2007 DODGE SPRINTER light

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.

204 OperationTires and wheels
4
1Treadwear Indicator (TWI)
The Treadwear Indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.
Storing tiresCleaning tires
An arrow on the side wall indicates the in-
tended direction of rotation (spinning) of
the tire which means the wheel must be
mounted in the direction of rotation.
If a tire does not have an arrow on the side
wall indicating the direction of rotation, the
wheel can be mounted either way.
!
CAUTION
Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible. Protect tires from contact
with oil, grease and gasoline/diesel.
!
CAUTION
Never use a round nozzle to power
wash tires. The intense jet of water can
result in damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire.
Direction of rotationiThe Tire Identification Number (TIN)
must always be visible on the outboard
side of the tire.
!
CAUTION
Spare wheels may be mounted against
the direction of rotation (spinning) even
with a unidirectional tire for temporary
use only until the regular drive wheel
has been repaired or replaced. Always
observe and follow applicable tempo-
rary use restrictions and speed limita-
tions indicated on the spare wheel.
Have a spare wheel that was mounted
against the direction of rotation re-
placed with a regular road wheel as
soon as possible.

223 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Tire sizes for Sprinter vehicles
Design standard
Depending on the design standards used,
the tire size molded into the side wall may
have no letter or a letter1 preceding the
tire width or the tire load rating designa-
tion.
Letter “LT” preceding the size designation:
Light Truck tire based on U.S. design stan-
dards.
Letter “C” preceding the tire load designa-
tion:
Commercial vehicle tire based on Europe-
an design standards.
Tire width
The tire width2 indicates the nominal tire
width in mm.Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio3 is the dimensional re-
lationship between tire section height and
section width and is expressed in percent-
age. The aspect ratio is arrived at by divid-
ing section height by section width.
Tire code
The tire code4 indicates the tire con-
struction type. The “R” stands for radial
tire type. Letter “D” means diagonal or bias
ply construction; letter “B” means belted-
bias ply construction.
Rim diameter
The rim diameter5 is the diameter of the
bead seat, not the diameter of the rim
edge. Rim diameter is indicated in
inches (in).
Tire load rating
The tire load rating6 is a numerical code
associated with the maximum load a tire
can support.For example, a load rating of 120 corre-
sponds to a maximum load of 3042 lbs
(1380 kg) the tire is designed to support.
If two values are given (as illustrated), the
first value, preceding the slash "/", applies
to single tires (rear axle). The second val-
ue, succeeding the slash "/", applies to
twin tires (dual wheel rear axle).
The commercial vehicle tires based on Eu-
ropean standards may have an additional
value in the parentheses (as illustrated). In
such cases, the value preceding the paren-
theses is valid for European countries and
the parenthesized for the USA and Canada.
Refer also to "Maximum tire load"
(\2page 226) where the maximum load as-
sociated with the load index is indicated in
kilograms and lbs.
Sprinter type
2500
LT 245/75 R 16 120/116 LLT 245/75 R 16 120/116 N
3500
LT 215/85 R 16 115/112 NLT 215/85 R 16 115/112 Q

235 Operation
Winter driving
4
Drive with particular care on icy roads.
Avoid sudden acceleration, steering move-
ments and braking.If it seems likely that the vehicle is about to
enter a skid or cannot be stopped at a low
speed:
\4Move the selector lever to position N.
\4Try to maintain control of the vehicle
using light corrective steering.
Road salt may adversely affect braking ef-
ficiency. It may therefore be necessary to
apply the brakes more forcefully in order to
achieve the same braking force as normal.
Apply the brakes regularly when making
longer journeys on gritted or salted roads.
This will have the effect of restoring the
brakes to their normal level of perfor-
mance.
When stopping the vehicle after traveling
on roads that have been salted, check that
the brakes are fully functional before pro-
ceeding further.
Warning
G
If you use your spare tire when winter tires
are fitted on the other wheels, be aware that
the difference in tire characteristics may im-
pair turning stability and overall driving sta-
bility may be reduced. Adapt your driving
style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized Sprinter Deal-
er.iWhen they have been removed, store
wheels and tires in a cool, dry, and if
possible dark place. Protect the tires
from oil, grease, and gasoline / diesel.
Driving in winterWarning
G
Downshifting to brake could cause the drive
wheels to lose grip on a slippery surface due
to the increased difference in speed be-
tween the engine and the drive wheels at
this time.
Do not downshift for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery surface. Use the service
brake in accordance with road conditions.
Only downshift to a lower gear when travel-
ing at a low engine speed.

243 Operation
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
4
Steps
Engine cleaningLight-alloy wheels*
Clean light-alloy wheels on a regular basis.
Outside of windshield and wiper blades
\1Turn key to position1 in ignition lock
(\2page 67).
\1Switch on windshield wipers
(\2page 126).
\1When the wiper arms are vertical, turn
key to position0 in the ignition lock or
remove the key.
\1Fold the wiper arms away from the
windshield until you feel them engage
in place.\1You can now clean the windshield and
the wiper blades.
\1Fold the windshield wipers back again
before you switch on the ignition.Warning
G
Dirty or iced-up steps and entrances create
a risk of slipping or falling.
Keep steps, entrances and footwear free
from dirt (e.g. mud, clay, snow and ice).!
CAUTION
Do not allow water to enter the intake
and ventilation openings.
When cleaning with high-pressure wa-
ter or steam cleaners, the spray must
not be aimed directly at electrical com-
ponents or at the end of electrical
lines.
Treat the engine with preservative
agents after cleaning. Protect the belt
drive system from the preservative
when you do so.
!
CAUTION
Do not use any acidic or alkaline clean-
ing agents. They can cause corrosion of
the wheel bolts (wheel nuts) or the bal-
ancing weight retainers.
!
CAUTION
Do not fold the windshield wipers away
from the windshield unless the hood is
closed. You will otherwise damage the
hood.
Warning
G
Switch off the ignition before cleaning the
windshield or the wiper blades. The wind-
shield wipers could otherwise move and in-
jure you.

245 Operation
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
4
\1Clean the camera lens 1 using water
and a soft cloth only.
Be careful not to apply wax to the camera
lens 1 when waxing the vehicle. If neces-
sary, remove the wax using shampoo with
plenty of water.!
Do not use dry, coarse or hard cloths
and aggressive cleaning agents. Do not
scrub or use high pressure. You will other-
wise scratch or damage the lens or the ca-
mera.
If you clean the vehicle with a high-pressu-
re cleaner or steam cleaner, maintain a mi-
nimum distance of 1.6 ft (50 cm) to the
rear view camera. To prevent damage, do
not aim directly at the rear view camera or
at the microphone openings on the under-
side of the rear view camera.
Plastic trimsLight soiling
\1Wipe plastic parts with a damp, lint-
free cloth (e.g. a micro-fiber cloth).
Heavy soiling
\1Wipe plastic parts with a damp, lint-
free cloth (e.g. a micro-fiber cloth). Dashboard and padded boss of the
steering wheel
\1Moisten a clean and lint-free cloth with
water and clean the plastic parts and
the dashboard.
\1Use a mild soap solution for particularly
stubborn dirt.!
CAUTION
Do not use dry, coarse or hard cloths
and do not scrub. You will otherwise
scratch or damage the surfaces.
!
CAUTION
Use a low-foaming grease solvent (e.g.
washing-up liquid) diluted in water as a
cleaning agent.
The surface color may temporarily
change shade during cleaning. Simply
wait for the surface to dry.
!
CAUTION
Use a solvent-free and non-caustic
cleaning agent. The manufacturer
recommends that you use a
Mercedes-Benz product.
The surface color may temporarily
change shade during cleaning. Simply
wait for the surface to dry.
Warning
G
Do not use cleaners or cockpit care sprays
containing solvents to clean the dashboard
or the padded boss of the steering wheel.
Cleaners containing solvents can make the
surface porous, which could lead to serious
injuries if plastic parts were to come loose
when an airbag is triggered.

246 OperationCleaning and care of the vehicle
4
Seat belts
Remove stains or dirt immediately to pre-
vent damage or the build-up of residues.
!
CAUTION
Clean the seat belts with a mild wash-
ing solution. Do not dry the seat belts in
direct sunlight or at temperatures
above 176 °F (80 °C).
Do not bleach or dye the seat belts.
This could impair the function of the
seat belts.
After driving off-road or on construc-
tion sitesWarning
G
Dirt on the vehicle can affect road and oper-
ating safety.In particular, the following dangers can arise:Stone chippings
Stones trapped between the tires can be
thrown out while the vehicle is in motion and
injure other road users or damage their ve-
hicles (in particular the windshield).
Risk of skidding
Dirt and mud on the tires / road surface re-
duce wheel grip. This is especially so if the
road surface is wet. The vehicle could then
start to skid.
Risk of slipping
Dirt and mud on the steps and entrances
make the steps less safe. As a result you
could slip from the steps and injure yourself.
For this reason, always clean your vehicle
carefully after driving off-road and on con-
struction sites before using public roads.
If you use a high-pressure cleaner or auto-
matic car wash for this purpose, you must
follow the relevant safety instructions in this
section.

247 Operation
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
4
\1Clean the vehicle, particularly the light-
ing equipment, windows, exterior mir-
rors, steps, entrances, grab handles,
wheels, tires, wheel housings and li-
cense plates. Observe the notes in this
section.
\1Remove any trapped foreign objects,
e.g. stones.After driving in mud, sand, water or similar
conditions:
\4Check the brake system for operating
safety.
\4Clean the wheels, chassis and brake
system.
\4Check them for damage and have any
damage repaired by an authorized
Sprinter Dealer if necessary.
Warning
G
Dirty brake discs and brake pads / linings
can impair braking power (to the point of to-
tal failure).
You could thereby cause an accident.
Check the brake system for operating safety
by testing the brakes before driving the ve-
hicle onto public roads.
If braking power is impaired, stop the ve-
hicle as soon as it is safe to do so and con-
sult an authorized Sprinter Dealer which has
the necessary specialist knowledge and
tools to carry out the work required.
The manufacturer recommends that you use
an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this pur-
pose. In particular, work relevant to safety
or on safety-related systems must be car-
ried out at an authorized Sprinter Dealer.