towing DODGE SPRINTER 2006 1.G User Guide

224 STARTING AND OPERATING
Checking Weights of Vehicle and Trailer
To assure that the tow vehicle and trailer are in
compliance with the maximum permissible weight
limits, and to know the actual weights, have the loaded
vehicle-trailer combination (tow vehicle including
driver, passengers and cargo, trailer fully loaded)
weighed on a commercial scale.
Check the vehicle’s front and rear Gross Axle Weight
(GAW), the GTW and TW. The values as measured
must not be exceeded, according to the weight listed
under “Vehicle and trailer weight and ratings”.
Attaching a Trailer
Please observe maximum permitted trailer dimensions
(width and length).
Most states and all Canadian provinces require safety
chains between your tow vehicle and the trailer. The
chains should be crisscrossed under the trailer tongue.
They must be attached to the hitch receiver, and not to
the vehicle’s bumper or axle. Be sure to leave enough
slack in the chains to permit turning corners.
Most states and all Canadian provinces require a
separate brake system at various trailer weights.
WARNING!
Do not connect a trailer brake system (if trailer is
so equipped) directly to the vehicle’s hydraulic
brake system as your vehicle is equipped with an-
tilock brakes. If you do, neither the vehicle’s
brakes nor the trailer’s brakes will function prop-
erly. This could cause an accident resulting in
property damage, injury or death to you or others.
The provided vehicle electrical wiring harness for
trailer towing has a brake signal wire for hook-up
to a brake controller.
Most states and all Canadian provinces require a
break-away switch on trailers with a separate
brake system. The switch activates the trailer
brakes in the possible event that the trailer might
separate from the tow vehicle.
You should consider using a trailer sway control
system. For further information see your
authorized Sprinter Dealer.

STARTING AND OPERATING 225
5
Towing a Trailer
There are many different laws, including speed limit
restrictions, having to do with trailer towing. Make
sure that your vehicle-trailer combination will be legal,
not only for where you reside, but also for where you
will be driving. A good source for this information can
be the police or local authorities.
Before you start driving with the trailer, check the
trailer hitch, break-away switch, safety chains,
electrical connections, lighting and tires. Also adjust
the mirrors to permit unobstructed view beyond rear
of trailer.
If the trailer has electric brakes, start your vehicle and
trailer moving slowly, and then apply only the trailer
brake controller by hand to be sure the brakes are
working properly.
When towing a trailer, check occasionally to be sure
that the load is secure, and that lighting and trailer
brakes (if so equipped) are functioning properly.
Always secure items in the trailer to prevent load shifts
while driving.Take into consideration that when towing a trailer, the
handling characteristics are different and less stable
from those when operating the vehicle without a
trailer. It is important to avoid sudden maneuvers. The
vehicle and trailer combination is heavier, and
therefore is limited in acceleration and climbing ability,
and requires longer stopping distances. It is more
prone to reacting to side wind gusts, and requires more
sensitive steering input.
In order to gain skill and an understanding of the
vehicle’s behavior, you should practice turning, stopping
and backing up in an area which is free from traffic.
If possible, do not brake abruptly, but rather engage
the brake slightly at first to permit the trailer to activate
its brake. Then increase the braking force.

226 STARTING AND OPERATING
WARNING!
Take into consideration that when towing a trail-
er, the handling characteristics are different and
less stable from those when operating the vehicle
without a trailer.
It is important to avoid sudden maneuvers.
Sudden maneuvers may lead to loss of control
over the vehicle-trailer combination. This could
cause an accident resulting in property damage or
injury to you or others.
CAUTION!
If the transmission hunts between gears on
inclines, manually shift to a lower gear (select
"4",
"3", "2" or"1"). A lower gear and reduction of
speed reduces the chance of engine overloading
and / or overheating.
When going down a long hill, shift into a lower
gear and use the engine’s braking effect. Avoid
riding the brakes, thus overheating the vehicle
and trailer brakes.
If the engine coolant rises to an extremely high
temperature (coolant temperature needle
approaching the red zone) when the air
conditioner is on, turn off the air conditioner.
Engine coolant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the climate
control fan speed to high and setting the
temperature control to the maximum hot position.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 231
6
Q Hazard Warning Flasher Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Q Fire Extinguisher (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Q Vehicle Tool Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Q Changing the Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
…Spare Wheel Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Q Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
…Using the Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Q Removing a Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Q Installing a Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Q Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246
Q Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
…If the Engine is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
…If the Transmission is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
…If the Front Axle is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
…If the Rear Axle is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249

248 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
1. First connect the positive terminals of the two
batteries (see illustration, Items 1 + 2). Start with the
booster battery.
2. Then connect the negative terminal of the vehicle
with the booster battery to a vehicle ground point
of the vehicle with the discharged battery, such as
to the engine block (see illustration, Items 3 + 4).
Start with the booster battery.
3. Start the engine in the customary manner.
4. Allow the engine to run for a short time.
5. Before disconnecting the jumper cables from the
vehicle with the booster battery, switch on an
electrical consumer (e.g. the blower, but not the
lamps).
6. Disconnect the jumper cables in the reverse order to
that in which they were connected.
7. Disconnect the jumper cable from negative
terminal and vehicle ground point first (see
illustration, items 3 + 4), then from positive
terminals of the batteries (see illustration 1 + 2).
NOTE: Never try to start the engine with the aid of a
battery quick-charge unit.TOWING THE VEHICLE

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 249
6
*Vehicle Type 2500 onlyIf the Engine is Damaged
For towing distances up to 30 miles (about 50 km)
 Shift gear selector lever to "N" position.
 Do not exceed a towing speed of 30 mph (50 km / h).
For towing distances greater than 30 miles (about
50 km)
 Remove the propeller shafts leading to the drive
axles.
The vehicle can be towed without restriction.
If the Transmission is Damaged
 Remove the propeller shafts leading to the drive
axles.
If the Front Axle is Damaged
 Raise the front axle.
 Observe the same towing restrictions as for engine
damage.
If the Rear Axle is Damaged
 Raise the rear axle.
NOTE: Comply with local legal regulations regarding
towing vehicles.
WARNING!
Do not tow the vehicle if the key cannot be turned
in the ignition lock.
If the key cannot be turned, the ignition lock re-
mains locked and the vehicle cannot be steered.
With the engine not running there is no power
assistance for the braking and steering systems.
In this case, it is important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is necessary
to brake and steer the vehicle.
The vehicle must not be towed with the front axle
raised and the key in position 2 in the ignition
lock as the drive wheels could then lock due to the
acceleration skid control (ASR) or the optional
Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®)*.

326 INDEX
Rear Seat Bench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
Security System with Towing and Passenger
Compartment Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Audible Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Switching off the Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Visual Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Service Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Disposal of Service Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Skid Control, Acceleration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Sliding Door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Snow Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Spare Wheel Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Special Maintenance Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Speed Control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Sprinter Original Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
SRS Malfunction Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Standard Fuse and Relay Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . 277
Starter Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Starting the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Stopping the Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Storing Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182Suggestions For Obtaining Service For
Your Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 312
Sun Roof
Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Mechanical Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Sun Roof, Electrical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Switch Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Switch,Starter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
TTachometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101, 103
Telephone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Tie Down Rings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Tire
Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Tire and Loading Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Tire Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Tire Grip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Tire Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Tire Sizes for Sprinter Vehicles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Alignment and Balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Aspect Ratio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

INDEX 327
10
Care and Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Changing the Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Date of Manufacture. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Design Standard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Direction of Rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN) . . . . . . . 196
Hydroplaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Important Notes on Tire Inflation Pressure . . . . 187
Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Installing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
Labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Life of . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Load Rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Maximum Inflation Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
Maximum Load. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Recommended Tire Inflation Pressure . . . . . . . . 186
Removing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242
Rim Diameter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193Rotating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
Size Designation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Sizes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Snow Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
Spare Wheel Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Speed Rating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192, 195
Storing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
Tire and Loading Information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Tire and Loading Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Tire Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Tire Grip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Tire Ply Material . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
Tire Width . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Tread Depth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Type Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Vehicles type 2500 C/HC/SHC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Vehicles type 3500 C/HC/SHC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Winter Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
Tires, Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Towing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225

328 INDEX
Towing Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Towing Protection and Passenger Compartment
Protection Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248
If the Engine is Damaged. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
If the Front Axle is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
If the Rear Axle is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
If the Transmission is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Attaching a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Checking Weights of Vehicle and Trailer . . . . . . 224
Electrical Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Loading a Trailer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Parking a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 221
Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
Trailer Hitches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Trailer Tongue Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223
Vehicle and Trailer Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Trailer Tongue Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 223Transmission, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Trip Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99
Two Way Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
UUsing the Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239
VVehicle / Engine Emission Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Vehicle Alteration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 230
Vehicle and Trailer Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222
Vehicle and Trailer Weights and Ratings. . . . . . . . . 221
Vehicle Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Vehicle Safety Certification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Vehicle Tool Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Vehicle Washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272
Vehicles type 2500 C/HC/SHC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Vehicles type 3500 C/HC/SHC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
Ventilation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Ventilation, Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
WWading Capability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Warning Buzzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102, 156
Warnings and Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315