automatic transmission MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2012 MY12 Operator’s Manual

slip or obstruct the pedals. Do not place
floormats on top of one another.
R Do not put any objects in the driver's
footwell.
R Stow and secure
all loose objects in such a
way that they cannot get into the driver's
footwell while the vehicle is in motion. G
Warning
If they are not properly closed, the doors
could open while

the vehicle is in motion. This
may, for example, cause you to lose your load
and injure passengers or endanger other road
users.
For this reason, please make sure that all the
doors are properly closed and can be locked
before starting your journey.
X Close all doors.
X Secure the load according to the loading
guidelines ( Y page 144).
X Make sure that the floormats and carpets
are properly secured so that they cannot
slip and obstruct the pedals. Starting the engine
G
Warning
Do not place any objects in the driver's
footwell. If you

use a floormat or carpet in the
driver's footwell, make sure that it is correctly
secured and that there is sufficient clearance
for the pedals.
Do not place several floormats on top of one
another.
Loose objects or the floormats could
otherwise get caught between the pedals if
you accelerate or brake suddenly. You will
then not be able to brake or accelerate as
intended. This could lead to accidents and
injury. G
Warning
Never leave the engine running in enclosed
spaces. The exhaust gases contain toxic carbon monoxide.
Breathing in exhaust fumes
is a health hazard and can lead to
unconsciousness or death.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
i If you depress the brake pedal when
starting the engine,

the pedal travel is short
and the pedal resistance is high.
Pedal travel and resistance return to
normal when you depress the brake pedal
again.
X Before starting the engine, make sure that:
R
all the doors are closed.
R all the vehicle occupants are wearing
their seat belts correctly.
R the parking brake is applied.
R the selector lever is in position P.
i You can also start the engine in neutral
N. Automatic transmission gearshift pattern
0060
Park position with selector lever lock
0061 Reverse gear
005F Neutral
005E Drive Driving and parking
109
Controls Z

Starting the engine
X
Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
The 0028 preglow indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up.
X When the 0028 preglow indicator lamp
goes out, turn the key to position 3 in the
ignition lock and release it as soon as the
engine is running.
i You can start
the engine without preglow
when the engine is warm.
i Depending on the equipment installed,
the vehicle either automatically locks
centrally after switching on the ignition or
after pulling away. The locking knobs in the
doors drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
Automatic door locking can be deactivated
(Y page 55). Driving off
G
Warning
Do not downshift for additional engine
braking on a

slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid. You could lose control
of the vehicle and cause an accident.
i After pulling away or switching on the
ignition, the vehicle automatically locks
centrally. The locking knobs in the doors
drop down.
You can open the doors from the inside at
any time.
Automatic door locking can be deactivated
(Y page 55). X
Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
The selector lever lock is released.
X Release the parking brake ( Y page 112).
The 0066 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
X Move the selector lever to position D or R.
i On vehicles with a reverse warning
feature, a warning signal sounds when
reverse gear is

engaged to alert other road
users.
! Only shift into reverse gear when the
vehicle is stationary. You could otherwise
damage the transmission.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal. General driving tips
Steering G
Warning
Do not switch off the engine while the vehicle
is in motion.
There is no

power assistance for the steering
or the service brake when the engine is not
running.
Steering and braking require significantly
more effort and you could lose control of the
vehicle and cause an accident as a result.
! Do not hold the steering wheel at full
steering angle for a long time, e.g. when
turning or maneuvering.
The hydraulic pump could be damaged if
the hydraulic fluid temperature increases.
Overrun cut-off If you take your foot off the accelerator pedal,
the diesel fuel supply is cut off in overrun
mode when the

engine speed is out of the idle
speed control range. 110
Driving and parking
Controls

Driving in wet conditions
G
Warning
There is a danger of hydroplaning occurring,
even if you are driving slowly and your tires
have sufficient tread
depth, depending on the
depth of water on the road.
For this reason, avoid tire ruts and brake
carefully.
Driving on flooded roads If you have to drive on stretches of road on
which water has collected, the water level
must not rise above the bottom edge of the
bumper. The maximum speed at which you
may drive is walking speed.
!
Note that vehicles in front or oncoming
vehicles create waves. This could mean
that the maximum permitted water depth
is exceeded.
You must observe these notes. Otherwise,
damage may
occur

to the engine, electrics
or transmission.
Driving in winter Drive particularly carefully on slippery roads
in winter.
Avoid

sudden acceleration, steering
and braking maneuvers. G
Warning
Do not downshift for additional engine
braking on a

slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid. You could lose control
of the vehicle and cause an accident.
If the vehicle threatens to skid or cannot be
stopped when moving at low speed, shift to
the neutral position N. Try to maintain control
of the vehicle using corrective steering
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
may roll only briefly in the neutral position
N. Prolonged rolling of the wheels, e.g.
when being towed, will result in
transmission damage. Road salt may adversely affect braking
performance.
Consequently, you

may need to
depress the brake pedal more forcefully in
order to achieve normal braking force. Apply
the brakes regularly when driving for longer
periods on gritted or salted roads. This will
restore the brakes to their normal level of
performance.
When stopping the vehicle after traveling on
roads that have been salted, make sure that
the brakes are fully functional before
proceeding further.
i Fit snow chains to the outside rear wheels
(driven axle) in good time for driving on
snow, slush or ice. Comply with the
manufacturer's fitting instructions.
You will find information about winter tires
and about driving with snow chains in the
"Operation" section .
Tire grip Whereas the vehicle can be fully controlled at
a certain speed on a dry road surface, you
must reduce your speed on a wet or icy
surface to maintain the same degree of
safety.
Pay particular attention to the road
conditions at temperatures around freezing
point. When ice forms on the road surface
(e.g. due to fog), applying the brakes can
cause a
thin

layer of water to form rapidly on
the ice and tire grip will be greatly reduced.
Drive with particular care in such weather
conditions. Stopping the vehicle and switching
off the engine
G
Warning
Always switch off the engine and apply the
parking brake before leaving the vehicle.
Otherwise, the vehicle could roll away if it is
not secured. Driving and parking
111
Controls
Z

On gradients steeper than 15%:
R
secure an unladen
vehicle at the front axle,
e.g. using a wheel chock or similar object.
R additionally, secure a laden vehicle at the
rear axle, e.g. using a wheel chock or similar
object. G
Warning
Make sure that the exhaust system does not
under any circumstances come into contact
with easily ignitable

material such as dry grass
or gasoline. Do not park the vehicle on dry
grassland or harvested grain fields.
Otherwise, the flammable material may ignite
and set the vehicle on fire. G
Warning
Only remove the key from the ignition lock
when the vehicle is stationary, since you
cannot steer the vehicle with the key
removed.
Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could

release the parking brake.
This could lead to a serious or fatal accident.
! When the vehicle is parked, always
remove the key to prevent the battery from
becoming discharged.
On vehicles with a battery isolating switch,
switch off the power supply if the vehicle is
to be out of use for a longer period of time. G
Warning
You must use the parking lamps to enable
your vehicle to

be recognized on public roads
when it is dark. You can also use reflective
night parking signs in built-up areas.
Observe legal requirements.
X Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position P.
X Apply the parking brake.
i On steep slopes, turn the front wheels
towards the curb. !
If the coolant temperature is very high,
e.g. after driving on mountain roads, leave
the engine running at idle speed for about
two minutes before turning it off.
This allows the coolant temperature to
return to normal.
X To switch off the engine: turn the key to
position 0 in the ignition lock and remove
it.
The immobilizer is activated.
X Switch on the parking lamps if necessary.
X On uphill or downhill gradients, secure the
vehicle additionally against rolling away at
the axle with

the heaviest load, e.g. by using
a wheel chock or similar object.
Use the wheel chock (Y page 183) for this
purpose. Brakes
Parking brake
G
Warning
Never leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle. They could

release the parking brake.
This could lead to a serious or fatal accident. i
Only apply the parking brake when the
vehicle is stationary. 112
Brakes
Controls

Applying the parking brake
X
Pull brake lever 0046 up as far as the last
possible detent.
The 0066 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
i On vehicles with
a folding brake lever, you
can then press lever 0046 down to the stop.
Releasing the parking brake i
On vehicles with

a folding brake lever, you
must first pull brake lever 0046 up to the stop.
X Raise brake lever 0046 slightly and press
release knob 0047.
X Guide brake lever 0046 down to the stop.
The 0066 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Emergency braking As a rule, you may only apply the parking
brake when the vehicle is stationary.
In exceptional cases, the parking brake can
be used for emergency braking if the service
brake fails.
X
Keep release knob 0047 pressed and
carefully apply brake lever 0046.G
Warning
If the brake lever is applied abruptly, the rear
wheels could lock. The vehicle could then go
into a skid.
Make sure that you apply the brake lever
carefully to ensure

that braking application is
moderated. Automatic transmission
Overview
The automatic transmission adapts to your
individual driving style by continuously
adjusting its shift points. These shift point
adjustments take into account the current
operating and driving conditions. If the operating or driving conditions change, the
automatic transmission reacts by adjusting
the gearshift program.
The automatic transmission selects the
individual gears automatically. This depends
on:
R
the selector lever position D with shift
ranges 4, 3, 2 and 1(Y page 115)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
R the road speed
The selector lever

position or the current shift
range is shown in the display. Display on
vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 77) and without steering wheel
buttons ( Y page 73).
When the selector lever is in position D, you
can influence the gearshifts made by the
automatic transmission. You can restrict the
shift range or you can perform gearshifts
yourself. Automatic transmission
113
Controls Z

Selector lever positions
0045
Park position
This prevents the vehicle from
rolling away when stopped. Only
move the selector lever to
P when
the vehicle is stationary.
You can only
remove the key when
the selector lever is in position P.
The selector lever is locked in
position P when the key is
removed. 0046
Reverse gear
Only move the selector lever to R
when the vehicle is stationary. 0044
Neutral
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive wheels.
Releasing the
brakes

will allow you
to move the vehicle freely, e.g. by
pushing or towing.
Do not move the selector lever to
N while driving. The automatic
transmission could otherwise be
damaged.
If ASR is deactivated or ESP ®
has
malfunctioned: only move the
selector lever to N if the vehicle is
in danger of skidding, e.g. on icy
roads. 003A
Drive
The automatic transmission
changes gear
automatically.

All five
forward gears are available. Touchshift
When the selector lever is in position D
, you
can perform gearshifts yourself.
X To shift down: press the selector lever to
the left towards D–.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear down, depending on the gear currently engaged. This will also restrict the
shift range. G
Warning
Do not change down for additional engine
braking on a

slippery road surface. This could
cause the drive wheels to lose their grip and
the vehicle could skid.
i The automatic transmission does not shift
down if you press the selector lever
towards D– while traveling at too high a
speed. The engine could otherwise overrev.
X To shift up:
briefly press

the selector lever
to the right towards D+.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear up, depending on the current
gearshift program. This also extends the
shift range.
X To derestrict the shift range: press and
hold the selector lever towards D+ until D
is shown once more in the display.
The automatic transmission

shifts from the
current shift range directly to D.
X To select the optimum shift range: press
and hold the selector lever to the left
towards D–

.
The automatic transmission will shift to a
range which allows easy acceleration and
deceleration. To do this, the automatic
transmission will shift down one or more
gears. Shift ranges
When the selector lever is in position D
you
can restrict or derestrict the shift range for
the automatic transmission.
X Press the selector lever briefly to the right
towards D+ or left towards D–.
The set shift

range is shown in the display.
i If the maximum
engine speed for the shift
range is reached and you depress the
accelerator pedal, the automatic 114
Automatic transmission
Controls

transmission will not shift up if the shift
range is restricted.
003A
The automatic transmission shifts
through all five gears.
0042
The automatic transmission shifts
only as far as fourth gear.
0040
The automatic transmission shifts
only as far as third gear.
This position allows you to use the
braking effect of the engine.
0038
The automatic transmission shifts
only as far as second gear.
This position is for journeys in
arduous conditions, in
mountainous terrain or on steep
mountain roads. You can use the
engine's braking
effect
on downhill
gradients. 0037
The automatic transmission only
works in first gear.
The braking
effect

of the engine can
be utilized on extremely steep
downhill gradients and long
downhill stretches. Driving tips
Accelerator pedal position Your style of driving influences how the
automatic transmission shifts gear:
R
little throttle: early upshifts
R lots of throttle: later upshifts Kickdown Use kickdown for maximum acceleration:
X
Depress the accelerator pedal beyond the
pressure point.
The automatic transmission shifts to the
next gear down, depending on the engine
speed.
X Ease off on the accelerator pedal once the
desired speed is reached.
The automatic transmission

shifts up again.
Stopping If you only need to stop briefly:
X
Leave the selector lever in the drive
position.
X Secure the vehicle against rolling away
using the brake pedal.
Maneuvering Maneuvering in a tight space:
X
Control the vehicle's speed by braking
carefully.
X Accelerate only slightly and avoid jolting.
i For rapid maneuvering (e.g. to rock the
vehicle out of

snow or slush), you can shift
back and forth between drive position D
and reverse gear R at low speeds without
applying the brakes.
Towing a trailer X
Run the engine in the moderate engine
speed range on steep uphill gradients.
X Depending on the uphill or downhill
gradient, shift down to shift range 3 or
2(Y page 115), even if cruise control is
switched on.
Working on the vehicle G
Warning
Apply the parking brake and move the
selector lever to P when working on the Automatic transmission
115
Controls
Z

Resuming the stored speed
G
Warning
Only select a stored speed if you know what
that speed is
and whether it is suitable for the
current driving and traffic situation. You can
otherwise endanger yourself and others by
unintentionally triggering sudden
acceleration or braking.
X Briefly pull the cruise control lever in the
direction of arrow 0047.
X Release the accelerator pedal.
Cruise control is

activated and resumes the
vehicle's speed to the last speed stored.
i When you first move the cruise control
lever in the direction of arrow 0047 after
starting the engine, cruise control is
activated and the current road speed is
stored.
Setting the speed G
Warning
The rate at which you increase the speed in
increments of 1 mph (1 km/h) may be faster
than your vehicle is able to accelerate. Your
vehicle may

then continue to accelerate up to
the newly set speed even after you have
released the cruise control lever.
Only increase the speed as the prevailing
conditions permit. Sudden acceleration could
otherwise endanger you and others.
X Briefly push the cruise control lever
upwards 0046 to increase the speed or
downwards 008A to reduce the speed.
The last speed stored is increased/
reduced in increments of 1 mph
(1 km/h

).
or
X Press and hold the cruise control lever
up 0046 or down 008A until the desired speed
has been reached.
X Release the cruise control lever.
The current speed is stored. i
Cruise control is not deactivated if you
depress the accelerator pedal. If you
accelerate briefly, e.g. to overtake, and
then ease off the accelerator pedal again,
cruise control adjusts the vehicle's speed
to the last speed stored.
Deactivating cruise control There are various ways to deactivate cruise
control:
X
Briefly push the cruise control lever
forwards 0088.
or
X Apply the brakes.
The last speed set remains stored.
i The last speed set is deleted when you
switch off the engine.
i Cruise control is deactivated
automatically when:
R you apply the brakes.
R you apply the parking brake and the
0066 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
R you are driving slower than 20 mph
(30 km/h).
R ESP ®
or ASR intervenes.
R you shift the automatic transmission to
neutral position N while the vehicle is in
motion.
R there is a malfunction in the ESP ®
, ASR
or ABS system. PARKTRONIC
General notes G
Warning
PARKTRONIC is only an aid and may not
detect all obstacles. It is not a substitute for
attentive driving.
You are always responsible for safety and
must continue to pay attention to your Driving systems
119
Controls
Z

X
Make sure that the automatic transmission
is set to position P.
X Engage the vehicle's parking brake.
X Close the rear doors.
X Couple the trailer.
X Establish all electrical connections. Trailer coupled ready for use
Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements
concerning the
towing
of a trailer, e.g. speed
restrictions. Make sure that your vehicle/
trailer combination complies with the local
requirements not only in your area of
residence but also at any location to which
you are traveling. The police and local
authorities can provide reliable information.
Please observe the following when towing a
trailer:
R To acquaint yourself with driving with a
trailer and with the resulting changes to
handling, you should practice cornering,
stopping and reversing in a traffic-free
location.
R Before driving, check:
-trailer coupling
- safety switch for braked trailers
- safety chains
- electrical connection
- lights
- wheels R
Adjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of

the rear section of the
trailer.
R If the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull away slowly, brake manually
using the brake controller and check that
the brakes are functional.
R Secure any objects on the trailer to prevent
the cargo from slipping when the vehicle is
in motion.
R If you couple up a trailer, regularly check
that the cargo is secure and make sure that
the trailer lamps and (if applicable) the
trailer brakes are functioning correctly.
R Bear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when
driving without one. Avoid sudden steering
movements.
R The vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly and has a
decreased gradient climbing capability and
a longer braking distance.
It is more susceptible to crosswinds and
requires cautious steering.
R If possible, do not brake abruptly; apply the
brakes moderately to begin with to allow
the trailer to activate its brakes. Then
increase the pressure on the brake pedal.
R If the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears when driving on
inclines, restrict the shift range. Select shift
range 4, 3, 2 or 1.
Driving in a low gear and at a low speed
reduces the risk of damaging the engine.
R When driving on a downhill gradient, shift
to a low gear and take advantage of the
engine's braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if
installed, the trailer brakes.
R If the coolant temperature increases
dramatically while the air-conditioning
system is switched on, switch off the air-
conditioning system. Transporting loads with the vehicle
151
Operation Z

Coolant heat can additionally be dissipated
by opening
the
windows and by setting the
blower fan and the interior temperature to
maximum.
R When overtaking, pay particular attention
to the extended length of your vehicle/
trailer combination.
Due to the length of your vehicle/trailer
combination, you will have to travel an
additional distance beyond the vehicle you
are overtaking before returning to the
original lane.
If the trailer begins to swing from side to side:
X do not accelerate.
X do not counter-steer.
X brake if necessary. G
Warning
Under no circumstances try to straighten the
vehicle/trailer combination by

increasing the
speed.
i You can reduce the risk of the trailer
swinging and snaking by retrofitting anti-
roll bars or trailer stability programs. You
can obtain further information from an
authorized Sprinter Dealer.
Uncoupling a trailer X
Make sure that the automatic transmission
is set to position P.
X Engage the vehicle's parking brake.
X Remove the trailer cable and uncouple the
trailer.
X Engage the trailer's parking brake.
Load distribution The Gross Trailer Weight (GTW) is the
combined weight of the trailer together with
the cargo and equipment loaded on the
trailer. The maximum permissible gross
weight is
vehicle-specific

and depends on the
equipment level: 5000 lbs (2268 kg) or
7500 lbs (3402 kg). The permissible Trailer drawbar Weight
Rating (TWR) is the maximum weight
permitted on the trailer drawbar: 750 lbs
(340 kg) or 500 lbs (227 kg) is the limit for
trailer couplings approved by the vehicle
distributor named on the inside of the front
cover.
The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)
is
the

sum of the Gross Trailer Weight and the
vehicle weight, including a driver weight of
approximately 150 lbs (68 kg). The
permissible GCWR is vehicle-specific and
depends on the equipment level.
When driving with a trailer, you should not
exceed the permitted Gross Combination
Weight Rating (GCWR).
You must distribute the load on the vehicle
and trailer so that the permitted maximum
values for the vehicle (GCWR) and trailer
(GTW) weight as well as permitted axle loads
(GAWR) and noseweight (TWR) of your vehicle
are not exceeded.
i Take into account that the vehicle's
permissible payload must be reduced to
compensate for the noseweight.
The applicable permissible values, which
must not be exceeded, can be found in your
vehicle documents and on the type plates for
the trailer tow hitch, trailer and vehicle
(Y page 277). You will also find a list of the
permissible values in the "Technical data"
(Y page 284) section. Where the values
differ, the lowest is valid.
! The permissible gross combination
weight is less than the sum of the
permissible gross vehicle weight plus the
permissible trailer load. Exceeding the
permissible gross combination weight can
lead to damage to the drivetrain, to the
transmission or to the trailer tow hitch.
For this reason, applicable values for the
permissible gross vehicle weight or the
permissible trailer load are reduced
accordingly if either the vehicle or the
trailer is fully loaded. In this case, the trailer
or the vehicle may only be partially loaded. 152
Transporting loads with the vehicle
Operation