2015 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER service

call. If you choose to use the telephone while
driving, please use the hands-free device and
only use the telephone when road, weather
and traffic conditions permit.
Some jurisdictions prohibit the driver from
using a mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
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- 152
Driving tipsDriving and parking

cific maintenance work must be carried out at
regular intervals and in accordance with the
service requirements of the dealer listed 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 or is stationary for
long periods, this could lead to a malfunc-
tion in the automatic cleaning function for
the diesel particle filter. This can lead to
blockage of the diesel particle filter. This
can also result in fuel collecting in the
engine oil and cause engine failure.
Therefore, if you mainly drive short distances,
drive on a highway 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 288).You can permanently limit the maximum
speed of your vehicle to 55 mph (90 km/h),
60 mph (100 km/h) or 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. Driving 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 318).
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
153Driving and parking Z

When you return from your journey, and as
close to the border as possible, you will need
to:
R remove the adhesive surfaces from your
halogen headlamps and clean the glass of
the headlamps if necessary
R have the Bi-Xenon headlamps reset to
asymmetrical low beam at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop Transport by rail
Transporting your vehicle by rail may be sub-
ject to certain restrictions or require special
measures to be taken in some countries due
to varying tunnel heights and loading stand-
ards.
You can obtain further information from any
authorized Sprinter dealer. Braking
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you shift down on a slippery road surface in an attempt to increase the engine's braking
effect, the drive wheels could lose their grip.
There is an increased danger of skidding and
accidents.
Do not shift down for additional engine brak-
ing on a slippery road surface. 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. Downhill gradients !
Depressing the brake pedal constantly
results in excessive and premature wear to
the brake pads.
On long and steep downhill gradients, you
should change down to shift range 0048or0047
in good time. This should be observed in par- ticular when driving with a laden vehicle and
when towing a trailer.
i You must also change the shift range in
good time when cruise control is switched
on.
You thereby make use of the braking effect of the engine and do not have to brake as oftento maintain the speed. This relieves the load
on the service brake and prevents the brakes
from overheating and wearing too quickly.
Heavy and light loads 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.
If the brakes have been subjected to a heavy load, do not stop the vehicle immediately.
Drive on for a short while. The brakes are
cooled down more quickly in the airflow.
Wet road surfaces If you have been driving for a long time in
heavy rain without braking, there may be a
delayed response when you first apply the
brakes. This may also occur after driving
through a car wash or deep water. 154
Driving tipsDriving and parking

You must depress the brake pedal more
firmly. Maintain a longer distance to the vehi- cle in front.
While paying attention to the traffic condi-
tions, you should brake the vehicle firmly
after driving on a wet road surface or through
a car wash. This heats the brake discs, so that they dry more quickly, which protects them
against corrosion.
Limited braking performance on salt-
treated roads When driving on salted roads, salt may start
to build up on the brake disks and brake pads.
This can increase braking distances consid-
erably.
Maintain a greater distance to the vehicle in
front.
To remove any build up of salt that may have
formed:
X Apply the brakes at the start of the journey,
occasionally during journey and at the end
of the journey. Make sure that you do not
endanger other road users when doing so.
Parking brake 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.
When driving on wet roads or dirt-covered
surfaces, road salt and/or dirt may get into
the parking brake. This causes corrosion and a reduction of braking force.
In order to prevent this, drive with the parking
brake lightly applied from time to time. When
doing so, drive for a distance of approximately 110 yds (100 m) at a maximum speed of
12 mph (20 km/h).
The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake. Driving in wet conditions
Hydroplaning G
WARNING
There is a danger of hydroplaning occurring,
even if you are driving slowly and your tires
have sufficient tread depth, depending on the depth of water on the road. There is a risk of
an accident.
For this reason, avoid tire ruts and brake care- fully.
Therefore, in heavy rain or other conditions in which hydroplaning can occur, drive as fol-
lows:
R reduce your speed
R avoid tire ruts
R apply the brakes with care
Driving on flooded roads !
Do not drive through flooded areas.
Check the depth of any water before driving
through it. Drive slowly through standing
water. Otherwise, water may enter the
vehicle interior or the engine compartment.
This can damage the electronic compo-
nents in the engine or the automatic trans- mission. Water can also be drawn in by the engine's air suction nozzles and this can
cause engine damage.
If you have to drive on stretches of road on
which water has collected, please bear in
mind that:
R the water level of standing water should not
be above the lower edge of the front
bumper
R do not drive faster than walking speed Driving tips
155Driving and parking Z

G
WARNING
When driving off-road, your body is subject to forces from all directions, due to the uneven
surface. You could be thrown from your seat,
for instance. There is a risk of injury.
Always wear a seat belt, even when driving off-
road. G
WARNING
If you drive over obstacles or in ruts, the steer- ing wheel may jerk out of your grip, causing
injury to your hands.
Always hold the steering wheel firmly with
both hands. When driving over obstacles, you must expect steering forces to increase
briefly and suddenly. G
WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with hot parts of the exhaust system. There is a risk of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check the vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove parts of plants or other
flammable materials which have become
trapped. In the case of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
! When driving off-road or on unpaved sur-
faces, check the underside of the vehicle
and the wheels and tires at regular inter-
vals. In particular, remove any trapped for- eign objects, e.g. stones and branches.
Such foreign objects may:
R damage the chassis, the fuel tank or the
brake system
R cause imbalances and thus vibrations
R be flung out when you continue driving
If there is any damage, inform a qualified
specialist workshop.
When driving off-road and on construction
sites, sand, mud and water mixed with oil, for
example, may get into the brakes. This may
lead to a reduction in braking performance or total brake failure, also as a result of
increased wear. The braking characteristics
will vary depending on the material that has
got into the system. Clean the brakes after
driving off-road. If you then notice reduced
braking performance or hear scraping noises,
have the brake system checked at a qualified specialist workshop. Adjust your driving style
to the changed braking characteristics.
Driving off-road or on construction sites
increases the possibility of vehicle damage
which may in turn lead to the failure of certain assemblies and systems. Adapt your driving
style to the off-road driving conditions. Drive
carefully. Have any vehicle damage rectified
at a qualified specialist workshop as soon as
possible.
When driving on rough terrain, do not shift the transmission into the neutral position. You
could lose control when attempting to brake
the vehicle with the service brake. If your
vehicle cannot manage an uphill slope, drive
back down the slope in reverse gear.
When loading your vehicle for driving off-road or on a construction site, keep the vehicle's
center of gravity as low as possible.
Checklist before driving off-road X
Check the fuel and DEF levels (Y page 181)
and top up (Y page 148).
X Engine: check the oil level (Y page 250)
and add oil (Y page 252).
Before driving up or down steep gradients,
fill the oil to the maximum level.
i If you drive up or down steep gradients,
the 00B2 symbol may appear in the display.
The engine operating safety is not put at
risk if you have filled the engine oil to the
maximum level before the journey.
X Vehicle tool kit: check that the jack is
working (Y page 274).
X Make sure that a lug wrench (Y page 274),
wooden underlay for the jack, a robust tow Driving tips
157Driving and parking Z

age to fuel lines, brake hoses and the rub-
ber bellows of axle joints and drive shafts.
X Clean the brake disks, brake pads and axle
joints, particularly after operation in sand,
mud, grit/gravel, water or similarly dirty
conditions.
X Check the entire floor assembly, the tires,
wheels, bodywork structure, brakes, steer-
ing, chassis and exhaust system for any
damage.
X Check the service brake for operating
safety, e.g. carry out a brake test.
X If you notice strong vibrations after driving
off-road, check the wheels and drive train
for foreign objects again. Remove any for-
eign objects which can lead to imbalances
and thus cause vibrations. Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains the speed of the
vehicle for you.
Use cruise control if road and traffic condi-
tions make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can set any
speed from 20 mph upwards in increments of
1 mph.
i If you have set km/h as the unit for the
digital speedometer (Y page 190), you can
set any speed from 30 km/h upwards in
increments of 1 km/h.
Cruise control should not be activated when
driving off-road or on construction sites.
Cruise control may not be able to maintain the
stored speed on uphill or downhill gradients.
If the gradient evens out and the vehicle's
speed does not fall below 20 mph (30 km/h), the stored speed is resumed. Important safety notes Observe the notes on braking (Y
page 154).
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you
are inattentive, cruise control can neither
reduce the risk of an accident nor override the laws of physics. Cruise control cannot take
road, weather and traffic conditions into
account. Cruise control is only an aid. You are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in traffic conditions that are unsuitable for
driving at a constant speed, e.g. in heavy
traffic, on winding roads or off-road.
R on slippery roads. Braking or accelerating
may cause the drive wheels to lose traction
and the vehicle could then skid.
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow.
If there is a change of drivers, make sure that you inform the new driver about the set cruisespeed.
Cruise control lever 0043
To activate and store the current speed or
a higher speed
0044 To activate at the last stored speed
0087 To activate and store the current speed or
a lower speed
0085 To deactivate cruise control
The cruise control lever is the upper lever on
the left of the steering column. Driving systems
159Driving and parking 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 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

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