SPRINTER OWNERS I NEED HELP!
- Thread starter dean07
- Start date
volunteer 1
Expert Expediter
Volunteer
After you put a few miles on your Sprinter you will start seeing black exhaust soot around the wheel wells. I suspect that is your problem. I had two, a 03 and a 05, both did this.
Good Luck, Don
After you put a few miles on your Sprinter you will start seeing black exhaust soot around the wheel wells. I suspect that is your problem. I had two, a 03 and a 05, both did this.
Good Luck, Don
greg334
Veteran Expediter
1 - go to the dealer and have the entire exhaust checked. If they can't find the leak, replace it all to be safe.
2 - open the windows and live with the odor.
3 - get a CO2 detector and use that in conjunction with the open windows.
4 - spend the $1500 or what ever it is and get an Espar or Webasto heater and don't idle.
5 - do what I have had to do, get nice sleeping bag and warm clothing for the night and small heater for the morning. I had no problem with 10 below.
6 - sell the sprinter and buy a new one.
2 - open the windows and live with the odor.
3 - get a CO2 detector and use that in conjunction with the open windows.
4 - spend the $1500 or what ever it is and get an Espar or Webasto heater and don't idle.
5 - do what I have had to do, get nice sleeping bag and warm clothing for the night and small heater for the morning. I had no problem with 10 below.
6 - sell the sprinter and buy a new one.
I have three friends that had fumes coming into their Sprinters. On all three it turned out to be leaking copper seals in their fuel injectors. The fuel turned into tar from the heat of the engine. The heads got carboned up and two of them had to replace their engines. One has to replace only the head if the mechanic can remove the bolts without braking them. If not she will also need a new engine.
If your Sprinter mechanic doen't know about this problem call up Nashville Dodge and ask for Kevin. He had to deal with two of them that I know of.
There have been so many of these problems that several Dodge dealers are recommending that you change the copper seals every 100,000 to 120,000 miles.
If your Sprinter mechanic doen't know about this problem call up Nashville Dodge and ask for Kevin. He had to deal with two of them that I know of.
There have been so many of these problems that several Dodge dealers are recommending that you change the copper seals every 100,000 to 120,000 miles.
RLENT
Veteran Expediter
I'd basically agree with most of Greg's suggestions - although the last two would be tough. I don't think ya need to get a new Sprinter and if ya decide that sleeping in air that's below 60 degrees works for you, ask them to give the pneumonia vaccine when ya get your flu shot ..... me, I couldn't do it myself.
Another thing to consider is getting a short tailpipe extension - to make sure that the exhaust is actually venting away from the underside of the vehicle.
Reason why: all along the inside lower body edge, there are little slits that are approximately 1/2" wide x 1" long - these are condensation drain holes - and they the cavity that they are draining goes all the way up into the interior of the vehicle, unobstructed by anything. Unless you seal these off - or have significant positive airflow into the Sprinter (check that cabin air filter to make sure it's not clogged up) these drain holes can allow outside air to come in. With warm exhaust, simply by convection.
I've idled mine quite a few times overnight - and I have a working CO dectector - I did have it go off at one point - but it was not while I was sitting idling, interestingly.
Getting the Espar is probably a good investment if you can swing it - more economical in the long run, saves wear and tear on your engine, and is vented to the outside. I just had one put in myself up at Espar of MI.
And Marty's suggestion seems like it would be worthwhile to explore.
Another thing to consider is getting a short tailpipe extension - to make sure that the exhaust is actually venting away from the underside of the vehicle.
Reason why: all along the inside lower body edge, there are little slits that are approximately 1/2" wide x 1" long - these are condensation drain holes - and they the cavity that they are draining goes all the way up into the interior of the vehicle, unobstructed by anything. Unless you seal these off - or have significant positive airflow into the Sprinter (check that cabin air filter to make sure it's not clogged up) these drain holes can allow outside air to come in. With warm exhaust, simply by convection.
I've idled mine quite a few times overnight - and I have a working CO dectector - I did have it go off at one point - but it was not while I was sitting idling, interestingly.
Getting the Espar is probably a good investment if you can swing it - more economical in the long run, saves wear and tear on your engine, and is vented to the outside. I just had one put in myself up at Espar of MI.
And Marty's suggestion seems like it would be worthwhile to explore.
SHARP327
Veteran Expediter
I don't have a sprinter but I use to have the same problem, what I noticed was while running the engine and having the heater slection switch set on either floor or defrost or the combination of the two and even if the A/C was set on fresh (outside air) it would suck in exhaust fumes....I found that by using the A/C on the max air setting and the temp selector on heat it wouldn't draw the fumes in because the A/C will be re-circulating the air in the truck instead of bringing in the outside air which contains the fumes.
I agree with the other folks that you should have it checked out ASAP but this may get you by long enough till you're able to find a fix.
Crack open a window for safety sakes!
I agree with the other folks that you should have it checked out ASAP but this may get you by long enough till you're able to find a fix.
Crack open a window for safety sakes!
G
guest
Guest
injectors seals...do it yourself is not a big deal
hondaking38
Veteran Expediter
fumes come from your auxillary heater, it comes from around the drivers side front tire.. you will see the pipe sticking out...keep that down wind and you should stop the smell..