122 Controls in detailAutomatic transmission
3
When the selector lever is in position D,
you can perform gearshifts yourself, even
on vehicles with automatic transmission.
Downshifting
\1Press the selector lever to the left to-
wards D–.
The automatic transmission restricts
the shift range (\2page 123) by one
gear. The automatic transmission shifts
to the next gear down, depending on
the gear currently engaged.Upshifting
\1Press the selector lever to the right to-
wards D+.
The automatic transmission extends
the shift range by one gear. The auto-
matic transmission shifts to the next
gear up, depending on the current
gearshift program.
Derestricting the shift range
\1Press and hold the selector lever to-
wards D+ until
D is shown once more in
the display.
The automatic transmission shifts from
the current shift range directly to D.
ë
Neutral
No power is transmitted from
the engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the brakes will allow
you to move the vehicle freely,
e.g. by pushing or towing.
Do not move the selector lever
to N while the vehicle is in mo-
tion. The automatic transmis-
sion could otherwise be
damaged.
If ASR is deactivated or ESP
®
has malfunctioned: only move
the selector lever to N if the ve-
hicle is in danger of skidding,
e.g. on icy roads.
ê
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear automatically. All
5 forward gears are available.
One-touch gearshifting Warning
G
Do not downshift for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery surface. The drive wheels
may lose their grip and the vehicle could
skid.
iThe automatic transmission does not
shift down if you press the selector le-
ver towards D– and the speed of the
vehicle is too high. The engine could
otherwise overrev.
143 Controls in detail
Auxiliary heating/ventilation*
3
\1Press the è button.
The switch-on time is selected.
The yellow indicator lamp in theö
switch comes on.
Setting the switch-on time
Operating system without steering
wheel buttons
\1Select a switch-on time as described
under “Selecting a switch-on time”
(\2page 142).\1Press the reset button on the instru-
ment cluster to set the selected switch-
on time.
The hours figure flashes and the”
symbol appears in the display.
\1Set the hours using the or am
button on the instrument cluster.
\1Press the reset button.
The minute display flashes.
\1Set the minutes using the or
button.Operating system with steering wheel
buttons
\1Select a switch-on time as described
under “Selecting a switch-on time”
(\2page 142).
\1Press thej button.
The
Hours
menu appears in the display.
\1Set the hours using theæ orç
button.
\1Press thej button.
The
Minutes
menu appears in the dis-
play.
\1Set the minutes using theæ
orç button.
\1Press the è button.
The switch-on time is set and selected.
iIf you turn the key to position0 in the
ignition lock, the yellow indicator lamp
in theö switch goes out after
30 minutes.
The red indicator lamp in theö
switch comes on when the auxiliary
heating switches on.
iIf you keep the button pressed, the val-
ues will change continuously.
To return to the standard display:
\4press and hold the button on
the instrument cluster for more
than 1 second
\4do not press a button for
10 seconds
iTo return to the standard display, press
theè or ÿ button repeatedly
until the standard display appears.
147 Controls in detail
Driving systems
3
\3 Driving systemsDriving systems which may form part of
your vehicle are described on the following
pages:
\4Cruise control* (\2page 147), which
you can use to control the speed of
your vehicle
\4Parktronic system*, which is an aid for
parking and maneuvering
(\2page 150)
\4Reverse warning feature*, which helps
you ensure the safety of other road us-
ers (\2page 153)
The ABS, BAS, ESP
®, ASR and EBV driving
safety systems are described in the "Safe-
ty and Security" section (\2page 23).Cruise control maintains the speed of the
vehicle for you.
Use cruise control if road and traffic condi-
tions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You
can store any road speed above 20 mph
(30 km/h).
Cruise control*iThe increments for setting speed and
the threshold values for switching on or
automatically switching off cruise con-
trol depend on the digital speedometer
setting, mph or km/h (\2page 99).Warning
G
The cruise control function cannot take ac-
count of road and traffic conditions.
Always pay attention to road and traffic
conditions, even when cruise control is acti-
vated.
Cruise control is only an aid designed to as-
sist driving. You are responsible for the vehi-
cle’s speed and for braking in good time.
If there is a change of drivers, advise the
new driver of the cruising speed that is
stored.Warning
G
Do not use cruise control:
\4if road and traffic conditions do not per-
mit a constant driving speed to be main-
tained (e.g. heavy traffic or winding
roads). You could otherwise cause an
accident.
\4on slippery roads. The drive wheels may
lose their grip when braking or acceler-
ating and the vehicle could skid
\4when visibility is poor, e.g. in fog, heavy
rain or snow
200 OperationTires and wheels
4
Only use wheels and tires which have been
tested and approved by the vehicle manu-
facturer.
Warning
G
Do not use a tire, wheel size or rating other
than that specified for your Sprinter vehicle.
Some combinations of unapproved tires and
wheels may change suspension dimensions
and performance characteristics, resulting
in changes to steering, handling, and brak-
ing of your Sprinter vehicle. This can cause
unpredictable handling and stress to steer-
ing and suspension components. You could
lose control and have an accident resulting
in serious injury or death. Only use the tire
and wheel sizes with load ratings approved
for your Sprinter vehicle, refer to "Tire and
loading information".
Never use a tire with a smaller load index or
speed index or capacity other than what was
originally equipped on your Sprinter vehicle.
Using a tire with a smaller load index could
result in tire overloading and failure. You
could lose control and have an accident.
Failure to equip the vehicle with tires having
adequate speed capability can result in sud-
den tire failure and loss of vehicle control.
!
CAUTION
Replacing original tires with tires of a
different size may result in false speed-
ometer and odometer readings.
Warning
G
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires have
sustained damage, replace them.
When replacing rims, only use genuine
wheel bolts approved by the vehicle manu-
facturer and specified for the particular rim
type. Failure to do so can result in the bolts
loosening and possibly an accident.
Do not use retreaded/remolded tires. This
process does not always permit previous
damage to be detected. Therefore vehicle
safety cannot be guaranteed if retreaded/
remolded tires are fitted.
Warning
G
Fitting other wheel sizes to the vehicle will
change the vehicle’s handling characteris-
tics and may lead to an accident resulting in
death, severe personal injuries and property
damage.
Only certain tires meeting the tire size/
load/speed rating specifications are certi-
fied to conform to FMVSS 110 for the
Sprinter vehicle at this time. Please check
your side walls of your originally equipped
tires for specific makes/sizes, and speed
load ratings when you need to replace your
tires.
To prevent accidents resulting in possible
death, severe injury or property damage,
use only the tire and wheel sizes with load
ratings approved for your Sprinter vehicle
for your tire replacement.
Refer to "Tire and loading information"
(\2page 205).
201 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
Cuts and punctures in radial tires are re-
pairable only in the tread area because of
side wall flexing. Consult an authorized tire
dealer for radial tire repairs.\4Only use sets of tires and rims of the
same type and make.
\4Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.
\4Break in new tires for approximately
65 miles (100 km) at moderate
speeds.
\4Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can
cause tire inflation pressure loss or
damage to the tire beads.
\4If the vehicle is heavily loaded, check
tire inflation pressure and correct as
required.
\4Do not allow your tires to wear down
too far. Adhesion properties on wet
roads are sharply reduced at tread
depths under
1/8in (3 mm) for sum-
mer tires and
1/6in (4 mm) for winter
tires.
Radial-ply tiresWarning
G
Combining radial ply tires with other types
of tires on your Sprinter vehicle will change
the vehicle’s handling characteristics and
may lead to an accident resulting in death,
severe personal injuries and property dam-
age. Always use radial ply tires in sets of 4
(or 6, in case of vehicles with dual rear
wheels).
Never combine them with other types of
tires.
Tire valves (snap-in valves)Warning
G
Sprinter tire valves are tested and approved
under rough operating conditions.
The installation of additional hub caps or
other wheel simulators could cause damage
to the tire valve and lead to a loss of tire
pressure at the valve stem.
Do not install any of these parts on your
Sprinter vehicle. To help ensure safe and re-
liable operation of your Sprinter vehicle,
only use parts and accessories tested and
approved by the vehicle manufacturer for
your Sprinter vehicle.!
CAUTION
For safety reasons, the following tire
valves from the Schrader company
must be used on the vehicles:
\4TR 600 for vehicle model type 2500
\4TR 418 for vehicle model type 3500
Other tire valves could be damaged by
the specified tire pressures.Important guidelines
212 OperationTires and wheels
4
The placard lists the recommended cold
tire inflation pressures for all load conditi-
ons up to the maximum permissible weight
limits (GAWR). The tire inflation pressures
listed apply to the tires installed as original
equipment.
Important notes on tire inflation pres-
sure
Tire temperature and tire inflation pressure
are also increased while driving, depending
on the driving speed and the tire load.
Tire inflation pressure changes by approxi-
mately 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per 18 °F (10 °C)
of air temperature change. Keep this in mind when checking tire inflation pressure
where the temperature is different from
the outside temperature.
For example:
If the inside temperature is 68 °F (20 °C)
and the outside temperature is 32 °F
(0 °C) then the cold tire inflation pressure
should be increased by 3 psi (0.2 bar),
which equals 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) for every
18 °F (10 °C) for this outside temperature
condition.
Check tire pressures more often if subject
to a wide range of outdoor temperatures,
as tire pressures vary with temperature
changes.Warning
G
If the tire inflation pressure repeatedly
drops:
\4Check the tires for punctures from for-
eign objects.
\4Check to see whether air is leaking from
the valves or from around the rim.
Warning
G
Tire pressure may increase during opera-
tion.
Never reduce this normal pressure build up
or your tire pressure will be too low.
Underinflated tires wear excessively and/or
unevenly, adversely affect handling and fuel
economy, and are more likely to fail from be-
ing overheated.
231 Operation
Tires and wheels
4
TWR (T
ongue W
eight R
ating)
Maximum permissible weight on the trailer
tongue.
Uniform tire quality grading standards
A tire information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire’s traction,
temperature and treadwear. Ratings are
determined by tire manufacturers using
government testing procedures. The rat-
ings are molded into the side wall of the
tire.
Vehicle capacity weight
Rated cargo and luggage load plus
68 kilograms (150 lbs) times the vehicle’s
designated seating capacity.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire
Load on an individual tire that is deter-
mined by distributing to each axle its share
of the maximum loaded vehicle weight and
dividing it by two.
Tires on the front and rear axles of vehicles
operate at different loads and perform dif-
ferent steering, driving and braking func-
tions. For these reasons, they wear at unequal rates, and develop irregular wear
patterns. These effects can be reduced by
timely rotation of tires.
The benefits of rotation are especially
worthwhile with aggressive tread designs
such as those on On/Off Road type tires.
Rotation will increase tread life, help to
maintain mud, snow, and wet traction lev-
els, and contribute to a smooth ride.
If applicable to your vehicle’s tire configu-
ration, tires can be rotated according to
the tire manufacturer’s recommended in-
tervals in the tire manufacturer’s warranty
pamphlet located in your vehicle literature
portfolio. If none is available, tires should
be rotated every 10,000 miles
(16,000 km), or sooner if necessary, ac-
cording to the degree of tire wear.
The same rotation (spinning) direction
must be maintained when mounted, see
"Direction of rotation" (\2page 204).
Rotate tires before the characteristic tire
wear pattern becomes visible (shoulder
wear on front tires and tread center wear
on rear tires).
Rotating tiresWarning
G
Rotate front and rear wheels only if they are
of the same dimension.
Changing the tire dimension for an axle
\4could cause the tire to come into con-
tact with the vehicle body or axle parts.
Damage to the tire or the vehicle may be
the result.
\4could result in changes to steering, han-
dling, and braking of your Sprinter vehi-
cle. This can cause unpredictable
handling and stress to steering and sus-
pension components. You could lose
control and have an accident resulting in
serious injury or death.
\4could result in tire overloading and fail-
ure, if the tires' load index are not iden-
tical. You could lose control and have an
accident.
232 OperationTires and wheels
4
The reasons for any rapid or unusual wear
should be corrected prior to rotation being
performed.
Thoroughly clean the mounting face of
wheels and brake disks, i.e. the inner side
of the wheels/tires, during each rotation.
Check for and ensure proper tire inflation
pressure, refer to "Recommended tire in-
flation pressure" (\2page 210).
Rotation pattern for single and dual rear
wheelsSingle rear wheels:
\1Rotate the tires by axle. Never change
the direction of rotation of your tires.
\1Make sure that on one axle just one
type of tire (same size, type construc-
tion, load and speed rating) is used.
!
CAUTION
If your vehicle is equipped with the tire
pressure monitor*, each wheel has an
electronic component.
Tire mounting tools should not be ap-
plied in the area of the valve, as this
could damage the electronic compo-
nents.
Have the tires changed only at an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Warning
G
In order to avoid loosing a wheel and in or-
der to reduce the risk of fatal or serious in-
juries or vehicle damage, please follow
these safety instructions:
\4Always replace wheel bolts that are
damaged or rusted.
\4Never apply oil or grease to wheel bolts.
\4If a wheel hub thread is damaged, you
must not drive the vehicle. Consult an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Only use genuine wheel bolts approved
by the vehicle manufacturer and speci-
fied for your vehicle’s rims. Check tight-
ness of wheel bolts or nuts regularly and
retighten with a torque wrench, if neces-
sary. Tighten wheel bolts or nuts in a
crisscross pattern. For information on
mounting bolts and tightening torques,
refer to "Installing a wheel"
(\2page 320).
\4After changing a wheel, the wheel bolts
or nuts must be retightened after the ve-
hicle has been driven for about 30 miles
(50 km).
\4If new or repainted rims are fitted, the
wheel bolts or nuts must be retightened
again after about 600 to 3000 miles
(about 1000 to 5000 km).