Problems with the transmission
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions The transmission mal-
functions when shifting
gear. The transmission is losing oil.
X
Have the transmission checked immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. The acceleration char-
acteristics have deter-
iorated noticeably.
The transmission does
not shift. The transmission is in emergency mode.
It is only possible to shift into second gear or reverse gear
R.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Move the selector lever to position P.
X Switch off the engine.
X Wait at least 10 seconds before restarting the engine.
X Depress the brake pedal.
X Move the selector lever to position Dor R.
In position D, the transmission shifts into second gear; in posi-
tion R, the transmission shifts into reverse gear.
X Have the transmission checked immediately at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop. Releasing the parking lock manually
In the event of a malfunction, it is possible to
manually release the selector lever from the
lock in parking position P, e.g. to have the
vehicle towed away. X
Apply the parking brake.
X Remove cover 0043. X
Slide implement 0044as far as it will go into
the opening.
X Push the implement in and simultaneously
move the selector lever out of position P.
The selector lever lock is released. You can
now move the selector lever freely again
until it is returned to position P.
X Remove implement 0044.
X Re-install cover 0043. Automatic transmission
147Driving and parking Z
i
The screwdriver from the vehicle tool kit
could function as the implement, for
instance (Y page 276). Refueling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Improper handling
of fuel creates a risk of fire and explosion.
Avoid fire, open flames, smoking and creating
sparks under all circumstances. Switch off the
engine and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating
before refueling. G
WARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come
into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors. Keep fuel away from children.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water.
R If fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance with-
out delay.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek medical assis-
tance without delay. Do not induce vomit-
ing.
R Immediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel. G
WARNING
If you mix diesel fuel with gasoline, the flash
point is lower than that of pure diesel fuel.
When the engine is running, exhaust system
components could overheat without being
noticed. There is a risk of fire.
Never refuel with gasoline. Never mix gasoline
with diesel fuel. H
Environmental note
If fuels are handled improperly, they pose a
danger to persons and the environment. Do
not allow fuels to run into the sewage system,
the surface waters, the ground water or into
the ground.
! Do not use gasoline to refuel vehicles with
a diesel engine. Even small amounts of gas-
oline will cause damage to the fuel system
and engine.
! Do not switch on the ignition if you acci-
dentally refuel with the wrong fuel. Other-
wise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines. Notify
a qualified specialist workshop and have
the fuel tank and fuel lines drained com-
pletely.
! Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
! Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
! 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.
Further information on fuel and on fuel grades
can be found in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 321). Refueling procedure148
RefuelingDriving and parking
The fuel filler flap is beside the front left-hand
door when viewed in the direction of travel. It
is only possible to open the fuel filler flap
when the front door is open.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Switch off the auxiliary heating system
(Y page 122).
X Open the front left-hand door first, and then
the fuel filler flap.
X Close all vehicle doors to prevent fuel
vapors from entering the vehicle.
X Turn fuel filler cap 0044counter-clockwise,
remove it and let it hang from strap 0043.
X Completely insert the filler neck of the fuel
pump nozzle into the tank and refuel.
X Only fill the tank until the pump nozzle
switches off. Fuel may otherwise leak out.
X Replace tank filler cap 0044and turn clock-
wise.
You will hear a click when the fuel filler cap
is closed fully.
X Open the front left-hand door first, and then
close the filler flap. Problems with the fuel and fuel tank
If your vehicle is losing fuel, the fuel lines or
the fuel tank are defective.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock immediately and remove it.
X Do not restart the engine under any cir-
cumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
Important safety notes H
Environmental note
Dispose of DEF in an environmentally respon-
sible manner.
! Only use DEF in accordance with
ISO 22241. Never mix DEF with additives or thin it with tap water. The exhaust gas
aftertreatment may otherwise be dam-
aged.
Observe the MB Specifications for Service
Products, Sheet 352.0.
Damage that results from the use of addi-
tives or tap water leads to the loss of the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
! If DEF comes into contact with a painted
or aluminum surface, wash the surface off
immediately with plenty of water.
! DEF is not a diesel additive and must not
be mixed with fuel in the tank. Even small
amounts of DEF can cause engine damage.
Damage that results from the blending of
DEF will not be covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
The exhaust gas aftertreatment requires a
reducing agent, Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), in
order to function correctly.
When opening the DEF tank filler cap at high
outside temperatures, ammonia vapors may
escape.
Ammonia vapors have a pungent smell and
primarily cause irritation of the:
R skin
R mucous membranes
R eyes
You may experience a burning sensation in
your eyes, nose and throat, as well as cough-
ing and watering of the eyes.
Do not inhale ammonia vapors. Avoid contact
with DEF.
Do not allow DEF to come into direct contact
with your skin; it is hazardous to your health.
Rinse any affected areas off with plenty of
clean water. Consult a doctor if necessary.
i If the DEF level has dropped below the
reserve range, add at least 2.0 US gal
(7.6 l) of DEF at the latest after receiving
the second warning message
(Y page 184). Refueling
149Driving and parking Z
i
If you switch off the engine at a low out-
side temperature and add DEF, restart the
engine after refueling. If you leave the vehi-
cle parked without restarting the engine
and the DEF freezes in the DEF tank, the
on-board computer will only be able to reg-
ister the new fill level after a defrosting
period of up to 60 minutes. During this time
the engine may only be operated in neutral.
You will find further information on DEF in the
"Service products" section (Y page 321).
Refueling procedure DEF filler neck in the engine compartment
X
Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Switch off the auxiliary heating system
(Y page 130).
X Open the hood.
X Close all vehicle doors so that no ammonia
vapors can enter the vehicle.
i Do not inhale any ammonia vapor which
may escape when you unscrew cap 0043.
Ammonia vapors have a pungent odor.
However, they are neither toxic nor hazard-
ous to health in this concentration.
X Turn blue cap 0043counter-clockwise and
remove it.
X Only fill up the DEF tank until the DEF level
is visible in the filler neck.
X Replace blue DEF filler neck cap 0043on the
filler neck and turn clockwise.
You will hear a click when cap 0043is fully
closed. DEF filler neck on the right-hand vehicle
side The DEF reservoir on the right-hand side of the
vehicle (example: Cab Chassis)
Fuel filler cap
X
Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Switch off the auxiliary heating system
(Y page 130).
X Remove tool 0083for unlocking tank filler
cap 0044from the footwell on the co-driver's
side (Y page 276).
X Close all vehicle doors so that no ammonia
vapors can enter the vehicle.
X Pull cover 0085up, turn 90° and release.
X Insert tool 0083into hole 0087of tank filler
cap 0044.
i Do not inhale any ammonia vapor that
may escape when you unscrew tank filler
cap 0044. Ammonia vapors have a pungent
odor. However, they are neither toxic nor
hazardous to health in this concentration.
X Turn blue filler cap 0044counter-clockwise,
remove it and let it hang from strap 0043.150
RefuelingDriving and parking
Make sure that tool
0083remains in tank filler
cap 0044while doing so.
X Only fill up the DEF tank until the DEF level
is visible for the first time in the filler neck.
X Replace blue tank filler cap 0044and turn
clockwise.
X Pull tool 0083out of tank filler cap 0044and
stow with the vehicle tool kit in the footwell
on the co-driver's side.
X Pull cover 0085up over hole 0087of tank filler
cap 0044, turn and release.
X Turn blue tank filler cap 0044.
If tank filler cap 0044turns freely, the DEF
tank is closed. Parking
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system or exhaust
gas flow. There is a risk of fire.
Park the vehicle so that no flammable mate-
rials come into contact with parts of the vehi-
cle which are hot. Take particular care not to
park on dry grassland or harvested grain
fields. 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. You 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 you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
R start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
! A moving vehicle can lead to damage to
the vehicle or damage to the drive train.
! When the vehicle is parked, always
remove the key to prevent the battery from
becoming discharged.
On vehicles with a battery isolating switch,
switch off the power supply if the vehicle is
to be out of use for a longer period of time.
Always park your vehicle safely and according
to legal requirements and secure it against
rolling away.
To ensure that the vehicle is properly secured
against rolling away unintentionally:
R the parking brake must be firmly applied
R the selector lever must be in position Pand
the key must be removed from the ignition
lock
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, the
front wheels must be turned towards the
curb
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, the
vehicle must be secured at the rear axle,
e.g. with a wheel chock or similar object
Use the wheel chock (Y page 153) to do so. Parking
151Driving and parking Z
Parking brake
G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
R start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. There is a risk of
an accident and injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the vehi-
cle when the service brake is faulty. Do not
apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again. The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake.
As a rule, you may only apply the parking
brake when the vehicle is stationary. X
To apply the parking brake: pull brake
lever 0043up as far as the last possible
detent.
The 0066 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up if the engine is running.
i On vehicles with a folding brake lever, you
can then press lever 0043down to the stop.
X To release the parking brake: on vehicles
with a folding brake lever, first pull brake
lever 0043up to the stop.
X Raise brake lever 0043slightly and press
release knob 0044.
X Guide brake lever 0043down to the stop.
The 0066 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Exceptionally, if the service brake fails, the
parking brake can be used to brake the vehi-
cle in an emergency.
X Emergency braking: press and hold
release button 0044and carefully apply brake
lever 0043. Switching off the engine
G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position Nwhen you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of
an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
! If the coolant temperature is very high,
e.g. after driving on hilly roads, leave the
engine running at idle speed for about
two minutes before turning it off.
This allows the coolant temperature to
return to normal.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the automatic transmission to posi-
tion P. 152
ParkingDriving and parking
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle covers
a distance of 44 feet (approximately 14 m)
every second. 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. You will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving.
! Always observe the ground clearance of
the vehicle and avoid obstacles. On vehi-
cles with a step, ground clearance is further
restricted. Obstacles can damage the vehi-
cle.
If you must drive over obstacles, drive espe-
cially slowly and carefully. If necessary,
have another person direct you.
Drive sensibly – save fuel In order to save fuel, observe the following
tips:
X
The tires should always be inflated to the
recommended tire pressure.
X Remove unnecessary loads.
X Remove roof carriers when they are not
needed.
X Warm up the engine at low engine speeds.
X Avoid frequent acceleration or braking.
X Have all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the
Maintenance Booklet or by the service
interval display.
Fuel consumption also increases when driv-
ing in cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in
mountainous terrain. Overrun cutoff If you are in overrun mode and take your foot
off the accelerator pedal, the fuel supply is
cut off when the engine speed is out of the
idle speed control range.
Drinking and driving
G
WARNING
Drinking and driving and/or taking drugs and
driving are very dangerous combinations.
Even a small amount of alcohol or drugs can
affect your reflexes, perceptions and judg-
ment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal acci-
dent are greatly increased when you drink or
take drugs and drive.
Do not drink or take drugs and drive or allow
anyone to drive who has been drinking or tak-
ing drugs.
Emission control G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces with-
out sufficient ventilation.
Certain engine systems are designed to keep
the level of poisonous substances in exhaust
fumes within legal limits.
These systems only work optimally if they are
maintained exactly in accordance with the
manufacturer's specifications. Any work on
the engine should therefore be carried out by
qualified and authorized technicians at a
Sprinter dealer.
The engine settings must not be changed
under any circumstances. In addition, all spe-
cific maintenance work must be carried out
at regular intervals and in accordance with
the service requirements of the dealer listed 154
Driving tipsDriving and parking
here on the inside title page. Details can be
found in the Maintenance Booklet. Short journey
! If the vehicle is predominantly used for
short-distance driving, this could lead to a
malfunction in the automatic cleaning func-
tion for the diesel particle filter. As a result,
fuel may accumulate in the engine oil and
cause engine failure.
Therefore, if you mainly drive short distan-
ces, you should drive on a highway or on
rural roads for 20 minutes every 310 miles
(500 km). This ensures sufficient regener-
ation of the diesel particle filter.
Therefore, if you mainly drive short distances,
drive on a freeway or an inter-urban road for
20 minutes every 300 miles (500 km). This
facilitates the diesel particle filter's burn-off
process. Speed limiter
G
WARNING
Exceeding the stated tire load-bearing capa-
city and the approved maximum speed could
lead to tire damage or the tire bursting. There
is a risk of accident.
Therefore, only use tire types and sizes
approved for your vehicle model. Observe the
tire load rating and speed rating required for
your vehicle.
As the driver, you must find out about the
maximum speed of the vehicle and the result-
ing permissible maximum speed of the tires
(tire and tire pressure). In particular, also
observe the tire approval regulations for each
country.
You must not exceed the speed limit for the
tires listed in the tire pressure tables. You can
find information on tire pressures in the
"Wheels and tires" section (Y page 290).You can permanently limit the maximum
speed of your vehicle to 75 mph (120 km/h).
We recommend that you use an authorized
Sprinter Dealer for the programming of the
maximum speed.
Before overtaking, take into consideration
that the engine speed limiter prevents the
speed increasing beyond the programmed
maximum speed. Travel abroad
Service An extensive network of authorized Sprinter
Dealers is also at your disposal when you are
traveling abroad. Nevertheless, please bear
in mind that service facilities or replacement
parts may not always be immediately availa-
ble. You can obtain a list of workshops at any
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Fuel
In some countries, only fuels with a higher
sulfur content are available.
Unsuitable fuel can cause engine damage.
Information on fuel (Y
page 320).
Low-beam headlamps If you are traveling in countries where vehi-
cles are driven on the opposite side of the
road to that in which the vehicle is registered,
you will need to:
R
have the halogen headlamps partially
masked
R have the Bi-Xenon headlamps set to sym-
metrical low beam
This prevents glare to oncoming traffic and no
longer illuminates the edge of the road to the
same height and distance.
Have the headlamps masked or adjusted at a
qualified specialist workshop before you
cross the border, but as close to it as possi-
ble. Driving tips
155Driving and parking Z