traction control MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2015 MY15 Operator’s Manual

E
EBD (electronic brake force distri-
bution)
Display message ............................ 206
Function/notes ................................ 59
Indicator lamps .............................. 218
Electrical closing assist ...................... 73
Electrical fuses
see Fuses
Electrical step
Cleaning ........................................ .269
Display message ............................ 216
Emergency release .......................... 74
Function .......................................... .74
Important safety notes .................... 73
Indicator lamp ................................ 227
Manual retraction ............................ 74
Obstacle detection ........................... 74
Electrical system
Battery main switch ....................... 137
Electronic brake force distribution
see EBD (electronic brake force
distribution)
Electronic Stability Program
see ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Emergency exit .................................... 60
Emergency exit window .....................60
Emergency Tensioning Devices
Activation ........................................ .49
Emissions control
Service and warranty information .... 28
Engine
ADR (working speed governor) ...... 172
Changing the power output ............ .25
Check Engine warning lamp .......... .224
Cleaning instructions ..................... 266
Engine number ............................... 317
Engine speed setting (working
mode) ............................................ 173
Irregular running ............................ 141
Jump-starting ................................. 276
Starting .......................................... 139
Starting problems .......................... 141
Switching off .................................. 150
Tow-starting (vehicle) ..................... 280
Engine electronics
Notes ............................................. 316 Problem (malfunction) ................... 141
Engine oil
Adding .......................................... .252
Additives ........................................ 323
Checking the oil level (on-board
computer) ...................................... 250
Checking the oil level using the
dipstick .......................................... 251
Display message ............................ 213
Filling capacity ............................... 323
Information about oil consump-
tion ................................................ 324
Mixing ............................................ 323
Notes about oil grades ................... 322
Oil change ...................................... 323
Oil level (note) ............................... 250
Viscosity ........................................ 322
Warning lamp ................................. 222
Engine speed setting (working
mode) ................................................. 172
Engine, jump-starting ....................... 276
Equipment/conversions ..................... 26
ESP ®
(Electronic Stability Pro-
gram)
Display message ............................ 207
Important safety information ........... 59
Indicator lamp ................................ 221
Warning lamp ................................. 218
Exhaust check ................................... 152
Exhaust gas aftertreatment
DEF level indicator ......................... 182
DEF reducing agent ....................... 320
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) ............. 320
Display messages (vehicles with
steering wheel buttons) ................. 211
Display messages (vehicles with-
out steering wheel buttons) ........... 200
Indicator lamp ....................... 221, 225
Malfunction ................................... .211
Refilling DEF .................................. 147
Exterior lighting
see Lights
Exterior mirrors
Adjusting ......................................... 89
Important safety notes .................... 89
Eyeglasses compartment ................. 23110
Index

Braking
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsating in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving.
X If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force. ASR (acceleration skid control)
General notes Important safety notes
Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (Y
page 57).
ASR can neither reduce the risk of an accident nor suspend the laws of physics if the driver
does not pay attention when pulling away or
accelerating. ASR is only an aid. Always adapt
your driving style to suit the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if
ASR is malfunctioning, the 003Dindicator
lamp lights up while the engine is running and the engine power may be reduced
(Y page 218).
ASR significantly improves traction, i.e. the
transmission of power from the tires to the
road surface, and thus increases the vehicle's driving stability. If the driving wheels start to
spin, ASR brakes individual drive wheels and
limits the engine torque. ASR thus signifi-
cantly assists you when pulling away and
accelerating, especially on wet or slippery
roads.
If traction on the road surface is not sufficient,
even ASR will not allow you to pull away with- out difficulty. The type of tires and total
weight of the vehicle as well as the gradient of
the road also play a crucial role. If ASR intervenes, the
0072warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes.
Activating/deactivating ASR G
WARNING
If deactivated, ASR will not attempt to stabi-
lize the vehicle during pulling away and accel- eration. There is an increased risk of skiddingand of an accident.
Only deactivate ASR in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
! If you deactivate ASR, ESP ®
will still inter-
vene to stabilize the vehicle. Frequent brak-
ing automatically triggered by ESP ®
can
damage the brake system.
For this reason, deactivate ASR only briefly and when absolutely necessary. When ESP
®
is intervening and the 0072warn-
ing lamp in the instrument cluster is flashing,
leave ASR on. In this case, only depress the
accelerator pedal as far as required when
pulling away.
X Press the 00E3button.
If ASR is deactivated, the 0072warning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
ASR is automatically activated when the
engine is started.
It may be best to deactivate ASR briefly in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel 58
Driving safety systemsSafety

If you deactivate ASR:
R engine torque is not limited and the drive
wheels are able to spin. The spinning
wheels will then achieve a cutting effect for
better traction.
R traction control remains active through
brake intervention. If a drive wheel attains
its tire traction limit because one side of the
road is slippery, for example, that wheel is
braked. The traction is then increased in
this situation.
R active brake intervention by ESP ®
to
increase driving stability remains active.
The 0072 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes when ESP ®
is intervening. BAS (Brake Assist System)
G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if
the BAS driving safety system is malfunction-
ing, the 003Dwarning lamp lights up while the
engine is running (Y page 218).
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake quickly, BAS
automatically increases the brake pressure,
thereby reducing the stopping distance.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion) G
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the risk of skidding and an accident. You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure to the rear wheels. This enables EBD to
improve handling during braking.
Observe the information on warning and indi- cator lamps (Y page 218). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (Y
page 57). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning it will not provide
any vehicle stabilization. There is an increased
risk of skidding or of an accident.
Exercise caution when continuing to drive.
Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
! Do not run the vehicle on a roller dyna-
mometer (e.g. for performance tests). If
you must operate the vehicle on a roller
dynamometer, please consult a qualified
specialist workshop in advance. You could
otherwise damage the drive train or the
brake system.
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, the 0089warning
lamp lights up while the engine is running and
the engine power may be reduced
(Y page 218).
Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly.
Crosswind Assist Crosswind Assist does not work if ESP
®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function. Driving safety systems
59Safety Z

On vehicles with rear-compartment air con-
ditioning, adjustable air vents are integrated
into the roof duct.
X To adjust the airflow: open or close the
air flap in air vents 0043as needed.
X To adjust the air distribution: turn air
vent 0043to the desired position. Operating the auxiliary heating sys-
tem Important safety notes
G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases
such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the vehicle. This is the case, for example in
enclosed spaces or if the vehicle gets stuck in
snow. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Switch the auxiliary heating off in enclosed
spaces without extraction systems, e.g. in
garages. If the vehicle is stuck in snow and
you have to leave the auxiliary heating run-
ning, keep the exhaust pipe and the area
around the vehicle free of snow. To ensure an adequate supply of fresh air, open a window
on the side of the vehicle that is not facing into
the wind. G
WARNING
When the auxiliary heating is switched on,
parts of the vehicle can become very hot, e.g. the exhaust system.
Flammable materials such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact
with:
R hot parts of the exhaust system
R the exhaust gas itself
There is a risk of fire. When the auxiliary heating is switched on,
make sure that:
R no flammable materials come into contact
with hot vehicle components
R the exhaust gas can escape from the
exhaust pipe unhindered
R the exhaust gas does not come into contact
with flammable materials.
! Turn on the auxiliary heating at least once
a month for approximately 10 minutes. The
auxiliary heating could otherwise be dam-
aged.
! Make sure that the flow of hot air is not
blocked. The auxiliary heating will other-
wise overheat and switch off.
Your vehicle may be equipped with either an
auxiliary hot-water heater or an auxiliary
warm-air heater. Adjustment and operation of the:
R hot-water auxiliary heater is done via the
on-board computer and with the auxiliary
heating button in the control panel
(Y page 123) or with the remote control
(Y page 125).
R auxiliary warm-air heater is done via the
timer above the overhead control panel
(Y page 127).
The auxiliary heating works independently of
the engine and supplements the climate con- trol system in the vehicle. The auxiliary heat-
ing heats the air in the vehicle interior to the
temperature set.
If your vehicle is equipped with a hot-water
auxiliary heater, the auxiliary heating also
keeps the coolant warm. This way, the load on
the engine is minimized and fuel is saved.
The heater booster function (Y page 130) of
the auxiliary heating supports the climate
control system when the engine is running
and the outside temperature is low.
You can use the auxiliary heating at an out-
side temperature of up to 39 ‡ (4 †). At an
outside temperature above 39 ‡ (4 †) the 122
Operating the auxiliary heating systemClimate control

Setting the preselection time
G
WARNING
The auxiliary heating must not be operated if
there are highly flammable substances
nearby or in enclosed spaces without an
extraction system. Make sure that the auxili-
ary heating is not switched on automatically
by the timer in such places. If this possibility
exists, deactivate the respective programmed time.
You can set three preselection times using
the timer.
Observe that when setting the preselection
time, this does not correspond to the switch- on time but to the switch-off or departure
time. The auxiliary heating system starts up
automatically and runs for the operating dura-
tion set prior to departure.
Example: For a planned departure time of
7:00 a.m., you should also set the preselec-
tion time to 7:00 a.m. If the operating dura-
tion is preset to 40 minutes, for example, the
auxiliary heating starts up at 6:20 a.m.
If an identical time (time and day) is set in the preselection memory, only the last time set is
saved.
After a malfunction or if the battery has been disconnected, you must set the preselection
times again. You can find further information
on malfunctions in the "Problems with the
auxiliary heating" section (Y page 132).
X Press the 00CFor00DB button until the
0045 symbol in the menu bar flashes.
X Press the 0070button.
In the program column, the 0059preselec-
tion memory numbers appear. The selected preselection memory flashes.
X Press the 00CFor00DB button to select the
desired preselection memory.
X Press the 0070button.
The preselection memory is selected. The
days are shown. X
Set the day and time as described in the
"Setting the day, time and operating dura-
tion" section (Y page 128).
The preselection time is stored. The pro-
gram column disappears. In the display
panel, the on
on message and the 0084sym-
bol appear.
X Press the 0070button.
The operating duration flashes.
X Press the 00CFor00DB button to set the
minute value (10 – 120).
X Press the 0070button.
The operating duration for the preselection time is saved. The time and number of the
selected preselection memory are shown.
i The preselection memory that will be acti-
vated next is underlined. Additionally, the
day that is set appears.
Deactivating the preselection time X
Carry out the steps as described in the
"Setting the preselection time" section.
If the 0084 symbol in the status bar is shown:
X Press the 00CFor00DB button until the off off
message in the display panel is shown.
X Press the 0070button.
The preselection time is deactivated. The
time is shown.
Setting the heating level You can set the heating level to a range
between 10 and 30.
The heating level corresponds to a preselec-
tion temperature for the vehicle interior. This
is a guide value and may, depending on the
outside temperature, differ from the actual
vehicle interior temperature.
X Press the 00CFor00DB button until the
00D1 symbol in the menu bar flashes.
X Press the 0070button.
The heating level display flashes. Operating the auxiliary heating system
129Climate control Z

age to fuel lines, brake hoses and the rub-
ber bellows of axle joints and drive shafts.
X Clean the brake disks, brake pads and axle
joints, particularly after operation in sand,
mud, grit/gravel, water or similarly dirty
conditions.
X Check the entire floor assembly, the tires,
wheels, bodywork structure, brakes, steer-
ing, chassis and exhaust system for any
damage.
X Check the service brake for operating
safety, e.g. carry out a brake test.
X If you notice strong vibrations after driving
off-road, check the wheels and drive train
for foreign objects again. Remove any for-
eign objects which can lead to imbalances
and thus cause vibrations. Driving systems
Cruise control
General notes Cruise control maintains the speed of the
vehicle for you.
Use cruise control if road and traffic condi-
tions make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can set any
speed from 20 mph upwards in increments of
1 mph.
i If you have set km/h as the unit for the
digital speedometer (Y page 190), you can
set any speed from 30 km/h upwards in
increments of 1 km/h.
Cruise control should not be activated when
driving off-road or on construction sites.
Cruise control may not be able to maintain the
stored speed on uphill or downhill gradients.
If the gradient evens out and the vehicle's
speed does not fall below 20 mph (30 km/h), the stored speed is resumed. Important safety notes Observe the notes on braking (Y
page 154).
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you
are inattentive, cruise control can neither
reduce the risk of an accident nor override the laws of physics. Cruise control cannot take
road, weather and traffic conditions into
account. Cruise control is only an aid. You are responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed, for braking in good
time and for staying in lane.
Do not use cruise control:
R in traffic conditions that are unsuitable for
driving at a constant speed, e.g. in heavy
traffic, on winding roads or off-road.
R on slippery roads. Braking or accelerating
may cause the drive wheels to lose traction
and the vehicle could then skid.
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow.
If there is a change of drivers, make sure that you inform the new driver about the set cruisespeed.
Cruise control lever 0043
To activate and store the current speed or
a higher speed
0044 To activate at the last stored speed
0087 To activate and store the current speed or
a lower speed
0085 To deactivate cruise control
The cruise control lever is the upper lever on
the left of the steering column. Driving systems
159Driving and parking Z

When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tires do not get deformed by the curb or
other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive over
curbs, speed humps or similar elevations, try to do so slowly and not at a sharp angle. Oth- erwise, the tires, particularly the sidewalls,
can get damaged. Regular wheel and tire checks
G
WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation pres-
sure loss. As a result, you could lose control of your vehicle. There is a risk of accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Check the wheels and tires of your vehicle for damage regularly, i.e. at least every two
weeks, as well as after driving off-road or on
rough roads. Damaged wheels can cause a
loss of tire pressure. Pay particular attention
to damage such as:
R cuts in the tires
R punctures
R tears in the tires
R bulges on tires
R deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width of the tire (Y page 285). If necessary, turn the
front wheels to full lock in order to inspect the
inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
install anything onto the valve other than the
standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved for your vehicle by dealers listed on
the inside of the front cover. Do not install any
other valve caps or systems, e.g. tire pressure
monitor systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires,
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire pressure if necessary (Y page 288).The service life of tires depends on various
factors, including the following:
R driving style
R tire pressure
R mileage Tire tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk of hydroplaning increases, in particular where speed is not adapted to suit the driving con-
ditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at differ-
ent locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
R Summer tires: 00CEin (3 mm)
R M+S tires: 00CFin (4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached. Marker
0043shows the location where the bar
indicator (arrow) for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread.
Tread wear indicators (TWIs) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned over the tire
tread. They are visible once the tread depth is Operation
285Wheels and tires Z

Always observe the maximum permissible
speed specified for the M+S tire s you have
mounted.
If you mount M+S tires that have a lower max- imum permissible speed than that of the vehi-cle, affix a corresponding warning label in the
driver's field of vision. You can obtain this at a qualified specialist workshop.
Once you have mounted the winter tires:
X Check the tire pressure (Y page 288).
X Reactivate the tire pressure moni-
tor* (Y page 293). Snow chains
G
WARNING
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-
specific 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:
R wheel
R wheel housing
R wheel 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 damage 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 specificatio n. Information on
snow chains is available at any qualified spe- cialist workshop.
When mounting snow chains, please bear the following points in mind:
R Snow chains cannot be mounted on all
wheel/tire combinations. When mounting
the snow chains, note the permissible tire
and snow chain dimensions.
R Mount 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.
R Only 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.
R The use of snow chains may be restricted
by local regulations. Observe the appropri-
ate regulations before mounting snow
chains.
R When driving with snow chains installed, do
not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
R Check the tension of the chains after a dis-
tance of approximately 0.5 miles (1.0 km).
You can deactivate ASR (Y page 58) when
pulling away with snow chains mounted. This allows the wheels to spin in a controlled man- ner, achieving an increased driving force (cut-
ting action). Operation in winter
287Wheels and tires
* optional Z