2012 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER tow bar

Stowage space above the
headliner ........................................ 130
Stowage
space
under the twin co-
driver's seat ................................... 130
Submenu (on-board computer)
Clock/Date ...................................... 82
Convenience .................................... 85
Instrument cluster ........................... 80
Lighting ............................................ 82
Selecting .......................................... 79
Settings overview ............................ 79
Vehicle ............................................. 84
Summer tires ..................................... 254
Supplemental Restraint System see SRS
Surround lighting
Setting (vehicles with steering
wheel buttons) ................................. 83
Switching off the alarm (ATA) ............62
Switch unit Additional ........................................ 28
Center console ................................ 27
Driver's door .................................... 28
Swivel seat ........................................... 65T
Tachometer .......................................... 71
Tank content Reserve fuel warning lamp ............. 193
Tank contents

...................................... 72
Range (vehicles with steering
wheel buttons) ................................. 86
Technical data
Capacities ...................................... 287
Speed ............................................ 280
Tire pressure .................................. 281
Tires/wheels ................................. 280
Vehicle dimensions ........................280
vehicle weights .............................. 280
Telephone .......................................... 134
Operation (vehicles with steering
wheel buttons) ................................. 86
Temperature
Setting (heating/air conditioning) . 100
Setting the unit (vehicles with
steering wheel buttons) ................... 80Theft deterrent locking system
Immobilizer ...................................... 61
Tightening torque
Wheel nuts/wheel bolts ................ 232
Time
Setting

the time (vehicles without
steering wheel buttons) ................... 73
Setting the time (vehicles with
steering wheel buttons) ................... 82
tire
Wheel change ................................ 229
Tire
Labels ............................................ 279
Tire and Loading Information label .. 279
Tire Inflation Pressure label .............279
tire pressure Calling up (vehicles with steering
wheel buttons) ............................... 260
Tire pressure
Calling up (on-board computer) ..... 258
Checking manually ........................258
Display message ...........199, 203, 208
Maximum ....................................... 257
Recommended ...................... 255, 281
Setting the unit (vehicles with
steering wheel buttons) ................... 81
Tables ............................................ 281
Tire and Loading Information
label ............................................... 279
Tire Inflation Pressure label ...........279
Tire label ................................ 256, 279
Warning lamp ................................. 195
Tire pressure monitoring system
Function/notes ............................. 258
Tires
Aspect ratio (definition) ................. 270
Average weight of the vehicle
occupants (definition) .................... 269
Bar (definition) ............................... 268
Characteristics .............................. 268
Checking ........................................ 253
Definition of terms ......................... 268
Direction of rotation ......................272
Distribution of the vehicle
occupants (definition) .................... 271
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(TIN) ............................................... 268 Index
13

DOT (Department of
Transportation) (definition) ............
269
Flat tire .......................................... 221
GAWR (Gross Axle
Weight Rating)
(definition) ..................................... 269
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
(definition) ..................................... 269
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating) (definition) .........................269
Increased vehicle weight due to
optional equipment (definition) ...... 269
Kilopascal (kPa) (definition) ........... 270
Labeling (overview) ........................ 266
Load bearing index (definition) ...... 271
Maximum loaded vehicle weight
(definition) ..................................... 270
Maximum load on a tire
(definition) ..................................... 270
Maximum permissible tire
pressure (definition) ....................... 270
Maximum tire load ......................... 265
Maximum tire load (definition) .......270
Optional equipment weight
(definition) ..................................... 270
PSI (pounds per square inch)
(definition) ..................................... 270
Replacing ....................................... 271
Service life ..................................... 254
Sidewall (definition) .......................270
Speed index (definition) ................. 269
Storing ........................................... 273
Structure and characteristics
(definition) ..................................... 268
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
(definition) ..................................... 271
Tire bead (definition) ......................270
Tire pressure (definition) ................ 270
Tire pressures (recommended) ...... 269
Tire size (data) ............................... 280
Tire size designation, load-bearing
capacity, speed index .................... 266
Tire tread ....................................... 253
Tire tread (definition) .....................270
Total load limit (definition) ............. 271
Traction (definition) ....................... 271
Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards (definition) .................... 269
Unladen weight (definition) ............ 270valve, Snap-In ................................
252
Wear indicator (definition) .............271
Wheel rim (definition) .................... 269
Tires
and wheels (important safety
information) ....................................... 252
tire sealant Storage location ............................ 184
Using ............................................. 222
Tools
see Vehicle tool kit ........................ 182
Top speed
Technical data ............................... 280
Top Tether ............................................ 44
Touchshift .......................................... 114
Tow-away protection .......................... 62
Towing ................................................ 248
Towing a trailer Driving tips .................................... 150
Towing eye ......................................... 249
Tow-starting ....................................... 248
Trailer Brake force booster malfunction ... 188
Coupling up ................................... 150
Decoupling ..................................... 152
Power supply ................................. 153
Towing ........................................... 151
Towing with PARKTRONIC .............122
Trailer tow hitch ............................. 284
Trailer coupling
Permitted weights and loads ......... 285
Trailer hitch ....................................... 284
Trailer loads and drawbar
noseweights ...................................... 152
Transmission oil ................................ 158
Transport by rail ................................ 140
Transporting Load distribution ...................146, 152
Loading .......................................... 144
Securing a load .............................. 146
Trip computer (vehicles with
steering wheel buttons) .....................85
Trip meter ............................................ 73
see Trip odometer
Trip odometer
Resetting ......................................... 7214
Index

0046
Seat fore-and-aft adjustment
0047 Lumbar support adjustment
008A Seat backrest adjustment
0088 Seat height adjustment
0086 Seat cushion angle adjustment
0087 Seat suspension adjustment
006E Seat suspension lock
i Depending on the seat model, some
adjustments may not be available.
X To adjust the seat fore-and-aft
position: pull lever 0046 up.
X Slide the seat forwards or back until you
can depress the pedals.
X Release lever 0046.
X Slide the seat forwards or back until you
hear it engage.
X To adjust the seat backrest: turn
handwheel 008A forwards.
The seat backrest moves to a vertical
position.
X Turn handwheel 008A towards the rear.
The seat backrest tilts towards the rear.
X To adjust the seat height: press or pull
lever 0088 repeatedly
until
you have reached
the desired seat height. X
To adjust the seat cushion angle: turn
handwheel 0086 forwards.
The front of the seat cushion is lowered.
X Turn handwheel 0086 towards the rear.
The front of the seat cushion is raised.
i The lumbar
support

allows you to use the
backrest to increase the support provided
to the lumbar spine.
When the lumbar support is correctly
adjusted, it reduces strain on your back
while driving.
X To adjust the lumbar support: turn
handwheel 0047 upwards.
This increases the support provided to the
lumbar region.
X Turn handwheel 0047 down.
This reduces the support provided to the
lumbar region.
The seat suspension must be adapted to your
body weight.
Adjust

the seat suspension only
while the seat is unoccupied.
X To adjust the seat suspension: take your
weight off the seat.
X Use handwheel 0087

to select the body
weight (between 40

and 120 kg) for optimal
seat suspension.
The seat suspension will become more rigid
the higher you set the weight. It will then
not move as far.
If the seat moves up and down frequently and
to a great

extent, you can lock the seat in the
lower movement range..
X To engage the seat suspension lock:
turn handle 006E downwards.
When it next moves, the seat will lock in
position.
i The seat
suspension

lock will only engage
if your body weight equals or exceeds the
weight selected for the seat suspension.
X To release the seat suspension lock:
turn lever 006E upwards.
The seat can

now move up and down again.64
Seats
Controls

Air-conditioning system/rear-
compartment air conditioning
X
On vehicles with rear-compartment air
conditioning, make sure that the rear-
compartment climate control is activated
(Y page 100).
X Press the 0097 button to reduce or the
0099 button to increase the airflow.
The blower speeds are shown in bars next
to the buttons. Defrosting the windows
G
Warning
Clear all windows of ice or snow before setting
off. Otherwise, impaired visibility could
endanger you and others.
Only use the following settings until the
windows are clear again.
X Vehicles with window heating:
switch on
the front and/or rear window defroster
(
Y page 95).
Heating X
Set temperature control 0046 and airflow
control 0047 to 0087 (Y page 98).
X Set air-distribution control 0088 to
0080 0087 (Y page 98).
X Close the center air vents and the air
outlets for the headroom and the rear
compartment (
Y

page 101).
X Direct the side air vents towards the side
windows and open the demister vents for
the side windows ( Y page 101).
Air-conditioning system X
Set temperature control 0046 to
0087 (Y page 99).
X Press the 0099 button until the maximum
blower output is reached.
All bars in the display next to the button
light up. X
Set air-distribution control 0086 to
0080 0087 (Y page 99).
X Close the center air vents and the air
outlets for the headroom and the rear
compartment (Y

page 101).
X Direct the side air vents towards the side
windows and open the demister vents for
the side windows ( Y page 101). Defrosting windows
Windows fogged up on the inside Only use the following settings until the
windows are clear again.
X
Vehicles with window heating: switch on
the front and/or rear window defroster
(

Y page 95).
X Switch off air-recirculation mode
(Y page 104).
Heating
X Set temperature control 0046 to a higher
temperature ( Y page 98).
X Set airflow control 0047 to a higher blower
setting. It should

be set at least to level two
(Y page 98).
X Set air-distribution control 0088 to
0080 0087 (Y page 98).
If the windows still fog up, set the control as
described for defrosting (Y page 103).
Air-conditioning system
X Activate cooling with air dehumidification
(Y page 100).
X Press the 0068 button.
The reheat function is switched on. The
indicator lamp in the switch lights up.
To switch off

the reheat function, press the
0068 button again. The indicator lamp in
the button goes out. Climate control
103
Controls Z

If an obstacle is within this range, all
segments of
the
warning displays light up and
you hear a warning tone. If the distance
between the vehicle and the obstacle falls
below the minimum range, it is possible that
the distance may no longer be displayed.
! Pay particular attention to obstacles
above or below the sensors when parking,
such as flower pots or trailer towbars.
PARKTRONIC does not recognize such
objects when they are in the immediate
vicinity of the vehicle. You could damage
the vehicle or objects.
PARKTRONIC can suffer interference from:
R ultrasonic sources such as a lorry's
compressed-air brakes, an automatic car
wash or a pneumatic drill
R attachments to the vehicle, e.g. rear
mounted racks
R number plates (vehicle license plates)
that are not affixed flat against the
bumper
R dirty or icy sensors
Warning displays The warning displays show the distance
between the sensor and the obstacle.
Warning display, front area
0046
Left-hand side of vehicle
0047 Right-hand side of vehicle
008A Segments Warning display for the left-hand rear area in the
left-hand exterior mirror
0088
Warning display segments
0086 Readiness indicator segment
The warning display is divided into five yellow
and two red segments for each side of the
vehicle. PARKTRONIC is operational if yellow
indicator segments 008A and 0086 light up.
There is a malfunction if only the red
segments of the warning display light up
(Y page 215).
The position of

the selector lever determines
whether the front and/or rear area is
monitored. Selector lever
position Monitoring
D
Front area
R or N Front and rear area
P
No areas activated
One or more segments light up as the vehicle
approaches an obstacle, depending on the
vehicle's distance from the obstacle.
From the:
R
sixth segment, an intermittent warning
tone sounds for approximately
two seconds.
R seventh segment, a continuous warning
tone sounds. You have reached the
minimum distance. Driving systems
121
Controls Z

Towing a trailer
Notes on trailer towing Important safety notes
The trailer coupling is one of the most
important vehicle parts with regard to road
safety. The notes on operation, care and
maintenance issued by the manufacturer
should be observed.
G
Warning!
Improper equipment or driving technique
while driving with a trailer can cause you to
lose control of your vehicle.
Improper towing or failure to observe the
Operator's Manual can lead to vehicle
damage and/or serious
injuries. Observe the
following guidelines in order to guarantee safe
driving with trailers.
Contact an authorized Sprinter Dealer if you
require any explanation of the information
contained in the Operator's Manual.
General notes
R Install only an approved trailer coupling on
your vehicle.
Further information about availability and
installation of trailer couplings can be
obtained from any authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
R The bumpers of your vehicle are not
suitable for installing detachable trailer
couplings.
R Do not install rented trailer couplings or
other detachable trailer couplings to the
bumpers.
R To reduce the risk of damage to the ball
coupling when using a detachable trailer
coupling, remove the ball coupling from its
mounting when it is not needed.
Coupling up a trailer Observe the maximum permissible trailer
dimensions (width and length). Most federal states and all Canadian
provinces require by law:
R
safety chains between the towing vehicle
and the
trailer.

The chains should be cross-
wound under the trailer drawbar. They must
be fastened to the vehicle's trailer
coupling, not to the bumper or the axle.
Allow for enough play in the chains to
facilitate turning tight corners.
R a separate brake system for certain types
of trailer.
R a safety switch for braked trailers. Check
the specific legal requirements applicable
to your federal state.
If the trailer detaches from the towing
vehicle, the safety switch applies the
trailer's brakes.
i The vehicle's subharness has an electric
cable to the brake light indicator lamp. G
Warning
Follow the manufacturer's operating
instructions for the trailer tow hitch when
using a detachable trailer tow hitch.
Couple and decouple the trailer carefully. A
trailer which is incorrectly coupled to the
towing vehicle could break away. A correctly
coupled trailer must be positioned
horizontally behind the vehicle.
Ensure that the following weights are not
exceeded:
R the permissible noseweight
R the permissible trailer load
R the permissible rear

axle load of the towing
vehicle
R the permissible gross weight for both the
towing vehicle and the trailer
The permissible values, which must not be
exceeded, can be found in your vehicle
documents and on the trailer tow hitch type
plates for the trailer and the vehicle. Where
the values differ, the lowest is valid. 150
Transporting loads with the vehicle
Operation

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

Verify compliance with weight limitations on
a weighbridge.
Trailer power supply
Your vehicle may be equipped with various
electrical fittings for trailer towing.
Depending on your trailer, you may need an
adapter to allow your trailer to be connected
to the vehicle. Information about your
vehicle's electrical equipment is available
from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.
!
Faulty wiring of the connector plug could
in certain circumstances cause other
electronic systems to
malfunction. For this
reason, we recommend having the wiring
of the connector plug performed at an
authorized Sprinter Dealer. Operation in winter
General notes
Have your vehicle winterized at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Sprinter Dealer, at the onset of winter.
This service includes the following:
R oil change, if the engine oil currently used
does not have adequate low temperature
characteristics or if these are no longer
sufficient due to aging
R the antifreeze/anticorrosion
concentration in the coolant is checked.
R the addition of a concentrated cleaning
agent to the water in the windshield
washer/headlamp cleaning system
R battery check
R a tire change
Prior to the

onset of winter, ensure that snow
chains are available in the vehicle.
Do not cover the surface of the radiator or the
radiator grill, even in winter. Doing so could
cause the engine diagnostics to record false
or incorrect data. Recording of engine
diagnostic data is legally prescribed and must therefore be correct, clear and
comprehensible at all times.
You
will find

information about diesel fuel for
use at low outside temperatures in the
"Operation" section ( Y page 154).
Please also observe the information about
winter driving (Y page 111).
You will find information about winter tires
and about driving with snow chains in the
"Wheel and tires" section (Y page 153). Service products
Fuel
G
Warning
Fuel is highly flammable. Fire, naked flames
and smoking as well as the use of auxiliary
heaters (sparks) are therefore prohibited
when handling fuel.
Switch off the

engine and the auxiliary heating
before refueling. G
Warning
Avoid any contact with fuels.
You can damage your health if your skin
comes into direct contact with fuel or if you
inhale fuel vapors.
! Filter the fuel

before transferring it to the
vehicle if you are refueling the vehicle from
barrels or containers.
This will prevent malfunctions in the fuel
system due to contaminated fuel.
! Refuel only with commercially available
vehicle diesel fuel, ULTRA-LOW SULFUR
DIESEL with a sulfur content no greater
than 15 ppm. Fuels such as fatty acid
methyl ester FAME (bio-diesel fuels),
marine diesel, heating oil etc. may not be
used as a diesel fuel mixture.
Refuel with B5 bio-diesel only if it fulfills the
requirements listed under "Fuel quality". Service products
153
Operation Z