2015 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER MY15 Operator’s Manual

is case, use a trailer with a height-adjusta-
ble 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. 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. When doing so, hook the
breakaway cable of the trailer into eye-
let 0043 on the ball coupling. Towing a trailer
175Driving and parking Z

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.
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
R Practice driving around bends, stopping
and backing up at a place where there is no
traffic. This enables you to gain experience and get used to the new handling charac-
teristics.
R Before driving, check:
- that the trailer tow hitch and ball cou-
pling are secure
- that the safety switch for a braked trailer
is functioning properly
- that the safety chains are secure and not
damaged
- that the electrical connections are
secure
- that the lights are working
- that the wheels are in good order and the
tire pressure is correct
R Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
R If the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull the vehicle/trailer combina-
tion away carefully. Brake manually using
the brake controller and check that the
brakes are working.
R Secure the load on the trailer according to
the applicable specifications and current
standards on securing loads (Y page 242).
R When driving with a trailer, check at regular
intervals that the load is secured and that
the brakes and lights are working.
R Bear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when driv-
ing without one. Avoid sudden steering
movements.
R The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly and has a
decreased gradient climbing capability and
a longer braking distance.
It is more susceptible to crosswinds and
requires cautious steering.
R If possible, do not brake suddenly, but
rather moderately at first so that the trailer
can activate its brakes. Then increase the
force on the brake pedal.
R If the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears when driving on 176
Towing a trailerDriving and pa
rking

inclines, restrict the shift range. Select shift
range 4,3, 2or 1.
Driving in a low gear and at a low speed
reduces the risk of damaging the engine.
R When driving on a downhill gradient, shift to
a low gear and take advantage of the
engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if
installed, the trailer brakes.
R If the coolant temperature increases dra-
matically while the air-conditioning system
is switched on, switch off the air-condition-
ing system.
Coolant heat can also be dissipated by
switching the airflow and the temperature
of the heater/air conditioning to the maxi-
mum level. Open the windows if necessary.
R When overtaking, pay particular attention
to the extended length of your vehicle/
trailer combination.
Due to the length of your vehicle/trailer
combination you need an additional dis-
tance before you can return to your original
lane. Uncoupling a trailer
G
WARNING
If you uncouple a trailer with the overrun
brake engaged, you could trap your hand
between the vehicle and the trailer drawbar.
There is a risk of injury.
Do not uncouple a trailer if the overrun brake is engaged.
! Do not disconnect a trailer with an
engaged overrun brake. Otherwise, your
vehicle could be damaged by the rebound- ing of the overrun brake.
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 perm issible trailer drawbar
noseweight on the ball coupling is 500 lbs
(227 kg) or 750 lbs (340 kg). Theactual 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. Towing a trailer
177Driving and parking Z

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 316).
The basic values approved by the manufac-
turer can also be found in the "Technical data" section (Y page 328). 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-
tion consists of the towing vehicle including
the driver, passengers and load, as well as
the loaded trailer.
R Check the maximum permissible gross axle
weight rating of the front and rear axles (GAWR), the gross trailer weight (GTW), the
gross combination weight rating (GCWR)
and the noseweight of the trailer drawbar
(TWR). Trailer power supply
! Incorrect wiring of the connector plug
could, under certain circumstances, cause
malfunctions in the vehicle's other elec-
tronic systems. We therefore recommend
having the connector plug wired at a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
! You can connect accessories with a max-
imum power consumption of 240 W to the
permanent power supply.
You must not charge a trailer battery using
the power supply.
Your vehicle may be equipped with various
electrical installations for trailer towing.
Depending on your trailer, you may need an
adapter to connect the electrical system of
the trailer with that of the vehicle.
The trailer socket of your vehicle is equipped at the factory with a permanent power supply.
The permanent power supply is on the trailer
socket pin assignment 4.
Note that the permanent power supply of the
trailer is not switched off when the on-board
voltage is low. This can completely discharge the starter battery of your vehicle.
The turn signals on the trailer are only guar-
anteed to function when incandescent bulbs
are used.
Further information on the electrical equip-
ment currently installed on your vehicle and
on installing trailer electrics can be obtained
at any qualified specialist workshop. 178
Towing a trailerDriving and parking

Useful information
............................180
Important safety notes .....................180
Instrument cluster ............................180
On-board computer (vehicles with-
out steering wheel buttons) ............182
On-board computer (vehicles with
steering wheel buttons) ...................184
Display messages ............................. 197
Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster ............................217 179On-board computer and displays

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 25). Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you are driving and reach through the steer- ing wheel to operate the adjustment knob,
you could lose control of the vehicle. There is
a risk of an accident and injury.
Only operate the adjustment knobs when the vehicle is stationary. Do not reach through the
steering wheel when driving. G
WARNING
If you operate information systems and com-
munication equipment integrated in the vehi- cle while driving, you will be distracted from
traffic conditions. You could also lose control of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Only operate the equipment when the traffic
situation permits. If you are not sure that this
is possible, park the vehicle paying attention
to traffic conditions and operate the equip-
ment when the vehicle is stationary. G
WARNING
If the instrument cluster has failed or mal-
functioned, you may not recognize function
restrictions in systems relevant to safety. The operating safety of your vehicle may be
impaired. There is a risk of an accident.
Drive on carefully. Have the vehicle checked
at a qualified specialist workshop immedi-
ately. You must observe the legal requirements for
the country in which you are currently driving
when operating the on-board computer.
The on-board computer display only shows
messages and warnings from certain sys-
tems. You should therefore make sure your
vehicle is operating safely at all times. If the
operating safety of your vehicle is impaired,
stop the vehicle as soon as possible, paying
attention to road and traffic conditions. Then consult a qualified specialist workshop. Instrument cluster
Overview
0043
Instrument cluster on vehicles without
steering wheel buttons
0044 Instrument cluster in vehicles with steer-
ing-wheel buttons
0087 Adjustment buttons 0074/0075
0085 Reset button 0045
0083 Service button 0098(engine oil level check)
0084 Menu button 0079
You will find a full overview of the instrument cluster in the "At a glance" section
(Y page 34). 180
Instrument clusterOn-board computer and displays

The display in the instrument cluster is acti-
vated when you:
R open the driver's door
R turn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
R press the 0045reset button
R switch on the lights
The display switches off automatically after
approximately 30 seconds if:
R the key is in position 0in the ignition lock.
R the vehicle lighting is not switched on. Instrument lighting
When the lights are switched on, you can
adjust the brightness of the instrument clus-
ter lighting using the 0074and 0075buttons.
X To brighten: press the0074button.
X To dim: press the 0075button.
i Vehicles with automatic headlamp mode:
the instrument lighting also adapts to auto-
matic headlamp mode. Tachometer
! Do not drive in the overrevving range, as
this could damage the engine. H
Environmental note
Avoid driving at high engine speeds. This
unnecessarily increases the fuel consumption of your vehicle and harms the environment asa result of increased emissions.
The red band in the tachometer indicates the engine's overrevving range.
To protect the engine, the fuel supply is inter-
rupted when the red band is reached. Outside temperature
You should pay special attention to road con-
ditions when temperatures are around the
freezing point. On vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 182) and on vehicles with steering
wheel buttons (Y page 187), the outside tem-
perature display is in the display.
Changes in the outside temperature are dis-
played after a short delay. Speedometer
The speed can also be shown in the display.
You can find information on the digital speed-
ometer for vehicles without steering wheel
buttons under (Y page 182) and for vehicles
with steering wheel buttons under
(Y page 187).
i In some countries, a warning sounds
when the vehicle reaches the maximum
speed limit, e.g. at 75 mph (120 km/h). Trip odometer
X To reset: make sure that the display is
showing the trip odometer if you have a
vehicle with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 187).
X Press and hold the 0045reset button until the
trip odometer is reset to 0.0 0.0. Fuel gauge
0043
Fuel gage on vehicles without steering
wheel buttons
0044 Fuel gage on vehicles with steering wheel
buttons Instrument cluster
181On-board computer and displays Z

0087
Fuel filler flap location indicator 007F: the
fuel filler flap is on the left-hand side. Fuel filler flap location indicator 0080: the fuel
filler flap is on the right-hand side
0085 Reserve fuel warning lamp (Y page 224)DEF gauge
Vehicles without steering wheel but-
tons If the supply of DEF is less than 1.5 US gal
(5.5 l), the 00E2indicator lamp lights up and
the 0099 dEF Chk
dEF Chk display message appears.
If the supply of DEF falls below the reserve
range of 0.8 US gal (3.0 l), the 00E2indicator
lamp lights up and the 0099StArtS RExx StArtS RExx
display message appears. In the display, xx
xx
corresponds to the number of possible
remaining engine starts (16 16to0
0).
When the number of remaining engine starts
is 0
0 the engine management prevents the
vehicle being driven at a speed exceeding
5 mph (8 km/h). The multifunction display
shows the StArtS IdLE
StArtS IdLE message and you
hear a warning tone sequence.
Further information on DEF consumption can be found in the "Service products and filling
capacity" section (Y page 320).
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons If the supply of DEF is less than 1.5 US gal
(5.5 l), the Check Diesel Exhaust Fluid
Check Diesel Exhaust Fluid
See
See Operator's
Operator's Manual
Manualmessage is shown
in the display.
If the DEF supply falls below the reserve range
of 0.8 US ga l(3.0 l), the 00E2XX starts XX starts
remaining
remaining message is displayed. In the dis-
play, XX
XXcorresponds to the number of possi-
ble remaining engine starts (16 16to0
0).
When the number of remaining engine starts
is 0
0 the engine management prevents the
vehicle from being driven at a speed exceed- ing 5 mph (8 km/h). The multifunction display
shows the Idle Mode
Idle Mode message and you hear
a warning tone sequence. Further information on DEF consumption can
be found in the "Service products and filling
capacity" section (Y page 320). On-board computer (vehicles without
steering wheel buttons)
Operating the on-board computer
General notes The on-board computer is activated as soon
as you turn the key to position 1in the ignition
lock.
The on-board computer shows vehicle infor-
mation and settings in the display.
You can control the display and the settings in the on-board computer using the adjustment
buttons on the instrument cluster.
Standard display 0043
Odometer
0044 Trip odometer
0087 Clock
0085 Outside temperature or digital speedom-
eter
0083 Fuel gage (Y page 181)
0084 Selector lever position or current shift
range with automatic transmission
(Ypage 142)
X To call up the standard display: turn the
key to position 2in the ignition lock.
X Press the 0079menu button for longer than
1 second.
The information shown in the display
changes from the outside temperature to
the digital speedometer. 182
On-board computer (vehicles without steering wheel buttons)On-board computer and displays