2008 DODGE SPRINTER brake

393 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
1Plies in side wall
2Plies under tread
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the side wall
and under the tread.
Accessory weightThe combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced)
of automatic transmission, power steer-
ing, power brakes, power windows, pow-
er seats, radio, and heater, to the extent
that these items are available as factory-
installed equipment (whether installed
or not).
Tire ply material
iFor illustrative purposes only. The
actual data on tires is specific to
each vehicle and may vary from the
data shown in the above illustration.
Tire and loading terminology
nf_BA.book Page 393 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

397 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Production options weightThe combined weight of those installed
regular production options weighing
over 5 lbs (2.3 kg) in excess of those
standard items which they replace, not
previously considered in curb weight or
accessory weight, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy
duty battery, and special trim.PSI (P
ounds per S
quare I
nch)
A standard unit of measure for air pres-
sure. Another metric unit for air pres-
sure is bar or kilopascal (kPa).
Recommended tire inflation pressureRecommended tire inflation pressure for
normal driving conditions listed on the
tire and loading information placard
1 or
on the tire inflation pressure placard lo-
cated on the driver’s door B-pillar.
Provides best handling, tread life and
riding comfort.
RimA metal support for a tire or a tire and
tube assembly upon which the tire
beads are seated.
Side wallThe portion of a tire between the tread
and the bead.TIN (T
ire I
dentification N
umber)
Unique identifier which facilitates efforts
by tire manufacturers to notify purchas-
ers in recall situations or other safety
matters concerning tires and gives pur-
chases the means to easily identify such
tires. The TIN is comprised of the “man-
ufacturer’s identification mark”, “tire
size”, “tire type code” and “date of man-
ufacture”.
1. For vehicles with a gross weight capacity less
than 10 000 lbs (4 536 kg) (USA only).
nf_BA.book Page 397 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

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

407 Operation
Winter driving
4
Apply the brakes regularly when making
longer journeys on gritted or salted
roads. This will have the effect of restor-
ing the brakes to their normal level of
performance.
When stopping the vehicle after travel-
ing on roads that have been salted,
check that the brakes are fully functional
before proceeding further.
Use "Class U" chains, or other traction
aids that meet SAE Type "U" specifica-
tions.Snow chai ns m us t be the p rope r si ze f or
the vehicle, as recommended by the
chain manufacturer. They should only be
driven on snow-covered roads at speeds
not to exceed 30 mph (50 km / h). Re-
move chains as soon as possible when
driving on roads without snow.Snow chains
!
CAUTION
Use snow chains on rear wheels only.
Some tire sizes do not leave ade-
quate clearance for snow chains. To
help avoid serious damage to your
vehicle or tires, use of snow chains is
not permissible with the spare wheel.
iWhen driving with snow chains, you
may wish to deactivate the ASR
(\2
page 73) before setting the vehi-
cle in motion. This will improve the
vehicle’s traction.
nf_BA.book Page 407 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

417 Operation
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
4
Environmental note
H
Only clean the vehicle in a suitable place
for washing vehicles. Dispose of empty
containers and used cleaning materials in
an environmentally responsible manner.iIf you need to clean the areas to-
wards the top of the vehicle, always
use\4
suitable ladders
\4
secure steps
!
CAUTION
Under no circumstances should you
affix unsuitable stickers, films, mag-
nets or similar to painted surfaces.
You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
Care of the vehicle!
CAUTION
After cleaning your vehicle, especial-
ly the wheel rims with rim cleaner, do
not simply park the vehicle and leave
it. Rim cleaners can promote corro-
sion of the brake discs and the brake
pads / linings. Before parking and
leaving the vehicle after cleaning, al-
ways warm the vehicle up to normal
operating temperature first.
nf_BA.book Page 417 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM

419 Operation
Cleaning and care of the vehicle
4
After using an automatic car wash, wipe
off wax from the windshield and the wip-
er blades. This prevents smears and re-
duces wiping noises which can be
caused by residue on the windshield.High-pressure cleaners\1
The minimum distance that must be
maintained between the vehicle and
the nozzle of the high-pressure
cleaner is:\4
approximately 2.2 ft (70 cm) for
round-spray jets
\4
approximately 1 ft (30 cm) for
25° flat-spray jets and concen-
trated-power jets
\1
Move the high-pressure cleaner noz-
zle around when cleaning your vehi-
cle.
!
CAUTION
Do not use high-pressure cleaners
with round-spray jets for cleaning the
tires. You could otherwise damage
the tires. Have damaged tires re-
placed.
!
CAUTION
To avoid damage, do not aim directly
at the
\4
door joints, brake hoses, electri-
cal components, connectors or
seals
\4
the rear view camera* or the
microphone openings on the un-
derside of the rear view camera*.
\4
Maintain a minimum distance of
1.6 ft (50 cm).
nf_BA.book Page 419 Friday, January 25, 2008 3:53 PM