tires MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2012 MY12 Operator’s Manual

Roof ventilator in the cargo
compartment
The roof ventilator can be used to ventilate or
extract air from the cargo compartment.
X
Turn the SmartKey to position 2 in the
ignition lock.
X To extract air: press upper section 0046 of
the 00B4 switch.
The roof ventilator removes used air from
the cargo compartment.
X To ventilate: press lower section 0047 of the
00B3 switch.
The roof ventilator feeds fresh air into the
cargo compartment.
X To switch off: set the
switch to the middle
position. Driving and parking
Preparing for a journey
Visual check of the vehicle exterior X
In particular, check the following
components on the vehicle, and on the
trailer as necessary:
R
license plates, vehicle lighting, turn
signals, brake lamps

and wiper blades for
dirt and damage
R tires and wheels for firm seating, correct
tire pressure and general condition
R trailer tow hitch for play and security
i The towing device is one of the most
important components on the vehicle with regard to road safety. The separate
instructions issued by the manufacturer
pertaining to operation, care and
maintenance should be observed.
X Rectify any noticeable defects before
commencing the journey.
Checks in the vehicle Emergency equipment/first-aid kit
The equipment for first aid and breakdown
assistance is located in the storage
compartment in
the

driver's/co-driver's door
and behind the driver's seat.
X Check the equipment to make sure that it
is accessible, complete and ready for use.
Vehicle lighting
X Turn the key to position 2 in the ignition
lock.
X Check the lighting system with the aid of a
second person.
X Replace defective bulbs ( Y page 234). Before driving off
G
Warning
Free movement of the pedals must not be
impaired. This would

otherwise jeopardize the
operating and road safety of the vehicle.
Objects could get caught between the pedals
if you accelerate or brake suddenly. You will
then be unable to brake, declutch or
accelerate as intended. You could cause an
accident, thereby endangering yourself and
others.
R If you are using floormats and carpets,
make sure that they are properly secured
in the driver's footwell so that they do not108
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

Engine oil consumption
! If the vehicle is predominantly used for
short-distance driving, this could lead to a
malfunction in the automatic cleaning
function for the diesel particle filter. As a
result, fuel may accumulate in the engine
oil and cause engine failure.
Therefore, if you mainly drive short
distances, you should
drive on a highway or
on rural roads for 20 minutes every
310 miles (500 km). This ensures sufficient
regeneration of the diesel particle filter.
Depending on the driving style, the vehicle
consumes a maximum of 1.0 US qt(1.0 l) of
oil over a distance of 620 miles (1000 km).
Engine oil consumption may be higher if:
R the vehicle is new.
R you mainly operate the vehicle under
arduous operating conditions.
R you frequently drive at high engine speeds.
Regular maintenance is one of the
preconditions for moderate rates of
consumption.
You can only estimate the engine oil
consumption after you have driven a
considerable distance.
Check the engine oil level on a regular basis,
e.g. weekly or each time you refuel
(Y page 171). Speed limiter
You can permanently limit the maximum
speed of your vehicle to 75 mph (120 km/h)

.
We recommend that you have the maximum
speed programmed at an authorized Sprinter
Dealer. This has the necessary specialist
knowledge and tools to carry out the required
work. G
Warning
Exceeding the permissible maximum speed
can cause tire damage, which could lead to
loss of control of the vehicle. As the driver, you must find out about the
maximum speed of the vehicle and the
resulting permissible maximum speed of the
tires (tire and tire pressure).
You must not exceed the speed limit for the
tires listed in the tire pressure tables.
i You will find information about tire
pressure in the "Technical data" section
(Y
page 280).
Reverse warning device
On vehicles with

a reverse warning feature, a
warning signal sounds when reverse gear is
engaged to alert other road users. The volume
of this warning signal can be reduced for
night-time driving. G
Warning
Other road users could fail to hear or could
ignore the reverse warning feature warning
signal. For this reason, the reverse warning
feature cannot guarantee that there are no
people or objects behind your vehicle.
The reverse warning feature is a system
designed to assist you in ensuring the safety
of other road users. It does not, however,
relieve you of

your responsibility to make sure
that there are no persons or objects behind
your vehicle while you are maneuvering.
For this reason, always observe the road and
traffic conditions with due caution. To avoid
damage and injury, make sure that there are
no persons or objects behind the vehicle while
you are maneuvering. Have a second person
assist you when maneuvering if necessary.
X To set the warning signal to quiet:
engage the reverse gear twice in brief
succession.
The volume of the warning signal is
reduced.
i The warning signal sounds at normal
volume by default and will need to be Driving tips
141
Operation Z

Verify compliance with weight limitations on
a weighbridge.
Trailer power supply
Your vehicle may be equipped with various
electrical fittings for trailer towing.
Depending on your trailer, you may need an
adapter to allow your trailer to be connected
to the vehicle. Information about your
vehicle's electrical equipment is available
from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.
!
Faulty wiring of the connector plug could
in certain circumstances cause other
electronic systems to
malfunction. For this
reason, we recommend having the wiring
of the connector plug performed at an
authorized Sprinter Dealer. Operation in winter
General notes
Have your vehicle winterized at a qualified
specialist workshop, e.g. an authorized
Sprinter Dealer, at the onset of winter.
This service includes the following:
R oil change, if the engine oil currently used
does not have adequate low temperature
characteristics or if these are no longer
sufficient due to aging
R the antifreeze/anticorrosion
concentration in the coolant is checked.
R the addition of a concentrated cleaning
agent to the water in the windshield
washer/headlamp cleaning system
R battery check
R a tire change
Prior to the

onset of winter, ensure that snow
chains are available in the vehicle.
Do not cover the surface of the radiator or the
radiator grill, even in winter. Doing so could
cause the engine diagnostics to record false
or incorrect data. Recording of engine
diagnostic data is legally prescribed and must therefore be correct, clear and
comprehensible at all times.
You
will find

information about diesel fuel for
use at low outside temperatures in the
"Operation" section ( Y page 154).
Please also observe the information about
winter driving (Y page 111).
You will find information about winter tires
and about driving with snow chains in the
"Wheel and tires" section (Y page 153). Service products
Fuel
G
Warning
Fuel is highly flammable. Fire, naked flames
and smoking as well as the use of auxiliary
heaters (sparks) are therefore prohibited
when handling fuel.
Switch off the

engine and the auxiliary heating
before refueling. G
Warning
Avoid any contact with fuels.
You can damage your health if your skin
comes into direct contact with fuel or if you
inhale fuel vapors.
! Filter the fuel

before transferring it to the
vehicle if you are refueling the vehicle from
barrels or containers.
This will prevent malfunctions in the fuel
system due to contaminated fuel.
! Refuel only with commercially available
vehicle diesel fuel, ULTRA-LOW SULFUR
DIESEL with a sulfur content no greater
than 15 ppm. Fuels such as fatty acid
methyl ester FAME (bio-diesel fuels),
marine diesel, heating oil etc. may not be
used as a diesel fuel mixture.
Refuel with B5 bio-diesel only if it fulfills the
requirements listed under "Fuel quality". Service products
153
Operation Z

The windshield wipers may otherwise move
and injure you.
X Turn the key to position 0 in the ignition
lock or remove it.
! Do not fold the windshield wipers away
from the windshield unless the hood is
closed. Otherwise, you could damage the
hood.
X Fold the wiper arms away from the
windshield until you feel them engage.
X Clean the windshield and the wiper blades.
X Fold the windshield wipers back again
before switching on the ignition.
Headlamps Wipe the headlamp lenses with a wet sponge.
! Only use washer

fluid which is suitable for
plastic lamp lenses. Unsuitable washer
fluid could damage the plastic lamp lenses
of the headlamps.
Therefore, do not use:
R dry cloths
R abrasive products
R solvents
R cleaning products containing solvents
You could otherwise scratch or damage the
surface of the lenses.
Sliding door Clean the contact plates and the tips of the
contact pins around the sliding door with
water, shampoo and a soft cloth.
Do not oil or grease the contact plates and
contact pins.
Remove foreign objects. Power washers
! Maintain the following minimum
distances between the high-pressure
nozzle and the object being cleaned:
R approximately 2.2 ft (70 cm)

when using
round-jet nozzles
R approximately 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:
R door joints
R brake hoses
R electrical components
R plug connections
R seals
R the drive train, especially not at the
intermediate bearing of the propeller
shaft
R the rear-view camera or the microphone
opening on the bottom of the rear-view
camera. Keep a minimum distance of
1.6 ft (50 cm). G
Warning
Do not
use round-jet nozzles to clean the tires.
The pulsating water jet can cause damage to
the substructure of

the tires that is not visible
from the outside. This type of damage only
becomes noticeable at a much later stage and
can cause the tires to burst. This could cause
you to lose control of the vehicle, resulting in
an accident and injuring yourself or others.
Replace damaged tires immediately. Automatic car wash
If the vehicle is very dirty, prewash it before
you put it through an automatic car wash. G
Warning
If a wax preservative is applied after the
vehicle is washed,

you should remove the wax164
Cleaning and care
Operation

from the windshield and the wiper blades to
prevent smearing.
Smears
impair the driver's
view, and their effect is made worse in
conditions where visibility is poor (e.g. glare,
mist, darkness, snow). You may therefore fail
to recognize dangers, or not recognize them
in time, and thereby cause an accident.
! 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 the radio/telephone antenna.
Otherwise, the exterior mirror, antenna or
the vehicle itself could be damaged.
Make sure that the antenna is installed and
that the exterior mirrors are fully folded out
again when you leave the automatic car
wash.
! Make sure that the side windows are
completely closed, that the ventilation/
heating is switched off and that the
windshield wiper switch is set to 0.
Otherwise, the rain/light sensor could be
activated, triggering unintended wiper
movements. This can cause damage to the
vehicle.
After putting the vehicle through an
automatic car wash, wipe off wax from:
R the rear-view camera lens ( Y page 163)
R the windshield and the wiper blades. This
prevents smears and reduces wiping noise
which can be caused by residue on the
windshield. 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. Alloy wheels
Clean the alloy wheels regularly.
! 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. After driving off-road or on
construction sites
G
Warning
Dirt on the vehicle can affect road and
operating safety.
It can specifically result in the following
dangers:
Stone impact. Stones trapped between the
tires can be thrown out while driving. This
could injure other

road users or damage other
vehicles (especially windscreens).
Risk of skidding. Dirt and mud on the tires/
on the road reduce the grip of the tires on the
road. This especially applies when the surface
is wet. The vehicle could then start to skid.
Risk of injury. Dirt and mud on the steps and
entrance can make the steps unsafe. This
could cause you to slip off the steps and be
injured.
For this reason, you should always clean your
vehicle carefully after driving off-road or on
construction sites before driving on public
roads. Observe the corresponding safety
notices in this chapter if you use a power
washer or an automatic car wash to clean your
vehicle.
X Clean the vehicle, paying special attention
to the following:
R
Lighting system
R Windows and exterior mirrors
R Access steps and entrances Cleaning and care
165
Operation Z

R
Grab handles
R Wheels, tires and wheel arches
R License plates
X Remove any trapped foreign objects, e.g.
stones.
X Check the wheel suspension for damage. G
Warning
Dirty brake discs and brake pads/linings can
impair braking performance (up to the point
of total failure).
This could lead to an accident.
Check the brake system for operating safety
by testing the brakes before driving the
vehicle on public roads.
In the event of impaired braking, stop the
vehicle while paying attention to the traffic
conditions and contact a qualified specialist
workshop which has the necessary specialist
knowledge and tools for the work required.
For this, we recommend an authorized
Sprinter Dealer. In particular, work relevant to
safety or on safety-related systems must be
carried out at a qualified specialist workshop.
After driving in mud, sand, water or in similar
conditions:
R check the brake system for operating
safety.
R clean the wheels, chassis and brake
system.
R check the wheels, chassis and brake
system for damage. Have any damage
repaired at a qualified specialist workshop,
e.g. an authorized Sprinter Dealer. Maintenance
General notes
The scope and regularity of the maintenance
work primarily depend on the often diverse
operating conditions.
The vehicle Maintenance Booklet describes
the scope and frequency of maintenance
work and contains additional notes on the New Vehicle Limited Warranty and on service
products.
Specialist knowledge beyond the scope of
these Operating
Instructions

is required when
carrying out testing and maintenance work.
Have this work carried out by trained
personnel.
i Maintenance services must be carried out
in accordance with the provisions and
recommendations in the Maintenance
Booklet.
Not doing so could void the warranty claim
and lead to refusal of goodwill gestures
after the manufacturer has submitted a
damage report. G
Warning
Before carrying out maintenance operations
and repairs, you must read the sections
referring to maintenance operations and
repairs:
R this includes relevant sections of the
technical documentation, such as the
operating instructions and workshop
information.
R you should also

familiarize yourself with the
legal requirements, such as work safety
regulations and accident prevention
measures.
You could otherwise fail to recognize dangers
and thereby injure yourself or others.
You must secure the vehicle on axle stands of
sufficient load bearing capacity if work is
being carried out beneath it.
Never use the vehicle jack instead of stands.
The jack could slip and the vehicle could drop.
This could result in serious injury to yourself
or others.
The vehicle jack is intended only to raise the
vehicle for a short time.
Always have maintenance work carried out at
a qualified specialist workshop. The workshop
must have the necessary specialist
knowledge and tools to carry out the work
required. For this, we recommend an 166
Maintenance
Operation

Vehicle equipment ............................
182
Where will I find...? ........................... 182
Troubleshooting ................................ 187
Engine ................................................ 221
Wheels and tires ............................... 221
Electrical system .............................. 233
Batteries for the remote control .....245
Automatic transmission ................... 246
Jump starting, tow-starting and
towing away ...................................... 247 181Practical advice

Vehicle equipment
i Diese Betriebsanleitung beschreibt alle
Modelle, Serien- und
Sonderausstattungen
Ihres Fahrzeugs, die zum Zeitpunkt des
Redaktionsschlusses dieser
Betriebsanleitung erhältlich waren.
Länderspezifische Abweichungen sind
möglich. Beachten Sie, dass Ihr Fahrzeug
nicht mit allen beschriebenen Funktionen
ausgestattet sein könnte. Dies betrifft auch
sicherheitsrelevante Systeme und
Funktionen. Where will I find...?
Vehicle tool kit and emergency
equipment
The jack and the vehicle tool kit are located
in the co-driver's footwell. G
Warning
To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries
and to avoid damage to the vehicle, observe
the following:
R the jack is

designed only to raise the vehicle
for a short time, e.g. while a wheel is being
changed.
It is not designed to enable work to be
carried out underneath the vehicle.
R the jack must be placed on a firm, level
surface.
R never change a wheel on uphill or downhill
gradients.
R never lie under the raised vehicle.
R make sure that no persons are present in
the vehicle when the vehicle is raised.
R never start the engine when the vehicle is
raised. R
make sure that the distance between the
underside
of the

tires and the ground does
not exceed 1.2 in(30 mm).
R if you intend to work under the vehicle,
place the vehicle on stands. X
To unlock: turn quick-release fastener
0046
counter-clockwise or clockwise 004B.
X Remove the cover.
X To lock: press quick-release lock
0046 down
until it engages. X
If necessary, use tool 5
008A for the DEF tank
fuel filler cap to remove the fixture.
X Remove vehicle tool kit 0087.
X Pull up quick-release lever 0088 and unhook
the retaining strap of jack 0086.
X Lift jack 0086 upwards out of the holder.
i When stowing away the jack, place it in
the holder as shown in the illustration.
Make sure that the retaining strap of the
jack is hooked in and tensioned.
5 Chassis only.182
Where will I find...?
Practical advice

0046
Catch spring
0047 Electric air pump
008A Premium tire sealant Spare wheel
If you are replacing the tires on the vehicle,
you may use
the spare wheel as a road wheel
provided that:
R the tire is no more than six years old.
R the wheel and tire are of the prescribed
design.
The spare wheel is located in a spare wheel
bracket under the rear of the vehicle.
! Check the spare wheel regularly to see
that it is secure and has the prescribed tire
pressure.
Cargo Van/Passenger Van X
Open the tailgate.
X Apply a screwdriver to recesses 0047 and
then pry off covers 0046.
X Using the lug wrench from the vehicle tool
kit ( Y page 182), unscrew the now visible
bolts by approximately 20 turns counter-
clockwise. X
Slightly raise spare wheel bracket 0086 and
unhook left-hand safety catch 008A.
X Assemble the pump lever for the jack and
slide it into sleeve 0088 on spare wheel
bracket 0086.
X Raise spare wheel bracket 0086 with the
pump lever and unhook right-hand safety
catch 008A.
X Slowly lower spare wheel bracket 0086 down
to the ground.
X Lift spare

wheel bracket 0086 slightly and
pull
the pump lever out of sleeve 0088. Where will I find...?
185
Practical advice Z