Sprinter
- Thread starter DAN
- Start date
289,000 miles....glow plugs and oil separator....Minor
only 60% wear on front brakes and NO major problems...YET!
2005 158" high top....
only 60% wear on front brakes and NO major problems...YET!
2005 158" high top....
I replaced my belt tensioner at about 68,000 miles, then again after another 68,000 miles, then it tossed another serpentine belt a couple months later. The water pump pulley was toast, and I think it may have been the problem all along. At about 125,000 the lower ball joints were a little loose, so I had those replaced. All minor stuff. Other than that, just regular maintenance.
Turtle you reminded me....I too changed my serpintine belt last year....
I too have a little wiggle in passenger side lower ball joint...the master plan is to do both bottom ball joints put in new struts and do front brakes at the same time...that way I save some labour charges instead of doing them separate since ya gotta take one off to get at the other...that is the plan anyhow...and ya know how plans can go....
I too have a little wiggle in passenger side lower ball joint...the master plan is to do both bottom ball joints put in new struts and do front brakes at the same time...that way I save some labour charges instead of doing them separate since ya gotta take one off to get at the other...that is the plan anyhow...and ya know how plans can go....
The Enemy
Veteran Expediter
I have an '06 Long and Tall, was put in service in April '07. Its currently at 107K. So far the only problems have been an O2 sensor at 65K and then a belt and belt tensioner at 92K. I still have the well known tranny rumble strip noise, but it only happens during city driving. Besides that no major problems......yet. I do all the regular maintenance myself as much as possible.
I believe its all in how you drive the van, how much you load it with and also I strongly believe in preventive maintenance.
I believe its all in how you drive the van, how much you load it with and also I strongly believe in preventive maintenance.
Already? Yours come with them Continetals??
I got 150,000 miles on my first set of tires. Up to 145,000 on second set. I have replaced my fuel injectors at 185,000 miles. Alternator around 275,000, many belts and pullies.
Also, some 2008 Sprinters are on a recall for no rear end oil. I have spoken with two drivers that both had to have the rear ends replaced due to this.
Also, some 2008 Sprinters are on a recall for no rear end oil. I have spoken with two drivers that both had to have the rear ends replaced due to this.
Eddie....your one of the few with injector failure so soon.
Were you using any kind of additive at the time?
Did they tell you how they failed or probable cause?
Were all 5 bad or did they just change them as a set?
Were you using any kind of additive at the time?
Did they tell you how they failed or probable cause?
Were all 5 bad or did they just change them as a set?
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RLENT
Veteran Expediter
2006 - just rolled 99K on the way home the other day. Had one of the (air intake/temp) sensors replaced at 1500 miles. And the rack and pinion replaced at 4500 miles after I caught a curb with the steering wheel at full lock. Both under warranty.
Other than that just normal maintenance - oil changes, fuel filter, and tranny service. Still have the original tires with 5/32 or 6/32 left ... hoping I can squeeze those out to 110K or 120K.
I have a couple of current issues:
1. Temperature gauge reading high. When new, the coolant temp gauge generally read around 180 or just a little over that - if the vehicle was really working (a good load and hils) it might go up to halfway in the white segement to the left of the 180 degree mark. Now, it consistently runs at that point in mildly warm weather (70 to 80 degrees) essentially unloaded at highway speeds. If I have a load on and am pulling hills in warm weather it will easily go to the middle point between 250 and 180 - and perhaps beyond. Had it checked at the dipwad local dealer and they said "It's fine ....." ..... they supposedly checked the actual coolant temp with a probe thermometer and I think the reading was 191 degrees. Dunno if they actually took it out and ran it hard.
Was talking to an Express-1 driver with the same year and model and he said that he was running a load down into the Carolina's and his the coolant temp gauge started climbing higher and higher and eventually buried itself to the left - past the 250 mark. Really freaked him out. Long story short, the unit had not overheated - the coolant temperature sending unit had gone south - replaced it and the gauge read correctly again. Hoping that's what's going on with mine.
2. Slow loss of coolant over time. This past winter when it was cold out I was doing some work inside the vehicle and I was idling to warm it up. Switched on the Espar Coolant Heater (aka heater booster) to speed the warm up and went back inside the house until it had warmed up. A few minutes later I heard some chugging and looked back out the kitchen window and there was a good-sized cloud of white smoke/steam coming from the front of the vehicle. Ran outside and shut it off. Couldn't find anything obvious. Restarted and isolated the noise and steam as coming from the left front wheelwell - out of the muffler for the coolant heater. I'm thinking that the water jacket for the coolant heater has cracked and is allowing coolant into the combustion chamber - hence a slow loss of coolant whenever the heater booster is on. I've been running with it off. Talked to another guy with Bolt that has the same year and model a couple of weeks ago over in Gary - he had the exact same thing happen.
Other than that just normal maintenance - oil changes, fuel filter, and tranny service. Still have the original tires with 5/32 or 6/32 left ... hoping I can squeeze those out to 110K or 120K.
I have a couple of current issues:
1. Temperature gauge reading high. When new, the coolant temp gauge generally read around 180 or just a little over that - if the vehicle was really working (a good load and hils) it might go up to halfway in the white segement to the left of the 180 degree mark. Now, it consistently runs at that point in mildly warm weather (70 to 80 degrees) essentially unloaded at highway speeds. If I have a load on and am pulling hills in warm weather it will easily go to the middle point between 250 and 180 - and perhaps beyond. Had it checked at the dipwad local dealer and they said "It's fine ....." ..... they supposedly checked the actual coolant temp with a probe thermometer and I think the reading was 191 degrees. Dunno if they actually took it out and ran it hard.
Was talking to an Express-1 driver with the same year and model and he said that he was running a load down into the Carolina's and his the coolant temp gauge started climbing higher and higher and eventually buried itself to the left - past the 250 mark. Really freaked him out. Long story short, the unit had not overheated - the coolant temperature sending unit had gone south - replaced it and the gauge read correctly again. Hoping that's what's going on with mine.
2. Slow loss of coolant over time. This past winter when it was cold out I was doing some work inside the vehicle and I was idling to warm it up. Switched on the Espar Coolant Heater (aka heater booster) to speed the warm up and went back inside the house until it had warmed up. A few minutes later I heard some chugging and looked back out the kitchen window and there was a good-sized cloud of white smoke/steam coming from the front of the vehicle. Ran outside and shut it off. Couldn't find anything obvious. Restarted and isolated the noise and steam as coming from the left front wheelwell - out of the muffler for the coolant heater. I'm thinking that the water jacket for the coolant heater has cracked and is allowing coolant into the combustion chamber - hence a slow loss of coolant whenever the heater booster is on. I've been running with it off. Talked to another guy with Bolt that has the same year and model a couple of weeks ago over in Gary - he had the exact same thing happen.
Mine runs a tad to the left of 180 but always has...and uphill with a load goes past midpoint of left...almost 250 but again always has....guess we'll see next time down in Laredo.
That coolant loss...was that an espar problem??
That coolant loss...was that an espar problem??
RLENT
Veteran Expediter
I believe it is - but understand - it is the Espar Coolant Heater - the one that comes on the vehicle from the factory (aka the "Heater Booster") - not the Espar Air Heater that I had installed to heat the inside.
The coolant loss seems to increase when the Heater Booster is used. When it isn't used, any coolant loss is minimal, or insignificant.
CharlesD
Expert Expediter
Yep, cheap stuff they were. They looked pretty good for the first 60k miles, then just went downhill from there.
RLENT
Veteran Expediter
A little update:
I just did a little diagnostic after warming the Sprinter up. I used a thermometer with about a 7" probe that I could stick down in the coolant. With the coolant gauge in the vehicle showing around 200 to 215 (just guessing based on it's position, almost 1/2 across the white block to the left of the 180 mark) the thermometer read about 180. So it looks like the sending unit (which is in the thermostat housing up near the oil filter cap) is toast. Ordered a new one from Europarts San Diego. Cost $18.
On the coolant loss/Espar heater booster issue - talked to Ray at Espar of Michigan and told him what had happened. He suggested either coming in or pulling the unit and sending it in. Apparently he has a test bench where he can check them out. He thought it might only be a bad o-ring, although he did say that it could also be a cracked waterjacket.
If you are thinking about upgrading to Koni shocks check out Summit Racing - the best prices I've found so far - $175 ea. for the front struts and $130 ea. for the rear shocks. They don't stock them - but they do list them and can order them. BTW, they list the front struts for the Sprinter 3500 only - the 2500 uses the same part no.
I just did a little diagnostic after warming the Sprinter up. I used a thermometer with about a 7" probe that I could stick down in the coolant. With the coolant gauge in the vehicle showing around 200 to 215 (just guessing based on it's position, almost 1/2 across the white block to the left of the 180 mark) the thermometer read about 180. So it looks like the sending unit (which is in the thermostat housing up near the oil filter cap) is toast. Ordered a new one from Europarts San Diego. Cost $18.
On the coolant loss/Espar heater booster issue - talked to Ray at Espar of Michigan and told him what had happened. He suggested either coming in or pulling the unit and sending it in. Apparently he has a test bench where he can check them out. He thought it might only be a bad o-ring, although he did say that it could also be a cracked waterjacket.
If you are thinking about upgrading to Koni shocks check out Summit Racing - the best prices I've found so far - $175 ea. for the front struts and $130 ea. for the rear shocks. They don't stock them - but they do list them and can order them. BTW, they list the front struts for the Sprinter 3500 only - the 2500 uses the same part no.
Three of the five were leaking, replaced all five.
No additives
Well, I have talked with a few folks who replaced theirs with less miles than I had. Strong smell of fuel from A/C.
On another note... finnaly got a load... headed to the windy city!!
hondaking38
Veteran Expediter
2005 sprinter 270,000 camshaft timing sensor
280,000 new transmission
282,000 front wheel bearing
in shop as we speak new air flow sensor and r/f wheel spindle
next week on ebay...
280,000 new transmission
282,000 front wheel bearing
in shop as we speak new air flow sensor and r/f wheel spindle
next week on ebay...