
209 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Certification label
Even after careful determination of the
combined weight of all occupants, cargo
and the trailer tongue load (if applicable)
as to not exceed the permissible load limit,
you must make sure that your vehicle nev-
er exceeds the Gross Vehicle Weight Rat-
ing (GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight
Rating (GAWR) for either the front or rear
axle and the Gross Combination Weights
Rating (GCWR) (if applicable).
Under a maximum loaded vehicle condi-
tion, gross axle weight ratings (GAWR’s) for
the front and rear axles must not be ex-
ceeded. USA only - for vehicles with a gross weight
capacity less than 10,000 lbs (4500 kg)
only:
To determine the maximum loading condi-
tions of your vehicle, locate the statement
"The combined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX kg or
XXX lbs." on the tire and loading informa-
tion placard. The combined weight of occu-
pants, cargo/luggage and trailer tongue
weight (if applicable) should never exceed
the weight referenced here.
You can obtain the GVWR, the front/rear-
GAWR and the GCWR from the certification
label. The certification label can be found
below the driver’s seat on an outward fac-
ing position of the mounting pillar
(\2page 373).For more information on the trailer tongue
load, refer to "Trailer tongue load".
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR):
The total weight of the vehicle, all occu-
pants, all cargo, and the trailer tongue load
must never exceed the GVWR.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR):
The total allowable weight that can be car-
ried by a single axle (front (FA) or rear (RA)).
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR):
The total allowable weight of vehicle and
trailer when weighed in cominbation in-
cluding a 150 lbs (68 kg) allowance for the
presence of a driver.
Vehicle Model type
GVWR
GAWR (FA)
GAWR (RA)
GCWR
2500
8550 lbs (3878 kg)
3970 lbs (1801 kg)
5360 lbs (2431 kg)
13550 lbs (6146 kg)
3500
9990 lbs (4531 kg)
11030 lbs (5003 kg)
4080 lbs (1851 kg)
4410 lbs (2000 kg)*
4080 lbs (1851 kg)
4410 lbs (2000 kg)
7060 lbs (3202 kg)
7720 lbs (3502 kg)
15250 lbs (6917 kg)
15250 lbs (6917 kg)

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

229 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
DOT (D
epartment O
f T
ransportation)
A tire branding symbol which denotes that
the tire meets the requirements of the
U.S. Department of Transportation.
GAWR (G
ross A
xle W
eight R
ating)
The GAWR is the maximum permissible
axle weight. The gross vehicle weight on
each axle must never exceed the GAWR for
the front and rear axle indicated on the
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
GTW (G
ross T
railer W
eight)
The GTW is the weight of the trailer plus
the weight of all cargo, equipment, luggage
etc. loaded on the trailer.GVW (G
ross V
ehicle W
eight)
The GVW comprises the weight of the vehi-
cle including fuel, tools, spare wheel, in-
stalled accessories, passengers and cargo
and, if applicable, trailer tongue load. The
GVW must never exceed the GVWR indicat-
ed on the certification label located on the
driver’s door B-pillar.
GVWR (G
ross V
ehicle W
eight R
ating)
This is the maximum permissible vehicle
weight of the fully loaded vehicle (weight of
the vehicle including all options, passen-
gers, fuel, and cargo and, if applicable,
trailer tongue load). It is indicated on the
certification label located on the driver’s
door B-pillar.
Kilopascal (kPa)
The metric unit for air pressure. There are
6.9kPa to 1psi; another metric unit for air
pressure is bars. there are 100 kilopascals
(kPa) to 1 bar.Maximum load rating
The maximum load in kilograms and
pounds that can be carried by the tire.
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
The sum of curb weight, accessory weight,
vehicle capacity weight and production op-
tions weight.
Maximum tire inflation pressure
This number is the greatest amount of air
pressure that should ever be put in the tire
under normal driving conditions.
Normal occupant weight
The number of occupants the vehicle is de-
signed to seat, multiplied by 68 kilograms
(150 lbs).
Occupant distribution
The distribution of occupants in a vehicle
at their designated seating positions.

231 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
TWR (T
ongue W
eight R
ating)
Maximum permissible weight on the trailer
tongue.
Uniform tire quality grading standards
A tire information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire’s traction,
temperature and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The rat-
ings are molded into the side wall of the
tire.
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 deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its share
of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and
dividing it by two.
Tires on the front and rear axles of vehicles
operate at different loads and perform dif-
ferent steering, driving and braking func-
tions. 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 to
maintain mud, snow, and wet traction lev-
els, and contribute to a smooth ride.
If applicable to your vehicle’s tire configu-
ration, tires can be rotated according to
the tire manufacturer’s recommended in-
tervals in the tire manufacturer’s warranty
pamphlet located in your vehicle literature
portfolio. If none is available, tires should
be rotated every 10,000 miles
(16,000 km), or sooner if necessary, ac-
cording to the degree of tire wear.
The same rotation (spinning) direction
must be maintained when mounted, see
"Direction of rotation" (\2page 204).
Rotate tires before the characteristic tire
wear pattern becomes visible (shoulder
wear on front tires and tread center wear
on rear tires).
Rotating tiresWarning
G
Rotate front and rear wheels only if they are
of the same dimension.
Changing the tire dimension for an axle
\4could cause the tire to come into con-
tact with the vehicle body or axle parts.
Damage to the tire or the vehicle may be
the result.
\4could result in changes to steering, han-
dling, and braking of your Sprinter vehi-
cle. This can cause unpredictable
handling and stress to steering and sus-
pension components. You could lose
control and have an accident resulting in
serious injury or death.
\4could result in tire overloading and fail-
ure, if the tires' load index are not iden-
tical. You could lose control and have an
accident.

269 Practical hints
What to do if ...
5
#
-
k
6
The yellow ESP
®, ABS, ASR/BAS
indicator lamps and the red
brake system indicator lamp are
lit while the engine is running.
WARNING
G
EBV has been deactivated due to undervolt-
age.
The battery may not be being charged.
The rear wheels could lock up sooner than
expected when you apply the brakes.
\1Also observe the messages in the dis-
play on vehicles with steering wheel
buttons (\2page 284).
\1Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so.
\1Do not drive any further.
\1Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
6
The red brake system indicator
lamp is lit while the engine is run-
ning.
A signal also sounds.
WARNING
G
There is insufficient brake fluid in the fluid
reservoir.
\1Also observe the messages in the dis-
play on vehicles with steering wheel
buttons (\2page 284).
\1Do not add brake fluid under any cir-
cumstances. This will not solve the
problem.
\1Do not drive any further.
\1Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
6
When towing a trailer:
The red brake system indicator
lamp is lit while the engine is run-
ning.
A signal also sounds.
WARNING
G
The trailer's brake booster is malfunctioning.
The vehicle's driving and braking characteris-
tics may change. There is a risk of the trailer
overbraking.
\1Also observe the messages in the dis-
play on vehicles with steering wheel
buttons (\2page 284).
\1Stop your vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so.
\1Do not drive any further.
\1Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Problem
Possible cause / result
Suggested solutions

276 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...
5
•
The red coolant warning lamp
lights up while the engine is run-
ning.
The coolant temperature is too high.
\1Do not drive any further.
\1Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
If the vehicle is switched off after being
subjected to extreme loads (for example
driving in mountainous terrain, trailer
towing, etc.), the coolant warning lamp
may light up when the ignition is switched
on or the engine is restarted. Run the en-
gine for approximately 1 minute at idling
speed.
Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer if
the coolant warning lamp remains lit.
A
The yellow reserve fuel warning
lamp lights up while the vehicle is
in motion.
The fuel level has fallen into the reserve
range.
\1Refuel at the nearest refueling station
(\2page 184).
A
The yellow reserve fuel warning
lamp lights up while the engine is
running and the gauge for the fuel
tank shows zero although there is
still fuel in the tank.
The fuel filler cap is not closed.
\1Close the fuel filler cap. A clicking
sound indicates that the fuel filler cap
is closed.
\1If the malfunction continues to be in-
dicated, have it rectified immediately
at an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
q
The yellow preglow indicator lamp
lights up while the engine is running.
There is a malfunction in the preglow sys-
tem.
\1Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Problem
Possible cause / result
Suggested solutions

280 Practical hintsWhat to do if ...
5
Problem
Possible cause / result
Suggested solutions
/
The yellow water separator indi-
cator lamp
1 lights up while the
ignition is on.
1 Only vehicles with a diesel engine.
The water that has collected in the water sep-
arator has reached the maximum level.
\1Drain the water separator
(\2page 317).
\1Have the water separator drained at
an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
W
The yellow washer fluid level in-
dicator lamp for the windshield
washer / headlamp cleaning sys-
tem lights up after the engine is
started or while the vehicle is in
motion.
The windshield washer fluid level is too low.
\1Check the fluid level in the reservoir
and add windshield washer fluid if
necessary (\2page 193).
<
The red seat belt telltale lights up
for approximately 6 seconds
when the ignition is switched on.
A signal also sounds.
The telltale reminds you to fasten your seat
belt.
\1Fasten your seat belt.
.
The yellow bulb indicator lamp
lights up while the ignition is on.
One of the bulbs of the exterior lighting or on
the trailer is malfunctioning.
\1Have the malfunction rectified as
soon as possible at an authorized
Sprinter Dealer.
9
The yellow “door open” indicator
lamp lights up while the vehicle
is in motion.
You are already driving at walking pace, even
though not all the doors or the hood are
closed.
\1Close the doors or the hood.

292 Practical hintsDisplay messages
5
Z
Coolant
Stop, turn engine
off
The coolant temperature is too high.
\1Do not drive any further.
\1Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
If the vehicle is switched off after being
subjected to extreme loads (for example
driving in mountainous terrain, trailer tow-
ing, etc.), this message may be displayed
when the ignition is switched on or the en-
gine is restarted. Run the engine for approx-
imately 1 minute at idling speed.
Consult an authorized Sprinter Dealer if the
message remains displayed.
H
Coolant
Check level
The coolant level is too low.
Never run the engine if the coolant level
is too low. The engine could overheat and
be damaged.
\1Add coolant (\2page 191).
\1If you are having to add coolant frequent-
ly, have the cooling system checked at
an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
.
Low beam left
The left-hand low-beam headlamp is mal-
functioning.
\1Change the bulb as soon as possible.
Low beam right
The right-hand low-beam headlamp is
malfunctioning.
\1Change the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal left
The left-hand turn signal is malfunctioning.
\1Change the bulb as soon as possible.
Turn signal right
The right-hand turn signal is malfunction-
ing.
\1Change the bulb as soon as possible.
Brake lamp left
The left-hand brake lamp is malfunction-
ing.
\1Change the bulb as soon as possible.
Display symbol
Display message
Possible cause / result
Possible solution