188 STARTING AND OPERATINGChecking 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”.Attaching 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.
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULES 267
8M A
I
N T
E
N A
N CE
S
C
H E
D
U L
E
S
SPECIAL MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTSIf bodies built by manufacturers other than
DaimlerChrysler Corporation are fitted to the vehicle, the
maintenance requirements and lubrication intervals
specified by the body manufacturer must be adhered to,
in addition to all standard maintenance requirements.Brake FluidOnly use brake fluids approved by the manufacturer
(DOT 4 plus). Information about brake fluids is
available from your Sprinter Dealer.CoolantHave the corrosion inhibitor/antifreeze concentration
in the coolant checked before the onset of winter (once
a year in countries with h igh prevailing temperatures).
Have the coolant renewed every five years or 100,000
miles.Dust Filter for Heating/Ventilation ReplacementThe dust filter and the tailgate interior filter are
renewed during routine maintenance service.
However, if operating conditions are dusty, these
filters should be renewed more frequently.
ENGINE OIL CHANGE AND FILTER
REPLACEMENTIn a minimum, change the engine oil and oil filter once
a year - even if the vehicle mileage per year is extremly
low. For standard oil service schedules, please see the
chapter oil service and maintenance service.Once a YearSelect the viscosity of the engine oil (SAE classes)
according to the outside air temperature.
Only use engine oil approved by DaimlerChrysler
Corporation if following the ASSYST system
guidelines.
Information is available from your Sprinter Dealer.
If the fuel used has a sulphur content exceeding 0.05 %
by weight, the service interval s should be split in half.
If the sulphur content of the fuel used is between 0.3%
and 0.8% by weight, the service intervals should be
split in half (i.e. every 5,000 miles instead of every
10,000 miles).
INDEX 279
10
Engine Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Headlamps, Taillamps, Turn Signal Lenses . . . . 234
Vehicle Washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Care of vehicle
Paintwork, painted body components . . . . . . . . 233
Power washer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232
Tar stains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233
Catalytic Converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Central Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Locking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Central Locking Switch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Locking and Unlocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Locking Status Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
To Program the Automatic Lock Feature . . . . . . . 19
Chains, Snow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
Changing a Bulb
Additional Brake Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Exit Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256
Front Lamp Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245
Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254
Interior Lighting with Interior Sensor Protection 255 License Plate Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252
Reading Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Side-Marker Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Side-Mounted Turn Signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253
Taillamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 250
Changing the Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
Charging the Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Checking Coolant Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224
Checking Weights of Vehicle and Trailer. . . . . . . . . 188
Cigar Lighter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Cleaning Cup Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Hard Plastic Trim Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Instrument Cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Light Alloy Wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Plastic and Rubber Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238
Seat Belts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Steering Wheel and Gear Selector Lever . . . . . . . 236
Upholstery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237
Wiper Blade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236
Climate Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
INDEX 287
10
Switching off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Towing Protection and Passenger Compartment
Protection Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Towing the Vehicle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 If the Engine is Damaged. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
If the Front Axle is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
If the Rear Axle is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
If the Transmission is Damaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212
Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Attaching a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 188
Checking Weights of Vehicle and Trailer . . . . . . 188
Electrical Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Loading a Trailer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Parking a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Towing a Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Trailer Hitches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186
Vehicle and Trailer Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Transmission, Automatic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Trip Meter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97
Two Way Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
UUsing the Jack . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203VVehicle / Engine Emission Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Vehicle Alteration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
Vehicle and Trailer Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
Vehicle Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
Vehicle Safety Certification Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Vehicle Tool Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Vehicle Washing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 234
Ventilation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Ventilation, Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116WWading Capability. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
Warning Buzzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100, 153
Warnings and Cautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Warranty Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275
Water in Fuel Indicator Lamp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Wheels and Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Window Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235
Window Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Mechanical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74