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Washer fluid
G
WARNING
Windshield washer concentrate could ignite if it comes into contact with hot engine compo-
nents or the exhaust system. There is a risk of
fire and injury.
Make sure that no windshield washer con-
centrate is spilled next to the filler neck.
! Only use washer fluid that is suitable for
plastic lamp lenses, e.g. MB SummerFit or
MB WinterFit. Unsuitable washer fluid
could damage the plastic lenses of the
headlamps. Example: washer fluid reservoir
Add windshield washer concentrate to the
washer fluid all year round. Observe the infor- mation on washer fluid in the "Technical data"
section (Y page 326).
Adding washer fluid
X Mix the washer fluid to the appropriate mix-
ing ratio in a container beforehand.
X Open the hood (Y page 248).
X Pull cap 0043on the washer fluid reservoir
upwards at the tab.
X Add the premixed washer fluid.
X Press cap 0043onto the filler neck until it
engages audibly.
X Close the hood. Fuel system
Draining the fuel filter G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Improper handling of fuel creates a risk of fire and explosion.
Avoid fire, open flames, smoking and creatingsparks under all circumstances. Switch off the
ignition and auxiliary heating before carrying
out work to the fuel system. Always wear pro- tective gloves. H
Environmental note
Dispose of the water-fuel mixture in an envi-
ronmentally responsible manner.
! When the
00B8indicator lamp lights up,
drain the fuel filter with water separator
immediately. Otherwise, the engine may be
damaged. If the
00B8 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes on, drain fuel filter with water
separator 0087immediately.
i We recommend that you have this main-
tenance work carried out at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
X Park the vehicle safely and secure it from
rolling away.
X Switch off the auxiliary heating system .
X Switch off the engine.
X Open the hood (Y page 248).
X Place a suitable receptacle under drain
hose 0043. Engine compartment
255Maintenance and care Z
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X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Open drain plug 0044immediately until the
water/fuel mixture flows out of drain
hose 0043.
X Screw in drain plug 0044as soon as approx-
imately 0.2 US quarts(0.2 liters) of the
water/fuel mixture have been collected.
The electrical fuel pump automatically halts
the flow of the water/fuel mixture after
30 seconds.
X After draining, turn the key back to posi-
tion 0in the ignition lock.
X Dispose of the collected water/fuel mix-
ture in an environmentally responsible
manner, e.g. at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
X Check drain plug 0044. The drain plug must
be closed.
When the engine is running and drain
hose 0044is open, fuel is lost through drain
hose 0043.
X Close the hood (Y page 249).
If the 00B8 indicator lamp does not go out
after draining:
X Drain the fuel filter again.
X If the 00B8 indicator lamp does not go out
after draining for the second time, have the
cause checked immediately at a qualified
specialist workshop. Vehicle interior
Air filter for the rear-compartment air
conditioning
! Regularly check the air filters for visible
dirt. Clean or replace a dirty filter mat. The
dirt may otherwise lead to damage to the
air-conditioning system. Filter magazine, located on the roof in the rear
compartment
An increased amount of sand or dust may
collect in the air filter of the rear-compart-
ment air conditioning when you drive on dusty
or sandy roads.
X To remove the filter mat: carefully pry
cover 0043out of recesses 0044and remove.
X Remove the filter mat from the air duct.
X To clean the filter mat: wash the dirty fil-
ter mat with clear water.
X Leave the filter mat to dry.
i The filter mat must not be cleaned or dried
in a machine.
X To install the filter mat: insert the filter
mat into the air duct.
X Replace and engage cover 0043. Maintenance
General notes
H
Environmental note
Observe measures to protect the environ-
ment when working on the vehicle. You must
observe the legal requirements when dispos-
ing of service products, e.g. engine oil. This
also includes all components, e.g. filters,
which have come into contact with service
products. Any qualified specialist workshop
can provide information about this.
Dispose of empty containers, cleaning cloths and care products in an environmentally 256
MaintenanceMaintenance and care
Page 259 of 334

responsible manner. Comply with the instruc-
tions for use of the care products.
Do not run the engine for longer than neces-
sary when the vehicle is stationary.
Before having maintenance and repairs per-
formed, it is essential to read the materials
related to the maintenance and repairs: R the applicable sections of the technical
documentation, e.g. the Operator's Manual
and workshop information.
R regulations such as industrial safety regu-
lations and accident prevention regula-
tions.
While working under the vehicle, you must
secure the vehicle on jack stands with suffi-
cient load capacity.
Never use the jack as a substitute. The vehi-
cle's jack is intended only to raise the vehicle for a short time when changing a wheel. It is
not suited for performing maintenance work
under the vehicle.
Please also refer to the notes about qualified
specialist workshops (Y page 25).
The scope and regularity of the inspection
and maintenance work primarily depend on
the often diverse operating conditions. Spe-
cialist knowledge beyond the scope of this
Operator's Manual is required when carrying
out testing and maintenance work. This work
should only be carried out by trained staff.
The vehicle Maintenance Booklet describes
the scope and frequency of maintenance
work and contains additional notes on the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty and on service products.
Maintenance services must be carried out in
accordance with the provisions and recom-
mendations in the Maintenance Booklet. Not
doing so could void the warranty claim and
lead to refusal of goodwill gestures after the
manufacturer has submitted a damage
report. i
Observe the information on Sprinter orig-
inal parts in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 27). Service interval display
General notes A service that is due is displayed in the service
interval display about 1 month in advance. A
message is then displayed while the vehicle is in motion or when the ignition is switched on.
i The service interval display does not pro-
vide information about the engine oil level. The service interval display should there-
fore not be confused with the 00B3engine
oil level display.
The service due date is displayed in days or
miles (kilometers), depending on the total
distance driven.
The symbols or letters on the service display
show the type of service that is due.
0099 orA A for a minor service
009A orB
B for a major service
Service due date display Vehicles with steering wheel buttons:
the
following messages may be displayed.
R 0099 Service A due in ... days Service A due in ... days
R 0099 Service A due in ... mi
Service A due in ... mi (kmkm)
R 0099 Service A Carry out now
Service A Carry out now
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons:
the following messages may be displayed.
R 0099 for service A
R 009A for Service B
Additionally, you will see the remaining dis-
tance in miles (mi mi) or kilometers (km km) or the
remaining time in days (d d). Maintenance
257Maintenance and care Z
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Service due date has been exceeded
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons:
if
you have missed the service due date, one of
the following messages appears in the display and warning tone also sounds.
R 0099 Service A overdue by ... days Service A overdue by ... days
R 0099 Service
Service A
Aoverdue
overdue by
by...
... km
km(kmkm)
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons:
if you have missed the service due date, the
0099 or009A symbol for the service flashes
for 10 seconds after the ignition is switched
on. A minus sign also appears in front of the
service due date.
Calling up the service due date X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
The display is activated.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons X Press the 0079menu button on the instru-
ment cluster repeatedly until the 0099or
009A symbol for the service appears in the
display.
Additionally, you will see the remaining dis-
tance in miles (mi mi) or kilometers ( km km) or the
remaining time in days ( d
d).
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons
X Press the 0080or007F button on the steer-
ing wheel until the standard display
(Y page 187) appears in the display.
X Press the 0041or0068 button on the steer-
ing wheel repeatedly until the service mes-
sage appears in the display, for example:
R 0099 Service A due in ... days
Service A due in ... days
R 0099 Service A due in ... km Service A due in ... km (kmkm) Battery
Important safety notes
Work on the battery, e.g. removing or instal-
ling, requires specialist knowledge and the
use of special tools. Therefore, always have work on the battery carried out at a qualified
specialist workshop. G
WARNING
Work carried out incorrectly on the battery
can lead, for example, to a short circuit and
thus damage the vehicle electronics. This can lead to function restrictions applying to
safety-relevant systems, e.g. the lighting sys-
tem, ABS (anti-lock braking system) or ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program). The operating
safety of your vehicle may be restricted. You
could lose control of the vehicle, for example:
R braking
R in the event of abrupt steering maneuver
and/or when the vehicle's speed is not
adapted to the road conditions
There is a risk of an accident.
In the event of a short circuit or a similar inci- dent, contact a qualified specialist workshop
immediately. Do not drive any further. You
should have all work involving the battery car-
ried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
Further information can be found under "ABS"
(Y page 57) and under "ESP ®
" (Y page 59). G
WARNING
Electrostatic build-up can lead to the creation of sparks, which could ignite the highly explo-
sive gases of a battery. There is a risk of an
explosion.
Before handling the battery, touch the vehicle body to remove any existing electrostatic
build-up.
The flammable gas mix is produced when the
battery is charged or when the vehicle is
jump-started.
Always make sure that neither you nor the
battery are electrostatically charged. Electro- static charging results, for example, from:
R wearing synthetic clothing
R friction between clothing and the seat 258
BatteryMaintenance and care
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R
dragging or pushing the battery across car-
pet flooring or any other synthetic materi-
als
R rubbing the battery with cloths or towels.
Comply with the following safety precautions
and take protective measures when handling
batteries. Risk of explosion. Explosive oxy-
hydrogen is produced when bat-
teries are being charged. Only
charge batteries in well-ventilated
areas. Fire, open flames and smoking are
therefore prohibited when work-
ing on the battery. Avoid creating
sparks. Battery acid is caustic. Avoid con-
tact with the skin, eyes or clothing. Wear acid-proof protective gloves.
If skin or clothes are splashed with
acid, neutralize the splashes
immediately with soapy water or
an acid neutralizer, and then clean the affected areas with water.
Consult a doctor if necessary. Wear eye protection. When mixing
water and acid, the liquid can
splash into your eyes. Rinse acid
splashes to the eyes immediately
with clean water and contact a
doctor immediately. Keep children at a safe distance.
Children are not able to assess the
dangers posed by batteries and
acid. When handling batteries, observe
the safety precautions and special
protective measures contained in
this Operator's Manual. H
Environmental note Batteries contain dangerous
substances. It is against the
law to dispose of them with
the household rubbish. They
must be collected separately and recycled to protect the
environment.
Dispose of batteries in an
environmentally friendly
manner. Take discharged
batteries to a qualified spe-
cialist workshop or a special
collection point for used bat-
teries.
Observe the following notes:
R Recharge the battery more frequently, if
you:
- predominantly drive short distances
- predominantly drive at low outside tem-
peratures
- park the vehicle longer than
three weeks
In order for the batteries to achieve their
maximum possible service life, they must
always be sufficiently charged.
R When you park the vehicle, remove the key
if you do not require any electrical consum- ers. The vehicle will then use very little
energy, thus conserving battery power.
R When replacing a battery, only use batter-
ies that are recommended for use in
Sprinter vehicles.
R Have the battery removed at a qualified
specialist workshop.
R If you leave your vehicle parked your vehi-
cle longer than three weeks:
- consult a qualified specialist workshop
or
- switch off the power supply using the
battery main switch (Y page 137) or
- disconnect the batteries (Y page 260).
Otherwise, you need to check the battery's condition of charge every three weeks,
since standby power consumption can
drain the battery. If the battery voltage is
lower than 12.2 V, the battery must be
charged. Otherwise, the battery may be
damaged by exhaustive discharging. Battery
259Maintenance and care Z
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Be sure to observe the notes on charging
the batteries (Y
page 263). Installation locations
Your vehicle may be equipped with three bat-
teries, depending on the equipment version:
R a starter battery in the battery case in the
driver's footwell
R additional battery in the engine compart-
ment
R auxiliary battery under the driver's seat
Have the auxiliary battery removed at a quali-
fied specialist workshop. Installing/removing the floor cover-
ing (starter battery) G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell can restrict the pedal travel or obstruct a depressed pedal.
The operating and road safety of the vehicle is
jeopardized. There is a risk of an accident.
Make sure that all objects in the vehicle are
stowed correctly, and that they cannot enter
the driver's footwell. Install the floormats
securely and as specified in order to ensure
sufficient clearance for the pedals. Do not use loose floormats and do not place floormats on
top of one another. X
Switch off all electrical consumers.
X To remove: remove screws 0087and take off
trim 0044. X
Remove floor covering 0043.
X To install: place floor covering 0043in the
driver's footwell.
X Slide floor covering 0043underneath the car-
rier of the accelerator pedal and align it at
the base of the driver's seat and at the door sill.
Make sure that the floor covering does notobstruct the accelerator pedal.
X Put trim 0044in place and screw screws 0087
back in. Disconnecting/connecting the
starter battery
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.
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 starter battery !
Switch off the engine and remove the key
from the ignition lock before you loosen or
disconnect the terminal clamps. You may 260
BatteryMaintenance and care
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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
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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