2014 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER weight

again. The opening or closing procedure will
be stopped. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is installed incor-
rectly or is not secured, it can come loose in
the event of an accident, heavy braking or a
sudden change in direction. The child
restraint system could be thrown about, strik-
ing vehicle occupants. There is an increased
risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Always install child restraint systems prop-
erly, even if they are not being used. Make
sure that you observe the child restraint sys-
tem manufacturer's installation instructions.
Further information on secure stowage of
loads can be found under "Loading guide-
lines".
If an infant or child is traveling in the vehicle:
R secure the child with a child or infant seat
restraint system appropriate to the age and
weight of the child
R make sure that the infant or child is prop-
erly secured at all times while the vehicle
is in motion.
We recommend that you always properly
secure all infants and children in an infant or
child restraint system for the journey.
The use of seat belts and infant and child
restraint systems is required by law in:
R all 50 states
R the U.S. territories
R the District of Columbia
R all Canadian provinces
Infants and children must always be seated in
an appropriate infant or child restraint system
recommended for the size and weight of the
child. This must be properly secured in
accordance with the manufacturer's installa-
tion instructions for the infant or child seat
restraint system. All infant or child restraint systems must meet
the following standards:
R
U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand-
ards 213 and 225
R Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
213 and 210.2
A statement by the child restraint manufac-
turer of compliance with these standards can
be found on the instruction label on the child
restraint system. You will also find the state-
ment in the instruction manual provided with
the child restraint system.
When using any infant restraint, child
restraint or booster seat, make sure to care-
fully read and follow all manufacturer's
instructions for installation and use.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle
interior or on the infant or child restraint. LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat secur-
ing system
G
WARNING
Children that are too large for a child restraint
must travel in seats using normal seat belts.
Position shoulder belt across the chest and
shoulder, not face or neck.
A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper seat belt positioning for children over
41 lb (18 kg) until they reach a height where
a lap/shoulder belt fits properly without a
booster.
Install the child restraint system in accord-
ance with the manufacturer's instructions.
Attach the child restraint system to both
securing rings.
An incorrectly installed child restraint system
could come loose during an accident and ser-
iously or even fatally injure the child.
Child restraint systems or child seat securing
rings that are malfunctioning or damaged as
the result of a collision must be replaced. 52
Child restraint systemsSafety

The brakes function as usual again if:
R you release the brake pedal
R there is no longer any danger of a collision
R no obstacle is detected in front of your
vehicle
Adaptive Brake Assist is then deactivated.
Up to the maximum vehicle speed, adaptive
Brake Assist can react to moving obstacles
that have already been recognized as such at
least once over the period of observation.
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react to sta-
tionary obstacles.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can
be impaired if:
R dirt on the sensors or anything else cover-
ing the sensors
R it is snowing or raining heavily
R there is interference from other radar sour-
ces
R there are strong radar reflections, for
example in parking garages
R a narrow vehicle is traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
R a vehicle is traveling in front on a different
line
If adaptive Brake Assist is not available due
to a malfunction in the radar sensor system,
the full brake boosting effect with the help of
BAS remains available.
Following damage to the front end of the vehi-
cle, have the configuration and operation of
the radar sensor checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. This also applies to colli-
sions at slow speeds where there is no visible
damage to the front of the vehicle. ASR (acceleration skid control)
General notes Important safety notes
ASR can neither reduce the risk of an accident
nor suspend the laws of physics if the driver
does not pay attention when pulling away or accelerating. ASR is only an aid. Always adapt
your driving style to suit the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if
ASR is malfunctioning, the
003Dindicator
lamp lights up while the engine is running and
the engine power may be reduced
(Y page 221).
ASR significantly improves traction, i.e. the
transmission of power from the tires to the
road surface, and thus increases the vehicle's
driving stability. If the driving wheels start to
spin, ASR brakes individual drive wheels and
limits the engine torque. ASR thus signifi-
cantly assists you when pulling away and
accelerating, especially on wet or slippery
roads.
If traction on the road surface is not sufficient,
even ASR will not allow you to pull away with-
out difficulty. The type of tires and total
weight of the vehicle as well as the gradient
of the road also play a crucial role.
If ASR intervenes, the 0072warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes.
Activating/deactivating ASR G
WARNING
If deactivated, ASR will not attempt to stabi-
lize the vehicle during pulling away and accel-
eration. There is an increased risk of skidding
and of an accident.
Only deactivate ASR in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
! If you deactivate ASR, ESP ®
will still inter-
vene to stabilize the vehicle. Frequent brak-
ing automatically triggered by ESP ®
can
damage the brake system.
For this reason, deactivate ASR only briefly
and when absolutely necessary. 60
Driving safety systemsSafety

Driver's and co-driver's seat
0043
Seat fore-and-aft adjustment
0044 Lumbar support adjustment
0087 Seat backrest adjustment
0085 Seat height adjustment
0083 Seat cushion angle adjustment
0084 Seat suspension adjustment
006B Seat suspension lock
i Depending on the seat model, some
adjustments may not be available.
You can find information on rotating the
front seats under "Swiveling front seats"
(Y page 84).
X To adjust the seat fore-and-aft posi-
tion: pull lever 0043up.
X Slide the seat forwards or back until you
can depress the pedals.
X Release lever 0043.
X Slide the seat forwards or back until you
hear it engage.
X To adjust the backrest: turn handwheel
0087 towards the front.
The seat backrest moves to a vertical posi-
tion.
X Turn handwheel 0087towards the rear.
The seat backrest tilts towards the rear. X
To adjust the seat height: press or pull
lever 0085repeatedly until you have reached
the desired seat height.
X To adjust the seat angle: turn handwheel
0083 towards the front.
The front of the seat cushion is lowered.
X Turn handwheel 0083towards 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 hand-
wheel 0044upwards.
This increases the support provided to the
lumbar region.
X Turn handwheel 0044downwards.
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 0084, set your body weight
(40 to 120 kg) for optimum seat suspen-
sion.
The seat suspension will become more rigid
the higher you set the weight. It will then
not move as far. Seats
83Seats, ste ering wheel and mirrors Z

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 lever 006Bupwards.
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 006Bto the right.
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, steer-
ing 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
to provide the intended protection. There is
an increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Engage the driver's and co-driver's seats so
they are facing the direction of travel before
starting the engine.
! When rotating the seats, make sure that
there is sufficient space to do so.
Move the seat forward or back first. This
will help to avoid contact with other parts
of the interior.
Push the handbrake lever down to the stop. The parking brake or handbrake lever could
otherwise be damaged.
Seat release (example: co-driver's seat)
The driver's seat and co-driver's seat can be
rotated by 50° and 180°.
The seats engage when facing in the direction
of travel as well as when facing in the opposite
direction and also engage at an angle of 50°
to the door.
X Make sure that the parking brake has been
engaged and that the handbrake lever has
been pushed down to the stop
(Y page 152).
X Adjust the steering wheel to provide the
necessary space to rotate and adjust the
driver's seat (Y page 88).
X Before rotating, push the co-driver's seat
forwards (Y page 83).
X 2To rotate the seat: push lever0043on the
rear of the seat towards the center of the
vehicle and rotate the seat slightly inwards.
The rotation device is released.
X Release lever 0043.
X Turn the seat about 50° towards the out-
side or inside to the desired position. 84
SeatsSeats, steering wheel and mirrors

G
WARNING
If you rest your foot 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.
Always observe the operating instructions
provided by the manufacturers of the trailer
coupling and the ball coupling.
Couple and decouple the trailer carefully.
When backing up the towing vehicle, make
sure nobody is standing between the vehicle
and the trailer.
A trailer which is incorrectly coupled to the
towing vehicle could break away. A correctly
coupled trailer must be positioned horizon-
tally behind the towing 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 of both the
towing vehicle and the trailer
R the permissible gross combination weight
The applicable permissible values that may
not be exceeded can be found:
R in your vehicle documents
R on the type plates for the trailer tow hitch
R on the type plates for the trailer
R on the vehicle identification plate
(Y page 319).
Where the values differ, the lowest is valid.
You will find values approved by the manu-
facturer on the identification plates and those
for the towing vehicle in the "Permissible trailer loads and trailer drawbar noseweights"
section (Y
page 178).
Your vehicle behaves differently with a trailer
than without one.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
R is heavier
R is restricted in its acceleration and gradi-
ent-climbing capability
R has an increased braking distance
R is more susceptible to strong crosswinds
R requires more sensitive steering
R has a larger turning circle
This may impair the handling characteristics.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your
speed to suit the road and weather condi-
tions. Drive carefully. Maintain a safe dis-
tance.
If you require any further explanation of the
information contained in the Operating
Instructions, please contact an authorized
Sprinter dealer.
General notes R
Observe the legally prescribed maximum
speed for vehicle/trailer combinations in
the relevant country, state or Canadian
province. Before setting off, check the vehi-
cle documents of the your trailer to find out
the permissible maximum speed.
This reduces the risk of accidents.
R Install only an approved trailer coupling on
your vehicle. Only use a ball coupling that
is approved for your vehicle and Sprinter
trailer tow hitch. More information on the
availability, mounting and installation of the
trailer electrics is available at any qualified
specialist workshop.
R The turn signals on the trailer are only guar-
anteed to function when incandescent
bulbs are used. You can obtain more infor-
mation about installing the trailer electrics
at any qualified specialist workshop.
R The trailer coupling is one of the most
important vehicle parts with regard to road 174
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

safety. The notes on operation, care and
maintenance issued by the manufacturer
should be observed.
R The bumpers of your vehicle are not suita-
ble for installing detachable trailer cou-
plings.
R Do not install rented trailer couplings or
other detachable trailer couplings to the
bumpers.
R Minimize the risk of damage to the ball cou-
pling. If you do not require the ball coupling,
remove it from the ball coupling recess.
Weight information can be found in the “Per-
missible trailer and drawbar noseweights”
section (Y page 178).
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-adjust-
able trailer drawbar.
Driving tips The maximum permissible 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 vehi-
cle/trailer combinations in the relevant coun-
try, state or Canadian province.
When towing a trailer, your vehicle's handling
characteristics will be different in comparison
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 cruise control is acti-
vated.
This enables you to utilize the engine's brak-
ing effect and you do not need to brake so
heavily to keep the correct speed. which pro-
tects 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 author-
ized 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 capa-
bilities 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 cou-
pling
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 descri-
bed in the ball coupling manufacturer's instal-
lation 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 descri-
bed in the ball coupling installation instruc-
tions. Make sure that the ball coupling is Towing a trailer
175Driving and parking
Z

installed and secured correctly before every
journey.
If your vehicle is equipped with a Sprinter
trailer tow hitch, you need a ball coupling that
is approved for the trailer tow hitch.
When mounting and removing the approved
ball coupling, observe the relevant informa-
tion in the operating instructions of the ball
coupling manufacturer.
If you cannot mount the ball coupling cor-
rectly, remove it. In this case, the ball cou-
pling may not be used for towing a trailer.
Notes on the permissible dimensions and
weights can also be found on the identifica-
tion plate of the trailer tow hitch. You can
obtain advice from a qualified specialist work-
shop. Coupling up a trailer
! Do not connect the trailer's brake system
(if featured) to the hydraulic brake system
of the towing vehicle, as the latter is equip-
ped with an anti-lock brake system. Doing
so will result in a loss of function of the
brake systems of both the vehicle and the
trailer. Trailer coupled ready for use
X
Make sure the selector lever of the auto-
matic transmission is in position P.
X Apply the parking brake of the vehicle.
X Close all doors. X
Position the trailer horizontally behind your
vehicle.
i The height of the ball neck changes
according to the load on the vehicle. In this
case, use a trailer with a height-adjustable
trailer drawbar.
X Couple the trailer.
X Establish all electrical and other connec-
tions to the trailer.
X Remove the objects that are preventing the
trailer from rolling, e.g. wheel chocks.
X Release the trailer parking brake.
i The subharness of the vehicle has a cable
connection to the brake lamp indicator
lamp.
Observe the maximum permissible trailer
dimensions (width and length).
Most federal states and all Canadian provin-
ces 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 cou-
pling, not to the bumper or the axle.
Leave enough slack in the chains. This
allows you to drive round tight corners.
R a separate brake system for certain types
of trailer.
R a safety switch for braked trailers. Find out
the specific requirements according to the
applicable laws.
If the trailer detaches from the towing vehi-
cle, the safety switch applies the trailer's
brakes. Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements con-
cerning the towing of a trailer, e.g. speed
restrictions. Make sure your vehicle/trailer
combination complies with local laws. This
not only means where you live, but also any-
where you are driving to. Information is avail-
able from the police and local authorities. 176
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

X
Make sure the selector lever of the auto-
matic transmission is in position P.
X Apply the parking brake of the vehicle.
X Close all doors.
X Apply the parking brake of the trailer.
X In addition, secure the trailer against rolling
away with a wheel chock or similar object.
X Remove the trailer cable and safety chains
and decouple the trailer. Permissible trailer loads and trailer
drawbar noseweights
Weight information !
On vehicles with a permissible gross vehi-
cle weight of 11030 lbs (5003 kg), the per-
missible gross combination weight is less
than the total of the permissible gross vehi-
cle weight and the permissible trailer load.
Exceeding the permissible gross combina-
tion weight can lead to damage to the driv-
etrain, to the transmission or to the trailer
tow hitch.
If the vehicle or the trailer is fully laden, the
relevant value for the permissible gross
vehicle weight or the permissible trailer
load is therefore lower. In this case, the
trailer or the vehicle may only be partially
loaded.
The gross trailer weight (GTW) is calculated
by adding the weight of the trailer to the
weight of the load and equipment.
The maximum gross vehicle weight is vehicle-
specific and equipment-dependent:
5,000 lbs (2,268 kg) or 7,500 lbs (3,402 kg).
The maximum permissible trailer drawbar
noseweight on the ball coupling is 500 lbs
(227 kg) or 750 lbs (340 kg). The actual nose-
weight may not exceed the value given on the
identification plates of the trailer tow hitch or
the trailer. If the values vary, the lowest value
always applies.
The gross combination weight rating (GCWR)
is calculated by adding the gross weight of the trailer to the gross vehicle weight including a
driver's weight of approximately 150 lbs
(68 kg). The permissible Gross Combination
Weight Rating 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).
The permissible values, which must not be
exceeded, can be found in your vehicle docu-
ments and on the trailer tow hitch type plates
for the trailer and the vehicle (Y page 319).
The basic values approved by the manufac-
turer can also be found in the "Technical data"
section (Y page 332). If the values vary, the
lowest value always applies.
Loading a trailer !
Utilize the maximum permissible nose-
weight as fully as possible. Do not allow the
weight to fall below the minimum permis-
sible noseweight, otherwise the trailer may
come loose.
R You must distribute the load on the vehicle
and trailer so that the permitted maximum
values for the gross vehicle weight (GVWR),
gross trailer weight (GTW) and gross com-
bined weight (GCWR) as well as permitted
gross axle loads (GAWR) and noseweight
(TWR) of your vehicle are not exceeded.
R Add the drawbar noseweight on the ball
coupling (TWR) to the rear axle load. This
will prevent you from exceeding the per-
missible gross axle weight (GAWR).
R Add the drawbar noseweight on the ball
coupling (TWR) to the vehicle payload. This
will prevent you from exceeding the per-
missible gross vehicle weight (GVWR).
Checking the vehicle and trailer weight R
Make sure the weights of the towing vehicle
and the trailer comply with the maximum
permissible values. Have the vehicle/
trailer combination weighed on a calibrated
weighbridge. The vehicle/trailer combina- 178
Towing a trailerDriving and parking