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Affordable knowledgeable Sprinter Repair Service Mechanic in Nashville or Atlanta?

T270_Dreamin

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Stuck in Park please help. 2006 Sprinter. Need to get it repaired. Can tow to Nashville or Atlanta. Driver is upset. Need to fix asap. Thanks in advance. :) If anyone know a guy who is qualified and fixes these on the side that works also. Just a honest person or a shop that is good, prefer a independent over dealer. Also a dealer works as well if that is all there is.
 
Turtle

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Re: Affordable knowledgeable Sprinter Repair Service Mechanic in Nashville or Atlanta

First thing to do is stick a pen, pencil, or a screwdriver down in that spot below the -D+ on the shifter to get it out of PARK. Then you can drive it to wherever it needs to go.

It's almost certainly a brake light bulb burned out or a faulty brake light switch, or a blown fuse (#5 usually) under the steering column. It's a fairly common problem.

A faulty ABS sensor or some other brake failure can also cause it, tho.

The brake switch might just need to be "reset."
Here's the switch, circled in red:

attachment.php


Lying on the floor looking up into the underdash area where the brake parts are located you will first see the brake pedal then connected several inches higher, the rod going to the master cylinder then just above that by a couple of inches the brake pedal pivot/mounting point - just above that is the end of the pedal lever - you will find the brake switch that touches the end of the pedal to activate the brake lights and deactivate the cruise control. It is a small white plastic square with a "plunger" coming out of it to touch the end of the brake lever. With the engine running, press the brake pedal down as far as it will go and grab the "plunger" and pull it toward the end of the brake. It will come out from the switch and make a sound like very fine comb teeth being brushed across a piece of hard plastic. That is self adjusting teeth in the plunger that obviously did not self adjust.
 
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T270_Dreamin

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Re: Affordable knowledgeable Sprinter Repair Service Mechanic in Nashville or Atlanta

Thanks Turtle VERY helpful post, Wanye Rodd mentioned the exact same thing. He didn't mention the ABS sensor I hope its not that because I know that takes more work/parts. Funny thing is the van was just in Toledo yesterday at Wayne's shop for a oil change.
 
Turtle

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Re: Affordable knowledgeable Sprinter Repair Service Mechanic in Nashville or Atlanta

I only mention the ABS sensor because it is one thing that won't let it out of PARK. But it's not all that common. If you start the engine and the ABS light (and the spinning tire light) stays on, then the ABS sensor could be bad (unlikely) or the sensor has gotten out of alignment at one of the wheels (usually after a brake pad change or something like that). Replacing the clockspring in the steering wheel and not getting the steering position sensor back in the proper position, or having the steering severely out of alignment, can also cause the ABS light to remain on and thus. More common with these issues are a loss of power brakes (and, of course, ABS brakes), but will generally still let you put it in gear without the pen/pencil trick.

Most likely, it's a brake light, or the fuse, or the brake switch (either replace or "reset"), in that order. In any of those cases you should be able to get in out of PARK and drive it to someplace to get a fuse, bulb or have the switch replaced, without towing it.

The earlier Sprinters had dual filament brake light bulbs. If you put the bulb in upside down the brake lights would be on when the brake pedal isn't being touched, and then they'd go out as soon as you press the pedal. The exact opposite of how they're supposed to work. When that happened the van wouldn't even start. A lot of tow bills got paid over something that simple (and that stupid, engineering-wise, IMHO).
 
T270_Dreamin

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Re: Affordable knowledgeable Sprinter Repair Service Mechanic in Nashville or Atlanta

Last I heard from driver the fuse kept blowing when they tried putting a new one in, any thoughts on that Turtle? It sounds like a wiring issue. She is going to try and get it in drive and head to Toledo to see Wayne.
 
Turtle

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Re: Affordable knowledgeable Sprinter Repair Service Mechanic in Nashville or Atlanta

Yeah, fuse that keeps blowing pretty much has to be a short somewhere. It's probably not in the primary wiring harness, so it should be a lot easier to track down.
 
T270_Dreamin

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
Re: Affordable knowledgeable Sprinter Repair Service Mechanic in Nashville or Atlanta

Turtle said:
Yeah, fuse that keeps blowing pretty much has to be a short somewhere. It's probably not in the primary wiring harness, so it should be a lot easier to track down.
Click to expand...

Turns out a forklift knocked off the rear metal cargo trim piece off. She went and got some long screws to screw it down and went right through the wiring harness that feeds the rear electrical connections. Had the van towed to local dodge dealer and there was a diesel mechanic there with 13 yrs experience and he helped here fix it for $200 took about 3 hours, I ended up splitting that with her. Always good to keep the driver happy even if it is her mistake. Could have been a lot worse, we are back on the road tomorrow hopefully with a decent load and 3 days left in the week. Goal is to be at 1500 miles, possibly more.

Turtle do you happen to be on Sprinter Source? You seem pretty knowledgeable about these vans, enough to contribute some good advice on the forums. :)
 
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T270_Dreamin

T270_Dreamin

Veteran Expediter
Owner/Operator
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