just rolled over 200,000 miles on the sprinter

[hondaking38]

just letting people no that i have finally passed the 200,000 mile mark on the sprinter, i bought it in june of 2005, and so far it has been maitenance free..minus fluid and filter changes, also changed the serpentine belt 2 times as a precaution..it still has the original brake pads on it..i expect around june i will change the pads and rotors, because of wear...knock on wood it has never broken down yet..however i am sure it is coming eventually...just a quick note to let others who are thinking of buying one..would i buy another one?? yes i am already contemplating a 2007 when they become more readily available... now if only all those mile were actually paid miles i would surely be singing in the rain

 

[OntarioVanMan]

My 2005 just turned 168,000 and ditto for repairs, haven't done the belts yet though and same schedule for brakes as you. We're thinking of maybe a 2008 or 09 as a replacement time line.

 

[TJ959]

I have 170,000 on my 2005. I have had two minor repairs which were very costly but neither were things I could have diagnosed for myself. I have the origional brakes and all front end parts are fine and showing no wear at all. I'm told that the flow through the EGR is slightly restricted and will need to be changed fairly soon. I have changed the serpentine belt once and will change it again in the next few weeks. I changed it the first time at 110,000 and found it was ready to go, chipped and cracked. I know they have a reputation ( in Sprinters) of doing damage to the AC clutch and other items under the hood if they break. I am very satisfied with my Sprinter.

 

[pellgrn]

Do you idle? if so how long between EGR value cleanings?

 

[TJ959]

I idle mine when I need to recharge the auxillary batteries or if it gets to hot for my old chubby hide inside the van. When I idle it I use an idle stick and hold it at about 1000 rpm. The new style Egr is not as easy to open up and clean as the old style. There may be a way to clean it but it's not real obvious. If anyone is doing it. I'd sure like to know how they're doing it.

 

[sprtrste]

I am on my second Sprinter. The first locked up at 395k (turbo), and the 2nd has 2 leaking injectors at 184k. The injectors can't be fixed( locked in the motor). It's a throw away. $7,559 for a running complete rebuilt, plus labor. Check your injectors by taking cover off, and, seeing if they are leaking. My 02 had two glow plugs that would'nt come out at over 200k, and, now the injectors #1 and #5 would'nt come out waisting the motor. I spent $1,131 trying to replace the injectors. In the end I am having to spend another $9,500 for the rebuilt after two years. Got the rebuilt from Gollings Arena Dodge in Dayton, Oh. Motor did'nt run from jump street. Now they are taking over 6 days just to authorize a replacement- still not authorized. Will probably be down for ten, or, more days just waiting on authorization. I would'nt buy a light bulb from those guys now.

 

[RLENT]

I can imagine the frustration .......

The injectors can't be fixed( locked in the motor). .......

Just curious - says who ?

If it's a Dodge Dealer you might be better off taking it to a diesel repair facility or diesel machine shop. It's entirely possible that the dealer's motivation is to simply R & R something - they probably make more $$$ that way - as opposed to pulling the head and sending it out to a shop that actually repairs the things. Could also be an issue of what they want to warranty and what they don't.

My 02 had two glow plugs that would'nt come out at over 200k

If ever there was a good case for Anti-Seize compound (Permatex, Fel-Pro, etc.), the two above would be it - others be forwarned - aluminum is prone to seizing and galling.

FWIW, I had the injection pump and injectors rebuilt on a 6.9L International that was in an E-350 cube van I used to own - the bill was over $1500 - and that was about 20 years ago - and I pulled them and took them into the shop. Good work doesn't come cheap.