113 Controls in detail
Driving and parking
3
Do not accelerate to prevent your vehicle
from rolling backwards on an uphill gradi-
ent. Instead, you should either use the
handbrake or depress the brake pedal.
This prevents excessive wear on the
clutch.
Select a lower gear (shift range 3, 2 or 1)
(\2page 123) in good time on long and
steep downhill gradients, especially if tow-
ing a trailer. This prevents the brakes from
overheating and wearing too rapidly.
It is best not to stop the vehicle immediate-
ly after the brakes have been subjected to
an extreme load; continue driving for a
short time instead. The brakes are cooled
down more quickly in the airflow.The first time the brakes are applied after
a long period of driving in heavy rain with-
out braking, it is possible that:
\4there will be a delayed braking
response
\4you will need to depress the brake
pedal more firmly
You should therefore maintain a greater
distance from the vehicle in front.
Apply the brakes so that you can feel their
response after a journey on wet roads,
especially if the road has been salted. The
brake discs will be warmed, dry more
quickly and be protected against corro-
sion.
If you make only moderate use of the ser-
vice brake, check from time to time that it
is fully functional. To do this, brake more
sharply at a higher vehicle speed. The
brake will grip better as a result.For safety reasons, the manufacturer rec-
ommends that you only have brake pads /
linings installed on your vehicle that have
been approved for the Sprinter.
Brake pads /linings that have not been ap-
proved for the Sprinter could affect your
vehicle’s operating safety.BrakingWarning
G
There is no power assistance for the service
brake when the engine is not running.
You will need to use significantly more force
to brake and could therefore lose control of
the vehicle and cause an accident.
Never switch off the engine while driving.
Warning
G
Make sure that other road users are not put
at risk by your braking.
iIn exceptional cases, the handbrake
can be used for emergency braking if
the service brake fails (\2page 115).
116 Controls in detailDriving and parking
3
Stopping the engine
\1Apply handbrake (\2page 115).
\1Move selector lever to P.
\1Turn key to position 0 (\2page 67) in
the ignition lock and remove it.
The immobilizer is activated.\1Secure the vehicle at the front axle if
unloaded and at the rear axle if loaded,
e.g. using a chock (\2page 303).
Drinking and drivingSteering
!
CAUTION
If the coolant temperature is raised,
e.g. following driving in mountainous
terrain, run the engine at idling speed
for a further 1 or 2 minutes before you
switch off the engine. This allows the
coolant temperature to return to nor-
mal again.
iWhen parking on steep uphill or down-
hill gradients, turn the front wheels to-
wards the curb.iYou can only remove the key from the
ignition lock when the selector lever is
in positionP.
General driving tipsWarning
G
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs
and driving are very dangerous combina-
tions. Even a small amount of alcohol or
drugs can affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgment. The possibility of a serious or
even fatal accident is sharply increased
when you drink or take drugs and drive.
Never drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive after drinking or taking
drugs.
Warning
G
There is no power-steering assistance when
the engine is not running.
You will need to use significantly more force
to steer and could therefore lose control of
the vehicle and cause an accident.
Never switch off the engine while driving.!
CAUTION
Do not hold the steering wheel in its
end positions for longer than neces-
sary (e.g. when turning or maneuver-
ing).
The hydraulic pump can be damaged
by the increased temperature of the
hydraulic fluid.
340 Practical hintsJump-starting
5
\3 Jump-startingIf the starter battery in the battery recess
in the driver’s footwell is discharged, the
engine can be jump-started from another
vehicle using jump leads.
For this purpose, the vehicle is equipped
with a jump-starting connection point.
Please note:
\4Jump-starting must only be performed
when the engine and catalytic convert-
er are cold.\4Do not start the engine if the battery
has frozen. Let the battery thaw out
first.
\4Only use a battery of the same rated
voltage and of approximately the same
capacity for jump-starting.
\4Only use jumper cables of adequate
cross-section with insulated battery
terminal clamps.
\1Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
\1Apply the handbrake or move the se-
lector lever to positionP.
\1Switch off all electrical consumers.
\1Switch on the battery isolating switch*
if necessary (\2page 197).\1Remove the key from the ignition lock.
\1Open the hood (\2page 185).
The jump-starting connection point is on
the left-hand side of the air cleaner in the
engine compartment when looking in the
direction of travel.
Jump-starting connection point1Positive terminal clamp of jumper ca-
ble
\1Remove the positive terminal cover
from the donor battery.
\1Connect positive terminal of donor bat-
tery 2 to jump-starting connection
point 1 with the jumper cable. Start
with the donor battery.
iThe auxiliary battery* in the engine
compartment is not suitable for jump-
starting operations. Only use the jump-
starting connection in the engine com-
partment if you require jump-starting
assistance or wish to provide jump-
starting assistance.!
CAUTION
Avoid repeated and lengthy starting at-
tempts.
Never start the vehicle using a rapid
battery charger.
Warning
G
Avoid creating sparks. Keep naked flames
away from the battery, and do not smoke.
Comply with safety precautions and special
protective measures when handling batter-
ies (\2page 195).
\2\2
378 Indexmaneuvering
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
one-touch gearshifting
. . . . . . . . . . 122
releasing the parking lock manually
305
selector lever positions
. . . . . . . . . 121
shift ranges
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
stopping
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
towing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343
trailer towing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
working on the vehicle
. . . . . . . . . . 124
Auxiliary heating
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
heater booster function
. . . . . . . . . 137
malfunctions
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264
with water heater
changing the remote control
batteries
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
remote control
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
selecting a switch-on time
. . . . . 142
setting the switch-on time . . . . . 143
B
Bar
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
BAS
see Brake Assist
Battery
auxiliary
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
charge indicator lamp
. . . . . . . . . . 273check lamp (auxiliary heating remote
control)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141
display message
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
in the auxiliary heating remote
control
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 316
in the engine compartment
. . . . . . 337
in the key
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315
indicator lamp (key)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
isolating switch
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
recharging
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
reconnecting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339
removing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 337
safety notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
starter battery
disconnecting
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 336
Bead
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
Belt force limiters
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Bi-xenon headlamps . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
driving abroad
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Body builder guideline
. . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Bottle holder
see Cup holders
Brake Assist (BAS)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
display message
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 291
indicator lamp
. . . . . . . 268
, 269
, 270
malfunction
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 270Brake fluid
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 362
checking the brake fluid level
. . . . 192
display message
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Brake lamp
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 309
changing bulbs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310
high-mounted third brake lamp
. . . 309
Brake pads/linings
display message
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
wear indicator
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
Brake system
brake pad/lining wear
indicator
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273
, 289
indicator lamp
. . . . . . . . . . . . 268
–269
malfunction
. . . . . . . . . 270
, 271
, 291
Braking
driving tips
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Breaking in . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Bulbs
changing
see Changing bulbs
display message
. . . . . . . . . . . 292
, 293
C
Capacities
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Cards holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Care
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 241
automatic car wash
. . . . . . . . . . . . 242
B
C
380 Indextemperature gauge
(vehicle with steering wheel
buttons)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 255
Cornering lamps
changing bulbs
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307
Correct use
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Cruise control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
deactivating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
display message
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
downhill gradients . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
lever
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
malfunction
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 287
problems
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 263
setting the speed
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
uphill gradients
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Cup holders
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167
Curb weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228
D
Dashboard lighting
see Instrument lighting
Data cards, vehicle
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 373
Dehumidification
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Delayed switch-off
exterior lighting
(vehicles with steering wheel
buttons)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104Department of Transportation
see DOT
Diesel
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 359
consumption
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 366
low outside temperatures
. . . . . . . 360
reserve fuel warning lamp . . . . . . . 276
tank capacity
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 365
Diesel engine
preglow indicator lamp
. . . . . 111
, 276
winter driving
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 360
Digital speedometer
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Digital total distance recorder
. . . . . 6
Direction of rotation (tires)
. . . . . . 204
Disconnecting the battery . . . . . . . 335
Display
vehicles with steering wheel buttons
display messages
. . . . . . . . . . . . 284
outside temperature . . . . . . . . . . . 93
standard display
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
vehicles without steering wheel buttons
display messages . . . . . . . . . . . . 281
outside temperature . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Door control panel
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
opening the door . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
power windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Doors
display message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 298
locking and unlocking
. . . . . . . . . . . 52opening/closing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
DOT
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 225
, 229
Downhill gradients
cruise control
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
parking
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
, 116
Drinking alcohol or taking drugs and
driving
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Drinks holder
see Cup holders
Driving abroad
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
Driving on flooded roads
(fording)
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
Driving safety system
. . . . . . . . . . . . 42
see Antilock Brake System (ABS)
see Acceleration Skid Control (ASR)
see Brake Assist (BAS)
see Electronic brake force distribution
(EBV)
see Electronic Stability Program (ESP
®)
Driving system
. . . . . . . . . . . . 147
–153
cruise control
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
malfunctions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 262
Parktronic
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
reverse warning feature
. . . . . . . . . 153
Driving tips
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
automatic transmission
. . . . . . . . . 123
braking
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
driving abroad
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
D