
ing time is synchronized. The indicator lamp in
they auxiliary heating button goes out.
Switching the heater booster function
on/off
Vehicles with auxiliary heating
Vehicles with heater booster function
At outside temperatures of up to 39 ‡(4 †) the
fuel-fired heater booster system heats the vehi-
cle interior as quickly as possible when the
engine is running.
The auxiliary heating automatically switches to
heater booster mode after the engine is started.
At an outside temperature above 39 ‡(4 †) the
auxiliary heating system and the heater booster
function switch off automatically.
If you switch off the engine without switching off
the heater booster function, the system will be
switched on the next time the engine is started (memory function).
iSwitch the auxiliary heating on or off with
the y button (Ypage 108).
XTo switch on/off: press the¢button.
If the indicator lamp in the button lights up,
the heater booster function is switched on. After switching off, the auxiliary heating oper-
ates for about another 2 minutes and then
switches off automatically.
Replacing the remote control battery
GWARNING
Batteries contain toxic and corrosive substan- ces. If batteries are swallowed, it can result in
severe health problems. There is a risk of fatalinjury.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children. If
a battery is swallowed, seek medical attention
immediately.
HEnvironmental 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.
If the indicator lamp on the remote control
flashes red rapidly, the remote control battery is
discharged. You should replace the remote con-
trol battery.
You need a battery of the type CR2430, which
can be obtained at any qualified specialist work-
shop.
Operating the auxiliary heating system111
Climate control
Z

On vehicles with a battery main switch, you must
first switch on the power supply (Ypage 118).
iTo unlock the steering, move the steering
wheel slightly while turning the key to position
1.
Preparing for a journey
Visual check of the vehicle exterior
XIn particular, check the following components
on the vehicle, and on the trailer as necessary:
Rlicense plates, vehicle lighting, turn signals,
brake lamps and wiper blades for dirt and
damage
Rtires and wheels for firm seating, correct
tire pressure and general condition
Rtrailer 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.
Rthat contour markings on attachments and
bodies are in good condition
XRectify any noticeable defects before com-
mencing the journey.
Checks in the vehicle
Emergency equipment and first-aid kit
XCheck 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 compartments
and behind the driver's seat.
Vehicle lighting
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
XCheck the lighting system with the aid of a
second person.
XReplace defective bulbs (Ypage 86).
Before driving off
GWARNING
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.
GWARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correct usage of the pedals, e.g.:
Rshoes with thick soles
Rshoes with high heels
Rslippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals.
XSecure the load as per the loading guidelines
(Ypage 212).
XStow luggage items securely. Secure the load
as per the loading guidelines (Ypage 212).
XMake sure that the floormats and carpets are
properly secured so that they cannot slip and
obstruct the pedals.
XClose all doors.
Starting the engine
GWARNING
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.
XBefore starting the engine, make sure that:
120Driving
Driving and parking

Rall the doors are closed.
Rall the vehicle occupants are wearing their
seat belts correctly.
Rthe parking brake is applied.
iIf you depress the brake pedal before start-
ing 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
j
Park position with parking lock
kReverse gear
iNeutral
hDrive
XMove the selector lever to position P.
The display in the instrument cluster shows P:
Ron vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Ypage 167)
Ron vehicles without steering wheel buttons
(Ypage 163)
iYou can also start the engine in neutral N.
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
The % preglow indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up briefly.
XOnce the %preglow indicator lamp goes
out, turn the key to position 3in the ignition
lock and release it as soon as the engine is
running.
iYou can start the engine without preglow
when the engine is warm.
The preglow system is malfunctioning if the
% preglow indicator lamp lights up for
approximately 1 minute:
Rafter the ignition is switched on
Rwhile 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.
iDepending on the equipment installed, the
vehicle either automatically locks centrally
after switching on the ignition or after pulling
away. The locking knobs in the doors drop
down.
You can open the doors from the inside at any
time.
Automatic door locking c
an be deactivated
(Ypage 64).
Driving off
GWARNING
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.
!Only shift into reverse gear Rwhen the vehi-
cle is stationary. Otherwise, you could dam-
age the transmission.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
The selector lever lock is released.
XMove the selector lever to position Dor R.
On vehicles with a reverse warning feature,
when reverse gear is engaged a warning tone
sounds to alert other road users
(
Ypage 122).
XRelease the parking brake (Ypage 131).
The c indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
iAfter pulling away or switching on the igni-
tion, the vehicle automatically locks centrally.
The locking knobs in the doors drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at any
time.
You can also deactivate the automatic locking
feature (
Ypage 64).
Driving121
Driving and parking
Z

Problems with the engine
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
The engine does not
start.
The starter motor can be
heard.There is air in the fuel system.
XTurn the key back to position0in the ignition lock before attempting
to start the engine again.
XStart 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:
XConsult 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.
XRefuel 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:
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition for approximately
10 seconds.
XStart the engine continuously for a maximum of 60 seconds.
If the engine does not start:
XWait approximately 2 minutes.
XRestart the engine continuously for a maximum of 60 seconds.
XIf the engine still fails to start, do not continue trying to start it.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
The vehicle cannot be
driven at a speed
exceeding 5 mph
(8 km/h).
The yellow ;Check
Engine lamp and the yel-
low å DEF indicator
lamp
2light up.
The exhaust gas aftertreatment system is defective or an emissions-
relevant malfunction has occurred.
This malfunction or defect can damage the exhaust gas aftertreat-
ment.
XObserve the messages in the display:
Ron vehicles without steering-wheel buttons (Ypage 178)
Ron vehicles with steering wheel buttons (Ypage 187).
The engine does not
start.
The starter motor cannot
be heard.The battery isolating switch is switched off.
XSwitch on the power supply (Ypage 118).
2Only vehicles without steering-wheel buttons.
Driving123
Driving and parking
Z

Driving situations
5Use thebraking effec tof th eengin e
on steep downhill gradients and for
driving:
Ron steep mountai nroads
Rin mountainous terrain
Rin arduous condition s
4Use thebraking effec tof th eengin e
on extremely steep downhill gradi-
ents and lon gdownhill stretches.
Driving tips
Accelerat orpedal position
Your style of drivin ginfluence show th eauto -
matic transmission shift sgear :
Rlittlethrottle: earl yupshift s
Rlotsof throttle: later upshift s
Kickdown
Use kickdown for maximum acceleration :
XDepress theaccelerato rpedal beyon dth e
pressur epoint.
The automatic transmission shift sto th enext
gear down ,depending on th eengin espeed.
XEas eoff on th eaccelerato rpedal once th e
desire dspeed is reached.
The automatic transmission shift sup again .
Maneuvering
Maneuverin gin atight space:
XControl th evehicle's speed by braking care-
fully.
XDepress th eaccelerato rpedal slightly and
evenly.
iYou can shift bac kand forth between drive
position Dand revers egear Rat low speeds
without applyin gth ebrakes. This can help
you, for exampl ewhen rapidly maneuverin g
th evehicl eor rocking it out of snow or slush.
Towing a trailer
XDrive at moderat eengin espeeds on steep
uphil lgradients .
XDependin gon th euphil lor downhill gradient,
shift down to ashift range adapted to th e
drivin gsituation (
Ypage 125), eve nif cruise
control is activated.
126Automatic transmission
Driving an d parking

Problems with the fuel and fuel tank
If your vehicle is losing fuel, the fuel lines or thefuel tank are defective.
XTurn the key immediately to position 0in the
ignition lock and remove it.
XDo not restart the engine under any circum-
stances.
XConsult a qualified specialist workshop.
If the fuel tank has been run dry, after refueling
carry out the following steps:
XBefore starting the engine: switch on the igni-
tion three or four times.
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock
(Ypage 119).
The % preglow indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up briefly.
XOnce the %preglow indicator lamp goes
out, turn the key to position 3in the ignition
lock and release it as soon as the engine is
running.
You can start the diesel engine without preglow
when the engine is warm.
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
Important safety notes
!Only use DEF in accordance with
ISO 22241. Never mix DEF with additives or
thin it with tap water. The exhaust gas after-
treatment may otherwise be damaged.
Observe the MB Specifications for Service
Products, Sheet 352.0.
Damage that results from the use of additives
or tap water leads to the loss of the New
Vehicle Limited Warranty.
!If DEF comes into contact with a painted or
aluminum surface, wash the surface off
immediately with plenty of water.
!DEF is not a diesel additive and must not be
mixed with fuel in the tank. Even small
amounts of DEF can cause engine damage.
Damage that results from the blending of DEF
will not be covered by the New Vehicle Limi-
ted Warranty.
iIf the outside temperature is below 12 ‡
( Ò 11 †) it may be difficult to top up. If the DEF
is frozen and there is an active warning indi- cator, topping up may not be possible. Park
the vehicle in a warm place, e.g. in a garage,
until the DEF has become liquid again. Top-
ping up is then possible again. Alternatively,
have the DEF tank refilled at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
iIf you add DEF at temperatures below 12 ‡
( Ò 11 †) it is possible that the level is not
shown correctly due to the frozen DEF.
Drive for at least 20 minute s(heating phase in
the tank activated) and then st
op the vehicle
for at least 30 seconds. The level is then
shown correctly.
You will find further information on DEF in the
"Service products" section (
Ypage 277).
Refueling procedure
DEF filler neck
Non-lockable DEF filler cap
Example: DEF filler cap in the engine compartment
XTo open: switch off the ignition.
XOpen the hood (Ypage 218).
XTurn filler cap :counter-clockwise and
remove it.
XTo close: replace cap :on the filler neck and
turn it clockwise.
You will hear a click when cap :is fully
closed.
XClose the hood (Ypage 219).
Refueling129
Driving and parking
Z

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:
Rthe parking brake must be firmly applied
Rthe selector lever must be in positionPand
the key must be removed from the ignition
lock
Ron steep uphill or downhill gradients, the front
wheels must be turned towards the curb
Rthe rear axle must be secured, e.g. with a
wheel chock, on steep uphill or downhill gra-
dients
Use the wheel chock (
Ypage 132) to do so.
If you leave the vehicle parked for more than
three weeks:
Rconnect the batteries to a trickle charger or
Rdisconnect the vehicle's starter battery or
Rswitch off the electrical system using the bat-
tery main switch (Ypage 118) and
Rdisconnect the vehicle's auxiliary battery
Otherwise, you need to check the battery's con-
dition of charge every three weeks, since
standby power consumption can drain the bat-
tery. If the battery voltage is lower than 12.2 V,
the battery must be charged. Otherwise, the
battery may be damaged by exhaustive dis-
charging.
Be sure to observe the notes on disconnecting
and chargi ng th
e batteries under "Bat-
tery“ (Ypage 227). You can obtain information
about trickle chargers from a qualified specialist
workshop.
Parking brake
GWARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi-
cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
Rrelease the parking brake.
Rshift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
Rstart 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.
GWARNING
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.
The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake.
As a rule, you may only apply the parking brake
when the vehicle is stationary.
XTo apply the parking brake: pull brake
lever :up as far as the last possible detent.
The c warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up if the engine is running.
iOn vehicles with a folding brake lever, you
can then press lever :down to the stop.
XTo release the parking brake: on vehicles
with a folding brake lever, first pull brake
lever :up to the stop.
XRaise brake lever :slightly and press
release knob ;.
XGuide brake lever :down to the stop.
The c indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Parking131
Driving an d parking
Z

Low-beam headlamps
If you are traveling in countries where vehicles
are driven on the opposite side of the road to
that in which the vehicle is registered, you will
need to:
Rhave the halogen headlamps partially masked
Rhave the Bi-Xenon headlamps set to symmet-
rical 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 possible.
When you return from your journey, and as close
to the border as possible, you will need to:
Rremove the adhesive surfaces from your hal-
ogen headlamps and clean the glass of the
headlamps if necessary
Rhave the Bi-Xenon headlamps reset to asym-
metrical low beam at a qualified specialist
workshop
Transport by rail
Transporting your vehicle by rail may be subject
to certain restrictions or require special meas-
ures to be taken in some countries due to vary- ing tunnel heights and loading standards.
You can obtain further information from any
authorized Sprinter dealer.
Brakes
Important safety notes
GWARNING
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.
GWARNING
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 2or1 in
good time. This should be observed in particular
when driving with a laden vehicle and when tow-
ing a trailer.
iYou 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 often to
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
GWARNING
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.
Driving tips135
Driving and parking
Z