2018 MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER warning

Installing and removing the additional
battery (engine compartment)
Removing the additional battery
XDisconnect th ebattery (Ypage 232).
XLoosen th ebolt sholding th eretainer that pre -
vents th ebattery from moving around.
XRemove th ebattery holder and tak eout th e
battery.
Installing the additional battery
XInser tth ebattery int oth ebattery case.
XInser tth ebattery holder.
XTighte nth ebolt sholding th eretainer that
prevents th ebattery in th eengin ecompart-
men tfrom moving around.
XConnect th ebattery (Ypage 232).
Charging
GWARNIN G
A discharged battery can freez eat tempera-
tures belo wfreezing point. When jump-start -
ing th evehicl eor charging th ebattery, gase s
can escape from th ebattery. Ther eis aris kof
an explosion .
Allow th efrozen battery to thaw out before
charging it or jump-starting .
If th eindicator/warning lamp sdo no tligh tup in
th einstrumen tcluste rwhen temperatures are
low, it is probably because th edischarged bat -
tery has frozen .Should this be th ecase, do no t
jump-start th evehicl eor charge th ebattery. The
servic elife of athawed battery may be shorter.
Start-up behavior may deteriorate, in particular
at low temperatures .Hav eth ethawed battery
checke dat aqualified specialist workshop.
GWARNIN G
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. Ensur ethere 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 hskin, eyes or clothing .Do
no tinhale any battery gases. Do no tlean ove r
th ebattery. Kee pchildren away from batter-
ies. Wash away battery acid immediately wit h
plenty of clean water and seek medical atten -
tion .
!Only charge th einstalled battery wit h abat-
tery charge rthat has been tested and
approve dby th edistributo rnamed on th e
inside of th efron tcover .This device allows
th ebattery to be charge dwhen it is installed
in th evehicle. The vehicle's electronics may
otherwise be damaged.
A battery charge runit specially adapted for
Mercedes-Ben zvehicles and tested and
approve dby Mercedes-Ben zis available as an
accessory. Only this device permit sth echarging
of th ebattery in it sinstalled position .Only
charge th einstalled battery wit h abattery
charge rthat has been tested and approve dby
Mercedes-Benz, usin gth ejump-start connec -
tion poin tin th eengin ecompartment. Contac t
an authorize dMercedes-Ben zCente rfor infor-
mation and availability. Read th eoperating
instruction sfor your charge rbefore charging
th ebattery.
The additional battery canno tbe charge dfrom
th eju

mp-starting connection point.
Recharge th ebattery mor efrequentl yif you use
th evehicl emainly for short trips and/o rdriv eat
low outside temperatures .
XCharge thebattery. Observ eth enote sin th e
operating instruction sfor your battery
charger.
XIf necessary, instal lth ebattery. Observ eth e
note son reconnecting th ebattery.
iIfabattery is no tinstalled and no tin service,
you should charge it every three months. This
will counter self-dischargin gand preven tbat -
tery damage.
Care
!
Dirt ybattery clamps and battery surfaces
caus eleak currents whic hlead to th ebatter-
ies discharging.
Battery233
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.
234Care
Maintenance and care

!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 237)
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 235).
Care235
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 235). 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.
236Care
Maintenance and care

XSwitch off the audio equipment and let the
display cool down.
XClean the display surface with a commercially
available microfiber cloth and cleaner for
TFT/LCD displays.
XDry the display surface using a dry microfiber
cloth.
Cleaning the plastic trim
GWARNING
Care products and cleaning agents containing solvents cause surfaces in the cockpit to
become porous. As a result, plastic parts may
come loose in the event of air bag deploy-
ment. There is a risk of injury.
Do not use any care products and cleaning
agents to clean the cockpit.
!Do not affix the following to plastic surfaces:
Rstickers
Rfilms
Rscented oil bottles or similar items
You can otherwise damage the plastic.
!Do not allow cosmetics, insect repellent or
sunscreen to come into contact with the plas-
tic trim. This maintains the high-quality look of
the surfaces.
XWipe the plastic trim and the cockpit with a
damp, lint-free cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth.
XHeavy soiling: use a mild detergent or care
products and cleaning agents recommended
and approved by Mercedes-Benz.
Cleaning the steering wheel and selec-
tor lever
XThoroughly wipe with a damp cloth.
Cleaning the trim elements
!Do not use solvent-based cleaning agents
such as tar remover, wheel cleaners, polishes
or waxes. There is otherwise a risk of damag- ing the surface.
XWipe the trim elements with a damp, lint-free
cloth, e.g. a microfiber cloth.
XHeavy soiling: use care products and clean-
ing agents recommended and approved for
Sprinter vehicles.
Cleaning the seat covers
!Do not use microfiber cloths to clean artifi-
cial leather covers. If used often, a microfiber
cloth can damage the cover.
!Clean:
Rartificial leather covers with a cloth mois-
tened with a solution containing 1% deter-
gent, e.g. dish washing liquid.
Rcloth covers with a microfiber cloth mois-
tened with a solution containing 1% deter-
gent, e.g. dish washing liquid. Wipe entire
seat sections carefully to avoid leaving visi-
ble lines. Leave the seat to dry afterwards.
Cleaning results depend on the type of dirt
and how long it has been there.
Cleaning the seat belts
GWARNING
Seat belts can become severely weakened if
bleached or dyed. This could cause the seat
belts to tear or fail, for instance, in the event of an accident. This poses an increased risk of
injury or fatal injury.
Never bleach or dye the seat belts.
!Do not clean the seat belts using chemical
cleaning agents. Do not dry the seat belts by
heating at temperatures above 176 ‡(80 †)
or in direct sunlight.
Remove any stains or dirt immediately. This will
avoid residue or damage.
XUse clean, lukewarm water and soap solution.
Cleaning the headliner
XUse a soft brush or dry shampoo to remove
heavy soiling.
Care239
Maintenance and care
Z

Warning triangle and warning lamp
Removing the warning lamp
XTurn the quick-release fasteners to position
2.
The cover is unlocked.
XLift up the cover.
XTake warning lamp =out of the retainer.
XFold the cover up and turn the quick-release
fasteners to position 1.
The cover is locked.
Removing the warning triangle
Warning triangles at the back of the driver's seat
base
XLift warning triangle :up and out of the
bracket.
First-aid kit
XTurn the quick-release fasteners to position
2.
The cover is unlocked.
XLift up the cover.
XTake first-aid kit =out of the retainer.
XFold the cover up and turn the quick-release
fasteners to position 1.
The cover is locked.
iCheck the expiration date on the first-aid kit
at least once a year. Replace any expired or
missing contents.
242Where will I find...?
Breakdown assistance

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 267).
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 hskin, eyes or clothing .Do
no tinhale any battery gases. Do no tlean ove r
th ebattery. Kee pchildren away from batter-
ies. Wash away battery acid immediately wit h
plenty of clean water and seek medical atten -
tion .
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 with 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.
Jump-starting243
Breakdown assistance
Z

iJumper cables and further information
regarding jump starting can be obtained at
any qualified specialist workshop.
Before connecting the jumper cables
On vehicles with a battery main switch, check
whether the battery main switch is switched on
(
Ypage 118).
XApply the parking brake.
XMove the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position P.
XSwitch off all electrical consumers, e.g. audio
equipment, blower.
XTurn the key to position0in the ignition lock
and remove it (Ypage 119).
XOpen the hood (Ypage 219).
Tow-starting and towing away
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
Rthe engine is not running.
Rthe brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
Rthere is a malfunction in the voltage supply or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely.
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.
GWARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible
gross weight of your vehicle, the:
Rthe towing eye could detach itself
Rthe vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per- missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Information on the gross vehicle weight can be
found on the vehicle identification plate
(
Ypage 276).
!Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could be
damaged.
!Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
RSecure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
REnsure that the tow cable is not longer than
legally permitted. Mark the tow cable in the
middle, e.g. with a white cloth (30 x 30 cm).
This will make other road users aware that
the vehicle is being towed.
ROnly secure the tow cable to the towing
eye.
RObserve the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a dis-
tance so that the tow rope does not sag.
RDo not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. You could otherwise damage
the vehicle.
!Do not use the towing eye for recovery, this
could damage the vehicle. If in doubt, recover
the vehicle with a crane.
!When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high, the
vehicles could be damaged.
When towing away, you must observe the legal
requirements for the country in which you are
currently driving.
It is preferable to have the vehicle transported
on a transporter or trailer instead of towing it.
244Tow-starting and towing away
Breakdown assistance