
Rear window defroster
Rear window defroste
rswitch
The rear window defroster consumes a lot of
power. You should therefore switch it off as
soon as the window is clear .The rear window
defroster otherwise switches off
automatically after 12 minutes.
X Start the engine.
X To switch on/off: press the0019switch.
The indicator lamp in the 0019button
comes on when the rear window defroster
is switched on.
If the indicator lamp in the 0019rear window
defroster button flashes, the on-board
voltage is too low. The rear window defroster
has switched off prematurely or cannot be
activated.
X Switch off any consumers that are not
required, e.g. reading lamps or interior
lighting.
If enough on-board voltage is available again
within 30 seconds, the rear window defroster
automatically switches on again. It otherwise
remains switched off. Switching air-recirculation mode on/
off
Important safety notes When you switch on air-recirculation mode,
the windows could fog up more quickly, in
particular at low outside temperatures. Only switch on air-recirculation mode for a short
time.
You can deactivate the intake of fresh air if
unpleasant odors enter the vehicle from
outside. The air inside the vehicle will only be
circulated.
Heating/air-conditioning system
Air-recirculation mode switches off
automatically after about 10to 30 minutes,
depending on the outside temperature.
X
Switch on climate control (Y page 112).
X To switch on/off: press the0022switch.
If the indicator lamp in the 0022button
lights up, air-recirculation mode is
activated.
Rear-compartment heating/rear-
compartment air conditioning On vehicles with a rear-compartment heating
and air-conditioning system, you can
activate/deactivate air-recirculation mode
for the rear-compartment climate control.
X Switch on climate control (Y page 112).
X To activate: set the temperature control of
rear-compartment heating
0026(Y page 111) or rear-compartment air
conditioning system 0006(Ypage 112) to the
center position.
Only one of the two climate control
systems in the rear compartment is
activated and is in air-recirculation mode.
X To deactivate: turn the temperature
control of rear-compartment heating
0026(Y page 111) or rear-compartment air-
conditioning system 0006(Ypage 112)
clockwise or counterclockwise. Only
change the temperature in small
increments. 116
Operating the climate control systemClimate control

Problems with the auxiliary heating
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0004 Solutions
The indicator lamp on
the remote control
flashes red rapidly. The remote control battery is discharged. Data transmission is not
possible.
X
Replace the remote control battery (Y page 126).The indicator lamp on
the remote control
flashes red and green in
rapid succession. There is no connection between the remote control and the
receiver in the vehicle.
X
Change your position in relation to the vehicle, e.g. hold the
remote control higher or to the side.
X Move closer.
If you cannot establish aconnection and the auxiliary heating is
switched on, it can then only be deactivated using the 0020button
(Y page 119). The indicator lamp on
the remote control
flashes red and green in
rapid succession. Several remote controls are being used at the same time.
X
Switch on the remote control again after a short while
(Y page 121). The indicator lamp on
the remote control
flashes red and green in
rapid succession. The remote control is not synchronized.
X
Synchronize the remote control (Y page 122).The indicator lamp on
the remote control
slowly flashes red and
green alternately. The remote control is being synchronized.
X
Wait until the remote control synchronization process is
complete (Y page 122). The remote control for
the auxiliary heating
cannot be switched on. The remote control battery is discharged.
X
Replace the remote control battery (Y page 126).The auxiliary heating
does not switch on. The outside temperature is above 39
‡(4† ). The auxiliary heating
switches off automatically. The auxiliary heating
switches off
automatically and/or
cannot be switched on. The fuel tan
kis less than 0002full. The auxiliary heating switches off
automatically.
X Refuel at the nearest gas station.
X Then, start the auxiliary heating several times until the fuel lines
are full. 128
Operating the auxiliary heating systemClimate control

Useful information
This Operator's Manual describes all models
as well as standard and optional equipment
of your vehicle that were available at the time
of going to print. Country-specific variations
are possible. Note that your vehicle may not
be equipped with all of the described
functions. This also applies to systems and
functions relevant to safety.
Read the information on qualified specialist
workshops (Y page 26). Breaking-in notes
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km)
New or replaced brake pads and brake disks
only reach their optimum braking effec tafter
100 miles (a few hundred kilometers). Until
then, compensate for this by applying greater
force to the brake pedal.
For the service life and economy of your
vehicle it is crucial that you brea kinthe
engine with due care.
R Therefore, protect the engine for the first
1,000 miles (1,500 km) by driving at
varying vehicle and engine speeds.
R Avoid overstraining the vehicle and high
engine speeds during this period, e.g.
driving at full throttle. Do not exceed 0001of
the maximum speed for each gear.
R Do not change down a gear manually in
order to brake.
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the point of resistance
(kickdown).
R The shift ranges 3,2or 1should only be
engaged when driving slowly, e.g. when
driving in mountainous terrain.
After 1,000 miles (1,500 km), you can
increase the engine speed gradually and
accelerate the vehicle up to full speed.
i You should also observe these notes on
breaking-in if the engine or parts of the drive train on your vehicle have been
replaced. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect.Y ou will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident .Release
the parking brake fully before driving off. Battery isolating switch
Important safety notes !
Make sure that the key is in position 0in
the ignition lock and wait at least
20 seconds before disconnecting or
connecting the battery isolating switch.
You could otherwise damage electrical
system components.
You can use the battery isolating switch to
disconnect the power supply to all your
vehicle's consumers. This will prevent
uncontrolled battery discharge caused by off-
load curren tconsumption.
If your vehicle is equipped with an auxiliary
battery in the engine compartment, you will
need to disconnect both batteries. Only then
is the electrical system fully disconnected
from the power supply. 132
DrivingDriving and parking

cross the border, bu
tas close to it as
possible.
When you return from your journey, and as
close to the border as possible, you will need
to:
R remove the adhesive surfaces from your
halogen headlamps and clean the glass of
the headlamps if necessary
R have the Bi-Xenon headlamps reset to
asymmetrical low beam at aqualified
specialist workshop Transport by rail
Transporting your vehicle by rail may be
subject to certain restrictions or require
special measures to be taken in some
countries due to varying tunnel heights and
loading standards.
You can obtain further information from any
authorized Sprinte rdealer. Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in
an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine
braking on a slippery road surface.
Downhill gradients !
Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
On long and steep downhill gradients, you
should change down to shift range 0009or0008
in good time. This should be observed in
particular when driving with a laden vehicle
and when towing a trailer. i
You must also change the shift range in
good time when cruise control is switched
on.
You thereby make use of the braking effec tof
the engine and do not have to brake as often
to maintain the speed. This relieves the load
on the service brake and prevents the brakes
fro mo verheating and wearing too quickly.
Heavy and light loads G
WARNING
If you rest yourf oot on the brake pedal while
driving, the braking system can overheat. This
increases the stopping distance and can even
cause the braking system to fail. There is a
risk of an accident.
Never use the brake pedal as a footrest .Never
depress the brake pedal and the accelerator
pedal at the same time.
! Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy
load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. The brakes are
cooled down more quickly in the airflow.
Wet road surfaces If you have been driving for a long time in
heavy rain without braking
,there may be a
delayed response when you first apply the
brakes. This may also occur after driving
through a car wash or deep water.
You must depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a longer distance to the
vehicle in front.
While paying attention to the traffic
conditions, you should brake the vehicle
firmly after driving on a wet road surface or
through a car wash. This heats the brake
discs, so that they dry more quickly, which
protects them against corrosion. 150
Driving tipsDriving and parking

steering, chassis and exhaust system for
any damage.
X Check the service brake for operating
safety, e.g. carry out a brake test.
X If you notice strong vibrations after driving
off-road, check the wheels and drive train
for foreign objects again. Remove any
foreign objects which can lead to
imbalances and thus cause vibrations. Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes Observe the notes on braking in the "Driving
tips" section (Y
page 150).
If you fail to adapty our driving style or if you
are inattentive, cruise control can neither
reduce the risk of an accident nor override the
laws of physics. Cruise control cannot take
road, weather and traffic conditions into
account .Cruise control is only an aid.Y ou are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed and for braking in
good time.
Do not use cruise control:
R in traffic conditions that are unsuitable for
driving at a constant speed, e.g. in heavy
traffic, on winding roads or off-road
R on slippery roads. Brakin goraccelerating
may cause the drive wheel sto lose traction
and the vehicle could then skid.
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, make sure that
you inform the new driver about the set cruise
speed.
General notes Cruise control maintains the speed of the
vehicle for you.
Use cruise control if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
set any speed from 20 mph upwards in
increments of 1 mph.
Use cruise control if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
set any speed from 20 mph upwards in
increments of 1 mph.
i
If you have set km/h as the unit for the
digital speedometer (Y page 185), you can
set any speed from 30 km/h upwards in
increments of 1 km/h.
i Cruise control should not be activated
when driving off-road or on construction
sites.
Cruise control may not be able to maintain
the stored speed on uphill or downhill
gradients. If the gradient evens out and the
vehicle's speed does not fall below 20 mph
(30 km/h), the stored speed is resumed.
Cruise control lever 0005
To activate and store the current speed or
a higher speed
0006 To activate at the last stored speed
0026 To activate and store the current speed or
a lower speed
0025 To deactivate cruise control
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left of the steering column. Driving systems
155Driving and parking Z

R
Do not install rented trailer couplings or
other detachable trailer couplings to the
bumpers.
R Minimize the risk of damage to the ball
coupling .Ifyou do not require the ball
coupling, remove it from the ball coupling
recess.
Weight information can be found in the
“Permissible trailer and drawbar
noseweights” section (Y page 169).
Note that, when towing atrailer,
PARKTRONIC is only available with limitations
or not at all (Y page 160).
i The height of the ball neck changes
according to the load on the vehicle. If this
is case, use a trailer with a height-
adjustable trailer drawbar.
Driving tips The maximu
mpermissible speed for vehicle/
trailer combination depends on the type of
trailer. Before setting off, check the vehicle
documents of the your trailer to find out the
permissible maximum speed. Observe the
legally prescribed maximum speed for
vehicle/trailer combinations in the relevant
country, state or Canadian province.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be differen tincomparison
to when driving without a trailer and it will
consume more fuel.
On long, steep downhill slopes you must
select shift range 3,2or 1in good time.
i This also applies if you have activated
cruise control.
This enables you to utilize the engine's
braking effect and you do not need to brake
so heavily to keep the correc tspeed. which
protects the brake system and prevents the
brakes from overheating and wearing too
quickly. If you need to brake additionally, to
not depress the brake pedal constantly, but
periodically. Driving tips If the trailer begins to swing from side to side:
X
Do not accelerate.
X Do not counter-steer.
X Brake if necessary.
i You can reduce the risk of the trailer
swinging and rocking by retrofitting anti-
roll bars or trailer stability programs .More
information is available from your
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
R Maintain a greater distance than you would
when driving without towing a trailer.
R Avoid sudden braking. Apply the brakes
gently at first to allow the trailer brake to
overrun. Then, increase the brake force
quickly.
R The figures for the gradient climbing
capabilities from a standstill refer to sea
level. When driving in mountainous areas,
note that the power output of the engine,
and with it its gradient climbing capability,
decrease with increasing altitude. Attaching and removing the ball
coupling
G
WARNING
If the ball coupling is not correctly installed
and secured, it could come loose while driving
and endanger other road users. There is a risk
of an accident and injury.
Install and secure the ball coupling as
described in the ball coupling manufacturer's
installation instructions. Make sure that the
ball coupling is correctly installed and
secured before every journey. G
WARNING
If the ball coupling is not installed and secured
correctly the trailer may come loose. There is
a risk of an accident.
Install and secure the ball coupling as
described in the ball coupling installation
instructions. Make sure that the ball coupling 170
Towing
atrailerDriving an d parking

Menus in the on-board computer
Overview If you wish to exit a menu and go to the
standard display:
X Press the 0004menu button for longer than
one second.
Or
X Do not press any button for 10 seconds.
The display accepts the changed settings.
Using the 000E,000F,0004or0007 adjustment
buttons, you can select the following
functions:
R Calling up the service due date
(Y page 249)
R Checking the oil level (Y page 242)
R Preselecting/setting the auxiliary heating
switch-on time ( Ypage 119)
R Tire pressure monitor (Y page 281)
R Setting the time (Y page 179)
R Setting daytime running lamp mode
(Y page 179)
Setting the time X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Press the 0004menu button repeatedly until
the hours figure flashes.
X Press the 000Eor000F button to set the hour.
X Press the 0007reset button.
The minute display flashes.
X Press the 000Eor000F button to set the minute.
i If you keep the 000Eor000F button pressed,
the value will change continuously.
Setting daytime running lamp mode For safety reasons, it is only possible to
change this setting when the vehicle is
stationary. The factory setting is
On in
countries in which daytime running lamp
mode is mandatory. X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Press the 0004menu button repeatedly until
the 0004 indicator lamp flashes and the
on or
OFF message appears in the display.
X Press the 000Eor000F button to activate or
deactivate daytime running lamp mode.
If you have activated daytime running lamp
mode and the light switch is set to 000C, the
following light up automatically when the
engine is running:
R Parking lamps
R Low-beam headlamps
R Tail lamps
R License plate lamp
i USA only:
If you turn the light switch to 000Bor
0004, the corresponding light switches on.
If you turn the light switch to 0007, daytime
running lamp mode stays switched on.
Canada only:
If you turn the light switch to 0004, the low-
beamh eadlamps switch on. If you turn the
light switch to 000Bor0007, daytime
running lamp mode stays switched on. On-boar
dcomputer (vehicles without steering wheel buttons)
179On-board computer and displays Z

Using the steering wheel buttons
X
Switch on the audio equipment (see the
separate operating instructions).
X Press the 0010or0007 button repeatedly
until the station selected appears in the
display.
The kind of search depends on the setting
for radio station selection (Y page 188).
The nearest stored station will be selected
or the station search starts (except on
Audio 20).
X Press the 0001or0009 button to select the
desired station.
i You can only store new stations on the
audio system itself. See the separate
operating instructions.
You can also operate the audioe quipment
in the same way as usual.
Operating the CD player 0005
Current CD (with CD changer)
0006 Current track
Using the steering wheel buttons
X Switch on the audio equipment and select
the CD player (see the separate operating
instructions).
X Press the 0010or0007 button repeatedly
until the settings for the CD played appear
in the display.
X Press the 0001or0009 button to select a
CD track. Settings menu
Introduction In the
Settings menu, the following options
and submenus are available:
R Resetting all settings
R Resetting the functions of a submenu
R Instrument cluster (Y page 184)
- Units and language settings
- Status bar settings
R Clock( Ypage 186)
R Lighting (Y page 187)
- Activating/deactivating daytime running
lamp mode and surround lighting (locator
lighting)
- Setting the exterior lighting delayed
switch-off
R Vehicle (Y page 188)
- Setting the radio station selection
- Setting the windshield wiper sensitivity
R Stationary heating or auxiliary heating
(Y page 119)
R Convenience (Y page 189)
- Key-dependent settings
i For safety reasons, it is not possible to
reset all of the functions while the vehicle
is in motion. For example, the Lighting function in the
Hdlmp. mode submenu
remains unchanged.
Resetting all settings Settings menu
When the
Settings message is displayed,
you can reset all functions of the submenu to
the factory settings. On-boar
dcomputer (vehicles with steering wheel buttons)
183On-board computer and displays Z