2017 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER ESP

Vehicles without steering wheel buttons
XPress the4menu button on the instrument
cluster repeatedly until the ¯or°
symbol for the service appears in the display.
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 164)
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, the ABS (anti-lock braking system) or the
ESP
®(Electronic Stability Program). The oper-
ating safety of your vehicle may be restricted.
You could lose control of the vehicle, for
example:
Rwhen braking
Rin the event of abrupt steering maneuvers
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 55).
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 electro statically 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
Battery223
Maintenance and care
Z

!Do not use cleaning agents containing fuel.
Cleaning agents containing fuel corrode the
battery housing.
!If dirt gets into the battery cell, battery self-
discharge will increase and the battery may
be damaged.
The following points on battery care must be
observed:
XRegularly check the battery terminals and the
fastening of the negative cable to the chassis
to ensure that they are firmly seated.
XAlways keep the battery terminals and battery
surfaces clean and dry.
XLightly grease the undersides of the battery
terminals with acid-resistant grease.
XOnly clean the battery casing with a commer-
cially available cleaning product.
Care
Notes on care
GWARNING
If you use openings in the bodywork or
detachable parts as steps, you could:
Rslip and/or fall
Rdamage the vehicle and cause yourself to
fall.
There is a risk of injury.
Always use secure climbing aids, e.g. a suita-
ble ladder.
!For cleaning your vehicle, do not use any of
the following:
Rdry, rough or hard cloths
Rabrasive cleaning agents
Rsolvents
Rcleaning agents containing solvents
Do not scrub.
Do not touch the surfaces or protective films
with hard objects, e.g. a ring or ice scraper.
You could otherwise scratch or damage the
surfaces and protective film.
!Do not park your vehicle for a long period of
time directly after cleaning, particularly after
cleaning the wheel rim with wheel cleaner.
Wheel cleaner can lead to the increased cor- rosion of the brake discs and pads. Therefore,
drive for a few minutes after cleaning. By
heating up the brakes, the brake discs and
pads dry. The vehicle can then be parked for a
long period of time.
HEnvironmental note
Only clean your vehicle at specially designed
wash bays. Dispose of empty containers and
used cleaning products in an environmentally
responsible manner.
HEnvironmental note
Dispose of empty packaging and cleaning
cloths in an environmentally responsible man-
ner.
Regular care of your vehicle is a condition for
retaining the quality in the long term.
Use care products and cleaning agents recom-
mended and approved for Sprinter vehicles.
Washing the vehicle and cleaning the
paintwork
Automatic car wash
GWARNING
Braking efficiency is reduced after washing
the vehicle. There is a risk of an accident.
After the vehicle has been washed, brake
carefully while paying attention to the traffic
conditions until full braking power is restored.
!Never clean your vehicle in a Touchless
Automatic Car Wash as these use special
cleaning agents. These cleaning agents can
damage the paintwork or plastic parts.
!Make sure that the automatic car wash is
suitable for the size of the vehicle.
Before washing the vehicle in an automatic
car wash, fold in the exterior mirrors and
remove any additional antennas. Otherwise,
the exterior mirror, antenna or the vehicle
itself could be damaged.
Make sure that the exterior mirrors are fully
folded out again and that any additional
antennas are re-installed when you leave the
automatic car wash.
Care229
Maintenance and care
Z

!Make sure that:
Rthe side windows and the roof are com-
pletely closed
Rthe climate control blower is switched off
Rthe windshield wiper switch is at position0
The vehicle could otherwise be damaged.
You can wash the vehicle in an automatic car
wash from the very start.
Wash off excess dirt before cleaning the vehicle
in an automatic car wash.
After putting the vehicle through an automatic
car wash, wipe off wax from:
Rthe rear view camera lens (Ypage 232)
Rthe windshield
Rthe windshield wiper blades
This will prevent smears and reduce wiping
noises caused by residue on the windshield.
Washing by hand
In some countries, washing by hand is only
allowed at specially equipped washing bays.
Observe the legal requirements of the country
you are currently in when washing by hand.
XDo not use hot water and do not wash the
vehicle in direct sunlight.
XUse a soft car sponge.
XUse a mild cleaning agent, e.g. a car shampoo
approved for use with Sprinter vehicles.
XThoroughly hose down the vehicle with a gen-
tle jet of water.
XDo not point the water jet directly towards the
air inlets.
XUse plenty of water and rinse out the sponge
frequently.
XRinse the vehicle with clean water and dry
thoroughly with a chamois.
XDo not let the cleaning agents dry on the
paintwork.
When using the vehicle in winter, remove all
traces of road salt deposits carefully and as
soon as possible.
Power washers
GWARNING
The water jet from a circular jet nozzle (dirt
blasters) can cause invisible exterior damage
to the tires or chassis components. Compo-
nents damaged in this way may fail unexpect-
edly. There is a risk of an accident.
Do not use power washers with circular jet
nozzles to clean the vehicle. Have damaged
tires or chassis components replaced imme-
diately.
!Under no circumstances use power washers
in the vehicle interior. The pressurized water
and associated spray produced by the power washer could cause extensive damage to the
vehicle.
!Observe the minimum distance to be main-
tained between the nozzle of the high-pres-
sure cleaner and the object to be cleaned:
Rapproximately 2.2 ft(70 cm) when using
round-jet nozzles
Rapproximately 1 ft (30 cm) when using 25°
flat-spray jets and concentrated-power jets
Keep the water jet moving while cleaning. To
avoid causing damage, do not point the water jet directly at:
Rdoor joints
Rbrake hoses
Relectrical components
Relectrical connections
Rseals
Rdrive train, especially not at the intermedi-
ate bearing of the propeller shaft
Rrear view camera
Keep a minimum distance of 1.6 ft(50 cm).
Cleaning the engine
!Water must not enter intake or ventilation
openings. When cleaning with high pressure
water or steam cleaners, the spray must not
be aimed directly at electrical components or
the terminals of electrical lines.
Preserve the engine after the engine has been
cleaned. Protect the belt drive system from
exposure to the preservative agent.
Also observe the information under "Power
washers" (
Ypage 230).
230Care
Maintenance and care

Towing with the front or rear axle
raised
General notes
!The ignition must be switched off if the vehi-
cle is being towed with the front or rear axle
raised. Otherwise, ESP
®may intervene and
damage the brake system.
!Always use new bolts when installing the
propeller shafts.
iOnly have the propeller shafts installed and
removed by qualified, skilled personnel.
Observe the following before towing a vehicle
with a raised front or rear axle:
Rthe information on towing in the event of mal-
functions (Ypage 240) and
Rthe important safety notes (Ypage 239).
If the front axle is damaged, raise the vehicle at
the front axle and if the rear axle is damaged,
raise the vehicle at the rear axle.
Towing
If the front axle is raised, the vehicle may be
towed a maximum of 30 miles (50 km). For a
towing distance of over 30 miles (50 km), the
propeller shafts to the driven axles must be
removed.
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
XShift the automatic transmission to position
N.
XTurn the key to position 1in the ignition lock
and leave it in this position.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 83).
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the parking brake.
XIf the front axle is raised, do not exceed the
towing speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) and the
towing distance of 30 miles (50 km).
Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
Important safety notes
GWARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged. There
is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing the
vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar.
!Do not exceed a towing speed of 31 mph
(50 km/h). You could otherwise damage the
transmission.
iOnly have the propeller shafts fitted and
removed by qualified, skilled personnel.
Before towing the vehicle, observe the follow-
ing:
Rthe information on towing in the event of mal-
functions (Ypage 240) and
Rthe important safety notes (Ypage 239).
Towing
You may only tow the vehicle a maximum dis-
tance of 30 miles (50 km). For a towing distance
of over 30 miles (50 km), the propeller shafts to the driven axles must be removed.
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
XShift the automatic transmission to position
N.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the parking brake.
XLeave the key in position 2in the ignition lock.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 83).
XDo not exceed the towing speed of 30 mph
(50 km/h) and the towing distance of
30 miles (50 km).
Recovering a vehicle that is stuck
!
When recovering a vehicle that has become
stuck, pull it as smoothly and evenly as pos-
sible. Excessive tractive power could damage
the vehicles.
Tow-starting and towing away241
Breakdown assistance
Z

If the drive wheels get trapped on loose or
muddy ground, recover the vehicle with the
utmost care. This is especially the case if the
vehicle is laden.
Never attempt to recover a vehicle with a trailer
attached.
Pull out the vehicle backwards, if possible, using
the tracks it made when it became stuck.
Transporting the vehicle
!
You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise, the
vehicle could be damaged.
Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
Vehicles with automatic transmission
!Vehicles with automatic transmission must
not be tow-started. You could otherwise dam-
age the automatic transmission.
You can find information on jump-starting under
"Jump-starting“ (
Ypage 238).
Electrical fuses
The fuse allocation chart and further information
on the electric fuses and relays can be found in the "Fuse allocation chart" supplement.
242Electrical fuses
Breakdown assistance

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 246).
Also observe the notes in the "Changing a
wheel" section (
Ypage 262).
Regularly check the vehicle and remove snow or ice when traveling in wintry conditions.
An accumulation of snow and ice, particularly
when frozen, caught in the area around the air
intake slots, moving parts, the axles and the
wheel arches may:
Rrestrict air intake
Rdamage vehicle parts
Rcause malfunctions by restricting the mobility
intended by the design (e.g. reduced possible
steering input).
If there is any damage, inform a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
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 install M+S tires that have a lower maxi-
mum permissible speed than the maximum per-
missible speed of the vehicle, affix an appropri-
ate warning sign in the driver's field of vision.
You can obtain this at a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Operation in winter245
Wheels and tires
Z

Once you have mounted the winter tires:
XCheck the tire pressure (Ypage 246).
XReactivate the tire pressure moni-
tor* (
Ypage 251).
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.
Observe the maximum permissible speed for
operation with snow chains.
When driving with snow chains installed, do not
exceed the maximum permissible speed of
30 mph (50 km/h). Observe the country-spe-
cific laws and regulations for operation with
snow chains.
!Check the snow chains for damage before
mounting them. Damaged or worn snow
chains may snap and damage the following
components:
Rwheel
Rwheel housing
Rwheel suspension
For this reason, you must use only snow
chains that are free of defects. Observe the
manufacturer's mounting instructions.
!Vehicles with steel wheels: if you mount
snow chains on steel wheels, you may dam-
age the hub caps. Remove the hub caps from
the relevant wheels before mounting the
snow chains.
Snow chains increase traction on roads in wintry
conditions.
For reasons of safety we only recommend using snow chains or traction aids that are approved
for the Sprinter. The snow chains or traction aids
must be of class U or meet the SAE type U
specification. Information on snow chains is
available at any qualified specialist workshop.
When mounting snow chains, please bear the
following points in mind:
RSnow chains cannot be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. When mounting the snow chains, note the permissible tire and
snow chain dimensions.
RMount snow chains only in pairs and only to
the rear wheels. On vehicles with twin tires,
mount the snow chains to the outer wheels.
Observe the manufacturer's mounting
instructions.
RVehicles with all-wheel-drive:
snow chains
are not permitted on the front axle. There is
not sufficient space for commercially-availa-
ble snow chains. Information about snow
chains for all-wheel-drive vehicles can be
obtained from an authorized Sprinter Dealer.
ROnly use snow chains when the road is cov-
ered by a layer of snow. Remove the snow
chains as soon as possible when you come to
a road that is not snow-covered.
RThe use of snow chains may be restricted by
local regulations. Observe the appropriate
regulations before mounting snow chains.
RActivate all-wheel drive before driving off with
snow chains (Ypage 145).
RWhen driving with snow chains installed, do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed
of 30 mph (50 km/h).
RCheck the tension of the chains after a dis-
tance of approximately 0.5 miles (1.0 km).
You can deactivate ASR (
Ypage 54) when pull-
ing away with snow chains mounted. This allows
the wheels to spin in a controlled manner, ach-
ieving an increased driving force (cutting
action).
Tire pressure
Tire pressure specifications
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tires pose the
following risks:
Rthe tires may burst, especially as the load
and vehicle speed increase.
Rthe tires may wear excessively and/or
unevenly, which may greatly impair tire
traction.
Rthe driving characteristics, as well as steer-
ing and braking, may be greatly impaired.
246Tire pressure
Wheels and tires
* optional

flated tire causes the tire to overheat and canlead to tire failure. Underinflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and
may affect the vehicle's handling and stop-
ping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute
for proper tire maintenance, and it is the driv-
er's responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if underinflation has not
reached the level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS low tire pressure telltale.
USA only:
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a
TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate if the
system is not operating properly. The TPMS
malfunction indicator is combined with the
low tire pressure telltale. When the system
detects a malfunction, the warning lamp will
flash for approximately a minute and then
remain continuously illuminated. This
sequence will be repeated every time the vehi-
cle is started as long as the malfunction
exists.
When the malfunction indicator is illuminated,
the system may not be able to detect or signal
low tire pressure as intended. TPMS malfunc-
tions may occur for a variety of reasons,
including the mounting of incompatible
replacement or alternate tires or wheels on
the vehicle that prevent the TPMS from func-
tioning properly. Always check the TPMS mal-
function telltale after replacing one or more
tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that
the replacement or alternate tires and wheels
allow the TPMS to continue to function prop-
erly.
Vehicles with a tire pressure monitor are equip-
ped with sensors in the wheels that monitor the
tire pressure of all four tires. The tire pressure
monitor monitors the pressure in all four tires;
you set this pressure when you activate the tire pressure monitor. The tire pressure monitor
warns you when the pressure drops in one or
more of the ti

res. The tire pressure monitor only
functions if the corresponding sensors are
installed on all wheels. You should always adjust the tire pressure
according to the vehicle load. Restart the tire
pressure monitor if you change the tire pres-
sure.
The tire pressure monitor does not warn you if a
tire pressure is incorrect. Observe the notes on the recommended tire pressure (
Ypage 246).
The tire pressure monitor is not able to warn you
of a sudden loss of pressure, e.g. following pen- etration by a foreign object. In this event, brake
the vehicle until it comes to a standstill. Do not
carry out any sudden steering maneuvers.
The tire pressure monitor has a yellow h
warning lamp in the instrument cluster for indi-
cating pressure loss/malfunctions (USA) or
pressure loss (Canada). Depending on how the
warning lamp flashes or lights up, an underin-
flated tire or a malfunction in the tire pressure
monitor is displayed:
Rif the h warning lamp is lit continuously,
the tire pressure on one or more tires is sig-
nificantly too low. The tire pressure monitor is
not malfunctioning.
RUSA only: if the hwarning lamp flashes for
60 seconds and then remains lit constantly,
the tire pressure monitor is malfunctioning.
Only vehicles with steering wheel buttons: the
on-board computer displays information on tire
pressure. After a few minutes of driving, the cur-
rent tire pressure of each tire is shown in the on-
board computer.
USA only: if the tire pressure monitor is mal-
functioning, it may be more than 10 minutes
before the malfunction is shown. The htire
pressure warning lamp flashes for 60 seconds
and then remains lit. When the malfunction has been rectified, the htire pressure warning
lamp goes ou
t after a few minutes of driving.
The tire pressure values indicated by the on-
board computer may differ from those meas-
ured at a gas station with a pressure gage. The
tire pressures shown by the on-board computer
refer to those measured at sea level. At high
altitudes, the tire pressure values indicated by a pressure gage are higher than those shown by
the on-board computer. In this case, do not
reduce the tire pressures.
If radio transmitting equipment (e.g. wireless
headphones, two-way radios) is operated inside
the vehicle or in the vicinity of the vehicle, this
can interfere with the operation of the tire pres-
sure monitor.
250Tire pressure
Wheels and tires