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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........

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Don L C

10-29-2006 18:43:22




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I have a 2003 Dodge Sprinter 2500 van.....It is made in Germany by Mercedes Benz and assembled in this country by Chrysler....it is a Mercedes 5 cyl turbo diesel with a electronic 5 speed auto trans..... great van for the disabled,requires no modifing, its large.....

The problem is if the battery runs very low, the trans will only move forward in 2nd gear.....

dealer will not tell me or furnish instructions on how to reset the trans.....

I must drive in 2nd gear or have it towed to a dealer that services the Dodge Sprinter..... van....not all Dodge dealers service them.....

I am afraid to travel in it.....

Can any one help me get this information?

Its setting in my driveway right now....only 2nd gear..... we left a inside light on overnight....we have recharged the battery,but now must get it to the dealer to have the trans re-set.....

this will be the third time in 3 years (we had battery problems, when it was new)....

Thanks for your help - e-mail is open.....Don

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caleb

10-30-2006 20:36:05




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 Heres what I know in reply to Don L C, 10-29-2006 18:43:22  
I work at UPS on the night shift here in College Station TX. We have nine sprinters or whatever they are called (freightliner tag) and the mechanic said that they have to send them in to be reprogrammed at the dealer. He said he hasnt had that exact problem but knows that it has occured at other hubs. I know that we are always down at least one. We have only had all nine here a few times that I can remember. Hope this helps. Caleb

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Davis In SC

10-30-2006 07:01:46




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 Re: OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........ in reply to Don L C, 10-29-2006 18:43:22  
FedEx has a bunch of Sprinters, & I see some UPS ones, also... If there is a Fedex terminal near, it might be worth trying to talk to their mechanic, to find out how to reset.



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Don L C

10-29-2006 21:28:43




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 Re: OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........ in reply to Don L C, 10-29-2006 18:43:22  
tinyy -----

No voltage is what causes the problem,how can disconecting the battery fix the problem?..... I do know that a very low battery, one that wont start the engine.....stil shifted the trans. once I got a jump started.....

If this thing needs to be hooked up to a computer every time the battery goes dead..... who would buy the van to start with..... like me, they dont know it at that time they buy....

Some how I need some way to keep the tranny with 12v juice when the srarting battery is dying.....

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Bob

10-30-2006 07:31:29




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 Re: OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........ in reply to Don L C, 10-29-2006 21:28:43  
Put a GOOD battery in it, and invest in a $15.00 to $50.00 battery maintainer to keep that battery at peak charge when the vehicle sits unused for a while.

Disconnecting the battery for a while MAY very well reset the 'puter. I have a mid 90's Chevy pickup with the 4L80E electronic transmission, and, several times over the years, the tranny has gone "flaky" after a weak battery start.

Letting it run to charge up the battery, then shutting it down and unhooking the battery cable for a few minutes has always fixed that one, apparently clearing the 'puter's memory, and causing it to re-boot with clean data from ROM memory. Usually time for a new battery, too, so it doesn't happen again!

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Gerald J.

10-30-2006 07:18:14




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 Re: OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........ in reply to Don L C, 10-29-2006 21:28:43  
Low voltage can put a computer into orbit. It reads memory wrong, executes a misread instruction that sends it to an address that isn't instruction but is data and its hung. Removing voltage completely for a while (and it can take a while for capacitors on the supply line to completely discharge) gets the cold start reset circuit to work and puts it back on track.

Most control computers also have a reset sequence but if the computer is in orbit with bad instructions, it won't talk to the external diagnostic device anyway.

Gerald J.

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davpal

10-29-2006 21:17:18




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 Re: OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........ in reply to Don L C, 10-29-2006 18:43:22  
Problem is you have a very expensive vehicle that is a yard ornament. I do too. I have a lincoln navigator that will not get past second gear sometimes and it is sitting at the dealer right now trying to get figured out. It goes into neutral going down the highway sometimes and I have to limp it home in second gear. I think first and second gear are manually controlled and third and fourth or in your case third fourth and fifth are computer shifted. The dealer thinks mine has a faulty powertrain computer. They have one ordered. I think you probably have something similar wrong with yours. The code readers don't always give them the answer they need so they start guessing and changing parts. I would bet you may have a faulty ECM on your van too. Good luck> I feel your pain.

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504-1

10-29-2006 20:31:15




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 Re: OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........ in reply to Don L C, 10-29-2006 18:43:22  
Don, You should be able to have your local Freightliner Truck dealer fix it or tell you how to do it. Freighter sells the same van under the Freightliner name.(Take a wild guess who owns Dodge and Freightliner)



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Don L C

10-29-2006 21:40:08




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 Re: OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........ in reply to 504-1, 10-29-2006 20:31:15  
Like all the other American car companys....Chrysler and MERCEDES BENZE JOINED UP TO SHARE IDEAS AND PARTS....in Germany this van is badged under Mercedes.....



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Don L C

10-29-2006 20:59:00




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 Re: OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........ in reply to 504-1, 10-29-2006 20:31:15  
The Freight linner dealer in my area wont work on the Dodge .....I think he has it in for me ....his price was $4,000 higher when I bought my Dodge



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MN Scott

10-29-2006 19:27:53




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 Re: OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........ in reply to Don L C, 10-29-2006 18:43:22  
I have no experence with this van but most likely they have to hook up a scan tool to reset the trans computer.



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tinyy

10-29-2006 19:20:11




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 Re: OT Dodge Sprinter Van - Trans problem........ in reply to Don L C, 10-29-2006 18:43:22  
Some time when you unhook the battery for some time like an hour it will reset the computer back to factory settings atleast that is what I have been told on other cars. worth a try.



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