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mdavis4444
07-28-2006, 02:04 PM
2002 Sprinter, Long and tall. Used for frieght delivery.
For those of you who don't know 306,000 miles is equivalent to
circling the earth 12 times. (at least per my son)

These are the repairs required so far this may look like alot but
most is minor, some is my own fault and we are talking about 300,000
miles

ELECTRICAL

Too many lightbulbs (make sure the dealer gives you a case of low
beams when you buy your truck) have not replaced a high beam

Two batteries, first one was replaced on first day when truck
wouldn't start. After many trys jump starting on 2nd battery I
forced the ecu into limp home mode. Required dealer to clear codes.

Side marker lights (ones on side not on fenders) these were
blowing frequently till I put wrong bulbs in and melted one of the
sockets, finally pulled fuse and quit replacing bulbs)

Door locks quit working around 170,000 have been using key manually
since

Passenger side electric window switch sticks occassionally has done
so since day one, continued even after dealer replaced.

Radio quit working for 2 days in first week or so, then started
working again, dealer replaced anyway.

Right rear defroster no longer works, this is actually because
switch mounts at door hinge busted after like 500,000 closings

Cruise Control quit working and ittermittant power loss around
200,000 miles, ended up being brake pedal return spring not pulling
pedal back enough to de-activate switch, truck thought brake was
applied and cut back throttle and turned off cruise control. This
was first noticed as loss of power or de-activation of cruise when
hitting bumps. Didn't figure out till wife was following and asked
why I kept hitting brakes.

Signals started intermittantly not working or erratic operating
around 175,000 miles, was relay that worked itsself loose.

Brakes

Front pads last 60 - 80,000 miles, rotors last for two pads
Back pads change out at second front pad change
Back Rotors change out at second front rotor change

Suspension

Pin on leaf spring that centers axle on left leaf spring broke at
around 200,000 miles, poor boy fixed, lasted till 300,000 miles,
poor boy fixed again

Shocks
Lasted like 290,000 miles, started uneven wear of tires at around
280,000, replaced at 306,000 miles. (not fun riding on springs)

Tires

Usually pep boys 80-100,000 miles

EGR

Have replaced one

Belts

One went out around 25,000 miles, fixed under warranty
2nd went out around 200,000 miles (my fault for not replacing it)
when 2nd went out it went while doing 75, it took out transmission
cooler line and part of fan shroud. You will empty your
transmission of fluid if this happens this will happen 100 miles
from home, there will not be a transmission cooler line in the US.
A local hydraulic hose company will end up making a replacent for
less than $5.00.

Pulleys and fans

Because of above belt failure, within two weeks, fan clutch siezed
and sheared destroying fan as well. Then belt tensioner pulley fell
out next day. Replaced 2nd belt tensioner one week later when
replacement tensioner cracked.

Air Conditioning and Heating

Replaced blower at around 225,000 miles


Various leaks

After performing own tranny filter change at around 80,000 miles
developed small (miniscule leak) now must add a quart every 20,000
miles or so
Have a small oil leak somewhere (hard to tell where with 300,000
miles of dirt on engine) between leak and consumption I add a quart
every 6000 miles or so.
Small leak blow by at egr/manifold mating surface.

Oil Changes

every 14,000 miles or so per ASSYST, have always used rotella

Misc

Door adjustment, required a few times but not since I backed into a
horse trailer and fixed it for good.

Driver seat foam starting to wear down at left edge but fabric
intact and has been molded into a comfortable imrpession of my rear
end.

A dog can wear a hole about the size of a dollar bill in the
passenger seat fabric in just over 100,000 miles, there appears to
be a 2nd layer of gray fabric under that.

A few cracks, dings and stars in windshield, haven't touched them.
Defroster will propagate cracks during single digit temperatures.

Lost spring that keeps gas lid shut when your door is open. Tape
now keeps it closed between fill ups.

Dog put wieght on ash tray, ash tray will fall out if fully extended
now.

Dog broke slats on far passenger air vent.

Have needed one alignment

Summary
Little bit louder, with more creaks and groans and rattles, couple
of minor dents, few surface rust spots on some door edges and at
battle scars. Frieghtliner signs fell off in first year from heat
and vibration, Still drives straight, still get 19-21 mpg depending
on head wind and right foot. Still hauling 2000-3500 lbs every day,
300-500 miles a day, 75% highway, 25% city.

JDHertz
08-04-2006, 06:45 AM
Don’t feel bad, I own a fleet of 25 2004-2005 2500 SHC's and everything you've gone through in 308,000 miles has barely lasted 75K. I am having major issues with belt tensioner's, intermittent loss of power, electrical gremlins, etc. I maintain the hell out of the trucks, never saying no to the dealer when they tell me something else is wrong and needs to be repaired. Yet the Daimler Chrysler field reps make it sound like I'm doing something wrong. I have since started buying Mitsubishi Fuso's (10) with custom boxes on the back because D/C doesn’t care to fix the problems with servicing dealers and warranty. My next step is a lawsuit with D/C........maybe they'll listen then.........

Dodgevanman
08-04-2006, 10:35 AM
Not impressed with the Sprinter. Dodge should've redesigned the Ram Van, but those pesky Germans......

JDHertz
08-04-2006, 12:04 PM
I have run Dodge's, Ford's , Chevy's etc. They are a joke for fleet use. The Sprinter seems to fit our needs on paper. If could park a Sprinter at one location all day and work out of it I would be just fine. The problem is that these trucks need to move to make $$. The more you drive them the worse they break. Dont get me wrong I love the Sprinter Van, I just dislike everything having to do with reliability and servicing.