brakes DODGE SPRINTER 2008 2.G User Guide

280 Controls in detailTransporting
3
As the driver of the vehicle, you are re-
sponsible for ensuring that the load is
secured against slipping, tipping over,
rolling or falling down, whether driving in
normal traffic situations or on poor road
surfaces or as a result of having to
swerve to avoid an obstacle or applying
the brakes fully.
Failing to secure the load in accordance
with relevant requirements and sound
practice may be a punishable offense,
depending on national legislation and
the consequences that arise.
For this reason, observe the legal re-
quirements in all countries concerned.Before each journey and at regular inter-
vals during longer journeys, check
whether the load is secure and take ad-
ditional action to improve any incorrect
or inadequate safety measures.
\1
Fill up any empty spaces between
the load and the load compartment
walls or wheel arches in a form-fit-ting manner. For this purpose, use
solid transport aids, such as chocks,
wooden blocks or storage cushions.
\1
Secure tilt and tip-resistant loads in
all directions by using the lashing
points or lashing eyes and load rails
in the load compartment or on the
load surface, according to your vehi-
cle's equipment.
Only use lashing materials that have
been tested according to valid stan-
dards, such as lashing nets and
straps.
Securing a load
iInformation about how to secure a
load correctly can be obtained from
the manufacturers of transport aids
or lashing materials for securing
loads.
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308 OperationDriving tips
4
Attaching a trailerPlease observe the 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 re-
ceiver, and not to the vehicle’s bumper
or axle. Be sure to leave enough slack in
the chains to permit turning corners.
iMost states and all Canadian prov-
inces require a separate brake sys-
tem at various trailer weights.
Warning
G
Do not connect a trailer brake system (if
trailer is so equipped) directly to the vehi-
cle’s hydraulic brake system as your vehi-
cle is equipped with antilock brakes. If
you do, neither the vehicle’s brakes nor
the trailer’s brakes will function properly.
This could cause an accident resulting in
property damage, injury or death to you or
others.The provided vehicle electrical wiring har-
ness for trailer towing has a brake signal
wire for hook-up to a brake controller.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
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.
nf_BA.book Page 308 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

309 Operation
Driving tips
4
Towing a trailerThere 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 connec-
tions, lighting and tires. Also adjust the
mirrors to permit an unobstructed view
beyond the rear of the 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 that the
brakes are working properly.
When towing a trailer, check occasional-
ly 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 pre-
vent load shifts while driving.
Take into consideration that when tow-
ing 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 accel-
eration 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 understand-
ing of the vehicle’s behavior, you should
practice turning, stopping and backing
up in an area which is free from traffic.
nf_BA.book Page 309 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

310 OperationDriving tips
4
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.Warning
G
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 maneu-
vers. Sudden maneuvers may lead to loss
of control over the vehicle-trailer combi-
nation. This could cause an accident re-
sulting 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 the
engine overloading and / or over-
heating.
When going down a long hill, shift
into a lower gear and use the en-
gine’s braking effect. Avoid riding the
brakes, thus overheating the vehicle
and trailer brakes.
If the engine coolant rises to an ex-
tremely high temperature (coolant tem-
perature needle approaching the red
zone) when the air conditioner is on,
turn off the air conditioner. Engine cool-
ant heat can be additionally vented by
opening the windows, switching the cli-
mate control fan speed to high and set-
ting the temperature control to the
maximum hot position.
Extreme care must be exercised since
your vehicle with a trailer will require ad-
ditional 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 ve-
hicle before you can return to your lane.
nf_BA.book Page 310 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

333 Operation
Engine compartment
4
For specifications of brake fluid, see
"Service products and capacities"
(\2
page 616).The windshield washer reservoir is in the
engine compartment. It holds approx.
7.4 US qt (7.0 l).
On vehicles with a headlamp cleaning
system, this is also supplied from the
windshield washer reservoir.
1Coolant tank cap
2Brake fluid reservoir cap
3Windshield washer reservoir capAdd windshield washer fluid concentrate
to the water all year round.
Warning
G
If the boiling point of the brake fluid is too
low, vapor pockets may form in the brake
system when the brakes are applied hard
(e.g. when driving on long downhill
stretches). This has a detrimental effect
on braking efficiency, which could in-
crease the stopping distance. This in-
creases the risk of an accident.
Have the brake fluid replaced every
two years.
Windshield washer system/
headlamp cleaning system*
N20.30-2063-31
nf_BA.book Page 333 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

369 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Warning (Continued)
G
Always ensure that you re-calibrate the
TPMS after you inflated the tires to the
recommended cold inflation pressure.Always adjust tire inflation pressure ac-
cording to the tire and loading information
placard on the driver’s door B-pillar.Underinflated tires wear excessively and/
or unevenly, adversely affect handling and
fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
Overinflated tires can adversely affect
handling and ride comfort, wear unevenly,
increase stopping distance, and result in
sudden deflation (blowout) because they
are more likely to become punctured or
damaged by road debris, potholes etc.The TPMS is not able to issue a warning
due to a sudden dramatic loss of pressure
(e.g. tire blowout caused by a foreign ob-
ject). In this case bring the vehicle to a
halt by carefully applying the brakes and
avoiding abrupt steering maneuvers.
Warning
G
Each tire, including the spare (if provided),
should be checked monthly when cold
and inflated to the inflation pressure rec-
ommended by the vehicle manufacturer
on the tire and loading information plac-
ard. (If your vehicle has tires of a different
size than the size indicated on the vehicle
placard or the tire inflation pressure label,
you should determine the proper tire infla-
tion pressure for those tires).
Continued
nf_BA.book Page 369 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

376 OperationTires and wheels
4
Warning
G
The TPMS does not warn you against in-
correctly selected tire inflation pressure
and does not warn you when the tire pres-
sure is not properly selected for the re-
spective vehicle load. It warns you only
when the pressure of one or more tires
decreases significantly below the refer-
ence inflation pressure which was stored
at the time of calibration of the TPMS af-
ter you inflated the tires.Always ensure that you recalibrate the
TPMS after you have inflated the tires to
the recommended cold inflation pressure.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
Always adjust the tire inflation pressure
according to the tire and loading informa-
tion placard on the driver’s door B-pillar.Underinflated tires wear excessively and/
or unevenly, adversely affect handling and
fuel economy, and are more likely to fail
from being overheated.Overinflated tires can adversely affect
handling and ride comfort, wear unevenly,
increase stopping distance, and result in
sudden deflation (blowout) because they
are more likely to become punctured or
damaged by road debris, potholes etc.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
The TPMS is not able to issue a warning
due to a sudden dramatic loss of pressure
(e.g. tire blowout caused by a foreign ob-
ject). In this case bring the vehicle to a
halt by carefully applying the brakes and
avoiding abrupt steering maneuvers.
nf_BA.book Page 376 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

393 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
1Plies in side wall
2Plies under tread
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the side wall
and under the tread.
Accessory weightThe 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).
Tire ply material
iFor illustrative purposes only. The
actual data on tires is specific to
each vehicle and may vary from the
data shown in the above illustration.
Tire and loading terminology
nf_BA.book Page 393 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

397 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Production options weightThe 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 (P
ounds per S
quare I
nch)
A standard unit of measure for air pres-
sure. Another metric unit for air pres-
sure is bar or kilopascal (kPa).
Recommended tire inflation pressureRecommended tire inflation pressure for
normal driving conditions listed on the
tire and loading information placard
1 or
on the tire inflation pressure placard lo-
cated on the driver’s door B-pillar.
Provides best handling, tread life and
riding comfort.
RimA metal support for a tire or a tire and
tube assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
Side wallThe portion of a tire between the tread
and the bead.TIN (T
ire I
dentification N
umber)
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”.
1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less
than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).
nf_BA.book Page 397 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

406 OperationWinter driving
4
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:\4
Move the selector lever to position N.
\4
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.
iW h e n t h e y h a v e b e e n r e m o v e d , s t o r e
wheels and tires in a cool, dry, and if
possible dark place. Protect the tires
from oil, grease, and gasoline /
diesel.
Driving in winterWarning
G
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.
nf_BA.book Page 406 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM