engine MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2012 MY12 Operator’s Manual

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

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

vehicle. Otherwise, the vehicle could roll
away.
Driving the vehicle
Exhaust gas aftertreatment
The exhaust gas aftertreatment requires a
reducing agent, Diesel
Exhaust Fluid (DEF), in
order to function correctly. Filling up the DEF
tank is usually part of the service scope. DEF
consumption depends on operational and
driving conditions; the supply does not have
to suffice until the next scheduled service. For
this reason, refill the DEF tank regularly
during vehicle operation, or, at the latest,
after the first warning message has been
received from the on-board computer.
To conform with emission regulations, you
must operate the vehicle with DEF and refill
the supply regularly. If you try to operate the
vehicle without DEF, with diluted DEF, or with
a different reduction agent, the engine
management detects this and issues a
warning message, after which the engine
cannot be restarted.
If the DEF supply drops below
1.5 US gal (5.5 l), you receive the first warning
message and you hear a warning tone. After
the first message appears, the remaining DEF
supply suffices for approximately 1000 miles
(1600 km) in normal driving conditions.
Then, the reserve range of 0.8 US gal (3.0 l)
is reached. Once the reserve range has been
reached, you receive the next warning
message and you hear a series of warning
tones. After the first message appears, the
DEF reserve suffices for approximately
1200 miles (1900 km). You can, however,
only start the engine another 16 times.
You should now, at the latest, fill up with at
least 2.0 US gal (7.6 l) of DEF (Y page 143)
or have the DEF tank filled at a qualified
specialist workshop. When the number of remaining engine starts
is 0, the engine management prevents the
engine from being started.
If the
00BB

check engine indicator lamp lights
up, the exhaust gas aftertreatment is faulty or
an emission-relevant malfunction has
occurred (Y page 195). You can then drive a
maximum of 50 miles (80 km) before the
engine management limits the number of
remaining engine starts.
If the exhaust gas aftertreatment is faulty,
have it checked and repaired at a qualified
specialist workshop. We recommend that you
use an authorized Sprinter Dealer for this
purpose.
You will find further information on DEF in the
"Service products" section (Y page 155).
Level indicator You will find further information about DEF
consumption in the "Driving tips" section
(Y

page 140).
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons
If the DEF supply is less than
1.5 US gal (5.5 l), the 00E4 indicator lamp in
the instrument cluster lights up and the
009BdEF Chk message appears in the
display.
If the DEF supply drops below the reserve
level of 0.8 US gal (3.0 l), the 00E4 indicator
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up and
the 009BStArtS RE
xx

message is shown in
the display. xx refers to the number of
remaining engine starts (from 16 to 0).
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons
If the DEF supply is less than
1.5 US gal (5.5 l), the Check Diesel
Exhaust Fluid See Operator's Manual
message appears in the display.
If the DEF supply drops below the reserve
level of 0.8 US gal (3.0 l), the 00E4xx
starts remaining message appears in the
display. xx refers to the number of remaining
engine starts (from 16 to 0).116
Driving the vehicle
Controls

ADR (working speed governor)
When activated, the working speed governor
(ADR) automatically increases the engine
speed to a preset or adjustable speed
(Y page 117).
i After a cold start, the idling speed of the
engine is increased automatically. If the
preset working speed is lower than the
increased idling speed, the working speed
is only reached once the engine has
completed the warm-up phase.
It is only possible to activate ADR with the
vehicle stationary and the parking brake
applied.
The selector lever must be in position P.
Activating/deactivating ADR X
To activate: press upper
section 0046 of the
0093 switch while the engine is running.
The indicator lamp in the switch comes on.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons:
The 004E indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up.
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons:
The Operating speed governor
active message appears in the display.
X To deactivate: press lower section 0047 of
the 0093 switch while the engine is
running.
The indicator lamp in the switch goes out. i
ADR is automatically deactivated when:
R you release the parking brake.
R the brake pedal is depressed.
R the vehicle moves.
R the control unit detects a malfunction.
Setting the working speed X
Activate ADR (
Y page 117).
X To increase: press upper
section 0046 of the
0093 switch.
X To decrease: press lower
section 0047 of the
0094 switch.
i On vehicles with cruise control, you can
use the cruise control lever to increase or
decrease the engine

speed in the same way
as for the road speed. Set the speed using
the cruise control lever (Y page 119).
i After a cold start, the idling speed of the
engine is increased automatically.
You can only reduce the working speed to
the level of the current idling speed. Driving systems
Overview
The
following pages

describe driving systems
that may be a component in your vehicle:
R Cruise control ( Y page 118) which you can
use to control the speed of your vehicle
R PARKTRONIC ( Y page 119) and the rear
view camera (Y page 122) which assist you
with parking and maneuvering Driving systems
117
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
Place the beverage container in cup
holder 0086.
X Push clamping arm 0087 against the
container.
Cup holders in the rear X
Pull out cup holder 0046.G
Warning
Slide the cup holders back under the seats
before leaving the vehicle. You and others
could otherwise injure yourselves on the
protruding cup holders. Socket
The 12 V sockets for accessories are
R at the bottom of the center console
(12 V, 25 A)
R on the inside of the driver's seat frame
(12 V, 15 A)
R in the corner lining next to the rear doors
in the passenger compartment
(12 V, 15 A)
R in the cargo compartment next to the left
rear door (12 V, 15 A) Socket on the lower section of the center console
0046
12 V socket, 25 A
You can use the 12 V sockets (15 A) for
accessories with a maximum power
consumption of 180 W. You can connect
accessories with a maximum power
consumption of 300 W to the 12 V socket
(25 A) on the lower section of the center
console.
! Only use the 12 V socket (25 A) on the
center console for connecting the electric
air pump (premium tire sealant). You may
otherwise
damage the electrical systems of
the vehicle.
i The sockets are supplied with power even
when the key is removed from the ignition
lock. Please be aware that the battery may
become discharged if accessories, e.g. a
coolbox, remain connected while the
engine is not running. Communications
Electronic communications
equipment
G
Warning
Always pay attention to road and traffic
conditions.
Only operate electronic

equipment when road
and traffic conditions permit. Bear in mind
that at a speed of only 30 mph (approximately
50 km/h), your vehicle covers about 44 ft
(approximately 14 m) every second. Communications
133
Controls
Z

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. Driving tips
Breaking-in
It is of decisive importance for the operating
life, reliability and

economy of the vehicle that
the engine is not subjected to its full rated
load during the breaking-in period.
Up to 1000 miles (1500 km)
R Run the vehicle in carefully. Drive at varying
road and engine speeds.
R Avoid heavy loads (driving at full throttle)
and high engine speeds. Do not exceed ¾
of the maximum speed for each gear.
R Do not change down a gear manually in
order to brake.
R Avoid depressing the accelerator pedal
beyond the pressure point (kickdown) and
only engage gear 4, 3, 2 or 1 while driving
slowly.
After 1000 miles (1500 km)
R Gradually bring the vehicle up to full road
and engine speeds.
i These instructions must also be observed
if you have the engine, the transmission, or
the rear axle differential of your vehicle
replaced. Driving abroad
An extensive network of authorized Sprinter
Dealers is also

at your disposal when you are
traveling abroad. The respective workshop
directories are available from any authorized
Sprinter Dealer.
In some countries, only fuels with a lower
octane rating or a higher sulfur content are
available.
You will find information about fuel in the
"Service products" section (Y page 153).
If you are traveling in countries where
vehicles are driven on the opposite side of the
road to that in which the vehicle is registered,
you must have the headlamps:
R partially masked (halogen headlamps)
R switched over (Bi-Xenon headlamps) G
Warning
Masking the headlamps incorrectly can
impair your visibility when driving with the
headlamps switched on. You could also
impede other road users. Oncoming traffic
may be dazzled.
Always have the headlamps masked/
switched over at a qualified specialist
workshop which has

the necessary specialist
knowledge and tools to carry out the work
required.
For this we recommend an authorized
Sprinter Dealer. All work relevant to safety or
on safety-related systems must be carried out
at a qualified specialist workshop. Driving off-road
When driving the vehicle, particularly on
rough terrain, ensure that the driven wheels
always have sufficient traction.
Avoid letting the drive wheels spin. Spinning
drive wheels can damage the differential.
! Always observe the ground clearance of
the vehicle and avoid obstacles, e.g. deep
ruts. 138
Driving tips
Operation