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).
Occupant safety
Restraint system introduction
The restraint system can reduce the risk of vehi-cle occupants coming into contact with parts of
the vehicle's interior in the event of an accident.
The restraint system can also reduce the forces to which vehicle occupants are subjected during
an accident.
The restraint system comprises:
RSeat belt system
RAir bags
RChild restraint system
RChild seat securing systems
The components of the restraint system work in
conjunction with each other. They can only
deploy their protective function if, at all times, all
vehicle occupants:
Rhave fastened their seat belts correctly
(Ypage 42)
Rhave the seat and head restraint adjusted
properly (Ypage 72)
As the driver, you also have to make sure that
the steering wheel is adjusted correctly.
Observe the information relating to the correct
driver's seat position (
Ypage 72).
You also have to make sure that an air bag can
inflate properly if deployed (
Ypage 44).
An air bag supplements a correctly worn seat
belt. As an additional safety device, the air bag
increases the level of protection for vehicle
occupants in the event of an accident. For exam-
ple, if, in the event of an accident, the protection
offered by the seat belt is sufficient, the air bags are not deployed. When an accident occurs, only
the air bags that increase protection in that par-
ticular accident situation are deployed. How- ever, seat belts and air bags generally do not
protect against objects penetrating the vehicle
from the outside.
Information on restraint system operation can
be found under "Triggering of the Emergency
Tensioning Devices and air bags" (
Ypage 46).
See "Children in the vehicle" for information on
children traveling with you in the vehicle as well
as on child restraint systems (
Ypage 47).
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Modifications to the restraint system may
cause it to no longer work as intended. The
restraint system may then not perform its
intended protective function and may fail in an
accident or trigger unexpectedly, for example.
This poses an increased risk of injury or even fatal injury.
Never modify parts of the restraint system.
Never tamper with the wiring, the electronic
components or their software.
If it is necessary to modify components of the
restraint system to accommodate a person with
disabilities, contact an authorized Sprinter
dealer for details. USA only: contact our Cus-
tomer Assistance Center at 1‑ 877‑762‑ 8267 for
details.
Restraint system warning lamp
The functions of the restraint system are
checked after the ignition is switched on and at regular intervals while the engine is running.
Therefore, malfunctions can be detected in
good time.
The 6 restraint system warning lamp on the
instrument cluster lights up when the ignition is
switched on. It goes out no later than a few sec-
onds after the vehicle is started. The compo-
nents of the restraint system are in operational
readiness.
40Occupant safety
Safety
Rswitch off the electrical system using the bat-
tery main switch (Ypage 116) 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 charging the batteries under "Battery"
(
Ypage 223). You can obtain information about
trickle chargers from a qualified specialist work- shop.
If you leave the vehicle parked for longer than
6 weeks, the vehicle may suffer damage as a
result of lack of use. In this event, consult a
qualified specialist workshop.
Driving tips
General notes
Important safety notes
GWARNING
The driver's attention to the road must always be his/her primary focus when driving. For
your safety and the safety of others, we rec-
ommend that you pull over to a safe location
and stop before placing or taking a telephone
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)
ever yse cond.
GWARNING
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 vehicles with a step, ground clearance is further restricted.
Obstacles can damage the vehicle.
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:
XThe tires should always be inflated to the rec-
ommended tire pressure.
XRemove unnecessary loads.
XRemove roof carriers when they are not nee-
ded.
XWarm up the engine at low engine speeds.
XAvoid frequent acceleration or braking.
XHave all maintenance work carried out as
indicated by the service intervals in the Main-
tenance Booklet or by the service interval dis-
play.
Fuel consumption also increases when driving in cold weather, in stop-start traffic and in moun-
tainous 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
GWARNING
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.
130Driving tips
Driving and parking
ProblemPossible causes/consequences andMSolutions
;
The yellow Check
Engine indicator
lamp is lit while
the engine is run-
ning.The exhaust gas aftertreatment is malfunctioning or an emission rel-
evant malfunction has occurred. This malfunction or defect can dam-
age the exhaust gas aftertreatment.
After the first message and under normal operating conditions, you
can drive on for up to approximately 500 mi (800 km). Then a warning
tone sequence sounds and the engine can only be started another 16
times.
XObserve the messages in the display.
XHave the exhaust gas aftertreatment checked immediately at a
qualified specialist workshop.
In some states it is legally prescribed that after the Check Engine
indicator lamp lights up you must contact a qualified specialist work-
shop immediately. Observe the legal requirements.
% If you turn the
SmartKey to posi-
tion2in the igni-
tion lock, the yel-
low preglow indi-
cator lamp
remains lit for
approximately
1 minute. Or the
yellow preglow
indicator lamp
lights up for
approximately
1 minute while
the engine is run-
ning.At extremely low temperatures, the engine may not start.
There is a malfunction in the preglow system.
XHave any malfunction rectified at a qualified specialist workshop.
È The yellow air fil-
ter indicator lamp
is lit while the
engine is running.The service limit for the air filter has been reached. The air filter is dirty.
XHave the air filter element replaced as soon as possible at a quali-
fied specialist workshop.
hThe yellow tire
pressure monitor
warning lamp
comes on.GWARNING
The tire pressure monitor indicates a rapid or severe loss of pressure
in at least one tire.
XStop the vehicle without making any extreme steering maneuvers or
braking suddenly. Pay attention to the traffic conditions while doing
so.
XCheck the tires and correct the tire pressure. If a tire continues to
lose pressure, it must be replaced. Replace damaged tires imme-
diately.
The warning light will go out after the flat tire has been rectified and
you have been driving for a few minutes.
XVehicles with steering wheel buttons: also observe the messages in the display (Ypage 173).
Indicator and warning lamps in the instrument cluster197
On-board computer and displays
Z
Fire extinguisher
Removing the fire extinguisher
Fir eextinguisher at th efron tof th ebase of th eco -
driver' sseat
XPull tab s; upwards.
XTak efir eextinguishe r: out of it sholder.
Pleas eread th einstruction son fir eextin-
guisher :carefully and familiarize yourself wit h
it s operation .Hav efir eextinguishe r: refilled
after eac huse and checked every on eor two
years .It may otherwise fail in an emergency.
Observ eth elegal requirements for eac hindi-
vidua lcountry.
Flat tire
Information on breakdown assistanc ein th e
cas eof aflat tire can be foun din th echapter
"Wheels and tires " (
Ypage 262).
Jump-starting
Important safety notes
GWARNING
During charging and jump-starting ,explosive
gase scan escape from th ebattery. Ther eis a
ris kof an explosion .
Particularly avoi dfire, open flames, creating
sparks and smoking. Ensure there is sufficien t
ventilation while charging and jump-starting .
Do no tlean ove r abattery.
GWARNIN G
Battery acid is caustic. Ther eis aris kof injury.
Avoid contact wit hth eskin, eyes or clothing .
Do no tinhale any battery gases. Do no tlean
ove rth ebattery. Kee pchildren away from
batteries .Wash battery acid immediately wit h
water and seek medical attention .
Do no tuse arapi dcharging device to start th e
vehicle. If your vehicle's battery is discharged,
th eengin ecan be jump-started from another
vehicl eor from adonor battery usin gjumper
cables. Fo rthis purpose ,th evehicl ehas ajump-
starting connection poin tin th eengin ecom-
partment.
The additional battery in th eengin ecompart-
men tis no tsuitable for jump-starting opera-
tions. If your vehicl erequire sjump-starting ,or if
you use it to jump-start another vehicle, use th e
jump-starting connection poin tin th eengin e
compartment.
When jump-starting ,observ eth efollowin g
points :
RThe battery is no taccessible in all vehicles. If
th eother vehicle's battery is no taccessible,
jump-start th evehicl eusin g adonor battery
or ajump-starting device .
RDo notstart th eengin eif th ebattery is frozen .
Let th ebattery thaw first .
RJump-starting may only be performed from
batteries wit h anominal voltag eof 12 V.
ROnly use jumper cables that have asufficien t
cross-section and insulated termina lclamps.
RIf th ebattery is fully discharged, attach th e
battery of another vehicl efor afew minute s
before attempting to start .This charge sth e
empty battery alittle.
RMak esure that th etwo vehicles do no ttouch .
Mak esure that:
Rth ejumper cables are no tdamaged.
Rbare part sof th etermina lclamps do no tcome
int ocontact wit hother metal part swhile th e
jumper cables are connected to th ebattery.
Rth ejumper cables canno tcome int ocontact
wit hpart ssuc has th eV-belt pulley or th efan .
Thes epart smov ewhen th eengin eis started
and while it is running.
iJumpe rcables and further information
regarding jum pstarting can be obtaine dat
any qualified specialist workshop.
238Jump-starting
Breakdown assistance
There is a risk of an accident.
Follow recommended tire inflation pressures
and check the pressure of all the tires includ-
ing the spare wheel:
Rmonthly, at least
Rif the load changes
Rbefore beginning a long journey
Runder different operating conditions, e.g.
off-road driving
If necessary, correct the tire pressure.
iThe specifications shown on the sample Tire
and Loading Information placard and tire
pressure plate are examples. Tire pressure
data are vehicle-specific and may deviate
from the data illustrated here. The tire pres-
sure data applicable to your vehicle can be
found on the Tire and Loading Information
placard or tire pressure plate of your vehicle.
HEnvironmental note
Check the tire pressure regularly, at least
every 14 days.
General notes
You will find information on tire pressure for the
vehicle's factory-mounted tires on the plates
described here.
The recommended tire pressure can be found
on the Tire and Loading Information placard
4or
the tire pressure table on the B-pillar on the
driver's side of your vehicle.
Further information on tire pressure can be
obtained at a qualified specialist workshop.
Tire and Loading Information placard
Example: Tire and Loading Information placard4
The Tire and Loading Information placard is on
the B-pillar on the driver's side of the vehicle
(
Ypage 254).
The Tire and Loading Information placard con-
tains recommended tire pressures :for cold
tires. Recommended tire pressures :are valid
for the maximum permissible load and up to the
maximum permissible speed of the vehicle.
Tire pressure plate
Example: tire pressure table
The tire pressure plate is located on the B-pillar
on the driver's side of the vehicle (Ypage 254).
The tire pressure table contains recommended
tire pressures for cold tires. Recommended tire pressures are valid for the maximum permissi-
ble load and up to the maximum permissible
speed of the vehicle.
4Only for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg)
Tire pressure247
Wheels and tires
Z