2004 DODGE SPRINTER tire pressure

THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 47
2
Engine Oil ConsumptionWhen the engine has passed the break-in period, oil
consumption may reach 0.5 % of the fuel consumption
recorded in actual operating circumstances. In isolated
cases and in arduous operating conditions, oil
consumption may increase to 1 % of the fuel
consumption recorded in actual operating
circumstances.
Engine oil consumption depends on the driving style
adopted and the operating conditions. It can only be
judged after the engine has passed the break-in period.
For engine oil level.SA FETY TI PS Check the vehicle’s lights and the general condition
of the vehicle before each trip.
 Keep tires at the recommended inflation pressure.
 All occupants should fasten their seat belts before
each trip.
 Driving in an environmentally responsible manner
will reduce noise, fuel consumption and exhaust
emissions. Allow the engine to warm up under low load use.
 Avoid unnecessarily hard acceleration, driving with
the throttle fully open, and carrying loads not
specifically needed on the journey.
 Stop the engine during lengthy waiting periods, for
example at traffic lights.
 Remove ancillary parts, such as wind deflectors and
roof racks, as soon as they are no longer needed.Freightliner-all.book Pag e 47 Monday , December 1, 2003 2:54 PM

134 STARTING AND OPERATING
Deactivating the Acceleration Skid Control
(ASR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159Brake Assist System (BAS) (Cargo/passenger
vans type 2500 C/HC/SHC only) . . . . . . . . . . 160Indicator Lamp Electronic Stability
Program (ESP) (Cargo/passenger vans
type 2500 C/HC/SHC only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161Electronic Stability Program (ESP) (Cargo/
passenger vans type 2500 C/HC/SHC only) . . 162

Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163

Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163Tire Grip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165Hydroplaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

Tire Pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165Tire Pressures of Loaded Vehicle in PSI (kPa) . 167Tire Pressures of Loaded Vehicle in PSI (kPa) . 168Comfort Tire Pressures in PSI (kPa) . . . . . . . . 169Comfort Tire Pressures in PSI (kPa) . . . . . . . . 169

Snow Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

Fuels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170Fuel Filter with Water Separator . . . . . . . . . . . 170Diesel Fuels for Use at Very Low
Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171

Refueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173

Programmed Top Speed (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . 173

Bleeding Diesel Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174

Draining Fuel Filter with Water Separator . . . . . 175Bleeding the Diesel Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . 176

Permissible Roof Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177

Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177Trailer Hitches (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177Electrical Connections (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . 177Vehicle and Trailer Weights and Ratings . . . . 178Loading a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178Checking Weights of Vehicle and Trailer . . . . 179Attaching a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180Parking a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182

Emissions Control System (Catalytic Converter) . 183

Fording (Wading Capability) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183

Body Builder Guideline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183A Special Note Concerning Vehicle
Alteration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
Freightliner-all.book Pag e 134 Monday, December 1, 2003 2:54 PM

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 151
5
Driving SystemsThe vehicle can be equipped with the following
Driving Safety Systems:
 Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
 Electronic brake force distribution (EBV)
 Acceleration skid control (ASR)
 Brake assist system (BAS)
1
 Electronic stability program (ESP)
1
NOTE: The maximum effectiveness of ABS, EBV, ASR
and ESP is only achieved if you drive with correct tire
pressures and adjust tire pressures to correspond with
the vehicle’s load. In winter operation, the maximum
effectiveness of the ABS and the ESP is only achieved
with winter tires (M+S tires), or snow chains as
required.
WARNING!
When leaving the vehicle always remove the key
from the ignition lock, and lock your vehicle.
Do not leave children unsupervised in the vehicle,
even if they are secured by a child restraint
system. The children could
 injure themselves on parts of the vehicle
 release the child-proof locks by pressing the
central locking button and could thereby open
the doors and
 cause injury to others as a result
 get out of the vehicle and could either injure
themselves when doing so or they could be
injured by the traffic approaching from the rear
 suffer serious or fatal effects in the event of long
periods of hot weather
 release the parking brake. The vehicle could
then start moving of its own accord.Unsupervised use of vehicle equipment may cause
severe personal injuries, death and property damage.
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154 STARTING AND OPERATING
WARNING!
Do not reduce the force applied to the brake pedal if
it is necessary to brake the vehicle further. This will
negate the main benefit of ABS – the ability to brake
without affecting the steerability of the vehicle.In the event of an emergency stop, fully depress
the brake pedal. Do not pump the brake pedal,
rather use firm, steady brake pedal pressure.
Pumping the pedal defeats the purpose of ABS
and significantly reduces braking effectiveness.
WARNING!
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) cannot prevent the
natural laws of physics from acting on the vehicle,
nor can it increase braking or steering efficiency
beyond that afforded by the condition of the vehi-
cle brakes and tires or the traction afforded.
The ABS cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in turns,
following another vehicle too closely, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents.
The capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle must
never be exploited in a reckless or dangerous
manner which could jeopardize the user’s safety
or the safety of others.
Adapt your speed and driving style to the
prevailing road, traffic and weather conditions.
Driving too fast increases the risk of an accident.
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160 STARTING AND OPERATINGTo deactivate the ASR:– Press the upper section of the switch – the warning
lamp
v in the speedometer lights up.
Traction control continues to cut in if, for example, a
wheel on one side of the vehicle reaches its limit of
adhesion. The wheel is then braked to increase the
vehicle’s overall traction.
The warning lamp v will flash in the speedometer
at any speed when a tire reaches its limit of adhesion.
To activate the ASR:
– Press the upper section of the switch again
– the
warning lamp v in the speedometer goes out.
Brake A ssist System (BA S) (Cargo/passenger vans
type 2500 C/HC/SHC only)The Brake Assist System (BAS) operates in emergency
situations. If you apply the brakes very quickly, the
BAS automatically provides full brake boost, thereby
potentially reducing braking distance.
Apply continuous full braking pressure until the
emergency braking situation is over.
The ABS will prevent the wheels from locking.
When you release the brake pedal, the brakes function
again as normal. The BAS is then deactivated.
WARNING!
If the indicator lamp k remains on, a malfunc-
tion may not only have occurred in the ASR sys-
tem but also in the BAS.
The handling and braking characteristics of your
vehicle change. Drive with extra caution.
Have the malfunction traced and repaired as soon
as possible by an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
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STARTING AND OPERATING 165
5
Tire GripTire grip is greatly reduced on a wet or icy road. Speed
and driving style must therefore be adapted to suit
road conditions.
In winter, install M+S radial tires.
Below a tread depth of 1/8 inch (3 mm), tire grip
begins to decrease rapidly on wet roads.HydroplaningDepending on the depth of the water layer on the road,
hydroplaning may occur, even at low speeds and with
new tires. Reduce vehicle speed, avoid grooves in the
road, and apply brakes cautiously in the rain.
TIRE PRESSURES
WARNING!
If tire pressures are too low, there is a risk of the
tire’s tread deteriorating and sudden loss of pres-
sure due to the excessive temperature of the tire.
This has an adverse effect on road safety and in-
creases the risk of an accident.
The limiting speed for the tires (tires and tire
pressure) must not be exceeded. Exceeding the
permissible maximum speed causes tire damage,
which can lead to loss of control of the vehicle.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflating tires can
result in sudden deflation (blowout) because they
are more likely to become punctured or damaged by
road debris, potholes, etc. Follow recommended
inflation pressures.
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 resulting in severe
personal injuries, death and property damage.
Freightliner-all.book Pag e 165 Monday, December 1, 2003 2:54 PM

166 STARTING AND OPERATINGThe vehicle’s safety on the road depends to a great
extent on tire condition and correct tire pressure.
If tire pressures are too high or too low, handling
characteristics will be adversely affected and fuel
consumption and tire wear will increase. Check tire
pressures regularly (each time the vehicle is refueled).
Check tire pressures (including the spare wheel) with
the tires cold. The pressure difference between the tires
on a single axle should not exceed 1.5 psi (10 kPa). If
tire pressure in individual tires is too low: check the
valves, wheels and tires for signs of leaks.
After a period of fast driving, or in hot weather, tire
pressures can increase by as much as 14.5 psi (100 kPa).
Never release air from a warm tire or else the tire
pressure will be too low.NOTE: Tire pressure changes by about 1.5 psi (10 kPa)
for every 18
°F (+10
°C) change in air temperature. For
this reason, do not release pressure from tires when
they are warm.
Remember to allow for this when checking tire
pressures indoors, particularly in winter.
Example:
Room temperature: about 68
°F (+20
°C)
Outside temperature: about 32
°F (0
°C)
Required tire pressure, specified tire pressure 3 psi
(20 kPa).
Information on tires can be obtained from any
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
WARNING!
Correct the tire pressures before loading the
vehicle fully. If the tire pressure is too low driving
safety and tire mileage are decreased.
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