2013 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER suspension

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). Seats
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the driver's seat is not engaged, it could
move unexpectedly while the vehicle is in
motion. This could cause you to lose control
of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Always make sure that the driver's seat is
engaged before starting the engine. G
WARNING
When you adjust a seat, you or other vehicle
occupants could become trapped, e.g. on the
seat guide rail. There is arisk of injury.
Make sure when adjusting aseat that no one
has any body parts in the sweep of the seat. G
WARNING
If head restraints are not installed and
adjusted correctly, they cannot provide
protection as intended. There is an increased
risk of injury in the head and neck area, e.g.
in the event of an accident or when braking.
Always drive with the head restraints
installed. Before driving off, make sure for
every vehicle occupant that the center of the
head restraint supports the back of the head
at about eye level. Observe also the safety notes in the sections
on "Air bags" (Y
page 44) and "Children in the
vehicle" ( Ypage 50).
Do not change over the head restraints for the
fron tand rea rseats. Otherwise, it will not be
possible to correctly adjust the height and
angle of the head restraints.
Use the head restraint pad to adjust the head
restraint so that it is as close as possible to
the back of your head.
Before the journey, make sure the head
restraints have been correctly set for each of
the vehicle's passengers (Y page 84). Driver's and co-driver's seat
0005
Seat fore-and-aft adjustment
0006 Lumbar support adjustment
0026 Seat backrest adjustment
0025 Seat height adjustment
0023 Seat cushion angle adjustment
0024 Seat suspension adjustment
0018 Seat suspension lock
i Depending on the seat model, some
adjustments may not be available.
You can find information on rotating the
fron tseats under "Swiveling fron tseats"
(Y page 81). 80
SeatsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

X
To adjust the seat fore-and-aft
position: pull lever0005up.
X Slide the sea tforwards or back until you
can depress the pedals.
X Release lever 0005.
X Slide the seat forwards or back until you
hear it engage.
X To adjust the backrest: turn handwheel
0026 towards the front.
The seat backrest moves to a vertical
position.
X Turn handwheel 0026towards the rear.
The seat backrest tilts towards the rear.
X To adjust the seat height: press or pull
lever 0025repeatedly until you have reached
the desired seat height.
X To adjust the seat angle: turn handwheel
0023 towards the front.
The front of the seat cushion is lowered.
X Turn handwheel 0023towards 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 0006upwards.
This increases the support provided to the
lumbar region.
X Turn handwheel 0006downwards.
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 Using handwheel 0024, set your body weight
(40 to 120 kg) for optimum 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 movemen trange.
X To engage the seat suspension lock:
turn lever 0018downwards.
When it next moves, th eseat 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 0018upwards.
The seat can now move up and down again. Swiveling front seats
G
WARNING
You could lose control of your vehicle if you
do the following while driving:
R adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel or mirrors
R fasten the seat belt
There is a risk of an accident.
Adjust the driver's seat, head restraint,
steering wheel and mirror and fasten your
seat belt before starting the engine. G
WARNING
If the driver's and co-driver's seats are not
engaged facing the direction of travel while
driving, the restraint systems may not be able Seats
81Seats, steering wheel and mirrors
Z

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). Important safety notes
G
Warning
Af lat tire severely impairs the driving,
steering and braking characteristics of the
vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
do not drive with aflat tire. Immediately
replace the flat tire with your spare wheel, or
consult a qualified specialist workshop. G
WARNING
If wheels and tires of the wrong size are used,
the wheel brakes or suspension components
may be damaged. There is arisk of an
accident.
Always replace wheels and tires with those
that fulfill the specifications of the original
part.
When replacing wheels, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R model
When replacing tires, make sure to use the
correct:
R designation
R manufacturer
R model
Accessories that are not approved for your
vehicle or are not being used correctly can
impair operating safety. Before purchasing and using non-approved
accessories, visit a qualified specialist
workshop and inquire about:
R
suitability
R legal stipulations
R factory recommendations
Contact an authorized Sprinter dealer if you
require information on tested and
recommended wheels and tires for summer
and winter driving. Advice on purchasing and
caring for tires is also available there.
Informatio nontire and wheel dimensions and
types as well as the recommended tire
pressure for your vehicle can be found in the
"Tire pressure" section (Y page 285).
This data can also be foun donthe Tire and
Loading Information placard on the B-pillar.
Modifications to the brake system or wheels
are not permitted. The use of wheel spacers
or brake dust shields is not permitted. This
invalidates the general operating permit for
the vehicle.
i Further information on wheels and tires
can be obtained at any qualified specialist
workshop. Operation
Information for a journey
If the vehicle is heavily laden, check the tire
pressures, and correct them, if necessary.
While driving, pay attention to vibrations,
noises and unusual handling characteristics,
e.g. pulling to one side. This may indicate that
the wheels or tires are damaged. If you
suspect that a tire is defective, reduce your
speed immediately. Stop the vehicle as soon
as possible to check the wheels and tires for
damage. Hidden tire damage could also be
causing the unusual handling characteristics.
If you find no signs of damage, have the tires
and wheels checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. 274
OperationWheels and tires

Always observe the maximu
mpermissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
If you mount M+S tires that have a lower
maximum permissible speed than that of the
vehicle, affix a corresponding warning label in
the driver's field of vision. You can obtain this
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Once you have mounted the winter tires:
X Check the tire pressure (Y page 278).
X Reactivate the tire pressure
monitor*(Y page 283). Snow chains
G
WARNING
If you drive too fast with snow chains
mounted, they may snap. As a result, you
could injure others and damage the vehicle.
There is a risk of an accident.
Observe the maximum permissible speed for
operation with snow chains.
When driving with snow chains mounted, do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed
of 30 mph (50 km/h). Observe the country-
specific laws and regulations for operation
with snow chains.
! Check the snow chains for damage before
mounting them. Damaged or worn snow
chains may snap and damage the following
components:
R wheel
R wheel housing
R wheel suspension
For this reason, you must use only snow
chains that are free of defects. Observe the
manufacturer's mounting instructions.
! Vehicles with steel wheels: if you
mount snow chains on steel wheels, you
may damage the hub caps. Remove the hub
caps from the relevant wheels before
mounting the snow chains. Snow chains increase traction on roads in
wintry conditions.
For reasons of safety we only recommend
using snow chains or traction aids that are
approved for the Sprinter. The snow chains or
traction aids must be of class U or meet the
SAE type U specification. Information on
snow chains is available at any qualified
specialist workshop.
When mounting snow chains, please bear the
following points in mind:
R
You may not mount snow chains on all
wheel/tire combinations. When mounting
the snow chains, note the permissible tire
and snow chain dimensions.
R Mount snow chains only in pairs and only
to the rear wheels. On vehicles with twin
tires, mount the snow chains to the outer
wheels. Observe the manufacturer's
mounting instructions.
R Only use snow chains when the road is
covered by a layer of snow. Remove the
snow chains as soon as possible when you
come to a road that is not snow-covered.
R The use of snow chains may be restricted
by local regulations. Observe the
appropriate regulations before mounting
snow chains.
R When driving with snow chains mounted,
do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
R Check the tension of the chains after a
distance of approximately 0.5 miles
(1.0 km).
You can deactivate ASR (Y page 58) when
pulling away with snow chains mounted. This
allows the wheels to spin in a controlled
manner, achieving an increased driving force
(cutting action). Operation in winter
277Wheels and tires
*optional Z

and/or valve tool, warning triangle and
warning lamps in the vehicle.
X Pull away immediately.
This enables the tire sealan tto distribute
inside the tire and create a more effective
seal.
X After driving for approximately 3 minutes,
stop the vehicle at a suitable location, e.g.
at a car park or gas station.
X Check the tire pressure again.
The tire pressure must be at least
300 kPa (3.0 bar/43.5 psi). G
WARNING
If the required tire pressure is not reached
after driving for a short period, the tire is too
badly damaged. The tire sealant cannot repair
the tire in this instance. Damaged tires and a
tire pressure that is too low can significantly
impair the vehicle's braking and driving
characteristics. There is a risk of accident.
Do not continue driving. Contact a qualified
specialist workshop.
i The Mercedes-Benz Service24h
telephone numbers can be found on a
sticker in the driver's door entrance area
and in the vehicle Maintenance Booklet.
i If you check the tire pressure with the tire
inflation compressor, connect angled valve
adapter 0006on tire inflation compressor
hose 0026directly to the tire valve. The tire
pressure will increase when you switch the
tire inflation compressor on. You can
reduce the tire pressure by opening the
pressure release screw on pressure gauge
0023.
If the tire pressure is still at least 300 kPa
(3.0 bar/43.5 psi):
X If possible, inflate the tire to the
recommended tire pressure (Y page 278).
X Drive to the nearest qualified specialist
workshop as soon as possible and have the
tire and tire sealant 0019replaced. Changing wheels
Rotating the wheels
G
WARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions.
The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of
accident.
Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels
and tires are of the same dimensions.
! On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are
located in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the
electronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting awheel" section
(Y page 303).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions.
Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern
has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires
in the center.
If your vehicle's tire configuration allows, you
can rotate the wheels according to the
intervals in the tire manufacturer's warranty
book in your vehicle documents. If no
warranty book is available, the tires should be
rotated every 3,000 to 6,000 miles (5,000 to
10,000 km), or earlier if tire wear requires. Do
not change the direction of rotation.
Clean the contac tsurface softhe wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is rotated. Check the tire pressure and
reactivate the tire pressure monitor if
necessary. 302
Changing wheelsWheels and tires