Sprinter 313 - How Does Speed Limiter Work?

[RGBP472]

I drive Sprinter 313 vans at work and they're limited to 62 MPH.

When going downhill on the motorway, they sit at bang on 62 MPH. Does anyone know how this type of limiter works? You'd expect it to creep up slightly going down hill...like cruise control does.

Someone suggested the van could be applying the brakes but I'm not sure as you'd think you'd be able to feel that.

It's not a rev limiter either as dropping it into 4th, the rev counter goes up near the red (they're autos so 4th is the lowest you can get it into at 62 MPH).

[GreenV8S]

RGBP472 said:

like cruise control does

Not like any modern cruise control I'm familiar with.

I don't know how your speed limiter works but it might be either built into a drive-by-wire system, or simply cut power at the target road speed just like a rev limiter would.

I wouldn't expect it to apply the brakes but it might be applying engine braking - just as if you have taken your foot off the throttle.

If you put the gearbox into neutral, does the vehicle speed up?

[RGBP472]

GreenV8S said:

If you put the gearbox into neutral, does the vehicle speed up?

No...it slows down.

[stevieturbo]

Find a bigger hill.

[Krikkit]

Chances are it'll be cutting power to ensure you don't go over it - a lot of cruise control systems have a little hysteresis built in to make them smoother for the user and will wander by a few mph on hills etc.