2004 DODGE SPRINTER brakes

STARTING AND OPERATING 179
5
Checking Weights of Vehicle and TrailerTo 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”.A ttaching a TrailerPlease 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.
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180 STARTING AND OPERATINGTowing 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 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.
Freightliner-all.book Pag e 180 Monday, December 1, 2003 2:54 PM

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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212 MAINTAINING YOUR VEHICLEBrake fluidUse brake fluid approved to MB 331.0, or a DOT 4
brake fluid with: minimum dry boiling point (ERBP)
500
°F, minimum wet boiling point (WERBP)
356°F, maximum viscosity 1500 mm
2/s,
conforming to FMVSS116 and ISO 4925.
In the course of its service life, the boiling point of the
brake fluid will fall due to the continuous absorption of
moisture from the atmosphere.
If the brakes are placed under heavy loads (e.g., on
steep hills) bubbles of steam can then form in the brake
system.
This will adversely affect the brakes' effectiveness.
Engine CoolantThe coolant is a mixture of water and a corrosion
inhibitor/antifreeze additive. Within the cooling
system, the corrosion inhibitor/antifreeze ensures
 anti-corrosion protection
 antifreeze protection
 a higher boiling point.
The coolant added in the factory ensures adequate
antifreeze and anti-corrosion protection.
Use coolant approved to MB 325.0, such as Valvoline
GO5, or an equivalent Extended Life Coolant.
To avoid damage to the cooling system, only use
manufacturer approved corrosion inhibitor/
antifreeze additives.
Information on the corrosion inhibitor/antifreeze
additive is available from any Sprinter Dealer.
For reasons of anti-corrosion protection and to increase
the boiling point, the coolant added to the cooling
system is designed for all year round operation – even
in countries with high prevailing temperatures.
Freightliner-all.book Pag e 212 Monday, December 1, 2003 2:54 PM

262 INDEXAnti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Indicator Lamp . . . 152
Appearance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219
Armrest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Ashtray . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
ASSYST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249
ASSYST Maintenance Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103
Automatic Lock Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Automatic Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Accelerator Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Maneuvering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Selector Lever Manually Unlocking. . . . . . . . . . . 144
Selector Lever Position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
Stopping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Auxiliary Heat Exchanger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Auxiliary Heater
Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Timer Auxiliary Heater (Water and
Air Heater) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
Tips for Coping with Problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Charging the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Disconnecting the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216
Reconnecting the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217
Replacing Batteries in Remote Keyless Entry . . . . 18
Battery Charge Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
Belt Tensioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Location . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Bleeding the Diesel Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
Body Builder Guideline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Brake Assist System (BAS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Brake Fluid Reservoir . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Brake Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Brake Pad Wear Indicator. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Brake System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Fluid Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211
Brake System, Anti-Lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Brake Fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212Freightliner-all.book Pag e 262 Monday, December 1, 2003 2:54 PM