towing MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2013 MY13 Operator’s Manual

X
To use the cigarette lighter: turn the key
to position 1in the ignition lock.
X Press in cigarette lighter 0005.
The cigarette lighte rwill pop out
automatically when the heatin gelemen tis
red-hot.
X Pull the cigarette lighter out of the socket
by its handle. 12
Vsocket
! Only use the 12 V socket (25 A) on the
center console for connecting the tire
inflatio ncompressor (Premium tire
sealant). You may otherwise damage the
electrical systems of the vehicle. Socket on the lower section of the center console
0005 12 V socket (25 A)
The 12 Vsockets 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 respective corner trim 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)
You can use the 12 V sockets (15 A) for
accessories with a maximu mpower
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.
i The sockets are supplied with power even
when the key is removed from the ignition
lock. If accessories, e.g. a coolbox, remain
connected while the engine is not running,
the battery will discharge. Mobile phone
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you operate information systems and
communication equipment integrated in the
vehicle while driving, you will be distracted
from traffic conditions. You could also lose
control of the vehicle. There is a risk of an
accident.
Only operate the equipment when the traffic
situation permits. If you are not sure that this
is possible, park the vehicle paying attention
to traffic conditions and operate the
equipment when the vehicle is stationary.
You must observe the legal requirements for
the country in which you are currently driving
when operating mobile phones.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approximately
14 m) every second.
You and others can suffer health-related
damage through electromagnetic radiation.
By using an exterior antenna, a possible
health risk caused by electromagnetic fields, 228
Mobile phoneStowing and features

as discussed in scientific circles, is taken into
account. Only have the exterior antenna
installed by a qualified specialist workshop.
We recommend the use of an approved
exterior antenna for operating the mobile
phone. Only in this way can optimal mobile
phone reception quality in the vehicle be
ensured and mutual interference between the
vehicle electronics and mobile phones
minimized.
Observe the legal requirements for each
individual country. Mobile phone pre-installation
The mobile phone pre-installatio nincludes a
hands-free system integrated into the
vehicle. The microphone for the hands-free
system is installed in the overhead control
panel or in the overhead stowage
compartment together with the front interior
light.
In order to use the hands-free system, you will
need a special bracket. The Sprinter
accessories include brackets for various
mobile phone models.
i Mobile phone brackets which are
available from various manufacturers on
the open market are not compatible with
the Sprinter telephone system .You can
recognize suitable holders for your mobile
phone by the imprinted star and the B6
spare part number on the back of the
bracket.
Detailed instructions for use can be found in
the operating instructions for the mobile
phone bracket and in the separate operating
instructions for the mobile phone pre-
installation.
i The mobile phone battery is charged
depending on the condition of charge and
the position of the key in the ignition lock.
The mobile phone display indicates the
charging process. Additional 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.
An avigation system does no tsupply
informatio nonthe load-bearing capacity of
bridges or the overhead clearance of
underpasses.
The driver remains responsible for the safety
of the vehicle at all times.
Observe legal requirements.
Telephones, two-way radios and fax machines
without an exterior antenna could interfere
with the vehicle electronicsa nd thus
compromise the operational safety of the
vehicle. There is an increased ris kofaccident.
Do not use this equipment while the vehicle
is in motion. G
WARNING
You and others may damage your health due
to excessive electromagnetic radiation. By
using an external antenna, the possible health
risks of electromagnetic fields, which are
under discussion among the scientific
community, should be largel yprevented.
Therefore, only have the exterior antenna
installed at a qualified specialist workshop.
You will find information on retrofitting
electrical or electronic equipment in the
“Vehicle electronics” section (Y page 314). Additional communications equipment
229Stowing and features Z

Useful information
............................264
Where will I find...? ...........................264
Flat tire .............................................. 266
Jump-starting .................................... 267
Tow-starting and towing away ........268
Electrical fuses ................................. 271 263Breakdown assistance

Useful information
This Operator's Manual describes all models
as well as standard and optional equipment
of your vehicle that were available at the time
of going to print. Country-specific variations
are possible. Note that your vehicle may not
be equipped with all of the described
functions. This also applies to systems and
functions relevant to safety.
Read the information on qualified specialist
workshops (Y page 26). Where will I find...?
Vehicle tool kit
General notes The vehicle tool kit is in the stowage
compartment in the footwell on the co-
driver's side. For vehicles without a spare
wheel, the Premium tire sealant and the tire
inflation compressor are in the stowage
compartment in the right-hand door sill.
The vehicle tool kit consists of:
R a towing eye
R a lug wrench
R 2o pen-end wrenches
R a screwdriver with Torx ,Phillips and slotted
bits
i Vehicles without a spare wheel are not
equipped with the tools needed to change
a wheel when they leave the factory, e.g. a
jack. In the event of a flat tire, these
vehicles are equipped with a tire sealant
and a tire inflation compressor. Country-
specific variations are possible. Stowage compartment in the co-
driver's footwell Unlocking and removing the cover
X
Turn quick-release fastener 0005counter-
clockwise or clockwise 0009.
X Slightly raise and pull out the cover. Removing the vehicle tool kit and the jack
X
If necessary, use tool 4
0026 for the DEF tank
fuel filler cap to remove the fixture.
X Remove vehicle tool kit 0024.
X Pull up quick-release lever 0025and unhook
the retaining strap of jack 0023.
X Lift jack 0023upwards 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.
4 Chassis Cab only. 264
Where will I find...?Breakdown assistance

Tow-starting and towing away
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longe ravailable if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the powe rsteering is
malfunctioning.
R there is a malfunctio ninthe voltage supply
or the vehicle's electrical system.
If your vehicle is being towed, much more
force may be necessary to steer or brake.
There is a risk of an accident.
In such cases, use a tow bar. Before towing,
make sure that the steering moves freely. G
WARNING
You can no longer steer the vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged. There
is a risk of an accident.
Always switch off the ignition when towing the
vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar. G
WARNING
If the weight of the vehicle to be towed or tow-
started is greater than the permissible gross
weight of your vehicle:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could
rollover.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the
permissible gross weight of your vehicle.
Information on your vehicle's gross vehicle
weight rating can be found on the vehicle
identification plate (Y page 315).
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged. !
Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
R Secure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
R Ensure that the tow cable is not longer
than legally permitted. Mark the tow
cable in the middle, e.g. with a white
cloth (30 x 30 cm). This will make other
road users aware that the vehicle is being
towed.
R Only secure the tow cable to the towing
eye.
R Observe the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a
distance so that the tow rope does not
sag.
R Do not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. You could otherwise
damage the vehicle.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
this could damage the vehicle. If in doubt,
recover the vehicle with acrane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly .Ifthe tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
Observe the legal requirements for the
relevant country when towing.
It is preferable to have the vehicle
transported on a transporter or trailer instead
of towing it.
The automatic transmission selector lever
must be in the Nposition when towing the
vehicle.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
R cannot turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2
R cannot move the selector lever to position
Non vehicles with automatic transmission.
i Switch off the automatic locking feature
before the vehicle is towed (Y page 69). You
could otherwise lock yourself out of the
vehicle when pushing or towing away the
vehicle. 268
Tow-starting and towing awayBreakdown assistance

Installing/removing the towing eye
The fixture for the fron
ttowing eye is located in the
bumper. Rear towing eye under the bumper, attached to the
chassis
Your vehicle may be equipped with rear
towing eye 0006. If you tow or tow-start a
vehicle, attach the towing device to rear
towing eye 0006.
If your vehicle is equipped with a trailer tow
hitch, attach the towing device to the trailer
tow hitch (Y page 168).
Installing the front towing eye
X Take the towing eye and screwdriver from
the vehicle tool kit (Y page 264).
X Press cover 0005and remove cover 0005from
the opening.
You will see the fixture for the towing eye.
X Screw in the towing eye clockwise to the
stop.
X Insert screwdriver into the towing eye and
tighten it. Removing the front towing eye
X
Remove the screwdriver from the vehicle
tool kit.
X Insert the screwdriver into the towing eye
and turn the screwdriver counter-
clockwise.
X Unscrew the towing eye.
X Insert cover 0005with the lug at the bottom
and press it in at the top until it engages.
X Place the towing eye and screwdriver back
in the vehicle tool kit. Towing in the event of malfunctions
With transmission damage !
Always use new bolts when installing the
propeller shafts.
If the vehicle has transmission damage, have
the propeller shaft removed before towing
away.
In the event of damage to the electrical
system If the battery is defective, the automatic
transmission will be locked in position
P. In
order to be able to shift the automatic
transmission to position N, you must provide
power to the vehicle's 12 Velectrical system
in the same way as when jump-starting
(Y page 267).
Have the vehicle transported on a transporter
or trailer. Towing with the front or rear axle
raised
General notes !
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. Tow-starting and towing away
269Breakdown assistance Z

!
Always use new bolts when installing the
propeller shafts.
Observe the following before towing a vehicle
with a raised front or rear axle:
R the information on towing in the event of
malfunctions (Y page 269) and
R the important safety notes (Y page 268).
If the front axle is damaged, raise the vehicle
at the front axle and if the rear axle is
damaged, raise the vehicle at the rear axle.
Towing If the front axle is raised, the vehicle may be
towed
amaximum of 30 miles (50 km). For a
towing distance of over 30 miles (50 km), you
must remove the propeller shafts to the
drive naxles.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake.
X Turn the key to position 1in the ignition
lock and leave it in this position.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 93).
X If the front axle is raised, do not exceed the
towing speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) and the
towing distance of 30 miles (50 km). Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
Important safety notes G
WARNING
You can no longe rstee rthe vehicle if the
steering wheel lock has been engaged. There
is a risk of an accident. Always switch off the ignition when towing the
vehicle with a tow cable or a tow bar.
! Do not exceed a towing speed of
31 mph (50 km/h). You could otherwise
damage the transmission.
! Always use new bolts when installing the
propeller shafts.
Before towing the vehicle, observe the
following:
R the information on towing in the event of
malfunctions (Y page 269) and
R the important safety notes (Y page 268).
Towing You may only tow the vehicle a maximum
distance of 30 miles (50 km). For a towing
distance of over 30 miles (50 km), you must
remove the propeller shafts to the driven
axles.
X
Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position N.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Release the parking brake.
X Leave the key in position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Switch on the hazard warning lamps
(Y page 93).
X Do not exceed the towing speed of
30 mph (50 km/h) and the towing distance
of 30 miles (50 km). Recovering
avehicle that is stuck
! Pull away smoothly, slowly, and in a
straigh tline when pulling out a vehicle that
has become stuck. Excessive tractive
power could damage the vehicles. 270
Tow-starting and towing awayBreakdown assistance

If the drive wheels get trapped on loose or
muddy ground, recover the vehicle with the
utmost care. This is especially the case if the
vehicle is laden.
Never attempt to recover a vehicle with a
traile rattached.
Pull ou tthe vehicle backwards, if possible,
using the tracks it made when it became
stuck. Transporting the vehicle
! Only lash the vehicle down by the wheels
or wheel rims, not by parts of the vehicle
such as axle or steering components.
Otherwise, the vehicle could be damaged.
The towing eye or trailer tow hitch can be
used to pull the vehicle onto a trailer or
transporter if you wish to transport it.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Move the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position N.
If the vehicle is loaded:
X Apply the parking brake.
X Move the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position P.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it.
X Lash down the vehicle. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
Vehicles with automatic transmission !
Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. You could
otherwise damage the automatic
transmission.
Information on "Jump-starting" can be found
at the beginning of the "Breakdown
assistance" section (Y page 267). Electrical fuses
G
WARNING
Only use fuses that have been approved for
your vehicle and which have the correct fuse
rating for the systems concerned. Do not
repair or bypass defective fuses. Acircuit
overload could otherwise cause afire. Have
the cause determined and rectified at a
qualified specialist workshop.
! Only use fuses that have been approved
for Sprinter vehicles and that have the
required fuse rating for the systems
concerned. Components or systems could
otherwise be damaged.
The fuses in your vehicle switch off defective
power circuits. If a fuse blows, all the
components on the circuit and their functions
will cease to operate.
Blown fuses must be replaced with fuses of
the same rating, which you can recognize by
the color and fuse rating.
Observe the information about fuse rating in
the fuse allocation chart.
You can obtain advice fro maqualified
specialist workshop.
The fuse allocation chart and other
information on the fuses can be found in the
"Fuse allocation chart" supplement. Electrical fuses
271Breakdown assistance Z

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)
0027750 lbs
(340 kg) =
750 lbs (340 kg) 1500 lbs
(680 kg)
0027540 lbs
(245 kg) =
960 lbs (435 kg) 1500 lbs
(680 kg)
0027150 lbs (68 kg)
= 1350 lbs
(612 kg) The greater the combined weight of the occupants, th
elower the maximum luggage load.
Further information can be found under "Towing atrailer" (Y page 173). 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 drive rseat frame of your vehicle
(Y page 315).
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 load. What you should know about wheels
and tires
Tire labeling
Overview 0005
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(Ypage 292)
0006 Maximum tire load (Y page 291) What you should know about wheels and tires
289Wheels and tires Z

This can result in damage to the fuel
injection system, for example.
Flow improvers are fuel additives used to
improve the flow characteristics of diesel
fuels.
The effectiveness of flow improvers cannot be
guaranteed with all fuels. Observe the
manufacturer's recommendations.
Information about approved flow improvers is
available from any authorized Sprinter Dealer.
At outside temperatures below 14 ‡(002710 †),
and if using diesel with less resistance to low
temperatures, add flow improver, basing the
mixing ratio on the outside temperature.
Mix this fuel additive with the diesel in good
time before the flow properties of the diesel
are affected by paraffi nseparation.
Malfunctions resulting from paraffin
separation can only be rectified by heating
the entire fuel system. Park the vehicle in a
heated garage, for example.
Information on fuel consumption H
Environmental note
CO 2(carbon dioxide) is the gas which
scientists believe to be principally responsible
for global warming (the greenhouse effect).
Your vehicle's CO 2emissions are directly
related to fuel consumption and therefore
depend on:
R efficien tuse of the fuel by the engine
R driving style
R other non-technical factors, such as
environmental influences or road
conditions
You can minimize your vehicle's CO 2
emissions by driving carefully and having it
serviced regularly.
i Only for certain countries: the respective
current consumption and emission values
of your vehicle can be found in the COC
papers (EC CERTIFICATE OF
CONFORMITY). These documents are
supplied when the vehicle is delivered. Consumption figures were found in the
currently valid respective version:
R
for vehicles up to and including the
Euro 4 standard according to EU
Directive 80/1268/EEC
R for vehicles from the Euro 5 standard
according to regulation (EC) no.
715/2007
Fuel consumption depends on:
R the vehicle version
R the style of driving
R the operating conditions
R the type or quality of the fuel used
The vehicle will use more fuel than usual in
the following situations:
R at very low outside temperatures
R in city traffic
R during short journeys
R in mountainous terrain
R when towing a trailer
To keep fuel consumption low, observe the
advice in the "Protection of the environment"
section (Y page 22).
The following components of the different
vehicle versions influence fuel consumption:
R tire sizes, tire tread, tire pressure, tire
condition
R body
R transmission ratios for the drive
assemblies
R additional equipment (e.g. air-conditioning
system, auxiliary heating system).
For these reasons, the actual consumption
figures for your vehicle may deviate from the
consumption figures determined according
to EU Directive 80/1268/EEC.
Data concerning fuel consumption are
recorded in the on-board computer; use the
steering wheel buttons to call up the Trip
computer menu (Ypage 190). Service products and capacities
319Technical data Z