towing MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2011 MY11 Operator’s Manual

X
Remove implement 0047.
X Refit cover 0046. Jump starting, tow-starting and
towing away
Jump-starting
General notes If the vehicle battery is flat, the engine can be
started from another vehicle using jumper
cables. For this purpose, the vehicle has a
jump-starting connection point in the engine
compartment.
The additional battery in the engine
compartment is
not
suitable for jump-starting
operations. If your vehicle requires jump-
starting, or if you use it to jump-start another
vehicle, use the jump-starting connection
point in the engine compartment. G
Warning
Explosive oxyhydrogen is produced when
batteries are being

charged. When working on
batteries, always make sure that the work
area is well ventilated.
Keep flames and naked lights away from the
battery, and do not smoke.
Prevent the creation of sparks (e.g. when
disconnecting the batteries). Sparks can
ignite the oxyhydrogen gas and cause the
batteries to explode. You and others could be
seriously injured. G
Warning
Due to the gases which escape from batteries,
there is a risk of acid burns when jump-
starting a vehicle.

Do not lean over the battery
while the engine is being jump-started.
! Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Do not use a rapid-charging device to start
the engine. When jump-starting, observe the following
points:
R
jump-starting must only be performed
when the engine and catalytic converter
are cold.
R do not start the engine if the battery is
frozen. Let the battery thaw first.
R when jump-starting, use

only batteries with
the same nominal voltage and a similar
capacity.
R only use jump leads protected against
polarity reversal, with adequate cross-
section and with insulated battery terminal
clamps.
X Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
X Apply the parking brake.
X Move the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position P.
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Switch on the battery isolating switch
(Y page 87).
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Open the hood (Y page 168).
Connecting the jumper cable Connection plan
X
Remove the cover from positive
terminal 0047 of the donor battery.
X First connect one of the positive terminal
clamps of the jumper cable to positive
terminal 0047 of the donor battery. Jump starting, tow-starting and towing away
247
Practical advice Z

Jump-starting connection point left of the air filter
X
Then, use other positive terminal
clamp 0046 of the jumper cable to turn the
red protective cap of the jump-starting
connection point clockwise and slide it
back and connect positive terminal
clamp 0046 to positive terminal 0086 of the
jump-starting connection point.
i Do not connect the jumper cable to the
additional battery in the engine
compartment. The
additional
battery is not
suitable for jump-starting operations.
X Run the donor vehicle's engine at idling
speed.
X First, connect the negative terminal clamps
of the jumper cable to negative terminal
008A of the donor battery and then to earth
contact 0088 of your own vehicle.
X Start the engine.
i You can
now

switch electrical consumers
back on but do not switch on the lights.
X First, disconnect the negative terminal
clamps of the jumper cable from earth
contact 0088 and then

from negative terminal
008A of the donor battery.
X First disconnect the positive terminal
clamps of the jumper cable from positive
terminal 0086 of the jump-starting
connection point and then from positive
terminal 0047 of the donor battery.
The red protective cap springs back to its
initial position when positive terminal
clamp 0046 is removed from the jump-
starting connection point. X
Place the cover on positive terminal 0047 of
the donor battery.
i You can now switch the lights on.
X Have the battery checked at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Sprinter Dealer. Tow-starting
You cannot tow-start

your vehicle as it has an
automatic transmission. Towing
General notes G
Warning
Tow the vehicle using a rigid towing bar if:
R the engine is not running.
R the voltage supply

or the vehicle's electrical
system is malfunctioning.
There is no power assistance for the steering
and braking when the engine is not running.
You must then use significantly greater force
to steer the vehicle and brake.
Do not tow the vehicle if the key cannot
be turned in the ignition lock. The steering is
then locked and it will not be possible to steer
the vehicle.
When towing another vehicle, its weight
should not be greater than the permissible
gross weight of your vehicle.
Comply with national regulations when
towing.
It is preferable to have the vehicle
transported on a transporter or trailer instead
of towing it. When towing the vehicle, use a
rigid towing bar.
! Only secure the tow cable or tow bar to
the towing eyes. You could otherwise
damage the vehicle.
i Before towing, deactivate the automatic
locking while driving function (Y page 55). 248
Jump starting, tow-starting and towing away
Practical advice

You could otherwise become locked out
when pushing or towing the vehicle.
! Do not exceed the towing speed of
31 mph (50 km/h). You could otherwise
damage the transmission.
X Turn the key to position 2
in the ignition
lock.
X For a towing distance of up to 30 miles
(50 km), move the selector lever to
position N. G
Warning
A propeller shaft could fall off as it is being
removed and injure

you. Secure the propeller
shaft before removal to prevent it from falling
down, e.g. with the aid of another person or
by tying the propeller shaft up.
X For a towing distance greater than
30 miles(50 km), remove the propeller
shafts to the driven axles.
! Always use new bolts when installing the
propeller shafts.
Front towing eye The fixture for the front towing eye is located in the
bumper.
X
To install the towing eye: press on
cover 0046 in the direction of the arrow and
remove cover 0046.
You will see the fixture for the towing eye.
X Take the towing eye and lug wrench from
the vehicle tool kit (Y page 182). X
Screw in the towing eye clockwise to the
stop.
X Insert the lug wrench handle into the
towing eye and tighten.
X To remove the towing eye: take the lug
wrench from the vehicle tool kit.
X Insert the lug wrench handle into the
towing eye and turn the wrench counter-
clockwise.
X Unscrew the towing eye.
X Insert cover 0046 with the lug at the bottom
and press it in at the top until it engages.
X Place the towing eye and lug wrench back
in the vehicle tool kit.
Rear towing eye If your vehicle is equipped with a rear towing
eye, this
is

installed to the rear of the chassis
on the right-hand side when viewed in the
direction of travel.
i If your vehicle has a trailer coupling, use
this for towing.
Recovering a vehicle that is stuck If the drive wheels are dug in to loose or
muddy ground, tow the vehicle with extreme
care, particularly if it is laden.
Pull the
vehicle

smoothly and straight ahead.
There is otherwise a risk of damage to the
chassis.
Do not tow the vehicle out with a trailer
attached.
Tow the vehicle out backwards in the tracks
already made, if possible.
Towing the vehicle in the event of
particular malfunctions With transmission damage
G
Warning
A propeller shaft could fall off as it is being
removed and injure

you. Secure the propeller
shaft before removal to prevent it from falling Jump starting, tow-starting and towing away
249
Practical advice
Z

down, e.g. with the aid of another person or
by tying the propeller shaft up.
X Always remove the propeller shafts leading
to the driven axles.
! Always use new bolts when installing the
propeller shafts.
With front axle damage
X Turn the key to position 1 in the ignition
lock.
X Raise the front axle. G
Warning
A propeller shaft could fall off as it is being
removed and injure

you. Secure the propeller
shaft before removal to prevent it from falling
down, e.g. with the aid of another person or
by tying the propeller shaft up.
! The ignition must be switched off if the
vehicle is being towed with the front or rear
axle raised. Otherwise, ESP ®
may intervene
and damage the brake system.
With rear axle damage
X Turn the key to position 1 in the ignition
lock.
X Raise the rear axle.
Malfunction in the electrical system
If the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in position P. To
shift the automatic transmission to
position N, you must provide power to the
vehicle's electrical system in the same way
as jump-starting ( Y page 247).
Have the vehicle

transported on a transporter
or trailer.
Transporting the vehicle The towing
eye can be used to pull the vehicle
onto a special transporter or trailer for
transportation.
! Only lash the

vehicle down by the wheels
or rims, not by vehicle parts such as axle or steering components. There is otherwise a
risk of damage to the vehicle.
X Move the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position N.250
Jump starting, tow-starting and towing away
Practical advice

Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Step 3 Permissible cargo
and trailer load/
noseweight
(maximum gross
vehicle weight
rating
from the Tire and
Loading Information
placard minus the
gross weight of all
occupants) 1500 lbs
(680 kg) -
750 lbs
(340
kg)
= 750 lbs
(340 kg) 1500 lbs
(680 kg) -
540 lbs
(245
kg)
= 960 lbs
(435 kg) 1500 lbs
(680 kg) -
150 lbs
(68
kg) =
1350 lbs
(612 kg) The greater the combined weight of the occupants, the lower the maximum luggage load.
Further information can be found under "Towing a trailer" (
Y page 152). Vehicle identification plate
Even if you have calculated the total cargo
carefully, you should still make sure that the
gross vehicle weight

rating and the gross axle
weight rating are not exceeded. Details about
this can be found on the vehicle identification
plate on the driver seat frame of your vehicle
(Y page 277).
Gross vehicle weight: the gross weight of
the vehicle, all passengers, cargo and trailer
load/noseweight (if applicable) must not
exceed the permissible gross vehicle weight.
Gross axle weight rating: the maximum
permissible load that can be carried by one
axle (front or rear axle).
To ensure that your vehicle does not exceed
the maximum permissible values (gross
vehicle weight and maximum gross axle
weight rating), have your loaded vehicle
(including driver, occupants, cargo, and full
trailer load if applicable) weighed on a
suitable vehicle weighbridge. Trailer load/noseweight
The trailer load/noseweight
affects the gross
weight of the vehicle. If a trailer is attached,
the trailer load/noseweight is included in the
load along with occupants and luggage. The trailer load/noseweight is usually
approximately 10%
of

the gross weight of the
trailer and its cargo. Maximum tire load
G
Warning!
Do not overload the tires by exceeding the
specified load limit as indicated on the Tire
and Loading Information placard on the
B-pillar on the driver's side or on the vehicle
identification plate on the driver seat frame.
Overloading the tires can overheat them,
possibly causing a blowout. Overloading the
tires can also result in handling or steering
problems, or brake failure. Maximum tire load
265
Wheels and tires Z