DODGE SPRINTER 2004 1.G Owners Manual

STARTING AND OPERATING 181
5
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.
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182 STARTING AND OPERATING
Parking a Trailer
Extreme care must be exercised since your vehicle
with a trailer will require additional passing
distance ahead than when driving without a
trailer. Because your vehicle and trailer is longer
than your vehicle alone, you will also need to go
much farther ahead of the passed vehicle before
you can return to your lane.
WARNING!
T o r e d u ce t h e r is k o f p e r s o n a l i n ju r y , o r d am a g e t o
the vehicle powertrain, as a result of vehicle/trail-
er movement, always:
Keep right foot on brake pedal.
Shift gear selector lever to position
"N".
Have a second person place wheel chocks on
downhill side of left and right trailer wheels.
Slowly release brake pedal and let vehicle and
trailer roll into chocks until stopped.
Firmly depress parking brake pedal.
Move gear selector lever to position
"P".
On inclines turn front wheels towards the road
curb.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 183
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EMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM (CATALYTIC
CONVERTER)
FORDING (WA DING CA PA BILITY)Avoid fording flooded roads or passing through water
unless you are certain as to how deep it is. Driving
through deep water can cause damage to the vehicle,
including but not limited to the electrical components,
engine, transmission, etc. This type of damage is not
covered under the Warranty.
BODY BUILDER GUIDELINEIf you intend on making any alterations to the vehicle,
we strongly recommend that you call DaimlerChrysler
Corporation at telephone 704-655-1050 or 704-655-1054
to request a copy of the Sprinter Body Builder
Guideline.
Body Builders and Dealers who makes any
modifications which may affect the final certification of
the engine, vehicle or equipment assume the sole
responsibility for the vehicle, including labeling and
documentation, affected by their modifications.
WARNING!
When driving or parking the vehicle, make sure
that its exhaust system does not come into contact
with flammable material (such as dry leaves) as
these materials may otherwise catch fire.
WARNING!
Any modifications or alterations of the Sprinter
vehicle not in compliance with the Sprinter Body
Builder Guideline and the Sprinter Operator’s
Manual may seriously inhibit its roadworthiness
and safety and may lead to an accident resulting in
serious personal injury or death. Consult the
Sprinter Body Builder Guideline and the Sprinter
Operator’s Manual prior to initiating any alter-
ations or modifications.
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184 STARTING AND OPERATINGIt is their responsibility to certify that the altered
vehicle conforms to all applicable standards and
regulations affected by the vehicle alteration or
continues to comply with the Motor Vehicle Safety
standards and Emissions regulations.
They are responsible for ensuring that modifications or
equipment installation does not affect the safety of the
vehicle.A Special Note Concerning Vehicle A lteration
The Manufacturer is not responsible for any final
certification or claims sounding in product liability, or
warranty claims, which result from any component,
assembly, or system being altered, or which cause non-
compliance with any of the emission control standards
or motor vehicle safety standards, or which would
otherwise cause the vehicle to be or become defective
or unsafe.
The Manufacturer does not assume the responsibility
as the final stage manufacturer or the consequential
product liability.
Please also see Chapter 13 of this Operator’s Manual.
WARNING!
Any modifications or alterations of the Sprinter
vehicle not in compliance with the Sprinter Body
Builder Guideline and the Sprinter Operator’s
Manual may seriously inhibit its roadworthiness
and safety and may lead to an accident resulting in
serious personal injury or death. Consult the
Sprinter Body Builder Guideline and the Sprinter
Operator’s Manual prior to initiating any alter-
ations or modifications.
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
6
CONTENTS
Hazard Warning Flasher Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186

Vehicle Tool Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187

Changing the Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187Spare Wheel Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189

Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192Using the Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193

Removing a Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

Installing a Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 196

Jump Starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198

Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200If the Engine is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201If the Transmission is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . 201If the Front Axle is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202If the Rear Axle is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
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186 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIESHA ZA RD WA RNING FLA SHER SWITCHThe switch is located on top of the steering column
housing.
When the hazard warning flasher switch is switched
on, the indicator lamp in the switch and the turn signal
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster both flash.
WARNING!
If the rear cargo doors are opened to 90° (detent
position), the rear lights will be concealed. The
vehicle is then not sufficiently safeguarded at the
rear and may only be seen by other road users
when they are close to the vehicle. This could
lead to an accident.
The vehicle must then be clearly marked in
accordance with state and local laws, e.g., with a
warning triangle.
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 187
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VEHICLE TOOL KIT 1. Locked
2. Unlocked
The vehicle tool kit and the jack are located under the
hatch in the front passenger footwell.
CHA NGING THE TIREIf you get a flat tire while driving, gradually decrease
your speed. Hold the steering wheel firmly and slowly
move to a safe place on the side of the road. The
pressure of the spare wheel always has to be checked
regularly (at least after every tenth time at the filling
station).
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188 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
Procedure:
1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level, non-slippery
surface.
2. Switch on the hazard warning flasher switch, apply
the parking brake, and place the transmission
selector in "P".
WARNING!
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking up the
vehicle at the jack take-up brackets built into ei-
ther side of the vehicle. To help avoid personal in-
jury, use the jack only to lift the vehicle during a
wheel change. Never get beneath the vehicle
while it is supported by the jack only.
Keep hands and feet away from the area under the
lifted vehicle. Always firmly set parking brake
and block wheels before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the vehicle
is raised.
Always use the jack on a level surface.
Do not change wheels on either steep uphill or
downhill grades. Be sure that the jack arm end is
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket. The
vehicle may begin to move and fall from the jack
which could cause serious or fatal personal injury
and property damage.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jack stands before working under the vehicle.
Precautions when changing a wheel:
For the torque, refer to "Installing a wheel";
Do not damage, grease or oil wheel bolts or their
threads.
Do not jack the vehicle up more than 1.2 in (30
mm) between the tire and the surface. Otherwise,
the vehicle may tip over and may cause serious
injury or death to you or others.
Precautions when changing a wheel:
For the torque, refer to "Installing a wheel";
Do not damage, grease or oil wheel bolts or their
threads.
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WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 189
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3. Everyone must leave the vehicle before you jack it
up.
4. Everyone must leave the danger zone, before
jacking the vehicle.
5. The vehicle must be safeguarded in accordance
with legal regulations (such as using a warning
triangle).
6. Prevent vehicle from rolling away by blocking
wheels with wheel chocks (not supplied with
vehicle) or sizable wood block or stone.
On a level road, place one chock in front of and one
behind the wheel that is diagonally opposite to the
wheel being changed.
When changing a wheel on mild uphill or downhill
grades, place chocks on the downhill side blocking
both wheels of the other axle.
Spare Wheel Location
WARNING!
Do not change wheels on either steep uphill or
downhill grades. The vehicle may begin to move
and fall from the jack which could cause personal
injury and property damage.
WARNING!
If the rear cargo doors are opened to 90° (detent
position), the rear lights will be concealed. The ve-
hicle is then not sufficiently safeguarded at the
rear and may only be seen by other road users
when they are close to the vehicle. This could lead
to an accident.
The vehicle must then be clearly marked in
accordance with state and local laws, e.g., with a
warning triangle.
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190 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIESNOTE: Lug wrench and jack, refer to "Vehicle Tool
Kit". For reasons of safety, check at regular intervals
that the spare wheel is properly secured.Spare Wheel Beneath the End of the Frame
Retaining screws for the spare wheel structural member
(1)Hook (2)
1. Open the cargo doors and remove the retaining
screws (1) with the lug wrench from the vehicle
tool kit.
2. Lift the spare wheel structural member, unhinge
the hooks (2), and lower the spare wheel structural
member. Remove the spare wheel.
WARNING!
The spare wheel holder should be reattached once
the wheel has been changed.
Regularly check the spare wheel fastening.
A loose spare wheel or spare wheel holder could
be loosen or could move around the vehicle
interior uncontrollably in the event of sudden
braking, a rapid change in direction or an
accident. This increases the risk of injury to
vehicle occupants and other road users in these
situations.
Do not use retreaded/remolded tires. This process
does not always permit previous damage to be
detected. Therefore vehicle safety cannot be
guaranteed if retreaded/remolded tires are fitted.
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