2005 DODGE SPRINTER fuel

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 105
4
NOTE: Should the water in fuel indicator lamp
still not go out after the fuel filter has been drained, the
cause should be examined by an authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
If the indicator lamp does not light up for about
2 seconds with the key in the ignition lock in position 2,
there is a malfunction in the water separator system.
Have the cause rectified by an authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
Engine Oil Level Indicator LampThe engine oil level indicator lamp : lights up in
the instrument cluster when the key is turned to
position 2 in the ignition lock. It must go out when the
engine is running.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 107
4
If a large quantity of coolant is being lost, or if smaller
amounts are lost at regular intervals, have the engine
cooling system examined by an authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
Engine Control Unit Indicator LampWhen the key is in position 2 in the ignition lock, the
engine control unit indicator lamp ± will light up in
the instrument cluster. It must go out when the engine
is running.If the engine control unit indicator lamp
±
remains on
or lights up again while the vehicle is moving, the fuel tank
was run empty or a fault has developed in the engine
control unit. The engine’s power output may be reduced.
Refuel and bleed the fuel system or have the cause
traced and rectified by an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
CAUTION!
Never run the engine if the coolant level is too
low. This could cause the engine to overheat,
leading in turn to engine damage.
WARNING!
Driving when your engine is badly overheated
can cause some fluids which may have leaked into
the engine compartment to catch fire. You could
be seriously burned. Steam from an overheated
engine can cause serious burns and can occur just
by opening the engine hood. Stay away from the
engine if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle and do
not stand near the vehicle until it cool downs.

130 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANELAUXILIARY HEATER – WATER OR AIR HEATER
(OPTIONAL)
NOTE: The auxiliary heater (water or air heating
device) can be used whether or not the engine is
running.
After you have filled your vehicle’s gas tank with
winterized diesel fuel for the first time, it is
recommended that you operate the auxiliary heater
before beginning a journey or operating the heater
continuously so that any summer diesel fuel left in the
auxiliary heater can combust.
Before switching the auxiliary heater on make sure that
that the battery is sufficiently charged and that there is
enough fuel in the tank. At least a quarter of the tank
should be filled up. See Fuel Gauge.
WARNING!
The auxiliary heating must not be operated at gas
stations due to the risk of fire and explosion. For
this reason, switch off the auxiliary heating before
refuelling.
Auxiliary heaters emit fumes when in operation,
including carbon monoxide.
Inhaling carbon monoxide is a health hazard and
can result in unconsciousness and death.
For this reason, do not operate auxiliary heating in
enclosed spaces without ventilation or an
extractor system, e.g. in a garage. Otherwise you
could endanger yourself and others.
Always keep the ground under the vehicle as clear
as possible so that the auxiliary heater can receive
enough combustion air and exhaust fumes can
escape. Otherwise you could endanger yourself
and others.
WARNING!
Vehicles for transporting hazardous goods:
Observe the relevant safety regulations.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANEL 131
4
NOTE: After three successive attempts to start the
heater, a malfunction will be recorded in the integrated
diagnostic system and no further operation on
auxiliary heater will be available (lock-out). The work
to annul the lock-out must be carried out at an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
The auxiliary heater should be run at least once a
month for about 10 minutes.
The maximum heating period is 120 minutes. For more
information, refer to "Switching the Auxiliary Heater
On and Off - Ignition On".
The auxiliary heater will automatically switch off if the
fuel level is under about 4 US gal (15 l).
In case of faults, refer to "Auxiliary Heater – Tips for
Coping with Problems".
WARNING!
Aerosals, gas cartridges and other pressurized
containers transported in the vehicle may be high-
ly flammable and could explode when heated.
Make sure, particularly on vehicles with an air
heater, that such containers are not placed in the
flow of hot air of the auxiliary heating system
Otherwise there is a risk of severe personal
injuries, death and property damage due to
explosion.
WARNING!
Vehicles with air heater:
For safety reasons, we strongly recommend that
the heat exchanger be replaced by an authorized
Sprinter Dealer after 10 years of use.
If the vehicle is sold, the owner is required to
inform the buyer of this requirement. This should
be done when the Operator’s Manual is
transferred to the buyer.

138 UNDERSTANDING YOUR INSTRUMENT PANELAUXILIARY HEATER – TIPS FOR COPING WITH
PROBLEMSNOTE: After three successive attempts to start the
heater, a malfunction will be recorded in the integrated
diagnostic system and no further operation on
auxiliary heater will be available (lock-out). The work
to annul the lock-out must be carried out at an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
The heater either does not switch on or automatically
switches off:
 Insufficient fuel, fill up the fuel tank. Start up heater two times, until the fuel lines are filled.
 The auxiliary heater will automatically switch off if the fuel level is under about 4 US gal (15 l).
 The fuses in the fuse box are damaged. Electric fuses.
 The battery voltage is too low, an undervoltage protector switches off the heater if the battery
voltage falls below about 10 volts. The heater motor does not run
 The battery voltage is too low, check the battery.
Batteries.
 The fuses in the fuse box are damaged. Electric fuses.
 The heater motor is damaged.
Overheating The air channels are clogged. The heater can be restarted once the fault has been
repaired. When this is done, the heater should be
switched on and off.
 The heater will remain switched off after it has been overheated a number of times (about 10 times in
succession). Have the fault repaired by an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
NOTE: Repairs should only be made by an authorized
Sprinter Dealer.

140 STARTING AND OPERATING

Deactivating the Acceleration Skid
Control (ASR) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Brake Assist System (BAS)
(vehicle type 2500 only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Indicator Lamp Electronic Stability Program
(ESP) (type 2500 vehicles only) . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Electronic Stability Program (ESP)
(vehicle type 2500 only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171


Auxiliary Drive (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172


Steering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173


Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Tire Grip . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Hydroplaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175


Tire Pressures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Tire Pressures of Loaded Vehicle in PSI (kPa) . . . 177
Vehicle type 2500 C/HC/SHC . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Vehicle type 3500 C/HC/SHC . . . . . . . . . . . . 177
Comfort Tire Pressures in PSI (kPa) . . . . . . . . 178
Comfort Tire Pressures in PSI (kPa) . . . . . . . . 178


Snow Chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179


Fuel Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Fuel Filter with Water Separator . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Diesel Fuels for Use at Very Low
Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180


Refueling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Capacity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182


Programmed Top Speed (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . 182


Bleeding Diesel Fuel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183


Draining Fuel Filter with Water Separator . . . . . 184
Bleeding the Diesel Fuel Syst em . . . . . . . . . . . 185


Permissible Roof Load . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186


Trailer Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Trailer Hitches (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Electrical Connections (Optional) . . . . . . . . . . 186
Vehicle and Trailer Weights and Ratings . . . . 187
Loading a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Checking Weights of Vehicle and Trailer . . . . 188
Attaching a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Parking a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191


Emissions Control System (Catalytic Converter) 192


Inhalation of Exhaust Gas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192


Fording (Wading Capability) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192


Body Builder Guideline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
A Special Note Concerning Vehicle
Alteration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

176 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.

STARTING AND OPERATING 179
5
SNOW CHAINSInstall snow chains on rear wheels only. Install snow
chains on exterior wheel in vehicles with double tires.
Comply with the manufacturer’s installation
instructions.
NOTE: Vehicles with snow chains installed are only to
be driven on a snow-covered surface. The snow chains
must be removed on road surfaces free of snow.FUEL REQUIREMENTSUse only commercially available vehicular diesel fuels
No. 2 or No. 1 (ASTM D 975 No. 2-D or No. 1-D).
NOTE: Because of its better quality the manufacturer
recommends the use of commercially available
vehicular diesel fuel No. 2.
For information on cold weather operation, contact
your authorized Sprinter Dealer. If diesel fuels are used with a sulphur content
exceeding 0.5 % by weight, engine oil change intervals
must be shortened. Please contact your Sprinter Dealer
to obtain the necessary information.
Refueling from drums or canisters may lead to the fuel
becoming contaminated. This in turn can cause faults
in the fuel system. Always f
ilter the fuel before adding
it to the vehicle’s tank.
WARNING!
Marine diesel fuel, Bio diesel fuel, heating oil or
the like must not be used.
Do not blend diesel fuel with marine diesel fuel,
Bio diesel fuel or heating oil.
The use of such non-approved fuels or blending
diesel fuel may result in malfunction or cause
engine damage. Damage or malfunctions
resulting from poor fuel quality or from blending
specific fuel additives are not covered by the
Sprinter Warranty.