otherwise destroy electronic components
such as the alternator.
Always disconnect the starter battery in the battery case in the driver's footwell first.
! Always disconnect the battery in
the order described below. Never swap the
terminal clamps. You may otherwise dam-
age the vehicle electronics.
If the vehicle is expected to be out of use for over 3 weeks, disconnect the batteries. This
will prevent battery discharge caused by off-
load current consumption. Battery cover in the driver's footwell
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Switch off the engine and remove the key
from the ignition lock.
X Remove the floor covering in the driver's
footwell (Y page 260).
X Loosen screws 0044and slide battery
cover 0043in the direction of the arrow.
The screws must protrude beyond the
larger recesses.
X Remove battery cover 0043upwards. Starter battery in the driver's footwell
X First loosen and remove the negative ter-
minal clamp so that it is no longer in contact
with the terminal.
X Remove the cover from the positive termi-
nal.
X Loosen the positive terminal clamp and fold
it up to the side together with the pre-fuse
box.
Reconnecting the starter battery !
Always connect the battery in the order
described below. Never swap the terminal
clamps. You may otherwise damage the
vehicle electronics.
X Fold the positive terminal clamp with the
pre-fuse box down to the terminal.
X Connect the positive terminal clamp.
X Attach the cover to the positive terminal.
X Connect the negative terminal clamp.
X Position battery cover 0043so that screws 0044
are positioned over the large recesses.
X Slide battery cover 0043in the direction of
travel into the smaller recesses.
X Tighten screws 0044.
X Install the floor covering in the driver's foot-
well (Y page 260).
Carry out the following work after connecting
the battery:
X Reset the side windows (Y page 79). Battery
261Maintenance and care Z
Removing/installing the starter bat-
tery
Removing the starter battery X
Disconnect the battery (Y page 260).
X Pull breather hose with connector
bracket 0044from connection 0043on the
degassing cover. X
Loosen the bolts holding retainer 0087, which
prevents the battery from moving around. X
Pull retainer 0087upwards.
X Slide the battery from its anchorage in the
direction of travel.
X Fold the bar of the battery upwards and
remove the battery from the battery case.
Installing the starter battery X
Insert the battery into the battery case.
X Fold down the bar of the battery.
X Slide the battery into its anchorage in the
opposite direction to the direction of travel.
X Insert retainer 0087.
X Tighten the bolts on retainer 0087which
holds the battery in place.
X Attach breather hose with connector
bracket 0044to connection 0043of the venti-
lation cover.
X Connect the battery (Y page 260). Disconnecting and connecting the
additional battery (engine compart-
ment)
Important safety notes G
WARNING
During the charging process, a battery produ- ces hydrogen gas. If a short circuit 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 con-
tact with vehicle parts.
R Never place metal objects or tools on a bat-
tery.
R It is important that you observe the descri-
bed 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. 262
BatteryMaintenance and care
R
It is particularly important to observe the
described order when connecting and dis-
connecting the jumper cables.
R Never connect or disconnect the battery
terminals while the engine is running.
Disconnecting the additional battery !
Switch off the engine and remove the key
from the ignition lock before you loosen or disconnect the terminal clamps. You may
otherwise destroy electronic components
such as the alternator.
Always disconnect the starter battery in the
battery case in the driver's footwell first.
! Always disconnect the battery in
the order described below. Never swap the terminal clamps. You may otherwise dam-
age the vehicle electronics. Additional battery in the engine compartment
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Switch off the engine and remove the key
from the ignition lock.
X Open the hood (Y page 248).
X First loosen and remove the negative ter-
minal clamp so that it is no longer in contact
with the terminal.
X Remove the cover from the positive termi-
nal.
X Loosen and remove the positive terminal
clamp. Connecting the additional battery !
Always connect the battery in the order
described below. Never swap the terminal
clamps. You may otherwise damage the
vehicle electronics.
X Connect the positive terminal clamp.
X Attach the cover to the positive terminal.
X Connect the negative terminal clamp.
X Close the hood.
Carry out the following work after connecting
the battery:
X Reset the side windows (Y page 79). Installing and removing the additional
battery (engine compartment)
Removing the additional battery X
Disconnect the battery (Y page 262).
X Loosen the bolts holding the retainer that
prevents the battery from moving around.
X Remove the battery holder and take out the
battery.
Installing the additional battery X
Insert the battery into the battery case.
X Insert the battery holder.
X Tighten the bolts holding the retainer that
prevents the battery in the engine com-
partment from moving around.
X Connect the battery (Y page 262). Charging
G
WARNING
A discharged battery can freeze at tempera-
tures below freezing point. When jump-start-
ing the vehicle or charging the battery, gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of
an explosion.
Allow the frozen battery to thaw out before
charging it or jump-starting. Battery
263Maintenance and care Z
If the indicator/warning lamps do not light up
in the instrument cluster when temperatures
are low, it is probably because the discharged
battery has frozen. Should this be the case, do
not jump-start the vehicle or charge the bat-
tery. The service life of a thawed battery may be shorter. Start-up behavior may deterio-
rate, in particular at low temperatures. Have
the thawed battery checked at a qualified
specialist workshop. G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive
gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting.
Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury. Avoid contact with skin, eyes or clothing. Do
not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean over
the battery. Keep children away from batter-
ies. Wash away battery acid immediately with
plenty of clean water and seek medical atten- tion.
! Only charge the installed battery with a
battery charger that has been tested and
approved by the distributor named on the
inside of the front cover. This device allows the battery to be charged when it is instal-
led in the vehicle. The vehicle's electronics
may otherwise be damaged.
A battery charger unit specially adapted for
Mercedes-Benz vehicles and tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz is available as an accessory. Only this device permits the
charging of the battery in its installed posi-
tion. Only charge the installed battery with a
battery charger that has been tested and
approved by Mercedes-Benz, using the jump-
start connection point in the engine compart-
ment. Contact an authorized Mercedes-Benz
Center for information and availability. Read the operating instructions for your charger
before charging the battery.
The additional battery can not be charged
from the jump-starting connection point.
Recharge the battery more frequently if you
use the vehicle mainly for short trips and/or
drive at low outside temperatures.
X Charge the battery. Observe the notes in
the operating instructions for your battery
charger.
X If necessary, install battery. Observe the
notes on reconnecting the battery.
i Recharge uninstalled, out of service bat-
teries every three months. This will counter
self-discharging and prevent battery dam-
age. Care
! Dirty battery clamps and battery surfaces
cause leak currents which lead to the bat-
teries discharging.
! Do not use cleaning agents containing
fuel. Cleaning agents containing fuel cor-
rode 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 check the 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 bat-
tery surfaces clean and dry.
X Lightly grease the undersides of the battery
terminals with acid-resistant grease.
X Only clean the battery casing with a com-
mercially available cleaning product. 264
BatteryMaintenance and care
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
Wash off excess dirt before cleaning the vehi- cle in an automatic car wash.
After putting the vehicle through an auto-
matic car wash, wipe off wax from:
R the rear view camera lens (Y page 269)
R the windshield
R the windshield wiper blades
This will prevent smears and reduce wiping noises caused by residue on the wind-
shield.
Washing by hand In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements of the coun-
try you are currently in when washing by
hand.
X Do not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
X Use a soft car sponge.
X Use a mild cleaning agent, e.g. a car sham-
poo approved for use with Sprinter vehi-
cles.
X Thoroughly hose down the vehicle with a
gentle jet of water.
X Do not point the water jet directly towards
the air inlets.
X Use plenty of water and rinse out the
sponge frequently.
X Rinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
X Do not let the cleaning agents dry on the
paintwork.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible. Power washers G
WARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
! Under no circumstances use power wash-
ers in the vehicle interior. The pressurized
water and associated spray produced by
the power washer could cause extensive
damage to the vehicle.
! Observe the minimum distance to be
maintained between the nozzle of the
power washer and object to be cleaned, as
outlined below:
R approximately 2.2 ft(70 cm) when using
round-jet nozzles
R approximately 1 ft (30 cm) when using
25°flat-spray jets and dirt blasters
Keep the water jet moving while cleaning.
To avoid causing damage, do not point the
water jet directly at:
R door joints
R brake hoses
R electrical components
R electrical connections
R seals
R drive train, especially not at the inter-
mediate bearing of the propeller shaft
R rear view camera (camera lens and
microphone opening on the bottom)
Keep a minimum distance of
1.6 ft(50 cm).
Cleaning the engine !
Water must not enter intake or ventilation
openings. When cleaning with high pres- 266
CareMaintenance and care
sure water or steam cleaners, the spray
must not be aimed directly at electrical
components or the terminals of electrical
lines.
Preserve the engine after the engine has
been cleaned. Protect the belt drive system from exposure to the preservative agent.
Also observe the information under "Power
washers" (Y page 266).
Cleaning the paintwork !
Do not affix:
R stickers
R films
R magnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected
by corrosion and damage caused by inade-
quate care cannot always be completely
repaired. In such cases, visit a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
X Remove impurities immediately, where
possible, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard.
X Soak insect remains with insect remover
and rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
X Soak bird droppings with water and rinse
off the treated areas afterwards.
X Remove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin,
oils, fuels and greases by rubbing gently
with a cloth soaked in petroleum ether or
lighter fluid.
X Use tar remover to remove tar stains.
X Use silicone remover to remove wax.
Cleaning the windows 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.
! 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 sol- vents 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 Clean the inside and outside of the win-
dows 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 Care
267Maintenance and care Z
X
Take first-aid kit 0087out of the retainer.
X Fold the cover up and turn the quick-
release fasteners to position 0047.
The cover is locked.
i Check the expiration date on the first-aid
kit at least once a year. Replace any expired or missing contents. Fire extinguisher
Removing the fire extinguisher Fire extinguisher at the front of the base of the co-
driver's seat
X Pull tabs 0044upwards.
X Take fire extinguisher 0043out of its holder.
Please read the instructions on fire extin-
guisher 0043carefully and familiarize yourself
with its operation. Have fire extinguisher 0043
refilled after each use and checked every one or two years. It may otherwise fail in an emer-
gency.
Observe the legal requirements for each indi- vidual country. Flat tire
Information on breakdown assistance in the
case of a flat tire can be found in the chapter "Wheels and tires" (Y page 305). Jump-starting
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
During charging and jump-starting, explosive
gases can escape from the battery. There is a risk of an explosion.
Particularly avoid fire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficient
ventilation while charging and jump-starting.
Do not lean over a battery. G
WARNING
Battery acid is caustic. There is a risk of injury. Avoid contact with the skin, eyes or clothing.
Do not inhale any battery gases. Do not lean
over the battery. Keep children away from
batteries. Wash battery acid immediately with water and seek medical attention.
Do not use a rapid charging device to start the
vehicle. If your vehicle's battery is dis-
charged, the engine can be jump-started from another vehicle or from a donor battery using
jumper cables. For this purpose, the vehicle
has a jump-starting connection point in the
engine compartment.
The additional battery in the engine compart- ment is not suitable for jump-starting opera-
tions. If your vehicle requires jump-starting,
or if you use it to jump-start another vehicle,
use the jump-starting connection point in the
engine compartment.
When jump-starting, observe the following
points:
R The battery is not accessible in all vehicles.
If the other vehicle's battery is not acces-
sible, jump-start the vehicle using a donor
battery or a jump-starting device.
R Do not start the engine if the battery is fro-
zen. Let the battery thaw first.
R Jump-starting may only be performed from
batteries with a nominal voltage of 12 V. 276
Jump-startingRoadside Assistance
R
Only use jumper cables that have a suffi-
cient cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, attach the
battery of another vehicle for a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the
empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
Make sure that:
R the jumper cables are not damaged.
R bare parts of the terminal clamps do not
come into contact with other metal parts
while the jumper cables are connected to
the battery.
R the jumper cables cannot come into con-
tact with parts such as the V-belt pulley or
the fan. These parts move when the engine
is started and while it is running.
i Jumper cables and further information
regarding jump starting can be obtained at any qualified specialist workshop. Before connecting the jumper cables
On vehicles with a battery main switch, check whether the battery main switch is switched
on (Y page 137).
X Apply the parking brake.
X Move the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position P.
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g.
audio equipment, blower.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it (Y page 138).
X Open the hood (Y page 248). Tow-starting and towing away
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
R there is a malfunction in the 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
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per- missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Information on the gross vehicle weight can
be found on the vehicle identification plate
(Y page 316).
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged. Tow-starting and towing away
277Roadside Assistance Z