2015 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER steering

Key positions
005A
To insert/remove the key, to lock the
steering wheel
0047 To unlock the steering wheel, power sup-
ply for some consumers (e.g. the radio)
0048 To switch on the ignition. Power supply for
all consumers, preglow and drive position
0049 To start the engine
On vehicles with a battery main switch, you
must first switch on the power supply
(Y page 137).
i To unlock the steering, move the steering
wheel slightly while turning the key to posi- tion 1. Preparing for a journey
Visual check of the vehicle exterior X
In particular, check the following compo-
nents on the vehicle, and on the trailer as
necessary:
R license plates, vehicle lighting, turn sig-
nals, brake lamps and wiper blades for
dirt and damage
R tires and wheels for firm seating, correct
tire pressure and general condition
R trailer tow hitch for play and security
The trailer coupling is one of the most
important vehicle parts with regard to
road safety. The separate instructions
issued by the manufacturer pertaining to operation, care and maintenance should
be observed.
X Rectify any noticeable defects before com-
mencing the journey.
Checks in the vehicle Emergency equipment/first-aid kit
X Check the equipment to make sure that it is
accessible, complete and ready for use.
The first aid and breakdown assistance equip-
ment is in the front door stowage compart-
ments and behind the driver's seat.
Vehicle lighting
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Check the lighting system with the aid of a
second person.
X Replace defective bulbs (Y page 99). Before driving off
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell may restrict
the clearance around the pedals or block a
depressed pedal. This jeopardizes the oper-
ating and road safety of the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
Stow all objects securely in the vehicle so that
they do not get into the driver's footwell.
When using floormats or carpets, make sure
that they are properly secured so that they do not slip or obstruct the pedals. Do not place
several floormats or carpets on top of one
another. G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident. 138
DrivingDriving and pa
rking

Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals.
X Secure the load as per the loading guide-
lines (Y page 240).
X Make sure that the floormats and carpets
are properly secured so that they cannot
slip and obstruct the pedals.
X Close all doors. Starting the engine
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.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
X Before starting the engine, make sure that:
R all the doors are closed.
R all the vehicle occupants are wearing
their seat belts correctly.
R the parking brake is applied.
i If you depress the brake pedal before
starting the engine, the pedal travel is short
and pedal resistance is high.
If you depress the brake pedal again after
starting the engine, pedal travel and resist-
ance will be back to normal again. Gearshift pattern
005D
Park position with parking lock
005E Reverse gear
005C Neutral
005B Drive
X Move the selector lever to position P.
The display in the instrument cluster shows
P:
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 187)
R on vehicles without steering wheel but-
tons (Y page 182)
i You can also start the engine in neutral
N.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
The 0028 preglow indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up briefly.
X Once the 0028preglow indicator lamp goes
out, turn the key to position 3in the ignition
lock and release it as soon as the engine is running.
i You can start the engine without preglow
when the engine is warm.
The preglow system is malfunctioning if the
0028 preglow indicator lamp lights up for
approximately 1 minute:
R after the ignition is switched on
R while the engine is running
At extremely low outside temperatures you
may then no longer be able to start the
engine. Have the malfunction rectified at a qualified specialist workshop. Driving
139Driving and parking Z

Problems with the engine
Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions The engine does not
start.
The starter motor can
be heard. There is air in the fuel system.
X Turn the key back to position 0in the ignition lock before
attempting to start the engine again.
X Start the engine again.
Please bear in mind that lengthy and frequent starting attempts
will drain the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start.
The starter motor can
be heard. The reserve
fuel warning lamp is lit
and the fuel gage is at
0. The fuel tank has been run dry.
X Refuel the vehicle.
If you drive until the fuel tank is completely empty, air may get into
the fuel system. If the engine does not start after refueling, bleed the fuel system as follows:
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition for approximately
10 seconds.
X Start the engine continuously for a maximum of 60 seconds.
If the engine does not start:
X Wait approximately 2 minutes.
X Restart the engine continuously for a maximum of 60 seconds.
X If the engine still fails start, do not continue trying to start it.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The vehicle cannot be
driven at a speed
exceeding 5 mph
(8 km/h).
The yellow
00B9engine
diagnostic lamp and
the yellow 00E2DEF
indicator lamp 2
light
up. The exhaust gas aftertreatment is faulty, an emission-relevant
malfunction has occurred or the DEF reserve has been used up.
This malfunction or defect can damage the exhaust gas after-
treatment.
X Observe the messages in the display:
R on vehicles without steering-wheel buttons (Y page 200)
R on vehicles with steering-wheel buttons (Y page 211) and
(Y page 211). The engine does not
start.
The starter motor can-
not be heard. The battery isolating switch is switched off.
X Switch on the power supply (Y page 137).2
Only vehicles without steering-wheel buttons. Driving
141Driving and parking Z

Problem
Possible causes/consequences and
0050
0050Solutions The engine does not
start.
The starter motor can-
not be heard. The on-board voltage is too low. The battery is too weak or dis-
charged.
X Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 276).
If the engine cannot be jump-started, the starter motor is faulty.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start.
The starter motor can-
not be heard. The battery is discharged or faulty.
X Check the battery for damage.
X Charge the battery (Y page 263).Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor R,
the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do not simultaneously accelerate.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
may roll only briefly in the neutral position
N. Prolonged rolling of the wheels, e.g.
when being towed, will result in transmis-
sion damage.
i Be sure to observe the instructions in the
"Tow-starting and towing away" section
(Y page 277). Selector lever
005D
Park position with parking lock
005E Reverse gear
005C Neutral
005B Drive
The display in the instrument cluster shows
the present selector lever position or the cur-
rent shift range:
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 187)
R on vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Y page 182) 142
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

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 isto 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 the rear axle must be secured, e.g. with a
wheel chock, on steep uphill or downhill
gradients
Use the wheel chock (Y page 151) to do so.
If you leave the vehicle parked for more than
three weeks:
R connect the batteries to a trickle charger or
R disconnect the vehicle's starter battery or
R switch off the electrical system using the
battery main switch (Y page 137) and
R disconnect the vehicle's auxiliary battery
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. Other-
wise, the battery may be damaged by exhaus-
tive discharging.
Be sure to observe the notes on disconnect-
ing and charging the batteries under "Bat-
tery“ (Y page 258). You can obtain informa-
tion about trickle chargers from a qualified
specialist workshop. Parking
149Driving and parking Z

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

Driving in winter
General 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
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the vehicle. This is the case, e.g. if the vehicle
becomes trapped in snow. There is a risk of
fatal injury.
If you leave the engine or the auxiliary heating
running, make sure the exhaust pipe and area
around the vehicle are clear of snow. To
ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a window on the side of the vehicle that is not
facing into the wind.
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified specialist workshop in good time at the onset of winter.
i Do not cover the radiator, e.g. with a win-
ter cover. The measurements of the on-
board diagnostic system may otherwise
return inaccurate values. Some of these
values are legally prescribed and must
therefore always be exact.
Observe the notes in the "Winter operation"
section (Y page 286).
Slippery road surfaces 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
The outside temperature indicator is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device
and is therefore unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freez-
ing point do not guarantee that the road sur-
face is free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
may roll only briefly in the neutral position
N. Prolonged rolling of the wheels, e.g.
when being towed, will result in transmis-
sion damage.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed:
X Shift the transmission to neutral position
N.
X Try to maintain control of the vehicle using
corrective steering.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery roads.
Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and
braking maneuvers. Do not use cruise con-
trol.
You can find further information on winter
tires and snow chains in the "Winter opera-
tion" section (Y page 286). Driving off-road
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If you drive on a steep incline at an angle or
turn when driving on an incline, the vehicle
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle. 156
Driving tipsDriving and pa
rking

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