2007 DODGE SPRINTER fuel

196 OperationBattery
4
The batteries must always be sufficiently
charged so that they achieve their intend-
ed service life.
Have the battery charge status checked
more frequently if you use the vehicle
mainly for short trips or if you leave it
parked up for a long period.
If you intend to leave your vehicle parked
up for a long period, seek advice from an
authorized Sprinter Dealer and switch off
the electrical system at the battery isolat-
ing switch (\2page 197).
You will find further information in the
“Practical hints” section (\2page 335).
!
CAUTION
Switch off the engine and wait for
approximately 20 seconds before you
loosen or disconnect the terminal
clamps. You could otherwise damage
electrical system components.
Care of batteries!
CAUTION
Dirty terminal clamps and battery sur-
faces cause leakage current, leading to
battery discharge. Always keep the ter-
minal clamps and battery surfaces
clean and dry. Lightly grease the termi-
nal clamps, particularly the undersides,
with acid-proof grease.
Cleaning agents containing fuel can
corrode the battery casing. Only clean
with commercially available cleaning
agents and clean the battery casing
with the cell caps screwed in.

199 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
\3 Tires and wheelsThe tires on a new vehicle provide a bal-
ance of many characteristics. They should
be inspected regularly for wear and correct
cold tire inflation pressure. The vehicle
manufacturer strongly recommends using
tires equivalent to the originals in size,
quality and performance when a replace-
ment becomes necessary.
Refer to the tire and loading information
placard on the driver’s door B-pillar
(\2page 373) for the size designation of
your tire.
The service description and load identifica-
tion will be found on the original equip-
ment tire. Failure to use equivalent
replacement tires may adversely affect the
safety, handling, and ride of your Sprinter
vehicle.
Contact an authorized Sprinter Dealer or
an authorized tire dealer with any ques-
tions you may have on tire specifications
or capability.For more information on tire size designa-
tion, load and speed rating, see "Tire label-
ing" (\2page 222).
See an authorized Sprinter Dealer for infor-
mation on tested and recommended rims
and tires for summer and winter operation.
They can also offer advice concerning tire
service and purchase.
!
CAUTION
Only use tires which have been tested
and approved for your Sprinter vehicle
by the vehicle manufacturer. Tires ap-
proved by the vehicle manufacturer are
developed to provide the best possible
performance in conjunction with the
driving safety systems on your Sprinter
vehicle such as ABS, BAS, ASR or
ESP®.
Using tires other than those approved
by the vehicle manufacturer may result
in damage that is not covered by the
Sprinter warranty.
!
CAUTION
Using tires other than those approved
by the vehicle manufacturer can have
detrimental effects, such as
\4poor handling characteristics
\4increased noise
\4increased fuel consumption
Tires and rims not approved by the ve-
hicle manufacturer may, under load,
exhibit dimensional variations and dif-
ferent tire deformation characteristics
that could cause them to come into
contact with the vehicle body or axle
parts. Damage to the tires or the vehi-
cle may be the result.

202 OperationTires and wheels
4
\4When replacing individual tires, you
should mount new tires on the front
wheels first.
The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly, i.e. at least each time
you refuel the vehicle. The preferred inter-
val for checking the tire inflation pressure,
however, is before each trip.
For more information on checking tire in-
flation pressure, refer to "Recommended
tire inflation pressure" (\2page 210).Tire inspection
Every time when checking the tire inflation
pressure, the tires should also be inspect-
ed for the following:
\4excessive treadwear, refer to "Tread
depth". the condition of the tread
depths, i.e. uneven tread wear or ex-
cessive treadwear on one side. Turn
the front wheels to full lock if neces-
sary to enable you to check the inner
edge of the front tires more easily. You
must also always check the inside of
the tire tread on the rear wheels.
\4cord or fabric showing through the
tire’s rubber
\4bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in
the tread or side of the tire
\4foreign objects between the tires
(on vehicles with twin tires)
Replace the tire if any of the above condi-
tions is found.
Also inspect the spare tire periodically for
condition and inflation. Spare tires will age
and become worn over time even if never
used, and thus should be inspected and re-
placed when necessary.Tire damage
Tire damage can be caused
by:
\4the vehicle’s operating conditions
\4tire aging
\4curbs
\4foreign objects
\4insufficient or excessive tire pressures
\4weather and environmental influences
\4contact with oil, grease, fuel, etc.
Tire care and maintenanceWarning
G
Regularly check the tires for damage. Dam-
aged tires can cause tire inflation pressure
loss. As a result, you could lose control of
your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
Warning
G
Driving over curbs or sharp-edged objects
can cause damage to the tire substructure
which is not visible from the outside.
Damage to the tire substructure cannot be
detected until later and can cause the tire to
burst.
\2\2

205 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
The following labels on the vehicle show
how much weight it may properly carry.
\4Only vehicles with a gross weight ca-
pacity less than 10,000 lbs (4500 kg)
The tire and loading information plac-
ard can be found on the driver’s door B-
pillar. This placard tells you important
information about the number of peo-
ple 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 in-
flation pressures for the original equip-
ment tires on your vehicle.
\4The certification label can be found be-
low the driver’s seat on an outward fac-
ing position of the mounting pillar
(\2page 373). This label tells you about
the gross weight capacity of your vehi-
cle, 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.
1Tire and loading information placard on
driver’s door B-pillar
The information below explains how to
work with the information contained on the
placard with regards to loading your vehi-
cle.Tire and loading informationLoading the vehicle
Warning
G
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the tire
and loading information placard on the driv-
er’s door B-pillar or on the certification label
below the driver’s seat on the mounting pil-
lar. 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. Overload-
ing can cause tire failure, affect vehicle han-
dling, 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, tire pressure la-
bel and this section.

210 OperationTires and wheels
4
To assure that your vehicle does not ex-
ceed the maximum permissible weight lim-
its (GVWR and GAWR for front and rear
axle), have the loaded vehicle (including
driver, passengers and all cargo and, if ap-
plicable, trailer fully loaded) weighed on a
suitable commercial scale.
Trailer tongue load
The tongue load (tongue weight at the
hitch ball) of any trailer is an important
weight to measure because it affects the
load you can carry in your vehicle. If a trail-
er is towed, the tongue load must be added
to the weight of all occupants riding and
any cargo you are carrying in the vehicle to
prevent exceeding your Sprinter tow vehi-
cle’s rear GAWR. The tongue load typically
is between 10% and 15% of the trailer
weight and everything loaded in it.
For example, if the trailer tongue load
equals 1 40 lbs and the determined avail-
able cargo/luggage and trailer tongue
weight equals 750 lbs, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capacity is
610 lbs. (750 – 140 = 610 lbs.)For further information on vehicle and trail-
er weights and ratings, loading a trailer and
trailer towing, see “Trailer towing”
(\2page 175).Your vehicle is equipped with either the
tire and loading information placard
1 or
with the tire inflation pressure placard lo-
cated on the driver’s door B-pillar.
The tire inflation pressure (including the
spare wheel) should be checked regularly
and adjusted as well as inspected for signs
of tire wear or visible damage. Use a good
quality pocket-type gauge to check tire in-
flation pressure.
Recommended tire inflation pres-
sureWarning
G
Follow recommended tire inflation pres-
sures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adverse-
ly affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride com-
fort, wear unevenly, increase stopping dis-
tance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road de-
bris, potholes etc.
1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less than
10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).1Tire and loading information placard or
tire inflation pressure placard on dri-
ver’s door B-pillar

211 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Do not make a visual judgment when de-
termining proper inflation. Radial tires may
look properly inflated even when they are
underinflated.
The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly, i.e. at least each time
you refuel the vehicle, and should only be
adjusted on cold tires. The preferred inter-
val for checking the tire inflation pressure,
however, is before each trip.
The tires can be considered cold if the ve-
hicle has been parked for at least 3 hours
or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km) at an
ambient temperature of approximately
68 °F (20 °C).
Follow recommended cold tire inflation
pressures listed on vehicle placard.
Keeping the tires properly inflated provi-
des the best handling, tread life and riding
comfort.
The pressure difference between the tires
on a single axle should not exceed 1.5 psi
(10 kPa).
In addition to the placard, also consult the
tire inflation pressure table (\2page 370).For more information, refer to “Important
notes on tire inflation pressure”.
Placard
The placard is located on the driver’s door
B-pillar.
Tire and loading information placardTire inflation pressure placard
1Recommended cold tire inflation pres-
sure
iThe data shown on the tire and loading
information placard
1and on the tire in-
flation pressure placard is for illustrati-
ve purposes only. Tire data is specific
to each vehicle and may vary from the
data shown in the illustration below.
Refer to your vehicle’s placard for actu-
al data specific to your vehicle.
1 For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less
than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).

212 OperationTires and wheels
4
The placard lists the recommended cold
tire inflation pressures for all load conditi-
ons up to the maximum permissible weight
limits (GAWR). The tire inflation pressures
listed apply to the tires installed as original
equipment.
Important notes on tire inflation pres-
sure
Tire temperature and tire inflation pressure
are also increased while driving, depending
on the driving speed and the tire load.
Tire inflation pressure changes by approxi-
mately 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per 18 °F (10 °C)
of air temperature change. Keep this in mind when checking tire inflation pressure
where the temperature is different from
the outside temperature.
For example:
If the inside temperature is 68 °F (20 °C)
and the outside temperature is 32 °F
(0 °C) then the cold tire inflation pressure
should be increased by 3 psi (0.2 bar),
which equals 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) for every
18 °F (10 °C) for this outside temperature
condition.
Check tire pressures more often if subject
to a wide range of outdoor temperatures,
as tire pressures vary with temperature
changes.Warning
G
If the tire inflation pressure repeatedly
drops:
\4Check the tires for punctures from for-
eign objects.
\4Check to see whether air is leaking from
the valves or from around the rim.
Warning
G
Tire pressure may increase during opera-
tion.
Never reduce this normal pressure build up
or your tire pressure will be too low.
Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or
unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to fail from be-
ing overheated.

213 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly, i.e. at least each time
you refuel the vehicle. The preferred inter-
val for checking the tire inflation pressure,
however, is before each trip.
The inflation pressures specified either on
the tire and loading information placard on
the driver’s door B-pillar or on tire pressure
label below the driver’s seat on an outward
facing position of the mounting pillar are
always cold tire inflation pressures. Check
and adjust the tire inflation pressure when
the tires are cold. Cold tire inflation pres-
sure is defined as the tire pressure after
the vehicle has been parked for at least
3 hours or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km)
at an ambient temperature of approxi-
mately 68 °F (20 °C).
The cold tire inflation pressure must not
exceed the maximum tire inflation pres-
sure molded into the tire side wall, see
"Tire labeling" (\2page 222).
If you check the tire inflation pressure
when the tires are warm (the vehicle has
been driven for several miles or sitting less than 3 hours), the reading will be higher
than the cold reading. This is normal. Do
not let air out to match the specified cold
tire inflation pressure. Otherwise, the tire
will be underinflated.Checking tire inflation pressure manu-
ally
Follow the steps below to achieve correct
tire inflation pressure:
\1Remove the cap from the valve on one
tire.
\1Firmly press a tire gauge onto the
valve.
\1Read the tire inflation pressure on the
tire gauge and compare it with the rec-
ommended tire inflation pressure on
the placard on the driver’s door B-pillar
or on the tire pressure label below the
driver’s seat. If necessary, add air to
achieve the recommended tire inflation
pressure.
\1Reattach the valve cap.Checking tire inflation pressure
Warning
G
Observe the recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated tires
wear excessively and/or unevenly, adverse-
ly affect handling and fuel economy, and are
more likely to fail from being overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated tires
can adversely affect handling and ride com-
fort, wear unevenly, increase stopping dis-
tance, and result in sudden deflation
(blowout) because they are more likely to
become punctured or damaged by road de-
bris, potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the tire
and loading information placard on the driv-
er’s door B-pillar. Overloading the tires can
overheat them, possibly causing a blowout.
iIf you have overfilled the tire, release
tire inflation pressure by pushing the
metal stem of the valve with for exam-
ple a tip of a pen. Then recheck the tire
inflation pressure with the tire gauge.