DODGE SPRINTER 2004 1.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING 141
5
Selector Lever PositionThe current selector lever position (1) is indicated in
the gear range indicator display. The automatic gear
shifting process can be adapted to specific operating
conditions using the selector lever.
v
Park Position
The park position is to be used when parking the
vehicle. Engage only with the vehicle stopped.
The park position is not intended to serve as a
brake when the vehicle is parked. Rather, the
driver should always use the parking brake in
addition to placing the selector lever in park
position to secure the vehicle.
NOTE: With a malfunction in the vehicle’s electrical
system the selector lever could remain locked in
position "P". To unlock the selector lever manually,
refer to "Transmission Selector Lever, Manually
Unlocking".
t Reverse Gear
Shift to reverse gear only with the vehicle
stopped.
s Neutral
No power is transmitted from the engine to the
drive axle. When the brakes are released, the
vehicle can be moved freely (pushed or towed).
Do not engage "N" while driving as you may
otherwise lose control of the vehicle.
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142 STARTING AND OPERATINGNOTE: Coasting the vehicle, or driving with selector
lever in "N" can result in transmission damage that is
not covered by the Sprinter Warranty.
wThe transmission automatically upshifts through
5th gear. Position "D" provides optimum driving
characteristics under all normal operating
conditions.Gear Selection for Special CircumstancesThe transmission gear ranges for special circumstances
can be selected by pushing the selector lever to the
right or the left with the selector lever in position "D".
The gear range currently selected is indicated in the
instrument cluster display.
Briefly press selector lever in the ç direction:
The transmission downshifts, one gear range at a time,
in the order "4", "3", "2", "1".
Press and hold selector lever in the ç direction:
The transmission will shift to a gear range which
favorably accelerates or decelerates the vehicle. This
way downshiftings can be caused.Briefly press selector lever in the æ direction:
The transmission will shift from the current gear range
to the next higher gear range. If the transmission is
already in gear range "D", an additional upshift of one
gear is not possible.
Press and hold selector lever in the æ direction:
The transmission will shift from the current gear range
directly to gear range "D".
NOTE: With transmission in gear range "D", "4"
or "3",
upshifting from 1st to 2nd to 3rd gear is delayed
depending on vehicle speed and engine temperature.
This allows the catalytic converter to heat up more
quickly to operating temperatures.
During the brief warm-up period this delayed upshift
and increased engine noise might be perceived as a
malfunction. However, neither the engine nor
WARNING!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift in order
to slow the vehicle down. This could result in drive
wheel slip and reduced vehicle control. Your vehi-
cle’s ABS will not prevent this type of loss of control.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 143
5
transmission are negatively affected by this mode of
operation.
The delayed upshift is effective with vehicle speeds
below 31 mph (50 km / h) at partial throttle and engine
temperatures below 95
°F (+35
°C).
To avoid overrevving the engine when the selector
lever is moved to a lower gear, the transmission will
not shift to a lower gear if the engine’s revolutions per
minute limit would be exceeded. In this case there will
be no downshift, even when the vehicle speed reaches
the engine’s rpm limit of that gear, for example by
applying the service brakes.
To prevent the engine from laboring at low rpm when
driving uphill grades or with your vehicle heavily
loaded, the automatic transmission will downshift
when necessary to maintain engine rpm within the best
torque range.Gear
qUpshift through 4th gear only. Suitable for
performance driving.
pUpshift through 3rd gear only. Suitable for
moderately steep hills. Since the transmission
does not shift higher than 3rd gear, this gear
selection will allow use of the engine’s braking
power downhill.
oUpshift through 2nd gear only. For driving in
mountainous regions or under extreme
operating conditions. This gear selection will
allow use of the engine’s braking power when
descending steep grades.
nUse this position, which makes maximum use of
the engine’s braking effect, while descending
very steep or lengthy downgrades and only at
speeds below 25 mph (38 km / h).
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144 STARTING AND OPERATINGTRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER, MANUALLY
UNLOCKINGIn the case of power failure the transmission selector
lever can be manually unlocked (for vehicle towing).
To do so, insert a pin (1) (ball point pen), into the
covered opening below the position "D" of the shift
pattern. While pushing the pin down, move selector
lever from position "P".
After removal of the pin from the opening, the cover
will not close fully. Only after moving the selector lever
to positions "D+" and "D–" does the cover return to its
closed position.
LOADING THE VEHICLE
WARNING!
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the specified
vehicle capacity weight (as indicated by the label on
the base of the driver’s seat). Overloading the tires
can overheat them, possibly causing a blowout,
which could cause an accident and personal injury.
In addition, braking and stopping distances can be
significantly longer if the vehicle is overloaded.
WARNING!
Always close the sliding and rear doors when
driving.
Otherwise exhaust fumes could enter the vehicle
interior and poison you.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 145
5
The handling characteristics of a vehicle when laden
are dependent on the type of load and the distribution
of the load within the vehicle.
Carrying heavy or bulky loads may alter the vehicle’s
handling characteristic.Loading GuidelinesPlease note and comply with the following information
when loading and transporting goods.
 Do not allow the load, including passengers, to
exceed the permitted gross vehicle weight or the
permitted axle loads for the vehicle. Bear in mind
that the unladen weight could be increased by
installing items of optional equipment and
accessories.
 Distribute the load uniformly. Excessive loads on
individual points of the load surface could cause
damage to the floor covering.
 Transport heavy loads between the axles near the
rear axle as low as possible in the vehicle.
 Secure any kind of load with sufficient wear and
tear-resistant load restraints. Lashing rings.
WARNING!
Unsecure or poorly secured loads, and seats that
have been removed, could move around the vehi-
cle interior uncontrollably in the event of sudden
braking, a rapid change in direction or an acci-
dent. This increases the risk of injury to occu-
pants in these situations.
Secure and position a load as described in the
following loading guidelines.
Piling up heavy objects or placing them on upper
shelves or loading them otherwise high up in the
vehicle will significantly raise the center of
gravity of the vehicle. Placing excessive loads on
individual points of the load surface or behind
the rear axle will also adversely affect the
handling characteristics of your vehicle and may
lead to loss of control over the vehicle.
Road safety and tire durability are adversely
affected if the permissible axle loads or gross
vehicle weight are exceeded due to the vehicle’s
load. Braking and stopping distances can be
significantly longer.
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146 STARTING AND OPERATING Protect sharp edges with padding.
 Check the tire pressures after loading the vehicle.
For passenger vans:
 Do not stack loads higher than the upper edge of the
backrests.
 Always place the load against the backrests of the
seat benches.
 Whenever possible, transport loads behind seats
that are not occupied.
 Distribute the load in such a way that the
permissible axle loads are not exceeded when the
vehicle is equipped with the maximum number of
seats. Loading the luggage compartment up to the
maximum payload would cause the permissible
rear axle load to be exceeded.
BRA KES
Service Brake
WARNING!
When the engine is not running, the brake and
steering systems are without power assistance.
Under these circumstances, a much greater effort
is necessary to stop or steer the vehicle.
After driving in heavy rain for some time without
applying the brakes or through water deep
enough to wet brake components, the first
braking action may be somewhat reduced and
increased pedal pressure may be necessary. Be
sure to maintain a safe distance from vehicles in
front.
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will cause
excessive and premature wear of the brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes overheating,
thereby significantly reducing their effectiveness.
It may not be possible to stop the vehicle in
sufficient time to avoid an accident.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 147
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NOTE: On long and steep downhill slopes, reduce the
load on the brakes by shifting down a gear to utilize the
braking effect of the engine.
To prevent corrosion on the brake pads, after driving
on very wet roads, especially if road salts have been
used, apply brakes before parking the vehicle. The heat
generated will help to dry the brake disks.
Brake Pad Wear IndicatorWhen the key is turned to position 2 in the ignition
lock, the indicator lamp2 in the instrument cluster
lights up for about 2 seconds. It must go out when the
engine is running.
If the 2indicator lamp lights up while the engine is
running, the brake pads are worn almost to their limit.
Have the brake system examined as soon as possible
by an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
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148 STARTING AND OPERATINGBrake Indicator and Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD) Indicator Lamp;
USA only
3
Canada only
With the key in position 2 in the ignition lock and the
parking brake released, the indicator lamp; (3)
lights up for about 2 seconds.If the indicator lamp does not go out after about
2 seconds, the brake fluid level has sunk below the
minimum filling capacity.
If the brake indicator lamp comes on while driving, the
brake fluid level is below the minimum filling capacity
or the electronic brake force distribution (EBD) is
malfunctioning.
For information on the electronic brake force
distribution, refer to "Electronic Brake Force
Distribution (EBD)".
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STARTING AND OPERATING 149
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NOTE: If you find that the minimum mark on the
brake fluid reservoir is reached, have the brake system
checked for pad thickness and leaks.
Parking Brake Indicator LampWith the key in position 2 in the ignition lock and the
parking brake released, the indicator lamp lights
up for about 2 seconds.
If the parking brake is on, the indicator lamp does
not go out before the parking brake is released.
WARNING!
Driving with the brake indicator lamp; (3)
illuminated can result in an accident. There may
be a malfunction in the brake system or in the
electronic brake force distribution. The braking
characteristics are affected and the vehicle could
skid if it is braked hard.
Have your brake system checked immediately if
the brake indicator lamp; (3) stays on. Do
not add brake fluid before checking the brake
system. Overfilling the brake fluid reservoir can
result in spilling brake fluid on hot engine parts
and the brake fluid catching fire. There is a risk of
injury due to hot engine parts or hot steam.
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150 STARTING AND OPERATINGParking BrakeOnly apply the parking brake when the vehicle is
stationary.
To apply:
Pull the lever up as many notches as possible. When
the key is in position 2 in the ignition lock, the parking
brake indicator lamp will light up in the
instrument cluster.To release:
Lift the lever up slightly, press the button on the lever
in and move the lever down to the stop. The parking
brake indicator lamp should go out.
WARNING!
Always fully apply the parking brake when leav-
ing your vehicle, or vehicle may roll and cause
damage or injury.
WARNING!
On uphill or downhill grades steeper than 15%
the vehicle must be safeguarded. Vehicles which
are not secured could roll away and result in se-
vere personal injuries, death and property dam-
age.
Safeguard an unloaded vehicle by chocking the
front axle.
Safeguard a loaded vehicle by chocking the rear
axle.
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