THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 39
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OCCUPANT RESTRAINTS
Seat belts, belt tensioners, airbag and child restraint
systems are independent restraint systems whose
functions complement each other.
All states and provinces require use of child restraints
that comply with U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213 and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standard 213.
All child restraint systems are designed to be secured
in vehicle seats by lap belts or the lap belt portion of a
lap-shoulder belt.
For your safety and that of your passengers, you must
use the seat belts and child restraint systems and use
them properly. We strongly recommend their use.
WARNING!
In a collision, you and your passengers can suffer
injuries, including fatalities, if you are not proper-
ly buckled up. You can strike the interior of your
vehicle or other passengers, or you can be thrown
out of the vehicle. Always be sure you and others
in your vehicle are buckled up properly.
WARNING!
Do not modify the components or electrical wir-
ing of the restraint systems. This includes the in-
stallation of additional trim material, badges etc.
over the steering wheel hub, or front door trim
panels, and installation of additional electrical/
electronic equipment on or near restraint system
components and wiring.
Any work on the restraint systems should only be
carried out by an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Unprofessional work can lead to the restraint
systems triggering incorrectly or failing.
Damaged seat belts or belts that were highly
stressed in an accident must be replaced and their
anchoring points must also be checked. Use only
belts installed or supplied by an authorized
Sprinter Dealer.
Do not pass belts over sharp edges.
Do not make any modification that could change
the effectiveness of the belts.
40 THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE
WARNING!
Airbag and belt tensioners are designed to func-
tion on a one-time-only basis. An airbag or belt
tensioner that was activated must be replaced.
An airbag system component integrated in the
steering wheel gets hot after the airbag has
inflated. Do not touch.
No modifications of any kind may be made to any
components or wiring of the restraint system.
Keep area between airbag and occupants free of
objects (e.g. packages, purses, umbrellas, etc.).
In addition, through improper work there is the
risk of rendering the restraint system inoperative.
Work on the restraint system must therefore only
be performed by an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
WARNING!
When discarding of the airbag unit or emergency
tensioning retractor, you must follow our safety
instructions. These instructions are available at
your Sprinter Dealer.
Given the considerable deployment speed and the
textile structure of the airbag, there is the possibility
of injuries and even death resulting from being
positioned too close to the airbag when it deploys.
Do not seat children less than 5 feet tall or 12 years
and under in the front. The back seat is the safest
place for children. If the vehicle is not equipped with
a back seat, children less than 5 feet tall or 12 years
and under must never ride in this vehicle. Never place
an infant seat on the front passenger seat.
Children less than 5 feet tall or 12 years and under
require a special restraint system for protection in
the event of an accident as they may be too small
to wear seat belts properly.
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE STARTING YOUR VEHICLE 51
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WARNING!
Do not attempt to manually open the front airbag
covers. You may damage the airbags and you
could be injured because the airbags may not
function as designed. These protective covers for
the airbag cushions are designed to open only
when the airbags are inflating.
Do not modify any components of the restraint
systems or their wiring.
Observe relevant safety precautions when
discarding off airbag units. Any authorized
Sprinter Dealer can provide information and
assistance.
Make sure to give any new owner of your vehicle
this Owner’s Manual so that the new owner will
be aware of all safety warnings.
WARNING!
If the instrument cluster indicates a malfunction
of the "SRS", as explained above, we strongly rec-
ommend that you visit an authorized Sprinter
Dealer immediately to have the system checked;
otherwise the "SRS" may not be activated when
needed in an accident, which could result in seri-
ous or fatal injury, or it might deploy unexpected-
ly and unnecessarily, which could also result in
injury or death.
The activation of the "SRS" temporarily releases a
small amount of dust from the airbag. This dust,
however, is neither injurious to your health, nor
does it indicate a fire in the vehicle. The dust
might cause some temporary breathing difficulty
for people with asthma or other breathing trouble.
To avoid this, you may wish to get out of the
vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so. If you have
any breathing difficulty but cannot get out of the
vehicle after the airbag inflates, then get fresh air
by opening a window or door.
Given the considerable deployment speed and the
textile structure of the airbag, there is a risk of
abrasions and injuries due to airbag deployment.
222 STARTING AND OPERATING
Trailer Hitches (Optional)
Only install a trailer hitch receiver approved for your
vehicle. For information on availability and
installation, please see your authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not designed for use
with clamp-type hitches. Do not attach rental hitches
or other bumper-type hitches to them.
To reduce the possibility of damage, remove the hitch
ball adaptor from the receiver when not in use.
Electrical Connections (Optional)
The Sprinter is available with a variety of pre-installed
conditions (lines and turn signal indicator and brake
module installed and / or not installed). Make sure that
the correct trailer hitch receiver kit is used. For further
information, please see your authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
In order to prevent possible damage to the vehicle’s
electrical system by incorrectly installing the trailer
wiring plug, we recommend having the harness
connected at an authorized Sprinter Dealer.Vehicle and Trailer Weights and Ratings
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum
permissible vehicle weight:
8,550 lbs (3,878 kgs),
9,990 lbs (4,531 kgs) or 10,200 lbs (4,627 kgs).
NOTE: The weight of your Sprinter is indicated on the
type plate. For type plate, see Identification Labels.
Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW): comprises weight of
vehicle including fuel, tools, spare wheel, installed
accessories, passengers, cargo and trailer tongue. It
must never exceed the GVWR.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) is the maximum
permissible axle weight:
Type GVWR GAWR (FA) GAWR (RA)
2500
C/HC /
SHC8,550 lbs
3,878 kgs3,860 lbs
(1,751 kgs)5,360 lbs
(2,431 kgs)
3500
C/HC /
SHC9,990 lbs
4,531 kgs3,860 lbs
(1,751 kgs)7,060 lbs
(3,202 kgs)
10,200 lbs
4,627 kgs3,860 lbs
(1,751 kgs)7,060 lbs
(3,202 kgs)
224 STARTING AND OPERATING
Checking Weights of Vehicle and Trailer
To 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 Trailer
Please 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.