Dodge Sprinter

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Dodge Sprinter
Dodge
Production	2004-Present
Class	Full-Size Van
Body Style	4-door passenger or cargo van 2- door commercial truck
Length	197-263 in.
Width	76.1 in.
Height	93.1-103.6 in.
Wheelbase	118-158 in.
Weight	4657-5242 lbs.
Transmission	5-speed automatic
Engine	2.7 liter turbocharged inline-5
Power	154 hp @ 3800 RPM 243 lb-ft @ 1600-2400 RPM
Similar	Ford E-Series GMC Savanna Chevrolet Express Freightliner Sprinter
Designer

The Dodge Sprinter is a tall delivery van, pickup truck and minibus built by DaimlerChrysler. It is mechanically identical to the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter sold in Europe, and the Freightliner Sprinter sold primarily to commercial applications.

For 2004, DaimlerChrysler introduced a Dodge-branded version of the Sprinter to replace the aging Dodge Ram Van. While the Sprinter is offered to individuals, it is primarily a business model. The Sprinter's main US competitors include the Ford E-Series, the Chevrolet Express, and ironically, older models of the Ram Van. In Europe and elsewhere, the main competitor is the Ford Transit. Overall around 1.3 million Sprinters have rolled off the assembly lines. The Dodge Sprinter sold 19,578 units in the United States in 2005, while Freightliner sold approximately 2,500 units. While giving it just 3.5% of the full-size van market, the van has gained immense popularity in the United States and Dodge and Freightliner have had difficulty keeping up with demand.

The current model designations are W901, W902, W903, W904 & W905 depending on the maximum permitted weight.

Dodge Sprinter owners have been discussing a possible flaw in the “Turbo Resonator”. Apparently they are plastic and the seal at a seam fails, causing boost pressure to be lost and making the computer detect a catastrophic turbo failure. Symptoms are a “Limp Home Mode” such as sudden decrease from highway speeds to about 35 mph. Because it is a seam leak it is not visually obvious when the engine is off, yet it still causes the computer to detect a failure during operation. Some claim that Chrysler-Daimler knows about this problem, but so far there has not been any service bulletin to their dealers on this issue.

2007

On the US market, the current Sprinter will be replaced in early 2007. This model will be assembled for the United States at a plant in Ladson, South Carolina that is currently utilized by American LaFrance, a former business unit of Freightliner LLC. The 2007 version is a complete redesign from the prior model. In 2007, the current 2.7 liter inline 5 cyliner turbodiesel will be replaced in the US with a choice of V6 turbodiesel or V6 gasoline engine. DaimlerChrysler plans to invest $35 million (USD) to prepare the plant for the assembly of Sprinter vans from kits imported from Europe.

Sprinter cargo vans are a popular choice of cargo van expediters in the United States. Such expediters are similar to truck drivers except they take smaller loads and will wait in a town indefinitely after unloading until dispatchers find another customer nearby to transport goods. The advent of the Sprinter van with its cargo space of 13 1/2 feet has allowed van expediters to take three 48" X 48" skids or pallets where previously they were confined to two. A Sprinter driver is capable of hauling approximately 3000 lb. of cargo. The pool of Sprinter drivers gives more choice, efficiency and flexibility to trucking companies and their customers.

Sprinter model Line-up

• Sprinter Passenger Van
• Sprinter Cargo Van
• Sprinter Cab/Chassis

See also

• Mercedes-Benz - Worldwide of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
• Dodge - USA & Canada of Dodge Sprinter
• Freightliner LLC - USA & Canada of Freightliner Sprinter

Other links

• Official International website of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
• Official Dodge Sprinter website
• Official Freightliner Sprinter website
• AutoGuideWiki.com
• Discussion of Power-Loss Issues