ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
!
The yellow ABS
indicator lamp is
lit while the
engine is running.ABS is deactivated due to a malfunction or is temporarily unavailable.
ESP®, ASR and BAS, as well as cruise control, are also unavailable as
a result.
Self-diagnosis may not be complete, or the battery may not be charg-
ing.
GWARNING
The brake system continues to function normally, but without the
functions listed above. The wheels could therefore lock, e.g. if the
brakes are applied with maximum force.
This causes steerability and braking to be greatly impaired.
The braking distance can increase in emergency braking situations.
The driven wheels can spin when accelerating.
If ESP
®is not operational, ESP®will not stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and accidents.
XDrive a short distance at a speed above 13 mph (20 km/h).
The functions mentioned above are available again when the indi-
cator lamp goes out.
If the indicator lamp does not go out:
XDrive on with care.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
å The yellow DEF
indicator lamp is
lit while the
engine is running.The exhaust gas aftertreatment is malfunctioning or the current Diesel
Exhaust Fluid (DEF) supply is limiting the vehicle range.
XObserve the messages in the display.
h
The yellow ESP®
indicator lamp is
lit while the
engine is running.ESP®is deactivated due to undervoltage or a malfunction. As a result,
cruise control has also been deactivated.
Engine power output may be reduced.
The battery may not be being charged.
GWARNING
If ESP
®is not operational, ESP®will not stabilize the vehicle.
There is an increased risk of skidding and accidents.
XVehicles with steering wheel buttons: also observe the messages in the display (Ypage 176).
XDrive on with care.
XVisit a qualified specialist workshop immediately.
Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster197
On-board computer and displays
Z
Load distribution
General notes
!
Excessive loads on individual points of the
cargo floor or on the load surface impair vehi-
cle handling characteristics and could cause
damage to the floor covering.
The overall center of gravity of the load should
always be as low as possible, centered and
between the axles near the rear axle.
On Cargo Vans and Passenger Vans:
XAlways transport loads in the cargo compart-
ment.
XAlways place the load against the backrests of the rear bench seat.
XMove large and heavy loads as far towards the
front of the vehicle as possible against the
rear bench seat. Stow the load flush with the
rear bench seat.
XAlways additionally secure the load with suit-
able load-securing aids or tie downs.
Observe the following notes:
RDo not stack loads higher than the upper edge
of the backrests.
RTransport loads behind seats that are not
occupied.
RIf the rear bench seat is not occupied, insert
the seat belts crosswise into the buckle of the
opposite seat belt.
Securing loads
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If you attach the tie-down incorrectly when
securing the load, the following may occur in
the event of abrupt changes in direction, brak- ing maneuvers or an accident:
Rthe cargo tie-down rings may become
detached or the tie-down may tear if the
permissible load is exceeded
Rthe load may not be restrained.
This may cause the load to slip, tip over or be
tossed about, striking vehicle occupants.
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always tension the tie-downs in the proper
manner and only between the described
cargo tie-down rings. Always use tie-downs
designed specifically for the loads.
GWARNING
You may not transport anyone in the cargo
compartment or on the load surface. Never let more people ride in the vehicle than there are
seat belts available. Make sure everyone rid-
ing in the vehicle is correctly restrained with a
separate seat belt. Never use a seat belt for
more than one person at a time.
!Observe the information on the maximum
loading capacity of the individual cargo tie-
down points.
If you use several cargo tie-down points to
secure a load, you must always take the max-
imum loading capacity of the weakest cargo
tie-down point into account.
If you brake hard, for example, the forces act-
ing could be up to several times the weight
force of the load. Always use multiple cargo
tie-down points in order to distribute the force
absorption. Load the anchorages evenly.
Spread the load evenly between the cargo tie-
down points or tie-down rings.
Please also refer to the notes about qualified
specialist workshops (
Ypage 26).
Always observe the operating instructions or the
notes of the lashing strap manufacturer for the
operation of the lashing strap.
Information about the maximum loading capa-
city of the cargo tie-down points can be found in
the "Technical data" section (
Ypage 285).
As the driver, you are responsible for ensuring
that:
RThe load is secured against slipping, tipping,
rolling or falling off. This applies both in nor-
mal traffic conditions and if the vehicle must
swerve to avoid an obstacle, in the event of
full brake application and on poor road surfa-
ces.
RThe applicable requirements and guidelines
relating to load-securing practices must be
met.
If this is not the case, this may constitute a
punishable offense, depending on local legis-
lation and any ensuing consequences.
214Securing loads
Transporting loads
You should therefore observe the respective
legal requirements for the relevant country.
Make sure that the load is secure before every
journey and at regular intervals during a long
journey. Correct an incorrectly or inadequately
secured load if necessary.
You can obtain information about securing the
load correctly from the manufacturer of the load
securing aids or tie down for securing the load.
XFill spaces between the load and the cargo
compartment walls or wheel housings (form-
locking). Use rigid load securing aids, such as
wedges, wooden fixings or padding.
XAttach secured and stabilized loads in all
directions. Use the cargo tie-down points or
cargo tie-down rings and the loading rails in
the cargo compartment or on the cargo area.
Only use tie downs, such as lashing rods or
lashing nets and lashing straps, that have
been tested in accordance with current
standards (e.g. DIN EN).
Always use the cargo tie-down rings closest to
the load to secure it and pad sharp edges for
protection.
Loads, and heavy loads in particular, should
preferably be secured using the cargo tie-
down rings.
iTie downs tested in accordance with current
standards (e.g. DIN EN) are available at any
qualified specialist workshop.
Cargo tie-down points (example: Passenger Van)
:
Cargo tie-down rings
Cargo tie-down point (example: Cargo Van without
loading rails)
:
Cargo tie-down rings
Cargo tie-down points (example: Cargo Van with
loading rails)
:
Cargo tie-down rings
;Load rails
Secure loose loads with a tested lashing net or a
tarpaulin.
XAlways fasten the lashing net or tarpaulin to
all available cargo tie-down points. Make sure
that the retaining hooks are secured against
accidental opening.
If your vehicle is equipped with loading rails ;
in the floor, you can place lashing rods directly in
front of and behind the load. The lashing rods
directly absorb the potential shifting forces.
Securing loads on the cargo compartment floor
by lashing them down is only recommended for
lightweight loads. Place non-slip mats (anti-slip
mats) under the load to increase load security.
Securing loads215
Transporting loads
Z
Example: cap and coolant expansion tank
Checking the coolant level
XStop your vehicle as far away from traffic as
possible on level ground.
XSwitch off the engine.
XSecure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
away.
XOpen the hood (Ypage 218).
XSlowly turn cap:half a turn counter-clock-
wise to allow excess pressure to escape.
XTurn cap :further and remove it.
XCheck the coolant level.
If the coolant reaches the maximum mark on
coolant expansion tank ;, there is enough
coolant in coolant expansion tank ;.
Adding coolant
XIf the coolant drops under the minimum mark
on coolant expansion tank ;, add coolant to
the maximum mark.
Observe the information on coolant mixture
ratio and water quality in the "Technical data"
section (
Ypage 283). To prevent damage to
the engine cooling system, use only approved
corrosion inhibitor and antifreeze that com-
plies with the Mercedes-Benz Specifications
for Service Products.
XReplace cap :and turn it clockwise to
tighten.
XStart the engine.
XAfter approximately 5 minutes, switch off the
engine and allow it to cool down.
XCheck the coolant level again and add coolant
if necessary.
XClose the hood.
Brake fluid
GWARNING
Service products may be poisonous and haz-
ardous to health. There is a risk of injury.
Comply with instructions on the use, storage
and disposal of service products on the labels
of the respective original containers. Always
store service products sealed in their original
containers. Always keep service products out
of the reach of children.
Brake fluid is hazardous to health. Also observe
the safety notes in the "Service products and
capacities" section (
Ypage 277).
GWARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the air. This lowers the boiling point of
the brake fluid. If the boiling point of the brake
fluid is too low, vapor pockets may form in the
brake system when the brakes are applied
hard. This would impair braking efficiency.
There is a risk of an accident.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
the specified intervals.
!Brake fluid corrodes paint, plastic and rub-
ber. If paint, plastic or rubber has come into
contact with brake fluid, rinse with water
immediately.
Have the brake fluid renewed every 2 year sat a
qualified specialist workshop. Observe the infor- mation on brake fluid in the "Technical data"
section (
Ypage 283).
Check the brake fluid level regularly, e.g. weekly
or when refueling.
Engine compartment223
Maintenance and care
Z
Additionally, you will see the remaining dis-
tance in miles (mi) or kilometers ( km) or the
remaining time in days ( d).
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons
XPress the VorU button on the steering
wheel until the standard display (Ypage 167)
appears in the display.
XPress the &or* button on the steering
wheel repeatedly until the service message
appears in the display, for example:
R¯ Service A in ... days
R¯Service A in ... mi(km)
Battery
Important safety notes
Work on the battery, e.g. removing or installing,
requires specialist knowledge and the use of
special tools. Therefore, always have work on
the battery carried out at a qualified specialist
workshop.
GWARNING
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:
Rbraking
Rin 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"
(
Ypage 53) and under "ESP®" (Ypage 54).
GWARNING
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 bat-
tery are electrostatically charged. Electrostatic
charging results, for example, from:
Rwearing synthetic clothing
Rfriction between clothing and the seat
Rdragging or pushing the battery across carpet flooring or any other synthetic materials
Rrubbing the battery with cloths or towels.
Comply with the following safety precautions
and take protective measures when handling
batteries.
Risk of explosion. Explosive oxyhy-
drogen is produced when batteries
are being charged. Only charge bat-
teries in well-ventilated areas.
Fire, open flames and smoking are
therefore prohibited when working
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 imme-
diately with soapy water or an acid
neutralizer, and then clean the affec-
ted areas with water. Consult a doc- tor 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 immedi-
ately.
Keep children at a safe distance.
Children are not able to assess the
Battery227
Maintenance and care
Z
RDo not drive with tires which have too little
tread depth, as this significantly reduces the
traction on wet roads (hydroplaning).
RReplace the tires after 6 years at the latest,
regardless of wear. This also applies to the
spare wheel.
Operation in winter
General notes
Have your vehicle winterproofed at a qualified
specialist workshop at the onset of winter.
Prior to the onset of winter, ensure that snow
chains are stowed in the vehicle (
Ypage 249).
Also observe the notes in the "Changing a
wheel" section (
Ypage 266).
Driving with summer tires
At temperatures below 45 ‡ (+7 †), summer
tires lose elasticity and therefore traction and
braking power. Change the tires on your vehicle
to M+S tire. Using summer tires at very cold
temperatures could cause tears to form,
thereby damaging the tires permanently. We
cannot accept responsibility for this type of
damage.
M+S tires
GWARNING
Wheel and tire dimensions as well as the type of tire can vary between the spare wheel and
the wheel to be replaced. When the spare
wheel is mounted, driving characteristics may be severely affected. There is a risk of an acci-
dent.
In order to reduce risks:
Ryou should therefore adapt your driving
style and drive carefully.
Rnever mount more than one spare wheel
that differs from the wheel to be replaced.
Ronly use a spare wheel that differs from the
wheel to be replaced for a short time.
Rdo not deactivate ESP®.
Rhave a spare wheel that differs from the
wheel that has been changed replaced at
the nearest qualified specialist workshop.
You must observe the correct wheel and
tire dimensions as well as the wheel type.
GWARNING
M+S tires with a tire tread depth of less than
ã in (4 mm) are not suitable for use in winter
and do not provide sufficient traction. There is
a risk of an accident.
M+S tires with a tread depth of less than ãin
(4 mm) must be replaced immediately.
Use winter tires or all-season tires at tempera-
tures below 45 ‡ (+7 †). Both types of tire are
identified by the M+S marking.
Only winter tires bearing the isnowflake
symbol in addition to the M+S marking provide
the best possible grip in wintry road conditions.
Only these tires will allow driving safety systems
such as ABS and ESP
®to function optimally in
winter. These tires have been developed specif-
ically for driving in snow.
For safe driving, use M+S tire sof the same make
and tread pattern on all wheels.
Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
If you mount M+S tires that have a lower maxi-
mum permissible speed than that of the vehicle,
affix a corresponding warning label in the driv-
er's field of vision. You can obtain this at a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
Once you have mounted the winter tires:
XCheck the tire pressure (Ypage 250).
XReactivate the tire pressure moni-
tor* (
Ypage 255).
Snow chains
GWARNING
If you drive too fast with snow chains moun-
ted, they may snap. As a result, you could
injure others and damage the vehicle. There is
a risk of an accident.
Operation in winter249
Wheels and tires
* optionalZ
Further information can be obtained at any
qualified specialist workshop.
Steering
Service product: power steering fluid
Product name/numberMaintenanceinterval
Mobil ATF‑D,
Exxon Mobil Corporation
or equivalent
MB Sheet No. 236.3—
The steering is maintenance-free. Further infor-
mation can be obtained at any qualified special-
ist workshop.
Brake fluid
GWARNING
The brake fluid constantly absorbs moisture
from the air. This lowers the boiling point of
the brake fluid. If the boiling point of the brake
fluid is too low, vapor pockets may form in the
brake system when the brakes are applied
hard. This would impair braking efficiency.
There is a risk of an accident.
You should have the brake fluid renewed at
the specified intervals.
!Brake fluid corrodes paint, plastic and rub-
ber. If paint, plastic or rubber has come into
contact with brake fluid, rinse with water
immediately.
Only use brake fluids approved for Sprinter vehi-
cles. Always check for the identification DOT 4
plus.
Information about approved brake fluids can be
found in the Maintenance Booklet or obtained at
any qualified specialist workshop.
Service product:
brake fluid
Product descrip-
tion and numberIntac B026E
RBoiling point: 500 ‡
(260 †)
RWet boiling point:
356 ‡ (180 †)
MB Sheet No.331.0
Maintenance
interval2 years
iHave the brake fluid renewed every 2 years
at a qualified specialist workshop.
There is usually a notice in the engine com-
partment to remind you when the next brake
fluid change is due.
Coolant
Important safety notes
GWARNING
If antifreeze comes into contact with hot com- ponents in the engine compartment, it may
ignite. There is a risk of fire and injury.
Let the engine cool down before you add anti-
freeze. Make sure that antifreeze is not spilled
next to the filler neck. Thoroughly clean the
antifreeze from components before starting
the engine.
!Take care not to spill any coolant on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
When handling, storing and disposing of coolant
and antifreeze, please observe the relevant reg-
ulations and the safety notes in the "Service
products and capacities" section (
Ypage 277).
Coolant additive with antifreeze
requirements
!Use only approved antifreeze/corrosion
inhibitor that complies with MB Specification
for Service Products, Sheet Number 325.
Using other, non-approved antifreeze/corro-
sion inhibitors may cause damage to the cool-
Service products and capacities283
Technical data
Z
!Only use washer fluid that is suitable for
plastic lamp lenses, e.g. MB SummerFit or MB
WinterFit. Unsuitable washer fluid could dam-
age the plastic lenses of the headlamps.
When handling washer fluid, observe the impor-
tant safety notes on service products
(
Ypage 277).
Mixing ratio
Add windshield washer concentrate to the
washer fluid all year round. Adapt the mixing
ratio to the ambient temperature.
At temperatures above freezing:
XFill up the washer fluid reservoir with a mix-
ture of water and windshield washer concen-
trate, e.g. Summerwash to prevent smearing.
At temperatures below freezing:
XFill up the washer fluid reservoir with a mix-
ture of water and windshield washer concen-
trate, e.g. Winterwash if there is a danger of
frost.
This prevents washer fluid from freezing on
the windshield.
Capacities
Windshield washer system with/without
headlamp cleaning system
Washer fluidApprox. 6.3 qt (6.0 l)
Vehicle data
General notes
The following section contains important tech-
nical data for your vehicle. Your vehicle regis-
tration documents contain vehicle-specific and
equipment-dependent technical data such as
vehicle dimensions and vehicle weights.
Cargo tie-down points and carrier sys-
tems
Cargo tie-down points
General notes
!Observe the information on the maximum
loading capacity of the individual cargo tie-
down points.
If you use several cargo tie-down points to
secure a load, you must always take the max-
imum loading capacity of the weakest cargo
tie-down point into account.
If you brake hard, for example, the forces act-
ing could be up to several times the weight
force of the load. Always use multiple cargo
tie-down points in order to distribute the force absorption. Load the anchorages evenly.
You will find further information about cargo tie
down points and cargo tie-down rings in the
"Transporting" section (
Ypage 214).
Cargo tie-down rings
The maximum tensile load of the cargo tie-down rings is:
Cargo tie-down
ringsPermissible nomi- nal tensile load
Passenger Vans786.5 lbf
(3500 N)
Cargo Van1124.0 lbf (5000 N)
Load rails
The maximum tensile loads of the cargo tie-
down points in the cargo compartment are:
Cargo tie-down
pointPermissible nomi- nal tensile load
Load rails on cargo
compartment floor1124.0 lbf
(5000 N)
Lower load rail on
sidewall562.0 lbf(2500 N)
Upper load rail on
sidewall337.0 lbf(1500 N)
Vehicle data285
Technical data
Z