Ford Vans with Sprinter bodies types
- Thread starter OntarioVanMan
- Start date
I warehouse all my parts at Europarts of San Diego and Berry Dodge of Corsicana. Overnight shipping is available from both, and both have parts cheaper than most dealers. There's also Autozone for a surprising number of parts.
Most Sprinter repairs do not require a Sprinter technician, but for those that do I have a "DAD" DRB III diagnostic tool to read the codes on the laptop.
For the repairs that require an actual German, there's always Andy Bittenbinder out of Pittsburgh.
Most Sprinter repairs do not require a Sprinter technician, but for those that do I have a "DAD" DRB III diagnostic tool to read the codes on the laptop.
For the repairs that require an actual German, there's always Andy Bittenbinder out of Pittsburgh.
I warehouse all my parts at Europarts of San Diego and Berry Dodge of Corsicana. Overnight shipping is available from both, and both have parts cheaper than most dealers. There's also Autozone for a surprising number of parts.
Most Sprinter repairs do not require a Sprinter technician, but for those that do I have a "DAD" DRB III diagnostic tool to read the codes on the laptop.
For the repairs that require an actual German, there's always Andy Bittenbinder out of Pittsburgh.
Maybe most repairs don't require a Sprinter technician, but they do require somebody who will at least agree to open the hood and look. I was surprised by how few Dodge and Freightliner dealers will even agree to let you bring it in. When I busted a hose near Sioux Falls, SD, the Freightliner dealer wouldn't even talk about it, but fortunately the Dodge dealer handled Sprinters and I found out from him just how hard it is to get help with these things. Fortunately he had the hose in stock so I was rolling that same day, but--- this is where American iron is favored. Imagine going to a Ford dealer and finding out he won't even look at your E-350. Imagine finding out that, amongst half a dozen mechanic shops in the area you break down in, you're lucky to find one-- even one only--- who will open the hood on your Chevy G-2500. I found that more common than I like to think about with the Sprinter.
Oh, I know. I know.
I had a water pump go out in Texas, but got it working enough to get to the delivery in southern Louisiana, and then looked for someone to replace it. I supplied the part, but everyone was afraid of it. "We don't work on Sprinters." And I'm like, "It's a water pump. A w a h h h t e r pump. Every engine's got one." Third phone call got it done, a small shop that had better mechanics than the dealers, anyway.
As for the analogy of taking a Ford to a Ford dealer and not getting it worked on, I can honestly say that I've never taken my Sprinter to a Sprinter dealer and had them tell me they wouldn't work on it.
I had a water pump go out in Texas, but got it working enough to get to the delivery in southern Louisiana, and then looked for someone to replace it. I supplied the part, but everyone was afraid of it. "We don't work on Sprinters." And I'm like, "It's a water pump. A w a h h h t e r pump. Every engine's got one." Third phone call got it done, a small shop that had better mechanics than the dealers, anyway.
As for the analogy of taking a Ford to a Ford dealer and not getting it worked on, I can honestly say that I've never taken my Sprinter to a Sprinter dealer and had them tell me they wouldn't work on it.
Dakota
Veteran Expediter
Really it's no different then when Dodge put out the first minivan and everyone tried to put out their own, or when Jeep had the cherokee(the first modern SUV) and everyone jumped on that train
Right now it is the new version of the van
greg334
Veteran Expediter
Seriously?
Jeep ... a modern SUV?
um... maybe the first compact SUV but regardless what is claimed Range Rover seems to be one of the first.
When they put four doors on a regular old jeep, ... never mind it is all the same anywho.
Dakota
Veteran Expediter
yeah, mass marketed compact 4x4 suv, I know their were many before them
Just like Dodge called themselves the inventor of the minivan
What was the Volkswagen Bus? LOL
Dakota
Veteran Expediter
greg334
Veteran Expediter
So was I, the Cherokee (XJ).
I know the claim is there but there are a lot of others which can make the claim and rightfully so. Range Rover was I think the first four door SUV, with bronco and blazer being before that and the suburban being even earlier.
The VW 'bus' was not a minivan in the strictest sense but nevertheless it can be considered a minivan, as the caravan is. The caravan wasn't the first one, Dodge didn't invent it, they defined it and there were many more before the caravan. I think a mid-60's Ford Transit from the UK could be considered a minivan.
I know the claim is there but there are a lot of others which can make the claim and rightfully so. Range Rover was I think the first four door SUV, with bronco and blazer being before that and the suburban being even earlier.
The VW 'bus' was not a minivan in the strictest sense but nevertheless it can be considered a minivan, as the caravan is. The caravan wasn't the first one, Dodge didn't invent it, they defined it and there were many more before the caravan. I think a mid-60's Ford Transit from the UK could be considered a minivan.
Dakota
Veteran Expediter
So true, the suburban came out way befor the cherokee, so did the Bronco. Funny how everyone claims to be the first or the inventor LOL