warning MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2013 MY13 Operator’s Manual

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). Breaking-in notes
The first 1,000 miles (1,500 km)
New or replaced brake pads and brake disks
only reach their optimum braking effec tafter
100 miles (a few hundred kilometers). Until
then, compensate for this by applying greater
force to the brake pedal.
For the service life and economy of your
vehicle it is crucial that you brea kinthe
engine with due care.
R Therefore, protect the engine for the first
1,000 miles (1,500 km) by driving at
varying vehicle and engine speeds.
R Avoid overstraining the vehicle and high
engine speeds during this period, e.g.
driving at full throttle. Do not exceed 0001of
the maximum speed for each gear.
R Do not change down a gear manually in
order to brake.
R Try to avoid depressing the accelerator
pedal beyond the point of resistance
(kickdown).
R The shift ranges 3,2or 1should only be
engaged when driving slowly, e.g. when
driving in mountainous terrain.
After 1,000 miles (1,500 km), you can
increase the engine speed gradually and
accelerate the vehicle up to full speed.
i You should also observe these notes on
breaking-in if the engine or parts of the drive train on your vehicle have been
replaced. Driving
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant functions are only available
with limitations, or not at all. This could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect.Y ou will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If the parking brake has not been fully
released when driving, the parking brake can:
R overheat and cause a fire
R lose its hold function.
There is a risk of fire and an accident .Release
the parking brake fully before driving off. Battery isolating switch
Important safety notes !
Make sure that the key is in position 0in
the ignition lock and wait at least
20 seconds before disconnecting or
connecting the battery isolating switch.
You could otherwise damage electrical
system components.
You can use the battery isolating switch to
disconnect the power supply to all your
vehicle's consumers. This will prevent
uncontrolled battery discharge caused by off-
load curren tconsumption.
If your vehicle is equipped with an auxiliary
battery in the engine compartment, you will
need to disconnect both batteries. Only then
is the electrical system fully disconnected
from the power supply. 132
DrivingDriving and parking

i
To unlock the steering, move the steering
wheel slightly while turning the key to
position 1. 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 trailer coupling is one of the most
importan tvehicle parts 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
X
Check the equipment to make sure that it
is accessible, complete and ready for use.
The first aid and breakdown assistance
equipment is in the fron tdoor stowage
compartments and behind the driver's seat.
Vehicle lighting
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
X Check the lighting system with the aid of a
second person.
X Replace defective bulbs (Y page 96). Before driving off
G
WARNING
Objects in the driver's footwell may restrict
the clearance around the pedals or block a
depressed pedal. This jeopardizes the
operating and road safety of the vehicle.
There is a risk of an accident.
Stow all objects securely in the vehicle so that
they do not get into the driver's footwell.
When using floormats or carpets, make sure
that they are properly secured so that they do
not slip or obstruct the pedals. Only use non-
slip floormats. G
WARNING
Unsuitable footwear can hinder correc tusage
of the pedals, e.g.:
R shoes with thick soles
R shoes with high heels
R slippers
There is a risk of an accident.
Wear suitable footwear to ensure correct
usage of the pedals.
X Secure the load as per the loading
guidelines (Y page 232).
X Make sure that the floormats and carpets
are properly secured so that they cannot
slip and obstruct the pedals.
X Close all doors. Starting the engine
G
WARNING
Combustion engines emit poisonous exhaust
gases such as carbon monoxide. Inhaling
these exhaust gases leads to poisoning. There
is a risk of fatal injury. Therefore never leave
the engine running in enclosed spaces
without sufficient ventilation.
! Do not depress the accelerator pedal
when starting the engine.
X Before starting the engine, make sure that: 134
DrivingDriving and parking

R
all the doors are closed.
R all the vehicle occupants are wearing
their seat belts correctly.
R the parking brake is applied.
i If you depress the brake pedal before
starting the engine, th epedal travel is short
and pedal resistance is high.
If you depress the brake pedal again after
starting the engine, pedal travel and
resistance will be back to normal again. Gearshift pattern
0016
Park position with parking lock
0012 Reverse gear
0013 Neutral
0015 Drive
X Move the selector lever to position P.
The display in the instrument cluster shows
P:
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 182)
R on vehicles without steering wheel
buttons (Y page 178)
i You can also start the engine in neutral
N.
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition
lock.
The 000D preglow indicator lamp in the
instrument cluster lights up briefly.
X Once the 000Dpreglow indicator lamp goes
out, turn the key to position 3in 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.
The preglow system is malfunctioning if the
000D preglow indicator lamp lights up for
approximately 1minute:
R after the ignition is switched on
R while the engine is running
At extremely low outside temperatures you
may the nno longer be able to start the
engine. Have the malfunction rectified at a
qualified specialist workshop.
i Depending on the equipment installed,
the vehicle either automatically locks
centrally after switching on the ignition or
after pulling away.T he 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 69). Driving off
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
! Only shift into reverse gear Rwhen the
vehicle is stationary. Otherwise, you could
damage the transmission.
X Depress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
The selector lever lock is released.
X Move the selector lever to position Dor R.
On vehicles with a reverse warning feature,
when reverse gear is engaged a warning
tone sounds to alert other road users
(Y page 136). Driving
135Driving and parking Z

X
Release the parking brake (Y page 146).
The 000B indicator lamp in the instrument
cluste rgoes out.
X Release the brake pedal.
X Carefully depress the accelerator pedal.
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.
You can also deactivate the automatic
locking feature (Y page 69).Reverse warning device
G
WARNING
Other road users may ignore or fail to hear the
warning tone of the reverse warning feature.
There is a risk of injury if you fail to ensure
that the area in which you are maneuvering is
clear.
Make sure that there are no persons or
objects in the area in which you are
maneuvering. It may be necessary to enlist
the help of a second person when
maneuvering.
The reverse warning feature is a system
designed to assist you in ensuring the safety
of other road users.
Aw arning signal sounds to alert other road
users when reverse gear is engaged .The
volume of the warning tone can be reduced
for night-time driving.
X To reduce the volume of the warning
tone: engage reverse gear twice in quick
succession.
The warning tone is now quieter.
i The warning tone sounds at a normal
volume by default. The volume of the
warning tone has to be reduced each time
you engage reverse gear if necessary. 136
DrivingDriving and parking

Problems with the engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0004 Solutions
The engine does not
start.
The starter motor can
be heard. There is air in the fuel system.
X
Turn the key back to position 0in the ignition lock before
attempting to start the engine again.
X Start the engine again.
Please bear in mind that lengthy and frequent starting attempts
will drain the battery.
If the engine does not start after several attempts:
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start.
The starter motor can
be heard. The reserve
fuel warning lamp is lit
and the fuel gage is at
0. The fuel tank has been run dry.
X
Refuel the vehicle.
If you drive until the fuel tank is completely empty, air may get into
the fuel system. If the engine does not start after refueling, bleed
the fuel system as follows:
X Turn the key to position 2in the ignition for approximately
10 seconds.
X Start the engine continuously for a maximum of 60 seconds.
If the engine does not start:
X Wait approximately 2minutes.
X Start the engine continuously for a maximum of 60 seconds
again.
X If the engine still fails start, do not continue trying to start it.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start.
The starter motor
cannot be heard. The
yellow
0018engine
diagnostic lamp and
the yellow 0009DEF
indicator lamp 1
light
up. The exhaust gas aftertreatmen
tis faulty, an emission-relevant
malfunction has occurred or the DEF reserve has been used up.
The engine management prevents the engine from starting.
This malfunction or defect can damage the exhaust gas
aftertreatment.
X Observe the messages in the display:
R on vehicles without steering-wheel buttons (Y page 195)
R on vehicles with steering-wheel buttons (Y page 204) and
(Y page 204). The engine does not
start.
The starter motor
cannot be heard. The battery isolating switch is switched off.
X
Switch on the power supply (Y page 132).1
Only vehicles without steering-wheel buttons. Driving
137Driving and parking Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
0004 Solutions
The engine does not
start.
The starter motor
cannot be heard. The on-board voltage is too low. The battery is too weak or
discharged.
X
Jump-start the vehicle (Y page 267).
If the engine cannot be jump-started, the starter motor is faulty.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. The engine does not
start.
The starter motor
cannot be heard. The battery is discharged or faulty.
X
Check the battery for damage.
X Charge the battery (Y page 254).Automatic transmission
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
If the engine speed is above the idling speed
and you engage transmission position Dor
R, the vehicle could pull away suddenly. There
is a risk of an accident.
When engaging transmission position Dor R,
always firmly depress the brake pedal and do
not simultaneously accelerate.
! Vehicles with automatic transmission
may roll only briefly in the neutral position
N.P rolonged rolling of the wheels, e.g.
when being towed, will result in
transmission damage. Selector lever
0016
Park position with parking lock
0012 Reverse gear
0013 Neutral
0015 Drive
The display in the instrument cluster shows
the present selector leve rposition or the
current shift range:
R on vehicles with steering wheel buttons
(Y page 182)
R on vehicles without steerin gwheel buttons
(Y page 178) 138
Automatic transmissionDriving and parking

lock in parking position
P, e.g. to have the
vehicle towed away. Refueling
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Fuel is highly flammable. Improper handing of
fuel creates a risk of fire and explosion.
Avoid fire, open flames ,smoking and creating
sparks under all circumstances. Switch off the
engine and, if applicable, the auxiliary heating
before refueling. G
WARNING
Fuel is poisonous and hazardous to health.
There is a risk of injury.
You must make sure that fuel does not come
into contact with your skin, eyes or clothing
and that it is not swallowed. Do not inhale fuel
vapors .Keep fuel away from children.
If you or others come into contact with fuel,
observe the following:
R Wash away fuel from skin immediately
using soap and water.
R If fuel comes into contact with your eyes,
immediately rinse them thoroughly with
clean water. Seek medical assistance
without delay.
R If fuel is swallowed, seek medical
assistance without delay. Do not induce
vomiting.
R Immediately change out of clothing which
has come into contact with fuel. G
WARNING
If you mix diesel fuel with gasoline, the flash
point is lower than that of pure diesel fuel.
When the engine is running, exhaust system
components could overheat without being
noticed. There is a risk of fire.
Never refuel with gasoline. Never mix gasoline
with diesel fuel. H
Environmental note
If fuels are handled improperly, they pose a
danger to persons and the environment. Do
not allow fuels to run into the sewage system,
the surface waters, the ground water or into
the ground.
! Do not use gasoline to refuel vehicles with
a diesel engine. Even small amounts of
gasoline will cause damage to the fuel
system and engine.
! Do not switch on the ignition if you
accidentally refuel with the wrong fuel.
Otherwise, the fuel will enter the fuel lines.
Notify a qualified specialist workshop and
have the fuel tank and fuel lines drained
completely.
! Overfilling the fuel tank could damage the
fuel system.
! Take care not to spill any fuel on painted
surfaces. You could otherwise damage the
paintwork.
! Filter the fuel before transferring it to the
vehicle if you are refueling the vehicle from
barrels or containers.
This will preven tmalfunctions in the fuel
system due to contaminate dfuel.
Further information on fuel and on fuel grades
can be found in the "Technical data" section
(Y page 317). Refueling procedure142
RefuelingDriving and pa
rking

The fuel filler flap is beside the frontl
eft-hand
door when viewed in the direction of travel. It
is only possible to open the fuel filler flap
when the fron tdoor is open.
X Remove the key from the ignition lock.
X Switch off the auxiliary heating system
(Y page 118).
X Open the front left-hand door first, and then
the fuel filler flap.
X Close all vehicle doors to prevent fuel
vapors from entering the vehicle.
X Turn fuel filler cap 0006counter-clockwise,
remove it and let it hang from strap 0005.
X Completely insert the filler neck of the fuel
pump nozzle into the tank and refuel.
X Only fill the tank until the pump nozzle
switches off. Fuel may otherwise leak out.
X Replace tank filler cap 0006and turn
clockwise.
You will hear a click when the fuel filler cap
is closed fully.
X Open the front left-hand door first, and then
close the filler flap. Problems with the fuel and fuel tank
If your vehicle is losing fuel, the fuel lines or
the fuel tank are defective.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock immediately and remove it.
X Do not restart the engine under any
circumstances.
X Consult a qualified specialist workshop. Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
Important safety notes H
Environmental note
Dispose of DEF in an environmentally
responsible manner.
! Only use DEF in accordance with
ISO 22241. Never mix DEF with additives or thin it with tap water. The exhaust gas
aftertreatmen
tmay otherwise be
damaged.
Observe the MB Specifications for Service
Products, Sheet 352.0.
Damage that results from the use of
additives or tap wate rleads to the loss of
the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
! If DEF comes into contact with a painted
or aluminum surface, wash the surface off
immediately with plenty of water.
! DEFi s not a diesel additive and must not
be mixed with fuel in the tank. Even small
amounts of DEF can cause engine damage.
Damage that results from the blending of
DEF will not be covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty.
The exhaust gas aftertreatmentr equires a
reducing agent, Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF), in
order to function correctly.
When opening the DEF tank filler cap at high
outside temperatures, ammonia vapors may
escape.
Ammonia vapors have a pungent smell and
primarily cause irritation of the:
R skin
R mucous membranes
R eyes
You may experience a burning sensation in
your eyes, nose and throat, as well as
coughing and watering of the eyes.
Do not inhale ammonia vapors. Avoid contact
with DEF.
Do not allow DEF to come intod irectcontact
with your skin; it is hazardous to your health.
Rinse any affected areas off with plenty of
clean water. Consult a doctor if necessary.
i If the DEFr eserve has fallen below the
reserve range, add at least 2.0 US gal
(7.6 l) of DEF at the latest after receiving
the second warning message
(Y page 178). Refueling
143Driving and parking Z

X
Turn tank filler cap 0006counter-clockwise,
remove it and let it hang from strap 0005.
Make sure that tool 0023remains in tank filler
cap 0006while doing so.
X Only fill up the DEFt ank until the DEFlevel
is visible for the first time in the filler neck.
X Replace tank filler cap 0006and turn
clockwise.
X Pull tool 0023out of tank filler cap 0006and
stow with the vehicle tool kit in the footwell
on the co-driver's side.
X Pull cover 0025up over hole 0026of tank filler
cap 0006, turn and release.
X Turn tank filler cap 0006.
If tank filler cap 0006turns freely, the DEF
tank is closed. Parking
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Flammable materials, e.g. leaves, grass or
twigs, may ignite if they come into contact
with hot parts of the exhaust system or
exhaust gases for extended periods. There is
a risk of fire.
Park the vehicle so that no flammable
materials come into contact with hot parts of
the vehicle. In particular, do not park on dry
areas of grass or harvested grainfields. G
WARNING
If you switch off the ignition while driving,
safety-relevant function sare only available
with limitations, or not at all.T his could affect,
for example, the power steering and the brake
boosting effect.Y ou will require considerably
more effort to steer and brake. There is a risk
of an accident.
Do not switch off the ignition while driving. G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
the parking position P
R starting the engine.
They could also operate the vehicle's
equipment. There is a risk of an accident and
injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle.
! Am oving vehicle can lead to damage to
the vehicle or damage to the drive train.
! 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.
Always park your vehicle safely and according
to legal requirements and secure it against
rolling away.
To ensure that the vehicle is properly secured
against rolling away unintentionally:
R the parking brake must be firmly applied
R the selector lever must be in position Pand
the key must be removed from the ignition
lock
R
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, the
front wheels must be turned towards the
curb
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, the
empty vehicle must be secured at the front
axle, e.g. with a wheel chock or similar
object
R on steep uphill or downhill gradients, the
laden vehicle must also be secured at the
rear axle, e.g. with a wheel chock or similar
object Parking
145Driving and parking Z

Use the wheel chock (Y
page 147) to do so.Parking brake
G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the
vehicle, they could set it in motion by, for
example:
R releasing the parking brake
R shifting the automatic transmission out of
the parking position P
R starting the engine.
They could also operate the vehicle's
equipment. There is a risk of an accident and
injury.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the
SmartKey with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unsupervised in the vehicle. G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. There is an
increased danger of skidding and accidents.
Only use the parking brake to brake the
vehicle when the service brake is faulty. Do
not apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again. The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake.
As a rule, you may only apply the parking
brake when the vehicle is stationary. X
To apply the parking brake: pull brake
lever 0005up as far as the last possible
detent.
The 000B warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up if the engine is running.
i On vehicles with a folding brake lever, you
can then press lever 0005down to the stop.
X To release the parking brake: on vehicles
with a folding brake lever, first pull brake
lever 0005up to the stop.
X Raise brake lever 0005slightly and press
release knob 0006.
X Guide brake lever 0005down to the stop.
The 000B indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Exceptionally, if the service brake fails, the
parking brake can be used to brake the
vehicle in an emergency.
X Emergency braking: press and hold
release button 0006and carefully apply brake
lever 0005. Switching off the engine
G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to
neutral position Nwhen you switch off the
engine. The vehicle may roll away. There is a
risk of an accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked
vehicle from rolling away by applying the
parking brake.
! If the coolant temperature is very high,
e.g. after driving on hilly 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 Stop the vehicle.
X Shift the automatic transmission to
position P. 146
ParkingDriving and parking