transmission will not shift up if the shift
range is restricted.
003A
The automatic transmission shifts
through all five gears.
0042
The automatic transmission shifts
only as far as fourth gear.
0040
The automatic transmission shifts
only as far as third gear.
This position allows you to use the
braking effect of the engine.
0038
The automatic transmission shifts
only as far as second gear.
This position is for journeys in
arduous conditions, in
mountainous terrain or on steep
mountain roads. You can use the
engine's braking
effect
on downhill
gradients. 0037
The automatic transmission only
works in first gear.
The braking
effect
of the engine can
be utilized on extremely steep
downhill gradients and long
downhill stretches. Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the
automatic transmission shifts gear:
R
little throttle: early upshifts
R lots of throttle: later upshifts Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X
Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear down, depending on the engine
speed.
X Ease off on the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission
shifts up again.
Stopping If you only need to stop briefly:
X
Leave the selector lever in the drive
position.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
using the brake pedal.
Maneuvering Maneuvering in a tight space:
X
Control the vehicle's speed by braking
carefully.
X Accelerate only slightly and avoid jolting.
i For rapid maneuvering (e.g. to rock the
vehicle out of
snow or slush), you can shift
back and forth between drive position D
and reverse gear R at low speeds without
applying the brakes.
Towing a trailer X
Run the engine in the moderate engine
speed range on steep uphill gradients.
X Depending on the uphill or downhill
gradient, shift down to shift range 3 or
2(Y page 115), even if cruise control is
switched on.
Working on the vehicle G
Warning
Apply the parking brake and move the
selector lever to P when working on the Automatic transmission
115
Controls
Z
Resuming the stored speed
G
Warning
Only select a stored speed if you know what
that speed is
and whether it is suitable for the
current driving and traffic situation. You can
otherwise endanger yourself and others by
unintentionally triggering sudden
acceleration or braking.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow 0047.
X Release the accelerator pedal.
Cruise control is
activated and resumes the
vehicle's speed to the last speed stored.
i When you first move the cruise control
lever in the direction of arrow 0047 after
starting the engine, cruise control is
activated and the current road speed is
stored.
Setting the speed G
Warning
The rate at which you increase the speed in
increments of 1 mph (1 km/h) may be faster
than your vehicle is able to accelerate. Your
vehicle may
then continue to accelerate up to
the newly set speed even after you have
released the cruise control lever.
Only increase the speed as the prevailing
conditions permit. Sudden acceleration could
otherwise endanger you and others.
X Briefly push the cruise control lever
upwards 0046 to increase the speed or
downwards 008A to reduce the speed.
The last speed stored is increased/
reduced in increments of 1 mph
(1 km/h
).
or
X Press and hold the cruise control lever
up 0046 or down 008A until the desired speed
has been reached.
X Release the cruise control lever.
The current speed is stored. i
Cruise control is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. If you
accelerate briefly, e.g. to overtake, and
then ease off the accelerator pedal again,
cruise control adjusts the vehicle's speed
to the last speed stored.
Deactivating cruise control There are various ways to deactivate cruise
control:
X
Briefly push the cruise control lever
forwards 0088.
or
X Apply the brakes.
The last speed set remains stored.
i The last speed set is deleted when you
switch off the engine.
i Cruise control is deactivated
automatically when:
R you apply the brakes.
R you apply the parking brake and the
0066 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
R you are driving slower than 20 mph
(30 km/h).
R ESP ®
or ASR intervenes.
R you shift the automatic transmission to
neutral position N while the vehicle is in
motion.
R there is a malfunction in the ESP ®
, ASR
or ABS system. PARKTRONIC
General notes G
Warning
PARKTRONIC is only an aid and may not
detect all obstacles. It is not a substitute for
attentive driving.
You are always responsible for safety and
must continue to pay attention to your Driving systems
119
Controls
Z
X
Make sure that the automatic transmission
is set to position P.
X Engage the vehicle's parking brake.
X Close the rear doors.
X Couple the trailer.
X Establish all electrical connections. Trailer coupled ready for use
Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements
concerning the
towing
of a trailer, e.g. speed
restrictions. Make sure that your vehicle/
trailer combination complies with the local
requirements not only in your area of
residence but also at any location to which
you are traveling. The police and local
authorities can provide reliable information.
Please observe the following when towing a
trailer:
R To acquaint yourself with driving with a
trailer and with the resulting changes to
handling, you should practice cornering,
stopping and reversing in a traffic-free
location.
R Before driving, check:
-trailer coupling
- safety switch for braked trailers
- safety chains
- electrical connection
- lights
- wheels R
Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of
the rear section of the
trailer.
R If the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away slowly, brake manually
using the brake controller and check that
the brakes are functional.
R Secure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is
in motion.
R If you couple up a trailer, regularly check
that the cargo is secure and make sure that
the trailer lamps and (if applicable) the
trailer brakes are functioning correctly.
R Bear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when
driving without one. Avoid sudden steering
movements.
R The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly and has a
decreased gradient climbing capability and
a longer braking distance.
It is more susceptible to crosswinds and
requires cautious steering.
R If possible, do not brake abruptly; apply the
brakes moderately to begin with to allow
the trailer to activate its brakes. Then
increase the pressure on the brake pedal.
R If the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears when driving on
inclines, restrict the shift range. Select shift
range 4, 3, 2 or 1.
Driving in a low gear and at a low speed
reduces the risk of damaging the engine.
R When driving on a downhill gradient, shift
to a low gear and take advantage of the
engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if
installed, the trailer brakes.
R If the coolant temperature increases
dramatically while the air-conditioning
system is switched on, switch off the air-
conditioning system. Transporting loads with the vehicle
151
Operation Z
Coolant heat can additionally be dissipated
by opening
the
windows and by setting the
blower fan and the interior temperature to
maximum.
R When overtaking, pay particular attention
to the extended length of your vehicle/
trailer combination.
Due to the length of your vehicle/trailer
combination, you will have to travel an
additional distance beyond the vehicle you
are overtaking before returning to the
original lane.
If the trailer begins to swing from side to side:
X do not accelerate.
X do not counter-steer.
X brake if necessary. G
Warning
Under no circumstances try to straighten the
vehicle/trailer combination by
increasing the
speed.
i You can reduce the risk of the trailer
swinging and snaking by retrofitting anti-
roll bars or trailer stability programs. You
can obtain further information from an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Uncoupling a trailer X
Make sure that the automatic transmission
is set to position P.
X Engage the vehicle's parking brake.
X Remove the trailer cable and uncouple the
trailer.
X Engage the trailer's parking brake.
Load distribution The Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) is the
combined weight of the trailer together with
the cargo and equipment loaded on the
trailer. The maximum permissible gross
weight is
vehicle-specific
and depends on the
equipment level: 5000 lbs (2268 kg) or
7500 lbs (3402 kg). The permissible Trailer drawbar Weight
Rating (TWR) is the maximum weight
permitted on the trailer drawbar: 750 lbs
(340 kg) or 500 lbs (227 kg) is the limit for
trailer couplings approved by the vehicle
distributor named on the inside of the front
cover.
The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)
is
the
sum of the Gross Trailer Weight and the
vehicle weight, including a driver weight of
approximately 150 lbs (68 kg). The
permissible GCWR is vehicle-specific and
depends on the equipment level.
When driving with a trailer, you should not
exceed the permitted Gross Combination
Weight Rating (GCWR).
You must distribute the load on the vehicle
and trailer so that the permitted maximum
values for the vehicle (GCWR) and trailer
(GTW) weight as well as permitted axle loads
(GAWR) and noseweight (TWR) of your vehicle
are not exceeded.
i Take into account that the vehicle's
permissible payload must be reduced to
compensate for the noseweight.
The applicable permissible values, which
must not be exceeded, can be found in your
vehicle documents and on the type plates for
the trailer tow hitch, trailer and vehicle
(Y page 277). You will also find a list of the
permissible values in the "Technical data"
(Y page 284) section. Where the values
differ, the lowest is valid.
! The permissible gross combination
weight is less than the sum of the
permissible gross vehicle weight plus the
permissible trailer load. Exceeding the
permissible gross combination weight can
lead to damage to the drivetrain, to the
transmission or to the trailer tow hitch.
For this reason, applicable values for the
permissible gross vehicle weight or the
permissible trailer load are reduced
accordingly if either the vehicle or the
trailer is fully loaded. In this case, the trailer
or the vehicle may only be partially loaded. 152
Transporting loads with the vehicle
Operation
Change intervals for engine oil
Service product Maintenance
interval Product name/number MB
Sheet
No.
Engine oil for diesel engines 2 years or
10,000 miles
(16,000 km)
2 See approved engine oils 228.51
229.51
Transmission and steering oils
Automatic transmission Service product Maintenance
interval Product name/number MB
Sheet
No.
Automatic transmission oil every second
maintenance
service Shell ATF 3403/M-115 236.10
Fuchs/Shell ATF 3353 236.12
You can obtain further information from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Rear axle
Service product Maintenance
interval Product name/number MB
Sheet
No.
Transmission oil every sixth
maintenance
service or
every
10 years 3 BP Energear Hypo DC 80W-90 235.20
Mobil Delvac Synthetic Gear Oil
75W-90 235.8
You can obtain further information from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.
2
The interval – time or distance – that is first reached applies.
3 The maintenance interval criterion that occurs first applies.158
Service productsOperation
X
To install the air filter: insert the filter
mat.
X Put cover 0046 on. Vehicle assemblies
Check the assemblies regularly for leaks. If
fluid is being lost (e.g. there are oil stains
where the vehicle is parked), have the cause
found and rectified
immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Sprinter Dealer.
0040Environmental note
When used improperly, service products are
harmful to the environment.
Do not allow service products to enter the
sewage system, surface
waters, ground water
or soil. Replacing the wiper blades
G
Warning
If the windshield wipers are set to intermittent
wipe or the rain/light sensor is active, the
windshield wipers could start moving at any
time and injure you or others.
Always remove the
key from the ignition lock
before replacing the wiper blades. G
Warning
Wiper blades are wear parts. Change the
wiper blades every six months, ideally in the
spring and fall.
Otherwise, the windshield and
rear window will not be wiped properly. This
may prevent you from observing the traffic
conditions, thereby causing an accident.
! Do not open the hood when a wiper arm
is folded away from the windshield.
Otherwise, you could damage the hood.
Do not fold the wiper arms back onto the
windshield without wiper blades fitted as
this could scratch the windshield. !
Only touch the windshield wiper where it
connects to the wiper arm. You could
otherwise damage the
wiper blade inserts.
Removing X
Apply the parking brake.
X On vehicles with automatic transmission,
move the selector lever to position P.
X Turn the key to position 1 in the ignition
lock. Front wiper arm with windshield wiper
X
Fold wiper arm 008A away from the
windshield.
X Set windshield wiper 0046 at right angles to
the wiper arm.
X Press two retaining clips 0047 together
in
the
direction of the arrow and swing windshield
wiper 0046 away from wiper arm 008A.
X Pull windshield wiper 0046 up and out of the
retainer on wiper arm 008A.
Installing X
Slide windshield wiper 0046 into the retainer
on wiper arm 008A.
X Press windshield wiper 0046 onto wiper arm
008A until you
hear retaining clips 0047 engage.
X Fold wiper arm 008A onto the windshield
again. 174
Maintenance
Operation
Vehicle equipment ............................
182
Where will I find...? ........................... 182
Troubleshooting ................................ 187
Engine ................................................ 221
Wheels and tires ............................... 221
Electrical system .............................. 233
Batteries for the remote control .....245
Automatic transmission ................... 246
Jump starting, tow-starting and
towing away ...................................... 247 181Practical advice
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050 SolutionsThe engine does not
start.
The starter motor
cannot be heard. The battery is discharged or faulty.
X
Check the battery for damage.
X Charge the battery ( Y page 178).The engine does not
start.
The starter motor
cannot be heard. The starter is faulty.
X
Have the starter checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Automatic transmission
G
Warning
The operating safety of your vehicle could be jeopardized if maintenance work is carried out
incorrectly. As a
result, you could lose control of the vehicle and cause an accident. In addition,
the safety systems may no longer be able to protect you or others as they are designed to do.
Always have maintenance work carried out at a qualified specialist workshop. The qualified
specialist workshop must have the necessary specialist knowledge and tools to carry out the
work required. We recommend visiting an authorized Sprinter Dealer. In particular, work relevant
to safety or on safety-related systems must be carried out at a qualified specialist workshop. Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050 SolutionsThe transmission no
longer changes gear
correctly. The transmission is losing oil.
X
Have the transmission checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. The acceleration
characteristics have
deteriorated
noticeably.
The transmission does
not shift. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into second gear or reverse gear.
X
Stop the vehicle.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Move the selector lever to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Move the selector lever to position D or R.
X In position D, the transmission shifts into second gear; in
position R, the transmission shits into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop.214
Troubleshooting
Practical advice