
Useful information
This Operator's Manual describes all models as
well as standard and optional equipment of your
vehicle that were available at the time of going
to print. Country-specific variations are possi-
ble. Note that your vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the described functions. This also
applies to systems and functions relevant to
safety.
Read the information on qualified specialist
workshops (
Ypage 27).
Loading guidelines
Important safety notes
GWARNING
As a result of improperly placed or unevenly
distributed loads, the center of gravity of the
load being transported may be too high or too
far back. This can significantly impair handling
as well as steering and braking characteris-
tics. There is a risk of an accident.
Always make sure that the center of gravity of
the load is:
Rbetween the axles
and
Ras low as possible, near the rear axle.
GWARNING
When objects are unsecured or inadequately
secured, they can slip, turn over or be thrown
about, striking vehicle occupants. This also
applies to:
Rluggage or loads
Ra rear bench seat which has been removed
and is being transported in the vehicle in an
exceptional case.
There is a risk of injury, particularly in the
event of braking maneuvers or abrupt
changes in direction.
Always stow objects in such a way that they
cannot be tossed about. Before traveling,
secure objects, luggage or loads to prevent
them slipping or tipping over. If you remove a
rear bench seat, it is advisable to store it out- side the vehicle.
GWARNING
When the permissible wheel loads, axle loads
and/or the maximum permissible gross vehi-
cle weight are exceeded, driving safety is
compromised. The handling as well as steer-
ing and braking characteristics may be signif-
icantly impaired. Overloaded tires may over-
heat, causing them to burst. There is a risk of
an accident.
When transporting a load, always observe the
permissible wheel loads, axle loads and the
maximum permissible gross vehicle weight
for the vehicle (including occupants).
GWARNING
When you load the roof, the center of gravity
of the vehicle rises and the driving character-
istics change. If you exceed the maximum roof
load, the driving characteristics, as well as
steering and braking, will be greatly impaired.
There is a risk of an accident.
Never exceed the maximum roof load and
adjust your driving style.
!If you are using a roof carrier, observe the
maximum roof load and maximum roof carrier
load.
You will find information about the maximum
roof load in the "Technical data" section
(
Ypage 282) and information about roof carri-
ers in the "Carrier systems" section
(
Ypage 212).
RDo not stack luggage or loads higher than the
backrests.
RStow objects preferably in the cargo com-
partment.
RWhen transporting luggage, always use the
cargo tie-down rings and a parcel net, if pres-
ent.
RUse cargo tie-down rings and fasteners which
are suitable for the weight and size of the
load.
Always observe the operating instructions of the respective manufacturer when using suitable
load securing aids or tie downs. In particular, the
information on service life.
208Loading guidelines
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 loads211
Transporting loads
Z

Releasehandle for th ehoo d
XStop your veh icleas far away fr omtraff icas
possible on level ground.
XSwitch off the engine.
XSecure the veh icleto prevent itfrom rolling
away.
XPull release handle :onthe hood.
The hoodis released.
XReach into the gap and push lever ;onthe
hoo d catch up.
XSwin g the hood up unt ilsupport strut =
engages and the hood issupported.
Closing the hood
GWARNIN G
If the hoodis unlatched, it could tip forward
during rapid decelerati on ofthe vehicle and
hit persons or objectswithin its path. There is
a risk ofan accident and injury.
Therefore, always make sure that the hood is
closed and locked co mpletely before driv ing
off.
If the hood is not locked and you are alrea dy
driving at walkingpace:
Rthe yellow 1indicat or lamp in theinstru-
ment cluster goes onfor vehicles without
steering-wheel butto ns.
Rthe 1 Hoodopendisp lay appears for vehi-
cles with steering-wheel butto ns.
!When you press the support strut back,
make sure that you do not press it against the
detent position and cause itto bend.
!Do no t use your hands to push thehood
down .You could damage it otherwise.
XLift the hood slightly.
XPress support strut =towards the back.
XLowe r the hood and allow itto fall with
mom entum fr oma height of approximat ely
1 ft (30 cm).
The hood locks audibly.
XChec k that the hood is correctly locke d.
If the hood can beraised slightly, it is not
properly engaged. If the hood is not correctly
engaged, openthehood again. Let the hood
fall with a little moremom entum.
Engine compartment215
Maintenance and care
Z

Overview of the engine compartment
Example: engine
:
Coolant expansion tank cap (Ypage 218)
;DEF filler neck cap (Ypage 126)
=Engine oil filler neck cap (Ypage 216)
?Brake fluid expansion tank cap
(Ypage 219)
AWasher fluid reservoir cap (Ypage 220)
Regularly check the fluid level and the assembly
for leaks. If you detect fluid loss, e.g. oil flecks on
the vehicle parking space, consult a qualified
specialist workshop immediately.
Engine oil
General notes
!Engine oil gets dirty in the course of opera-
tion and its quality and volume are gradually
diminished. Regularly check the oil level, and
top up or have it replaced as needed.
Observe the information on engine oils and oil
consumption in the "Technical data" section
(
Ypage 277).
You can check the oil level in the engine:
Ron the display of the on-board computer
Rwith the oil dipstick
Checking the oil level shown in the dis-
play
If at extremely low temperatures no engine oil
level is displayed after 5 minutes, repeat the
engine oil level check after another 5 minutes.
If an oil level reading is still not displayed, check
the engine oil level with the dipstick
(
Ypage 217). Have the engine oil level checked
at a qualified specialist workshop. Only check the oil level when the engine is at
normal operating temperature.
XPark the vehicle on a level surface.
XSwitch off the engine.
XWait 5 minutes.
XTurn the key to position
2in the ignition lock.
The display is activated.
XVehicles without steering wheel buttons:
press the 4menu button on the instrument
cluster (
Ypage 33) repeatedly until the dis-
play shows the 1symbol.
The --:--
display message appears in the
display while the engine oil level measure-
ment is running.
XVehicles with steering wheel buttons:
press the Ëservice button on the instrument
cluster (
Ypage 33).
The 4 Engine oil level Measuring
inprogressdisplay message appears in the
display while the engine oil level measure-
ment is in progress.
Display message for vehicles without steer-
ing-wheel buttons: the display may show the
following messages after the engine oil level
measurement.
1Action
OKXDo not add oil.
– 1.0 qtsXAdd the amount of oil
shown (Ypage 218).
XCheck the engine oil level
again after a few minutes.– 1.5 qts
– 2.0 qts
HIThe oil level is too high.
XHave excess oil removed.
Measurement units in the display:
RqtsUSA only
RltrCanada only
Display message for vehicles with steering- wheel buttons: the display may show the fol-
lowing messages after the engine oil level meas-
urement.
1Action
Engineoillevel OKXDo not add oil.
216Engine compartment
Maintenance and care

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 rela-
ted to the maintenance and repairs:
Rthe applicable sections of the technical doc-
umentation, e.g. the Operator's Manual and
workshop information.
Rregulations such as industrial safety regula-
tions and accident prevention regulations.
While working under the vehicle, you must
secure the vehicle on jack stands with sufficient load capacity.
Never use the jack as a substitute. The vehicle'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 (
Ypage 27).
The scope and regularity of the inspection and
maintenance work primarily depend on the
often diverse operating conditions. Specialist
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 recommen-
dations in the Maintenance Booklet. Not doing
so could void the warranty claim and lead to
refusal of goodwill gestures after the manufac-
turer has submitted a damage report.
iObserve the notes on genuine Sprinter parts
(Ypage 29).
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.
iThe service interval display does not provide
information about the engine oil level. The
service interval display should therefore not
be confused with the 5engine oil level
display.
The service due date is displayed in days or
miles (kilometers), depending on the total dis-
tance driven.
The symbols or letters on the service display
show the type of service that is due.
¯ orA
for a minor service
° orB
for a major service
Service due date display
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons: the
following messages may be displayed.
R¯ Service A due in ... days
R¯Service A due in ... mi(km)
R¯Service A Carry out now
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons:
the following messages may be displayed.
R¯for service A
R°for Service B
Additionally, you will see the remaining distance
in miles (mi
) or kilometers (km) or the remaining
time in days (d).
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¯ Service A overdue by ... days
R¯Service A overdue by ... km(km)
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if
you have missed the service due date, the ¯
or ° 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
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
The display is activated.
222Maintenance
Maintenance and care

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

Cleaning the paintwork
!Do not affix:
Rstickers
Rfilms
Rmagnetic plates or similar items
to painted surfaces. You could otherwise
damage the paintwork.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, areas affected by
corrosion and damage caused by inadequate
care cannot always be completely repaired. In
such cases, visit a qualified specialist workshop.
XRemove impurities immediately, where pos-
sible, whilst avoiding rubbing too hard.
XSoak insect remains with insect remover and
rinse off the treated areas afterwards.
XSoak bird droppings with water and rinse off
the treated areas afterwards.
XRemove coolant, brake fluid, tree resin, oils,
fuels and greases by rubbing gently with a
cloth soaked in petroleum ether or lighter
fluid.
XUse tar remover to remove tar stains.
XUse silicone remover to remove wax.
Cleaning the windows
GWARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
!Do not fold the windshield wipers away from
the windshield unless the hood is closed. Oth-
erwise, you could damage the hood.
!Hold the wiper arm securely when folding
back. The windshield could be damaged if the
wiper arm smacks against it suddenly.
!Do not use dry cloths, abrasive products,
solvents or cleaning agents containing sol-
vents to clean the inside of the windows. Do
not touch the insides of the windows with
hard objects, e.g. an ice scraper or ring. There
is otherwise a risk of damaging the windows. Before cleaning the windshield
XTurn the key to position
0in the ignition lock
or remove it.
XFold the windshield wiper arms away from the
windshield until you feel them engage.
Before switching the ignition on again, fold
the windshield wipers back into position.
Cleaning the windows
XClean the inside and outside of the windows
with a damp cloth and a cleaning agent that is
recommended and approved for Sprinter
vehicles.
Exterior
Cleaning the wheels
!Do not use any acidic or alkaline cleaning
agents. They can cause corrosion on the
wheel bolts (wheel nuts) or the retainer
springs for the wheel-balancing weights.
!Do not park the vehicle for an extended
period straight after cleaning it, particularly
after having cleaned the wheels with wheel
cleaner. Wheel cleaners could cause
increased corrosion of the brake discs and
brake pads/linings. For this reason, you
should drive for a few minutes after cleaning.
Braking heats the brake discs and the brake
pads/linings, thus drying them. The vehicle
can then be parked.
If you clean the wheels with a power washer,
observe the safety notes for the power washer
(
Ypage 230). You could otherwise damage the
tires.
Cleaning the wiper blades
GWARNING
You could become trapped by the windshield wipers if they start moving while cleaning the
windshield or wiper blades. There is a risk of
injury.
Always switch off the windshield wipers and
the ignition before cleaning the windshield or
wiper blades.
Care231
Maintenance and care
Z