2006 DODGE SPRINTER flat tire

204 STARTING AND OPERATING
Vehicle Capacity Weight
Rated cargo and luggage load plus 68 kilograms (150
lbs) times the vehicle’s designated seating capacity.
Vehicle Maximum Load on the Tire
Load on an individual tire that is determined by
distributing to each axle its share of the maximum
loaded vehicle weight and dividing it by two.
Rotating Tires
Tires on the front and rear axles of vehicles operate at
different loads and perform different steering, driving
and braking functions. For these reasons, they wear at
unequal rates, and develop irregular wear patterns.
These effects can be reduced by timely rotation of tires.
The benefits of rotation are especially worthwhile with
aggressive tread designs such as those on On/Off
Road type tires. Rotation will increase tread life, help tomaintain mud, snow, and wet traction levels, and
contribute to a smooth, quiet ride.
If applicable to your vehicle's tire configuration, tires
can be rotated according to the tire manufacturer’s
recommended intervals in the tire manufacturer’s
warranty pamphlet located in your vehicle literature
portfolio. If none is available, tires should be rotated
every 10000 miles (16000 km), or sooner if necessary,
according to the degree of tire wear.
The same rotation (spinning) direction must be
maintained when fitted, see "Direction of Rotation".
Rotate tires before the characteristic tire wear pattern
becomes visible (shoulder wear on front tires and
treadcenter wear on rear tires).
The reasons for any rapid or unusual wear should be
corrected prior to rotation being performed.
Thoroughly clean the mounting face of wheels and
brake disks, i.e. the inner side of the wheels/tires,
during each rotation. Check for and ensure proper tire
inflation pressure, refer to "Recommended Tire
Inflation Pressure".
WARNING!
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the tires are of
the same dimension.

206 STARTING AND OPERATING
matched for wear to prevent overloading one tire in
a set.
 To check if tires are even, lay a straight edge across
all four tires.
The straight edge should touch all the tires.Alignment and Balance
Poor suspension alignment may result in:
 Fast tire wear
 Uneven tire wear, such as feathering and one-sided
wear
 Vehicle pull to right or left
Tires may also cause the vehicle to pull to the left or
right.
Alignment will not correct this condition. See an
authorized Sprinter Dealer for proper diagnosis.
Improper alignment will not cause vehicle vibration.
Vibration may be a result of tire and wheel out-of-
balance.
Proper balancing will reduce vibration and avoid tire
cupping and spotty wear.
Winter tires
Always use winter tires at temperatures below 45°F
(7°C) and whenever wintry road conditions prevail.
Winter tires should be of the same size and type
construction as the summer tires. Winter tires should
also be operated as printed at the Tire and Loading
WARNING!
3500 Dual Rear Tires have only one approved di-
rection of rotation. This is to accomodate the asy-
metrical design (tread pattern) of the ON/OFF
road tire and the use of Outline White Letter
(OWL) tires.
When replacing a flat tire, the spare tire may have
to be remounted on the rim or installed at a
different location tomaintain the correct
placement of the tire on the wheel relative to the
tire/wheel position on the vehicle. For example, if
the spare is used to replace an outer rear tire it will
have to remounted on the rim so that the wheel is
dished inward. That way the tread design of
asymmetrical tires and the white writing of the
OWL tires will maintain proper position.

216 STARTING AND OPERATING
Bleeding the Diesel Fuel System
The diesel fuel system must be bled before starting the
engine.
 Turn the key in the ignition lock position 2 for at
least 30 seconds.
 Return the key to position 0.
 Start the engine three to four times. The engine
control unit indicator lamp± must go out.
NOTE: Too many attempts to start the engine could
drain the battery. If the engine does not start after
several attempts, consult an authorized Sprinter
Dealer.PERMISSIBLE ROOF LOAD
The maximum permissible roof load is:
 Vehicles with low roof 660 lbs (300 kg)
 Vehicles with high roof 330 lbs (150 kg)
 The weight of any load carried on the roof,
including the roof rack, must not exceed the
maximum permissible roof load.
LOADING THE VEHICLE
Two labels on the vehicle show how much weight it
may properly carry.
 The Tire and Loading Information placard can be
found on the driver’s door B-pillar. This placard
tells you important information about the number
of people that can be in the vehicle and the total
weight that can be carried in the vehicle. It also
contains information on the proper size and
recommended tire inflation pressures for the
original equipment tires on the vehicle.
 The Certification Label can be found below the
driver’s seat on an outward facing position of the
mounting pillar. It tells you about the gross weight

STARTING AND OPERATING 217
5
capacity of your vehicle, called the Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating (GVWR). The GVWR includes the
weight of the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
The Certification Label also tells you about the front
and rear axle weight capacity, called the Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). The GAWR is the total
allowable weight that can be carried by a single axle
(front or rear). Never exceed the GVWR or GAWR
for either the front axle or rear axle.
Following is a discussion on how to work with the
information contained on the two placards with
regards to loading your Sprinter vehicle.Tire and Loading Information
WARNING!
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the speci-
fied load limit as indicated on the Tire and Load-
ing Information placard on the driver’s door B-
pillar. Overloading the tires can overheat them,
possibly causing a blowout. Overloading the tires
can also result in handling or steering problems,
or brake failure.
Overloading of tires is dangerous. Overloading
can cause tire failure, affect vehicle handling, and
increase the stopping distance. Use tires of the
recommended load capacity for the vehicle. Never
overload them.
The vehicle maximum load on the tire must not
exceed the load carrying capacity of the tire on
your vehicle. You will not exceed the tire’s load
carrying capacity if you adhere to the loading
conditions, tire size and cold tire inflation
pressures specified on the Tire and Loading
Information placard and this section.

234 WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES
CHANGING THE TIRE
If you get a flat tire while driving, gradually decrease your
speed. Hold the steering wheel firmly and slowly move to
a safe place on the side of the road. The pressure of the
spare wheel always has to be checked regularly (at least
after every tenth time at the filling station).
WARNING!
Fitting other wheel sizes to the vehicle will change
the vehicle’s handling characteristics andmay lead
to an accident resulting in death, severe personal
injuries and property damage.
Only certain tires meeting the tire size/load/speed
rating specifications contained in the Tire
Pressure Tables are certified to conform to
FMVSS 110 for the Sprinter vehicle at this time.
Please check your side walls of your originally
equipped tires for specific makes/sizes, and speed
load ratings when you need to replace your tires.
To prevent accidents resulting in possible death,
sever injury or property damage, use only the correct
tire and wheel sizes with load ratings approved for
your vehicle for your tire replacement.
WARNING!
The jack is designed exclusively for jacking up the
vehicle at the jack take-up brackets built into ei-
ther side of the vehicle. To help avoid personal in-
jury, use the jack only to lift the vehicle during a
wheel change. Never get beneath the vehicle
while it is supported by the jack only.
Keep hands and feet away from the area under the
lifted vehicle. Always firmly set parking brake
and block wheels before raising vehicle with jack.
Do not disengage parking brake while the vehicle
is raised.
Always use the jack on a level surface.
Do not change wheels on either steep uphill or
downhill grades. Be sure that the jack arm end is
fully seated in the jack take-up bracket. The
vehicle may begin to move and fall from the jack
which could cause serious or fatal personal injury
and property damage.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jack stands before working under the vehicle.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 235
6
Procedure:
1. Park the vehicle on a firm, level, non-slippery
surface.
2. Switch on the hazard warning flasher switch, apply
the parking brake, and place the transmission
selector in "P".3. Everyone must leave the vehicle before you jack it
up.
4. Everyone must leave the danger zone, before
jacking the vehicle.
5. The vehicle must be safeguarded in accordance
with legal regulations (such as using a warning
triangle).
6. Prevent vehicle from rolling away by blocking
wheels with wheel chocks (not supplied with
vehicle) or sizable wood block or stone.
On a level road, place one chock in front of and one
behind the wheel that is diagonally opposite to the
wheel being changed.
When changing a wheel on mild uphill or downhill
grades, place chocks on the downhill side blocking
both wheels of the other axle.
WARNING!
Do not jack the vehicle up more than 1.2 in (30
mm) between the tire and the surface. Otherwise,
the vehicle may tip over and may cause serious in-
jury or death to you or others.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient capacity
jack stands before working under the vehicle.
Precautions when changing a wheel:
For tire inflation pressures, see “Tire Pressures”
For the torque, refer to "Installing a wheel";
Do not damage, grease or oil wheel bolts or their
threads.
WARNING!
Do not change wheels on either steep uphill or
downhill grades. The vehicle may begin to move
and fall from the jack which could cause personal
injury and property damage.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 239
6
JACK Using the Jack
The jack is located together with the vehicle tool kit
under the hatch in the front passenger footwell, refer to
"Vehicle Tool Kit".
1. Loosen the wheel bolts before raising the vehicle.
2. Close the release valve on the jack.
3. Assemble the pump lever provided and insert it
into the socket on the jack.
4. Secure the lever by turning it clockwise in the
socket.
Position the jack under the appropriate jack point and
raise the vehicle by pumping the lever.
WARNING!
To avoid the risk of serious or fatal injuries or vehicle
damage, please bear the following points in mind:
 The jack is intended only for raising the vehicle
briefly, for instance, when changing a wheel. If it is
not designed to enable work to be carried out
underneath the vehicle.
Do not crawl under the jacked-up vehicle. For work
under the vehicle, stands must be used.
 The jack must be placed on a firm, flat surface only.
 Do not change wheels on uphill or downhill
gradients under any circumstances.
 Make sure that no persons are present in the vehicle
when jacking up the vehicle.
 Do not start the engine while the vehicle is raised.
 Make sure that the distance between the underside
of the tires and the ground does not exceed 1.2 in (30
mm). Otherwise the vehicle may tip over.

WHAT TO DO IN EMERGENCIES 245
6
 Tighten the wheel bolts/nuts in a crosswise pattern
to the specified torque with a torque wrench.
 Remove jack and stow it in the vehicle tool kit.
 Check the tire inflation pressure.
 Re-tighten the wheel bolts/nuts to the specified
torque with a torque wrench after a distance of 30
miles (about 50 km).
Vehicle
Type2500 C/H/SHC 3500 C/HC/SHC
Tire225/70 R 15 C LT 225/775 R 16 195/70 R 15 C LT 225/75 R 16
Rimsteel
6J x 15 ET75light-alloy
7J x 15 ET76steel
6J x 15 ET75light-alloy
6.5J x 16 ET70steel
5.5J x 15 HMA115steel
6J x 16 HMA129.5
Wheel
fittingwheel bolts wheel nuts
Tightening
torque133 lbf.ft ±7 lbf.ft
(180 N.m ±10 N.m)177 lbf.ft ±7 lbf.ft
(240 N.m ±10 N.m)133 lbf.ft ±7 lbf.ft
(180 N.m ±10 N.m)