in tire charac- teristics may impair turning stability and overall driving stability may be reduced. Adapt your driving style accordingly.

Have the spare tire replaced with a winter tire at the nearest authorized Sprinter Dealer.

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Operation Winter driving

When they have been removed, store wheels and tires in a cool, dry, and if possible dark place. Protect the tires from oil, grease, and gasoline/ diesel.

406

Driving in winter

Warning

Downshifting to brake could cause the drive wheels to lose grip on a slippery sur- face due to the increased difference in speed between the engine and the drive wheels at this time.

Do not downshift for additional engine braking on a slippery surface. Use the ser- vice brake in accordance with road condi- tions. Only downshift to a lower gear when traveling at a low engine speed.

Drive with particular care on icy roads. Avoid sudden acceleration, steering movements and braking. If it seems likely that the vehicle is about to enter a skid or cannot be stopped at a low speed: 앫 Move the selector lever to position

앫 Try to maintain control of the vehicle

using light corrective steering.

Road salt may adversely affect braking efficiency. It may therefore be necessary to apply the brakes more forcefully in or- der to achieve the same braking force as normal.

N.

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Apply the brakes regularly when making longer journeys on gritted or salted roads. This will have the effect of restor- ing the brakes to their normal level of performance. When stopping the vehicle after travel- ing on roads that have been salted, check that the brakes are fully functional before proceeding further.

Snow chains

Use "Class U" chains, or other traction aids that meet SAE Type "U" specifica- tions.

Snow chains must be the proper size for the vehicle, as recommended by the chain manufacturer. They should only be driven on snow-covered roads at speeds not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Re- move chains as soon as possible when driving on roads without snow.

!CAUTION Use snow chains on rear wheels only. Some tire sizes do not leave ade- quate clearance for snow chains. To help avoid serious damage to your vehicle or tires, use of snow chains is not permissible with the spare wheel.

Operation Winter driving

When driving with snow chains, you may wish to deactivate the ASR (컄 page 73) before setting the vehi- cle in motion. This will improve the vehicle’s traction.

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Operation Winter driving Please observe the following guidelines when using snow chains: 앫 Snow chains should only be used on

rear wheels. In vehicles with dual rear wheels, they should be mounted on the exterior wheels. Follow the manufacturer’s mounting instruc- tions.

앫 Only use snow chains that are ap-

proved by the vehicle manufacturer. For approved snow chains, please contact your authorized Sprinter Dealer.

앫 Use of snow chains may be prohibit-

ed depending on location. Always check local and state laws before mounting snow chains.

408

To avoid damage to your vehicle, tires or chains, observe the following precau- tions: 앫 Because of limited chain clearance between tires and other suspension components, it is important that only chains in good condition are used. Broken chains can cause serious ve- hicle damage. Stop the vehicle im- mediately if noise occurs that could suggest chain breakage. Remove the damaged parts of the chain before further use.

앫 Install chains as tightly as possible

and then retighten after driving about 1/2 mile (0.8 km).

앫 Do not exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).

앫 Drive cautiously and avoid severe turns and large bumps, especially with a loaded vehicle.

앫 Do not install tire chains on front

wheels.

앫 Do not drive for a prolonged period

on dry pavement.

앫 Observe the tire chain manufactur- er’s instructions on method of instal- lation, operating speed, and conditions for usage. Always use the lower suggested operating speed of the chain manufacturer if different than the speed recommended by the manufacturer.

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왔 Maintenance and servicing

Warning

Warning (Continued)

Operation Maintenance and servicing

Warning (Continued)

Before carrying out maintenance opera- tions and repairs, please make sure that you read the relevant sections of the tech- nical documentation, such as:

Operating instructions and workshop in- formation

Familiarize yourself in advance in particu- lar with legal requirements, such as:

Safety at work and accident prevention regulations.

Continued

You may otherwise fail to recognize dan- gers and could injure yourself or others.

The jack is only designed to raise the ve- hicle for a short time.

When working underneath the vehicle, you must place the vehicle on stands with sufficient load-bearing capacity.

Never use the vehicle jack instead. There is a risk that the vehicle jack could give way and the vehicle could drop, seriously injuring yourself or others, or causing damage to property.

Continued

Always have the maintenance work car- ried out and checked at an authorized Sprinter Dealer which has the necessary specialist knowledge and tools to carry out the work required.

Continued

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Operation Maintenance and servicing

Warning (Continued)

The manufacturer recommends that you use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this purpose. In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer.

410

Service products

Mechanical elements and the lubricants used for them must be carefully matched. For this reason, only brands tested and approved by the manufacturer should be used. Please contact your Sprinter Deal- er to obtain the necessary information. No lubricant additives should be used. The use of such additives could affect your warranty rights. Information is available from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.

For specifications of engine oils, coolant and brake fluid, see "Service products and capacities" (컄 page 604) and con- tact your authorized Sprinter Dealer. Observe the information on spare parts in the “Technical data” section (컄 page 600).

Warning

If handled incorrectly, service products can constitute a health risk for people and an environmental hazard.

Always observe relevant guidelines for handling, storing and disposing of service products.

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Active Service System (ASSYST)*

ASSYST, the Active Service System, in- forms you when the next service is due. A service that is due is displayed about a month or 1900 miles (3000 km) in ad- vance. A message is then displayed while the vehicle is in motion or the igni- tion is switched on.

!CAUTION Periods when the battery is discon- nected will not be recorded by AS- SYST. To make sure that you have the vehicle serviced at the correct time, you should therefore subtract periods when the battery is discon- nected from the days shown. The service indicator does not pro- vide information about the engine oil level. The service indicator should not, therefore, be confused with the P engine oil level display.

Operation Maintenance and servicing

The service due date is displayed in days or miles (kilometers), depend- ing on the total distance driven. The time between the individual ser- vice due dates depends on your style of driving. You can increase this by: 앫 driving with care and at a moder-

ate engine speed

앫 avoiding short journeys where

the engine does not reach the op- erating temperature

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Operation Maintenance and servicing Service due date display

Vehicles with steering wheel buttons The following messages may be dis- played: 앫 9 Service A in .. days 앫 9 Service A in .. miles (km) 앫 9 Service A due now The letters A or B indicate the type of ser- vice that is due.

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Vehicles without steering wheel buttons The following messages may be dis- played: 앫 9 for service A 앫 ´ for service B The following are also shown: Service A: Oil Service Plus Service B: Maintenance Service 앫 the remaining distance in kilometers,

e.g. 1900 miles (3000 km)

앫 the remaining time in days, e.g.

30 days.

Missing the service due date An authorized Sprinter Dealer, can reset the service indicator when the service has been carried out.

!CAUTION If you fail to have the specified ser- vice carried out, you could be in breach of relevant regulations and warranty and goodwill settlements could be invalidated.

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Vehicles with steering wheel buttons* If you have missed the service due date, one of the following messages appears in the display: 앫 9 Service A overdue by .. days 앫 9 Service A overdue by ..

miles (km)

A signal also sounds.

Vehicles without steering wheel but- tons If you have missed the service due date, the following symbol flashes in the dis- play for 10 seconds after the ignition is switched on: 앫 9 for service A 앫 ´ for service B You will also see a minus sign before the service due date.

Calling up the service due date 왘 Switch on the ignition (컄 page 111).

The display is activated.

Operation Maintenance and servicing Vehicles with steering wheel buttons* 왘 Press the è or ÿ button on the steering wheel repeatedly until you see the standard display (컄 page 151) .

왘 Press the j or k button on the steering wheel repeatedly until you see the following in the display, for example: 앫 9 Service A in .. days 앫 9 Service A in .. miles (km) The letters A or B indicate the type of service that is due.

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Operation Maintenance and servicing Vehicles without steering wheel but- tons 왘 Press the

menu button on the in- strument cluster repeatedly until you see the following in the display: 앫 9 for service A 앫 ´ for service B The following are also shown: 앫 the remaining distance in miles

(kilometers)

앫 the remaining time in days

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Air cleaner for the air-conditioning system in the rear compartment* An increased amount of sand or dust may collect in the air cleaner when you drive on dusty or sandy roads.

!CAUTION You must clean visible dirt from the air cleaner or replace it if necessary. The dirt can otherwise damage the air conditioning, which is not covered by warranty.

For this reason, check the air cleaner regularly for visible damage.

Air cleaner in the roof in the rear com- partment 1 Cover 2 Recesses

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Removing the air cleaner element 왘 Carefully pry cover 1 out of

recesses 2 and remove it.

왘 Remove the filter mat.

Operation Maintenance and servicing

Cleaning the filter mat 왘 Wash the filter mat with clean water. 왘 Leave the filter mat to dry.

Installing the air cleaner element 왘 Insert the filter mat. 왘 Attach cover 1.

!CAUTION The filter mat must not be cleaned or dried in a machine.

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Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle 왔 Cleaning and care of the vehicle Regular and proper care will help to maintain the value of your vehicle. The best way to protect your vehicle from harmful environmental influences is to wash it and use protective treatments regularly.

It is recommended that you use Mopar care products. These have been specially adapted to Sprinter vehicles and are state of the art. Mopar care products are available from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.

416

Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas af- fected by corrosion and damage caused by neglect or inadequate care cannot al- ways be completely remedied. In such cases, visit an authorized Sprinter Deal- er. Repair damage caused by loose chip- pings and remove the following sub- stances immediately: 앫 Insect remains 앫 Bird droppings 앫 Tree resin 앫 Oils and grease 앫 Fuel 앫 Tar stains

Wash the vehicle more frequently in win- ter to remove salt residue.

Warning

Always follow the instructions for using the care products. Always keep care products sealed and out of the reach of children.

Do not use fuel as a cleaning agent. Fuel is flammable and constitutes a health haz- ard.

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Environmental note

Only clean the vehicle in a suitable place for washing vehicles. Dispose of empty containers and used cleaning materials in an environmentally responsible manner.

If you need to clean the areas to- wards the top of the vehicle, always use 앫 suitable ladders 앫 secure steps

!CAUTION Under no circumstances should you affix unsuitable stickers, films, mag- nets or similar to painted surfaces. You could otherwise damage the paintwork.

Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle

Care of the vehicle

!CAUTION After cleaning your vehicle, especial- ly the wheel rims with rim cleaner, do not simply park the vehicle and leave it. Rim cleaners can promote corro- sion of the brake discs and the brake pads/linings. Before parking and leaving the vehicle after cleaning, al- ways warm the vehicle up to normal operating temperature first.

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Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle Automatic car wash You can clean the vehicle in an automat- ic car wash from the very start. It is pref- erable to use a car wash that does not have brushes. If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it be- fore you drive into the car wash. 왘 Remove the radio/telephone anten- na and fold the exterior mirrors in be- fore driving into the automatic car wash.

418

!CAUTION Make sure that the automatic car wash is suitable for the size of the ve- hicle. If you do not remove the radio/ tele- phone antenna and fold in the exteri- or mirrors, there is a possibility that the antenna, the exterior mirrors or the vehicle could be damaged by the automatic car wash.

!CAUTION Make sure that the windshield wiper switch is set to 0 (컄 page 210), oth- erwise the rain sensor could be acti- vated, for example, and the windshield wipers could be triggered unintentionally. This could cause damage to the vehicle.

For information on windshield wiper switch, see the “Controls in detail” sec- tion (컄 page 210).

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After using an automatic car wash, wipe off wax from the windshield and the wip- er blades. This prevents smears and re- duces wiping noises which can be caused by residue on the windshield.

High-pressure cleaners

!CAUTION Do not use high-pressure cleaners with round-spray jets for cleaning the tires. You could otherwise damage the tires. Have damaged tires re- placed.

왘 The minimum distance that must be maintained between the vehicle and the nozzle of the high-pressure cleaner is: 앫 approximately 2.2 ft (70 cm) for

round-spray jets

앫 approximately 1 ft (30 cm) for 25° flat-spray jets and concen- trated-power jets

왘 Move the high-pressure cleaner noz- zle around when cleaning your vehi- cle.

Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle

!CAUTION To avoid damage, do not aim directly at the 앫 door joints, brake hoses, electri- cal components, connectors or seals

앫 the rear view camera* or the

microphone openings on the un- derside of the rear view camera*. 앫 Maintain a minimum distance of

1.6 ft (50 cm).

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Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle Steps

Engine cleaning

Warning

Dirty or iced-up steps and entrances cre- ate a risk of slipping or falling.

Keep steps, entrances and footwear free from dirt (e.g. mud, clay, snow and ice).

420

!CAUTION Do not allow water to enter the in- take and ventilation openings. When cleaning with high-pressure water or steam cleaners, the spray must not be aimed directly at electri- cal components or at the end of elec- trical lines. Treat the engine with preservative agents after cleaning. Protect the belt drive system from the preserva- tive when you do so.

Light-alloy wheels* Clean light-alloy wheels on a regular ba- sis.

!CAUTION Do not use any acidic or alkaline cleaning agents. They can cause cor- rosion of the wheel bolts (wheel nuts) or the balancing weight retain- ers.

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Outside of windshield and wiper blades 왘 Turn key to position 1 in ignition lock

(컄 page 111).

왘 Switch on windshield wipers

(컄 page 210).

왘 When the wiper arms are vertical,

turn key to position 0 in the ignition lock or remove the key.

!CAUTION Do not fold the windshield wipers away from the windshield unless the hood is closed. You will otherwise damage the hood.

왘 Fold the wiper arms away from the windshield until you feel them en- gage in place.

Warning

Switch off the ignition before cleaning the windshield or the wiper blades. The wind- shield wipers could otherwise move and injure you.

왘 You can now clean the windshield

and the wiper blades.

왘 Fold the windshield wipers back

again before you switch on the igni- tion.

Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle

Windows

!CAUTION Do not use a dry cloth, abrasive ma- terial, solvent or solvent-based clean- ing agent to clean the inside of the windows. Clean the inside of the win- dows with a damp cloth or a commer- cially available glass cleaner. Do not touch the inside of the rear and side windows with hard objects, such as an ice scraper or a ring. You could otherwise damage the windows or the rear window heating.

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Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle Headlamps 왘 Wipe the headlamp lenses with a

damp sponge.

!CAUTION Only use washer fluid which is suit- able for plastic lamp lenses. Unsuitable washer fluid may damage the plastic headlamp lenses. For this reason, do not use a dry cloth, abrasive material, solvent or solvent-based cleaning agent. You could otherwise scratch or damage the lens surface.

422

Parktronic sensors* The sensors are located in the front and rear bumpers.

!CAUTION Do not use dry, coarse or hard cloths and do not scrub. You will otherwise scratch or damage the sensors. If you clean the sensors with a high- pressure cleaner or steam cleaner, observe the information provided by the manufacturer regarding the dis- tance to be maintained between the vehicle and the nozzle of the high- pressure cleaner.

Parktronic sensors

왘 Clean the sensors in the bumpers us- ing water, shampoo and a soft cloth.

Rear view camera lens* The rear view camera is located in the center of the roof above the third brake lamp.

nf_BA.book Page 423 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

Rear view camera

Camera lens

2 Microphone openings 왘 Clean the camera lens 1 using wa-

ter and a soft cloth only.

Be careful not to apply wax to the cam- era lens 1 when waxing the vehicle. If necessary, remove the wax using sham- poo with plenty of water.

!CAUTION Do not use dry, coarse or hard cloths and aggressive cleaning agents. Do not scrub or use high pressure. You will otherwise scratch or damage the lens or the camera.

If you clean the vehicle with a high-pres- sure cleaner or steam cleaner, maintain a minimum distance of 1.6 ft (50 cm) to the rear view camera. To prevent dam- age, do not aim directly at the rear view

Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle camera or at the microphone openings on the underside of the rear view cam- era.

Plastic trims

!CAUTION Do not use dry, coarse or hard cloths and do not scrub. You will otherwise scratch or damage the surfaces.

Light soiling 왘 Wipe plastic parts with a damp, lint- free cloth (e.g. a micro-fiber cloth).

423

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Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle

!CAUTION Use a low-foaming grease solvent (e.g. washing-up liquid) diluted in wa- ter as a cleaning agent. The surface color may temporarily change shade during cleaning. Sim- ply wait for the surface to dry.

Heavy soiling 왘 Wipe plastic parts with a damp, lint- free cloth (e.g. a micro-fiber cloth).

424

!CAUTION Use a solvent-free and non-caustic cleaning agent. The manufacturer recommends that you use a Mercedes-Benz product. The surface color may temporarily change shade during cleaning. Sim- ply wait for the surface to dry.

Dashboard and padded boss of the steering wheel 왘 Moisten a clean and lint-free cloth

with water and clean the plastic parts and the dashboard.

왘 Use a mild soap solution for particu-

larly stubborn dirt.

Warning

Do not use cleaners or cockpit care sprays containing solvents to clean the dashboard or the padded boss of the steering wheel. Cleaners containing sol- vents can make the surface porous, which could lead to serious injuries if plastic parts were to come loose when an airbag is triggered.

Radio* display and rear view cam- era* monitor 왘 Switch off the Radio* or the rear

view camera monitor* and allow it to cool off.

nf_BA.book Page 425 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

왘 Clean the display surface with a commercially-available microfiber cloth and cleaner for TFT/LCD dis- plays.

왘 After drying, wipe the display surface with a dry microfiber cloth using only slight pressure.

!CAUTION Do not use dry, coarse or hard cloths, abrasive material, solvent or solvent- based cleaning agent. Do not scrub or use high pressure. You will otherwise damage the pressure- and scratch-sensitive dis- play surface.

Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle

Seat belts Remove stains or dirt immediately to prevent damage or the build-up of resi- dues.

After driving off-road or on construction sites

Warning

!CAUTION Clean the seat belts with a mild wash- ing solution. Do not dry the seat belts in direct sunlight or at temperatures above 176 °F (80 °C). !Do not bleach or dye the seat belts. This could impair the function of the seat belts.

Dirt on the vehicle can affect road and op- erating safety.

In particular, the following dangers can arise:

Stone chippings

Stones trapped between the tires can be thrown out while the vehicle is in motion and injure other road users or damage their vehicles (in particular the windshield).

Continued

425

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Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle

Warning (Continued)

Risk of skidding

Dirt and mud on the tires/road surface reduce wheel grip. This is especially so if the road surface is wet. The vehicle could then start to skid.

Risk of slipping

Dirt and mud on the steps and entrances make the steps less safe. As a result you could slip from the steps and injure yourself.

For this reason, always clean your vehicle carefully after driving off-road and on con- struction sites before using public roads.

Continued

426

Warning (Continued)

Warning

If you use a high-pressure cleaner or auto- matic car wash for this purpose, you must follow the relevant safety instructions in this section.

왘 Clean the vehicle, particularly the

lighting equipment, windows, exteri- or mirrors, steps, entrances, grab handles, wheels, tires, wheel hous- ings and license plates. Observe the notes in this section.

왘 Remove any trapped foreign objects,

e.g. stones.

Dirty brake discs and brake pads/linings can impair braking power (to the point of total failure).

You could thereby cause an accident.

Check the brake system for operating safety by testing the brakes before driving the vehicle onto public roads.

If braking power is impaired, stop the ve- hicle as soon as it is safe to do so and con- sult an authorized Sprinter Dealer which has the necessary specialist knowledge and tools to carry out the work required.

Continued

nf_BA.book Page 427 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

Warning (Continued)

The manufacturer recommends that you use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this purpose. In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer.

Operation Cleaning and care of the vehicle

앫 Check them for damage and have any damage repaired by an autho- rized Sprinter Dealer if necessary.

After driving in mud, sand, water or sim- ilar conditions: 앫 Check the brake system for operat-

앫 Clean the wheels, chassis and brake

ing safety.

system.

427

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Practical hints

Practical hints

What to do if .............. 430
Display messages........... 484
Where will I find...?........... 513
Changing bulbs........... 525
Changing the batteries........... 539
Fuel system........... 542
Replacing the wiper blades........... 545
Flat tire........... 547
Battery........... 573
Jump-starting........... 581
Towing........... 585
Fuses........... 589

429

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Practical hints What to do if ...

Audible warning signals

Warning

Always have maintenance work carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer

Continued

430

Warning (Continued)

Warning (Continued)

which has the necessary specialist knowl- edge and tools to carry out the work re- quired. The manufacturer recommends that you use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this purpose.

Continued

In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer. There is a risk of an accident and injury if this work is carried out incorrectly.

nf_BA.book Page 431 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

Problem The anti-theft alarm system is suddenly trig- gered.

Possible cause/result You have opened the vehicle using the key while the anti-theft alarm system was still primed.

You hear a warning signal.

A message appears in the display.

You are driving with the handbrake applied. You opened the driver’s door and forgot to switch off the lights.

Warning

You are not wearing your seat belt.

Practical hints What to do if ...

Suggested solutions Key: 왘 Press the Œ button. or 왘 Insert the key into the ignition lock. The anti-theft alarm system is deacti- vated.

왘 Observe the instructions on

(컄 page 484).

왘 Release the handbrake (컄 page 191). 왘 Turn the light switch to 0.

왘 Fasten your seat belt .

431

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Practical hints What to do if ...

Accident

Warning

Always have maintenance work carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer

Continued

432

Warning (Continued)

Warning (Continued)

which has the necessary specialist knowl- edge and tools to carry out the work re- quired.

The manufacturer recommends that you use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this purpose.

Continued

In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer. There is a risk of an accident and injury if this work is carried out incorrectly.

nf_BA.book Page 433 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

Problem Fuel is leaking from the vehicle.

Possible cause/result

Risk of fire and explosion

The fuel line or fuel tank is malfunctioning. There is a risk of fire and explosion from leaking fuel.

You are unable to determine the extent of the damage. You are unable to determine any damage to: 앫 the major components 앫 the fuel system 앫 the engine support

Practical hints What to do if ...

Suggested solutions 왘 Switch off the ignition immediately. 왘 Remove the key. 왘 Do not restart the engine under any cir-

cumstances.

왘 Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer. 왘 Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.

왘 Start the engine as usual.

433

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Practical hints What to do if ...

Fuel and fuel tank

Warning

Always have maintenance work carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer

Continued

434

Warning (Continued) G

which has the necessary specialist knowledge and tools to carry out the work required.

The manufacturer recommends that you use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this purpose.

Continued

Warning (Continued)

In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer. There is a risk of an accident and injury if this work is carried out incorrectly.

nf_BA.book Page 435 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

Practical hints What to do if ...

Problem The fuel tank has been run dry and the vehicle has a diesel engine. Fuel is leaking from the vehicle.

Possible cause/result There is air in the fuel system.

Suggested solutions 왘 Bleed the fuel system (컄 page 544).

Risk of fire and explosion

The fuel line or fuel tank is malfunctioning. There is a risk of fire and explosion from leaking fuel.

왘 Switch off the ignition immediately. 왘 Remove the key. 왘 Do not restart the engine under any cir-

cumstances.

왘 Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.

435

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Practical hints What to do if ...

Engine

Warning

Always have maintenance work carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer

Continued

436

Warning (Continued) G

which has the necessary specialist knowledge and tools to carry out the work required. The manufacturer recommends that you use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this purpose.

Continued

Warning (Continued)

In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer. There is a risk of an accident and injury if this work is carried out incorrectly.

nf_BA.book Page 437 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

Problem The engine does not start. You can hear the starter motor working.

Possible cause/result There may be a malfunction in the fuel supply. 왘 Turn the key back to position 0 in the igni- tion lock before the next starting attempt.

Suggested solutions

Vehicles with a diesel engine: The engine does not start. You can hear the starter motor working. The reserve fuel warning lamp is lit and the fuel gauge is at 0.

The fuel tank has been run dry.

Practical hints What to do if ...

왘 Start the engine again.

Note that excessively long attempts to start the engine may drain the battery. If the engine still will not start after several starting attempts: 왘 Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer. 왘 Refuel the vehicle. 왘 Bleed the fuel system (컄 page 544).

437

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Practical hints What to do if ...

Problem The engine does not start. You cannot hear the starter motor working.

Possible cause/result The on-board voltage is too low (the battery has too little charge or is discharged). The selector lever is not in position P or N.

Suggested solutions 왘 The engine may be jump-started

(컄 page 581).

If the engine does not start despite jump- starting: 왘 Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.

The battery isolating switch is disconnected. 왘 Switch on the electrical system

(컄 page 338).

Vehicles with a gasoline engine: The engine is not running smoothly and it is misfiring.

The engine electronics or a mechanical compo- nent of the engine control has malfunctioned.

왘 Do not use too much throttle. 왘 Have the cause rectified immediately at

an authorized Sprinter Dealer. Otherwise, unburned fuel may get into the catalytic converter and damage it.

438

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Problem The coolant temperature gauge is above 250 °F (+120 °C).

Possible cause/result The coolant is too hot and the engine is not be- ing sufficiently cooled.

Practical hints What to do if ...

Suggested solutions 왘 Park your vehicle in a safe location as quickly as possible and let the engine continue to run at idle speed for about 1 to 2 minutes before switching it off. This allows the coolant temperature to return to normal again.

If the coolant temperature is still too high: 왘 Switch off the engine and let it as well

as the coolant cool down.

왘 Check the coolant level and observe the

warning notes as you do so (컄 page 329).

왘 Add coolant as necessary.

439

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Practical hints What to do if ...

Automatic transmission

Warning

Always have maintenance work carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer

Continued

440

Warning (Continued)

Warning (Continued)

which has the necessary specialist knowl- edge and tools to carry out the work re- quired.

The manufacturer recommends that you use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this purpose.

Continued

In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer. There is a risk of an accident and injury if this work is carried out incorrectly.

nf_BA.book Page 441 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

Problem The transmission no longer changes gear cor- rectly. The acceleration ability is deteriorating. The transmission does not shift.

Possible cause/result The transmission is losing oil.

The transmission is in emergency mode. It is only possible to shift into second gear or re- verse gear.

Practical hints What to do if ...

Suggested solutions 왘 Have the transmission checked imme- diately at an authorized Sprinter Dealer.

왘 Stop the vehicle. 왘 Move the selector lever to position P. 왘 Switch off the engine. 왘 Wait at least 10 seconds before restart-

ing the engine.

왘 Move the selector lever to position D or

R.

왘 In position D, the transmission shifts into second gear; in position R, the transmission shifts into the reverse gear.

왘 Have the transmission checked imme- diately at an authorized Sprinter Dealer.

441

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Practical hints What to do if ...

Headlamps and turn signals

Warning

Always have maintenance work carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer

Continued

Warning (Continued)

Warning (Continued)

which has the necessary specialist knowl- edge and tools to carry out the work required. The manufacturer recommends that you use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this purpose.

In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer. There is a risk of an accident and injury if this work is carried out incorrectly.

Continued

Problem The headlamps are fogged up on the inside.

Possible cause/result Air humidity is very high.

Suggested solutions 왘 Drive with the lights on.

Moisture has penetrated the headlamp housing since it is not water-tight.

The headlamps will defrost after the vehicle has been driven a short distance.

왘 Have the headlamps checked at an autho-

rized Sprinter Dealer.

442

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Windshield wipers

Warning

Always have maintenance work carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer

Continued

Warning (Continued)

which has the necessary specialist knowl- edge and tools to carry out the work re- quired. The manufacturer recommends that you use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this purpose.

Continued

Practical hints What to do if ...

Warning (Continued)

In particular, work relevant to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer. There is a risk of an accident and injury if this work is carried out incorrectly.

443

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Practical hints What to do if ...

Problem The windshield wipers are jammed.

The windshield wipers have stopped working completely.

444

Possible cause/result Leaves or snow, for example, are hindering the movement of the windshield wipers. The wiper motor has switched off.

Suggested solutions 왘 Stop the vehicle as soon as possible

and, for safety reasons, remove the key from the ignition lock.

왘 Remove the cause of the obstruction. 왘 Switch on the windshield wipers again. The windshield wiper drive has malfunctioned. 왘 Select a different wiper speed on the

combination switch.

왘 Have the windshield wipers checked at

an authorized Sprinter Dealer.

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Remote control

Warning

Always have maintenance work carried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer

Continued

Warning (Continued)

which has the necessary specialist knowl- edge and tools to carry out the work re- quired.

The manufacturer recommends that you use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this purpose.

Continued

Practical hints What to do if ...

Warning (Continued)