2007 DODGE SPRINTER wheel

116 Controls in detailDriving and parking
3
Stopping the engine
\1Apply handbrake (\2page 115).
\1Move selector lever to P.
\1Turn key to position 0 (\2page 67) in
the ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.\1Secure the vehicle at the front axle if
unloaded and at the rear axle if loaded,
e.g. using a chock (\2page 303).
Drinking and drivingSteering
!
CAUTION
If the coolant temperature is raised,
e.g. following driving in mountainous
terrain, run the engine at idling speed
for a further 1 or 2 minutes before you
switch off the engine. This allows the
coolant temperature to return to nor-
mal again.
iWhen parking on steep uphill or down-
hill gradients, turn the front wheels to-
wards the curb.iYou can only remove the key from the
ignition lock when the selector lever is
in positionP.
General driving tipsWarning
G
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are very dangerous combina-
tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment. The possibility of a serious or
even fatal accident is sharply increased
when you drink or take drugs and drive.
Never drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive after drinking or taking
drugs.
Warning
G
There is no power-steering assistance when
the engine is not running.
You will need to use significantly more force
to steer and could therefore lose control of
the vehicle and cause an accident.
Never switch off the engine while driving.!
CAUTION
Do not hold the steering wheel in its
end positions for longer than neces-
sary (e.g. when turning or maneuver-
ing).
The hydraulic pump can be damaged
by the increased temperature of the
hydraulic fluid.

117 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
3
Overrun cut-off
The gasoline/diesel supply is cut off if the
driver's foot is completely removed from
the accelerator pedal when the engine is
overrunning at engine speeds outside of
the idling control range.
Driving in wet conditionsDriving on flooded roads
If you are forced to drive on stretches of
road on which water has collected, please
note that:
\4the water level must not reach above
the lower edge of the front bumper
\4the maximum speed at which you may
drive is walking speed
Tires
The tires are particularly important for the
operating and road safety of the vehicle.
You should therefore check the pressure,
tread and condition of the tires on a regular
basis.A tire dealer, a qualified specialist work-
shop or any authorized Sprinter Dealer will
be able to provide further information re-
garding the:
\4list of recommended makes of tire
\4tire load-bearing capacity (LI Load
Index)
\4maximum tire speed (SI Speed Index)
\4tire age
\4causes and consequences of tire wear
\4measures to be taken in the event of
tire damage
\4tire types for certain regions, areas of
operation or conditions of vehicle use
\4interchangeability of tires, etc.
Modifications to the brake system or
wheels are not permissible, nor is the use
of spacer plates or brake dust shields. Any
such modifications will invalidate the vehi-
cle’s general operating permit.Warning
G
The vehicle may hydroplane despite having
adequate tire tread depth and being driven
at low speeds, depending on the depth of
water on the road surface.
For this reason, avoid tire ruts and brake
carefully.
!
CAUTION
Note that vehicles in front or oncoming
vehicles create waves.
This may mean that the maximum per-
mitted water depth is exceeded.
These notes must be observed to avoid
the risk of engine damage.

118 Controls in detailDriving and parking
3
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and be-
come visible at a tread depth of approxi-
mately 1/16 in (1.6 mm), at which point
the tire is considered worn and should be
replaced.
The Treadwear Indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.Specified tire inflation pressures must be
maintained. This applies particularly if the
tires are subject to extreme operating con-
ditions (e.g. high speeds, heavy loads, high
ambient temperatures).For detailed information on tires, see "Tires
and wheels" (\2page 199).
Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur, even
at low speeds and with new tires. Reduce
vehicle speed, avoid track grooves in the
road and apply brakes cautiously in the
rain.Warning
G
If you feel a sudden significant vibration or
ride disturbance, or you suspect that possi-
ble damage to your vehicle has occurred,
you should turn on the hazard warning flash-
ers, carefully slow down, and drive with cau-
tion to an area which is a safe distance from
the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle undercar-
riage for possible damage. If the vehicle or
tires appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed
to the nearest authorized Sprinter Dealer or
tire dealer for repairs.
Warning
G
Although the applicable federal motor vehi-
cle safety laws consider a tire to be worn
when the Treadwear Indicators (TWI) be-
come visible at approximately 1/16 in
(1.6 mm), do not allow your tires to wear
down to that level. As tread depth approach-
es 1/8 in (3 mm) for summer tires or 1/6 in
(4 mm) for winter tires, the adhesion proper-
ties on a wet road are sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction varies
widely.
Warning
G
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire affects
the ability to steer or brake the vehicle. You
may lose control of the vehicle. Continued
driving with a flat tire or driving at high
speed with a flat tire will cause excessive
heat buildup and possibly a fire.

119 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
3
Tire traction
Tire grip is greatly reduced on a wet, snow
covered or icy road. Speed and driving
style must therefore be adapted to suit
road conditions. The safe speed on a wet,
snow covered or icy road is always lower
than on a dry road.
Below a tread depth of 1/8 in (3 mm), tire
grip begins to decrease rapidly on wet
roads.
Pay particular attention to the condition of
the road whenever the outside tempera-
tures is close to the freezing point.In winter, install M+S radial tires with a
minimum tread depth of approximately 1/
6 in (4 mm) on all wheels to ensure normal
balanced handling characteristics. On
packed snow, they can reduce your stop-
ping distance compared to summer tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still consid-
erably greater than when the road is not
covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.
For information on winter tires, see "Winter
tires" (\2page 234).
Tire speed rating
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use pru-
dent driving speeds appropriate to prevail-
ing conditions.The vehicles are factory equipped with "L"
(vehicles type 2500 only) or "N"-rated
tires, which have a speed rating of 74 mph
(120 km / h) or 87 mph (140 km / h) re-
spectively.
For information on speed ratings or for ad-
ditional general information on tire speed
markings on the tire side wall, see "Tire
speed rating" (\2page 224).Warning
G
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction
will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
!
CAUTION
Avoid spinning a drive wheel. This may
cause serious damage to the drive train
which is not covered by the Sprinter
warranty.
Warning
G
Even when permitted by law, never operate
a vehicle at speeds greater than the maxi-
mum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire fail-
ure, causing loss of vehicle control and pos-
sibly resulting in an accident and / or serious
injury and possible death, for you and for
others.

120 Controls in detailDriving and parking
3
Alignment and balance
Poor suspension alignment may result in:
\4Fast tire wear
\4Uneven tire wear, such as feathering
and one-sided wear
\4Vehicle pulling to the left or right
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 the result of a
tire and wheel imbalance. Proper balanc-
ing will reduce vibration and avoid tire cup-
ping and spotty wear.Coolant temperature
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise close to approximately
250 °F (120 °C).
The engine should not be operated with
the coolant temperature over 250 °F
(120 °C). Doing so may cause serious en-
gine damage which is not covered by the
Sprinter warranty.
Warning
G
\4Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids, which may have
leaked into the engine compartment, to
catch fire. You could be seriously
burned.
\4Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the hood. Stay away
from the engine if you see or hear steam
coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until the
engine has cooled down.

121 Controls in detail
Automatic transmission
3
\3 Automatic transmissionP Parking position (selector lever lock)
R Reverse gear
N Neutral
D Drive position
The automatic transmission adapts to your
individual driving style by continuously ad-
justing its shift points. These shift point ad-
justments take into account the current
operating and driving conditions.If the operating or driving conditions
change, the automatic transmission reacts
by adjusting the gearshift program.
The individual gears are selected automat-
ically. The gear selected depends on:
\4the selector lever position in shift rang-
es D, 4, 3, 2 and 1 (\2page 123)
\4the position of the accelerator pedal
(\2page 123)
\4the road speed
\4resistance (load, uphill gradient, trailer
towing)
The selector lever position engaged or the
current shift range is shown in the display.
Display on vehicles with steering wheel
buttons* (\2page 89) and on vehicles
without steering wheel buttons
(\2page 87).When the selector lever is in position D,
you can influence the gearshifts made by
the automatic transmission by:
\4restricting the shift range
\4changing gear yourselfGearshift patternGearshift procedure
Selector lever positionsì
Parking lock
Prevents the parked vehicle
from rolling away. Only move
the selector lever to P when
the vehicle is stationary.
You can only remove the key
when the selector lever is in
position P. The selector lever is
locked in position P when the
key is removed.
í
Reverse gear
Only move the selector lever to
R when the vehicle is station-
ary.

122 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
3
When the selector lever is in position D,
you can perform gearshifts yourself, even
on vehicles with automatic transmission.
Downshifting
\1Press the selector lever to the left to-
wards D–.
The automatic transmission restricts
the shift range (\2page 123) by one
gear. The automatic transmission shifts
to the next gear down, depending on
the gear currently engaged.Upshifting
\1Press the selector lever to the right to-
wards D+.
The automatic transmission extends
the shift range by one gear. The auto-
matic transmission shifts to the next
gear up, depending on the current
gearshift program.
Derestricting the shift range
\1Press and hold the selector lever to-
wards D+ until
D is shown once more in
the display.
The automatic transmission shifts from
the current shift range directly to D.
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from
the engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow
you to move the vehicle freely,
e.g. by pushing or towing.
Do not move the selector lever
to N while the vehicle is in mo-
tion. The automatic transmis-
sion could otherwise be
damaged.
If ASR is deactivated or ESP
®
has malfunctioned: only move
the selector lever to N if the ve-
hicle is in danger of skidding,
e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
5 forward gears are available.
One-touch gearshifting Warning
G
Do not downshift for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery surface. The drive wheels
may lose their grip and the vehicle could
skid.
iThe automatic transmission does not
shift down if you press the selector le-
ver towards D– and the speed of the
vehicle is too high. The engine could
otherwise overrev.

126 Controls in detailGood visibility
3
The combination switch is located on the
left of the steering wheel.
1Single wipe
2To switch the windshield wipers on
Switching on the windshield wipers
\1Turn key to position1 in the ignition
lock (\2page 67).\1Turn the combination switch to the re-
quired position in the direction of arrow
2 depending on how heavy the rain is:
0 Windshield wipers off
I Intermittent wipe
II Normal wipe
III Rapid wipeSingle wipe
\1Push the combination switch briefly to
the pressure point in the direction of
arrow1.
The windshield wipers wipe once with-
out washer fluid.Windshield wipers
N54.25-2923-31
!
CAUTION
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
Switch off the windshield wipers in dry
weather conditions, otherwise dirt on
the surface of the rain sensor or optical
effects can cause inadvertent wiper
sweeps. This could damage the wiper
blades or scratch the windshield.
iCanada only:
The speed of the windshield wipers is
automatically reduced if the vehicle
comes to a halt with the windshield
wipers switched on.
For example, if you have selected
speedII and stop the vehicle,the wipers
wipe at intermittent speed until you pull
away again. The wipe intervals are long-
er in intermittent mode.
Vehicles with rain sensor*:
You can use speedI as the universal
speed. The rain sensor adjusts the wip-
ing frequency according to how heavy
the rain is. If you stop the vehicle,
speedsIII andII are automatically
switched down to speedI.
The original speed of the windshield
wipers is resumed when you drive fast-
er than 5 mph (8 km / h) again.