
Vehicle interior
Air filter for the rear-compartment air
conditioning
! Regularly check the ai rfilters for visible
dirt .Clean or replace a dirty filter mat .The
dirt may otherwise lead to damage to the
air-conditioning system. Filter magazine, located on the roof in the rear
compartment
An increased amount of sand or dust may
collect in the air filter of the rear-
compartmenta
ir conditioning when you drive
on dusty or sandy roads.
X To remove the filter mat: carefully pry
cover 0005out of recesses 0006and remove.
X Remove the filter mat from cover 0005.
X To clean the filter mat: wash the dirty
filter mat with clear water.
X Leave the filter mat to dry.
i The filter mat must not be cleaned or dried
in a machine.
X To install the filter mat: insert the filter
mat in cover 0005.
X Replace and engage cover 0005.Maintenance
General notes
H
Environmental note
Observe measures to protect the
environment when working on the vehicle. You must observe the legal requirements
when disposing of service products, e.g.
engine oil. This also includes all components,
e.g. filters, which have come into contac twith
service products. Any qualified specialist
workshop can provide information about this.
Dispose of empty containers, cleaning cloths
and care products in an environmentally
responsible manner. Comply with the
instructions for use of the care products.
Do not run the engine for longer than
necessary when the vehicle is stationary.
Before having maintenance and repairs
performed, it is essential to read the materials
related to the maintenance and repairs:
R the applicable sections of the technical
documentation, e.g. the Operator's Manual
and workshop information.
R regulations such as industrial safety
regulations and accident prevention
regulations.
While working under the vehicle, you must
secure the vehicle on jackstands with
sufficient load capacity.
Never use the jac kasas ubstitute .the
vehicle's jack is intended only to raise the
vehicle for a short time when changing a
wheel. It is not suited for performing
maintenance work under the vehicle.
Please also refer to the notes about qualified
specialist workshops (Y page 26).
The scope and regularity of the inspection
and maintenance work primarily depend on
the often diverse operating conditions.
Specialist knowledge beyond the scope of
this Operator's Manual is required when
carrying out testing and maintenance work.
This work should only be carried out by
trained staff.
The vehicle's Maintenance Booklet describes
the extenta nd frequency of the maintenance
work and contains additional informatio non
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty and on the
service products. 248
MaintenanceMaintenance and care

Installing/removing the floor
covering (starter battery)
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver' sfootwell can restric tthe
pedal travel or obstruct adepressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle
is jeopardized. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Install the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficien tclearance for the pedals. Do not use
loose floormats. X
Switch off all electrical consumers.
X To remove: remove screws 0026and take off
trim 0006.
X Remove floor covering 0005.
X To install: place floor covering 0005in the
driver's footwell.
X Slide floor covering 0005underneath the
carrier of the accelerator pedal and align it
at the base of the driver's seat and at the
door sill.
Make sure that the floor covering does not
obstruct the accelerator pedal.
X Put trim 0006in place and screw screws 0026
back in. Disconnecting/connecting the
starter battery
Important safety notes G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery
produces hydroge ngas. If a shor tcircuit
occurs or sparks are created, the hydrogen
gas can ignite. There is a risk of an explosion.
R Make sure that the positive terminal of a
connected battery does not come into
contact with vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a
battery.
R It is important that you observe the
described order of the battery terminals
when connecting and disconnecting a
battery.
R When jump-starting, make sure that the
battery poles with identical polarity are
connected.
R It is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and
disconnecting the jumper cables.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running.
Disconnecting the starter battery !
Switch off the engine and remove the key
fro mt he ignition lock before you loosen or
disconnectt he terminal clamps. You may
otherwise destroy electronic components
such as the alternator.
Always disconnectt he starter battery in the
battery case in the driver's footwell first.
! Always disconnectt he battery in
the order described below. Never swap the
terminal clamps. You may otherwise
damage the vehicle electronics. Battery
251Maintenance and care Z

X
Recharge the removed battery. Observe
the notes in the operating instructions for
your battery charger.
X Install the battery. Observe the notes on
reconnecting the battery.
i If batteries are no tbeing used, you should
charge them once a month.
It is also possible to charge the starter
battery using the jump-starting connection
point in the engine compartment
(Y page 267). Care
! Dirty battery clamps and battery surfaces
cause leak currents which lead to the
batteries discharging.
! Do not use cleaning agents containing
fuel. Cleaning agents containing fuel
corrode the battery housing.
! If dirt gets into the battery cell, battery
self-discharge will increase and the battery
may be damaged.
The following points on battery care must be
observed:
X Regularly chec kthe battery terminals and
the fastening of the negative cable to the
chassis to ensure that they are firmly
seated.
X Always keep the battery terminals and
battery surfaces clean and dry.
X Lightly grease the undersides of the battery
terminals with acid-resistant grease.
X Only clean the batteries when the caps are
screwed on.
Otherwise, dirt could get into the battery
cells.
X Unscrew the caps and clean blocked
breathers with a suitable tool such as a
piece of wire.
If you do not unscrew the caps for cleaning,
there is a risk of short circuit. The breathers in the caps and the cell
ventilation tubes must be open. Otherwise,
gas cannot escape.
X Only clean the battery casing with a
commercially available cleaning product. Care
Notes on care
G
WARNING
If you use openings in the bodywork or
detachable parts as steps, you could:
R slip and/or fall
R damage the vehicle and cause yourself to
fall.
There is a risk of injury.
Always use secure climbing aids, e.g. a
suitable ladder.
! For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any
of the following:
R dry, rough or hard cloths
R abrasive cleaning agents
R solvents
R cleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective
films with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice
scraper. You could otherwise scratch or
damage the surfaces and protective film.
! Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after
cleaning. Braking heats the brake discs and
the brake pads/linings, thus drying them.
The vehicle can then be parked. Care
255Maintenance and care Z

!
Do not fold the windshield wipers away
from the windshield unless the hood is
closed. Otherwise, you could damage the
hood.
! Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windshield could be damaged if
the wiper arm smacks against it suddenly.
! Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing
solvents to clean the inside of the windows.
Do not touch the insides of the windows
with hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or
ring. There is otherwise a risk of damaging
the windows.
Before cleaning the windshield
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock or remove it.
X Fold the windshield wiper arms away from
the windshield until you feel them engage.
Before switching the ignition on again, fold
the windshield wipers back into position.
Cleaning the windows
X Cleant he inside and outside of the
windows with a damp cloth and a cleaning
agent that is recommended and approved
for Sprinter vehicles. Exterior
Cleaning the wheels !
Do not use any acidic or alkaline cleaning
agents. They can cause corrosion on the
wheel bolts (wheel nuts) or the retainer
springs for the wheel-balancing weights.
! Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after
cleaning. Braking heats the brake discs and the brake pads/linings, thus drying them.
The vehicle can then be parked.
If you clean the wheels with a power washer,
observe the safety notes for the power
washer (Y page 257). You could otherwise
damage the tires.
Cleaning the wiper blades G
WARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield
wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
! Do not fold the windshield wipers away
from the windshield unless the hood is
closed. Otherwise, you could damage the
hood.
! Do not pull the wiper blade. Otherwise,
the wiper blade could be damaged.
! Do not clean wiper blades too often and
do not rub them too hard. Otherwise, the
graphite coating could be damaged. This
could cause wiper noise.
! Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windshield could be damaged if
the wiper arm smacks against it suddenly.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock or remove it.
X Fold the windshield wiper arms away from
the windshield until you feel them engage.
X Carefully clean the wiper blades with a
damp cloth.
X Fold back the wiper arms before switching
on the ignition.
Cleaning the exterior lighting !
Only use cleaning agents or cleaning
cloths which are suitable for plastic light
lenses. Unsuitable cleaning agents or 258
CareMaintenance and care

Tow-starting and towing away
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longe ravailable if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the powe rsteering is
malfunctioning.
R there is a malfunctio ninthe voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged. There
is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing the
vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar. G
WARNING
If the weight of the vehicle to be towed or tow-
started is greater than the permissible gross
weight of your vehicle:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could
rollover.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the
permissible gross weight of your vehicle.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate (Y page 315).
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged. !
Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
R Secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R Ensure that the tow cable is not longer
than legally permitted. Mark the tow
cable in the middle, e.g. with a white
cloth (30 x 30 cm). This will make other
road users aware that the vehicle is being
towed.
R Only secure the tow cable to the towing
eye.
R Observe the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a
distance so that the tow rope does not
sag.
R Do not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. You could otherwise
damage the vehicle.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
this could damage the vehicle. If in doubt,
recover the vehicle with acrane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly .Ifthe tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
Observe the legal requirements for the
relevant country when towing.
It is preferable to have the vehicle
transported on a transporter or trailer instead
of towing it.
The automatic transmission selector lever
must be in the Nposition when towing the
vehicle.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2
R cannot move the selector lever to position
Non vehicles with automatic transmission.
i Switch off the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 69). You
could otherwise lock yourself out of the
vehicle when pushing or towing away the
vehicle. 268
Tow-starting and towing awayBreakdown assistance

the braking properties and the driving
characteristics .There is a risk of an accident.
Avoid tire pressures that are too low in all the
tires, including the spare wheel.
Underinflated tires can:
R fail from being overheated
R adversely affect handling
R wear excessively and/or unevenly
R have an adverse effect on fuel consumption
Overinflated tires G
WARNING
Tires with excessively high pressure can burst
because they are damaged more easily by
road debris, potholes etc. In addition, they
also suffer from irregular wear, which can
severely impair the braking properties and the
driving characteristics. There is a risk of an
accident.
Avoid tire pressures that are too high in all the
tires, including the spare wheel.
Overinflated tires can:
R increase the braking distance
R adversely affect handling
R wear excessively and/or unevenly
R adversely affect ride comfort
R be more susceptible to damage
Maximum tire pressures 0005
Maximum permitted tire pressure
(example) Never exceed the maximum permissible tire
inflation pressure. When adjusting the tire
pressures always observe the recommended
tire pressure for your vehicle (Y
page 278).
i The actual values for tires are specific to
each vehicle and may deviate from the
values in the illustration. Tire valve (snap-in valve)
G
WARNING
Tire valve that are not approved for your
vehicle by the distributor named on the inside
cover page may result in a loss of tire
pressure. This may affect road safety. There
is a risk of an accident.
Only use tire valve that are approved for your
vehicle by the distributor named on the inside
cover page. Always make sure you have the
correct tire valve type for the tires on your
vehicle.
! Do not screw additional weights (check
valves, etc.) onto the tire valves. The
electronic components could thus be
damaged.
Only for vehicles without atire pressure
monitor:
For safety reasons, we recommend that you
only use tire valves that have been tested for
use on your vehicle, e.g. those manufactured
by Wonder:
R type TR 600 for the vehicle types 2500
R type TR 418 for the vehicle types 3500 Checking the tire pressure manually
In order to determine and adjust the tire
pressures, proceed as follows:
X Remove the valve cap of the tire you wish
to check.
X Press the tire pressure gauge securely onto
the valve. 280
Tire pressureWheels and tires

is bar. 100 kilopascals (kPa) are the
equivalen tof1bar.
Load index
In addition to the load bearing index, a load
index can be stamped onto the sidewall of the
tire. It specifies the load-bearing capacity of
the tire more precisely.
Curb weight
The weigh tofavehicle with standard
equipment including the maximu mfilling
capacity of fuel, oil, and coolant. It also
includes the air-conditionin gsystem and
optional equipmen tifthese are installed on
the vehicle, but does not include passengers
or luggage.
Maximum tire load
The maximum tire load in kilograms or
pounds is the maximum weight for which a
tire is approved.
Maximum permissible tire pressure
Maximum permissible tire pressure for one
tire.
Maximum load on one tire
Maximum load on one tire. This is calculated
by dividing the maximum axle load of one axle
by two.
PSI (Pounds per square inch)
Standard unit of measurement for tire
pressure.
Aspect ratio
Relationship between tire height and width in
percent.
Tire pressure
Pressure inside the tire applying an outward
force to every square inch of the tire's
surface. Tire pressure is specified in pounds
per square inch (psi), in kilopascal (kPa) or in
bar. Tire pressure should only be corrected
when the tires are cold. Cold tire pressure
The tires are cold:
R if the vehicle has been parked for at least
three hours without direct sunlight on the
tires, and
R if the vehicle has not been driven further
than 1 mile (1.6 km)
Tire tread
The part of the tire that comes into contact
with the road.
Tire bead
The tire bead ensures that the tire sits
securely on the wheel. There are several steel
wires in the bead to prevent the tire from
coming loose from the wheel rim.
Sidewall
The part of the tire between the tread and the
tire bead.
Weight of optional extras
The combined weight of those optional extras
that weigh more than the replaced standard
parts and more than 2.3 kg (5 lbs). These
optional extras, such as high-performance
brakes, level control, a roof rack or a high-
performance battery, are not included in the
curb weight and the weight of the
accessories.
TIN (Tire Identification Number)
Au nique identificatio nnumbe rwhich can be
used by a tire manufacturer to identify tires,
for example for a product recall, and thus
identify the purchasers. The TIN is composed
of the manufacturer identification code, tire
size, tire model code and manufacturing date.
Load bearing index
The load bearing index (also load index) is a
code that contains the maximum load bearing
capacity of a tire. 294
What you should know about wheels and tiresWheels and tires

Diagra
mshowing tire rotation for single and dual
tires
Single tires: if the tires are of identical
dimensions, you can rotate both wheels on
both the front and rear axles so that the tires'
original direction of rotation is maintained. On
unidirectional tires, an arrow on the sidewall
shows the prescribed direction of rotation of
the tire.
Twin rear tires: if the tires are of identical
dimensions, you can rotate the wheels on the
front axle and the inner wheels on the rear
axle in pairs such that the original direction of
tire rotation is retained. With unidirectional
tires, you may rotate the outside wheels at
the rear axle from one side to the other. Direction of rotation
Tires with a specified direction of rotation
have additional benefits, e.g. if there is a risk
of hydroplaning. You will only gain these
benefits if the correct direction of rotation is
observed.
An arrow on the sidewall of the tire indicates
its correct direction of rotation.
You may mount a spare wheel against the
direction of rotation. Observe the time
restriction on use as well as the speed
limitation specified on the spare wheel. Storing wheels
Store wheels that are not being used in a cool,
dry and preferably dark place. Protect the
tires from contact with oil, grease and fuel. Mounting
awheel
Vehicle preparation X
Stop the vehicle as far away as possible
from traffic and on a level, firm and non-slip
surface.
X If you rvehicle poses a risk to approaching
traffic, switch on the hazard warning lamps.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Turn the fron twheels to the straight-ahead
position.
X Move the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Passengers should leave the vehicle. Make
sure that the passengers are not
endangered as they do so.
X Make sure that no one is near the danger
area while the wheel is being changed.
Anyone who is not directly assisting in the
wheel change should, for example, stand
behind the barrier.
X Place the warning triangle or warning lamp
at a suitable distance.
Observe legal requirements.
X Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
i Observe the safety notes on parking in the
section on "Driving and parking"
(Y page 145).
X On level terrain: place chocks or other
suitable objects under the front and rear of
the wheel that is diagonally opposite the
wheel to be changed.
X On slight inclines: place chocks or other
suitable objects under the wheels on the
front and rear axles opposite the wheel to
be changed. Changing wheels
303Wheels and tires Z