2008 DODGE SPRINTER warning

400 OperationTires and wheels
4
Tires on the front and rear axles of vehi-
cles operate at different loads and per-
form different steering, driving and
braking functions. 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 de-
signs such as those on On/Off Road
type tires. Rotation will increase tread
life, help to maintain mud, snow, and wet
traction levels, and contribute to a
smooth ride. If applicable to your vehicle’s tire config-
uration, tires can be rotated according
to the tire manufacturer’s recommend-
ed intervals in the tire manufacturer’s
warranty pamphlet located in your vehi-
cle literature portfolio. If none is avail-
able, tires should be rotated every
10 000 miles (16 000 km), or sooner if
necessary, according to the degree of
tire wear.
The same rotation (spinning) direction
must be maintained when mounted, see
"Direction of rotation" (
\2
page 351).
Warning (Continued)
G
could result in changes to steering, han-
dling, and braking of your Sprinter vehicle.
This can cause unpredictable handling
and stress to steering and suspension
components. You could lose control and
have an accident resulting in serious inju-
ry or death.could result in tire overloading and failure,
if the tires' load index are not identical.
You could lose control and have an acci-
dent.
nf_BA.book Page 400 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

401 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Rotate tires before the characteristic
tire wear pattern becomes visible (shoul-
der wear on front tires and tread center
wear on rear tires).
The reasons for any rapid or unusual
wear should be corrected prior to rota-
tion being performed.
Thoroughly clean the mounting face of
wheels and brake disks, i.e. the inner
side of the wheels/tires, during each ro-
tation. Check for and ensure proper tire infla-
tion pressure, refer to "Recommended
tire inflation pressure" (
\2
page 361).
!
CAUTION
If your vehicle is equipped with the
tire pressure monitor*, each wheel
has an electronic component.
Tire mounting tools should not be ap-
plied in the area of the valve, as this
could damage the electronic compo-
nents.
Have the tires changed only at an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Warning
G
In order to avoid loosing a wheel and in or-
der to reduce the risk of fatal or serious
injuries or vehicle damage, please follow
these safety instructions:Always replace wheel bolts that are dam-
aged or rusted.Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
Continued
nf_BA.book Page 401 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

402 OperationTires and wheels
4
Rotation pattern for single and dual rear
wheelsSingle rear wheels:\1
Rotate the tires by axle. Never
change the direction of rotation of
your tires.
Warning (Continued)
G
If a wheel hub thread is damaged, you
must not drive the vehicle. Consult an au-
thorized Sprinter Dealer.Only use genuine wheel bolts approved by
the vehicle manufacturer and specified
for your vehicle’s rims. Check tightness of
wheel bolts or nuts regularly and retight-
en with a torque wrench, if necessary.
Tighten wheel bolts or nuts in a crisscross
pattern. For information on mounting
bolts and tightening torques, refer to "In-
stalling a wheel" (\2page 548).
Continued
After changing a wheel, the wheel bolts or
nuts must be retightened after the vehicle
has been driven for about 30 miles
(50 km)If new or repainted rims are fitted, the
wheel bolts or nuts must be retightened
again after about 600 to 3000 miles
(about 1000 to 5000 km).
nf_BA.book Page 402 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

405 Operation
Winter driving
4
For safe handling, make sure all winter
tires mounted are of the same make and
have the same tread design.
Always observe the speed rating of the
winter tires installed on your vehicle. If
the maximum speed for which your tires
are rated is below the speed rating of
your vehicle, you must place a notice to
this effect where it will be seen by the driver. Such notices are available at your
tire dealer or any authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
\1
Reactivate the tire pressure monitor.
While studded tires improve perfor-
mance on ice, skid and traction capabil-
ity on wet or dry surfaces may be poorer
than that of non-studded tires. Some
states prohibit studded tires; therefore,
local laws should be checked before us-
ing these tire types.
Warning
G
Winter tires with a tread depth under
1/6 in (4 mm) must be replaced. They are
no longer suitable for winter operation.
Warning
G
If you use your spare tire when winter
tires are fitted on the other wheels, be
aware that the difference in tire charac-
teristics may impair turning stability and
overall driving stability may be reduced.
Adapt your driving style accordingly.
Have the spare tire replaced with a winter
tire at the nearest authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
nf_BA.book Page 405 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

406 OperationWinter driving
4
Drive with particular care on icy roads.
Avoid sudden acceleration, steering
movements and braking.
If it seems likely that the vehicle is about
to enter a skid or cannot be stopped at a
low speed:\4
Move the selector lever to position N.
\4
Try to maintain control of the vehicle
using light corrective steering.
Road salt may adversely affect braking
efficiency. It may therefore be necessary
to apply the brakes more forcefully in or-
der to achieve the same braking force as
normal.
iW h e n t h e y h a v e b e e n r e m o v e d , s t o r e
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 sur-
face due to the increased difference in
speed between the engine and the drive
wheels at this time.
Do not downshift for additional engine
braking on a slippery surface. Use the ser-
vice brake in accordance with road condi-
tions. Only downshift to a lower gear
when traveling at a low engine speed.
nf_BA.book Page 406 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

409 Operation
Maintenance and servicing
4
\3 Maintenance and servicingWarning
G
Before carrying out maintenance opera-
tions and repairs, please make sure that
you read the relevant sections of the tech-
nical documentation, such as:Operating instructions and workshop in-
formationFamiliarize yourself in advance in particu-
lar with legal requirements, such as:Safety at work and accident prevention
regulations.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
You may otherwise fail to recognize dan-
gers and could injure yourself or others.When working underneath the vehicle,
you must place the vehicle on stands with
sufficient load-bearing capacity.Never use the vehicle jack instead. There
is a risk that the vehicle jack could give
way and the vehicle could drop, seriously
injuring yourself or others, or causing
damage to property.
Continued
Warning (Continued)
G
The jack is only designed to raise the ve-
hicle for a short time.Always have the maintenance work car-
ried out and checked at an authorized
Sprinter Dealer which has the necessary
specialist knowledge and tools to carry
out the work required.
Continued
nf_BA.book Page 409 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

410 OperationMaintenance and servicing
4
Mechanical elements and the lubricants
used for them must be carefully
matched.
For this reason, only brands tested and
approved by the manufacturer should be
used. Please contact your Sprinter Deal-
er to obtain the necessary information.
No lubricant additives should be used.
The use of such additives could affect
your warranty rights. Information is
available from any authorized Sprinter
Dealer.For specifications of engine oils, coolant
and brake fluid, see "Service products
and capacities" (
\2
page 604) and con-
tact your authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Observe the information on spare parts
in the “Technical data” section
(
\2
page 600).
Warning (Continued)
G
The manufacturer recommends that you
use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this
purpose. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must
be carried out at an authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
Service products
Warning
G
If handled incorrectly, service products
can constitute a health risk for people and
an environmental hazard.
Always observe relevant guidelines for
handling, storing and disposing of service
products.
nf_BA.book Page 410 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

416 OperationCleaning and care of the vehicle
4
\3 Cleaning and care of the vehicleRegular and proper care will help to
maintain the value of your vehicle. The
best way to protect your vehicle from
harmful environmental influences is to
wash it and use protective treatments
regularly.Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas af-
fected by corrosion and damage caused
by neglect or inadequate care cannot al-
ways be completely remedied. In such
cases, visit an authorized Sprinter Deal-
er.
Repair damage caused by loose chip-
pings and remove the following sub-
stances immediately:
\4
Insect remains
\4
Bird droppings
\4
Tree resin
\4
Oils and grease
\4
Fuel
\4
Tar stainsWash the vehicle more frequently in win-
ter to remove salt residue.
iIt is recommended that you use
Mopar care products. These have
been specially adapted to Sprinter
vehicles and are state of the art.
Mopar care products are available
from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Warning
G
Always follow the instructions for using
the care products.
Always keep care products sealed and out
of the reach of children.
Do not use fuel as a cleaning agent. Fuel
is flammable and constitutes a health haz-
ard.
nf_BA.book Page 416 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM