traction control MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2013 MY13 Operator’s Manual

If ESP
®
intervenes:
X Do not deactivate ASR under any
circumstances.
X When driving off, apply as little throttle as
possible.
X Adapt yours peed and driving style to the
prevailing road conditions.
i Only use wheels with the recommended
tire sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function
properly. ASR (acceleration skid control)
General notes Important safety notes
Note the section on 'Important safety notes'
(Y
page 56).
ASR can neither reduce the risk of an accident
nor suspend the laws of physics if the driver
does not pay attention when pulling away or
accelerating. ASR is only an aid. Always adapt
your driving style to suit the prevailing road
and weather conditions.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if
ASR is malfunctioning, the 000Aindicator
lamp lights up while the engine is running and
the engine power may be reduced
(Y page 210).
ASR significantly improves traction, i.e. the
transmission of power from the tires to the
road surface, and thus increases the vehicle's
driving stability. If the driving wheels start to
spin, ASR brakes individual drive wheels and
limits the engine torque. ASR thus
significantly assists you when pulling away
and accelerating, especially on wet or
slippery roads.
If traction on the road surface is not sufficient,
even ASR will not allow you to pull away
without difficulty. The type of tires and total
weight of the vehicle as well as the gradient
of the road also play a crucial role. If ASR intervenes, the
000Dwarning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes.
Activating/deactivating ASR G
WARNING
If deactivated, ASR will not attempt to
stabilize the vehicle during pulling away and
acceleration. There is an increased risk of
skidding and of an accident.
Only deactivate ASR in the situations
described in the following.
! If you deactivate ASR, ESP ®
will still
intervene to stabilize the vehicle. Frequent
braking automatically triggered by ESP ®
can damage the brake system.
For this reason, deactivate ASR only briefly
and when absolutely necessary. When ESP
®
is intervening and the 000D
warning lamp in the instrument cluster is
flashing, leave ASR on. In this case, only
depress the accelerator pedal as far as
required when pulling away.
X Press the 0006button.
If ASR is deactivated, the 000Dwarning
lamp in the instrument cluster lights up.
ASR is automatically activated when the
engine is started.
It may be best to deactivate ASR briefly in the
following situations:
R when using snow chains
R in deep snow
R on sand or gravel 58
Driving safet
ysystemsSafety

If you deactivate ASR:
R
engine torque is not limited and the drive
wheels are able to spin. The spinning
wheels will then achieve a cutting effect for
better traction.
R traction control remains active through
brake intervention. If a drive wheel attains
its tire traction limitb ecause one side of the
road is slippery, for example, that wheel is
braked. The traction is then increased in
this situation.
R active brake intervention by ESP ®
to
increase driving stability remains active.
The 000D warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes when ESP ®
is intervening. Emergency exit
Emergency exit window
G
WARNING
The emergency exit window cannot be locked
in place. You risk injury if you exit the vehicle
through the emergency exit window.
R Make sure that nobody becomes trapped,
both when closing and when opening the
emergency exit window.
R The opened emergency exit window must
be held in place by another person.
Pay attention to traffic conditions. G
WARNING
If the emergency exit window is unlocked
while driving, it could open and slam shut and
consequently fall down. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Before starting off, make sure that the
emergency exit window is locked and the
locking pins are undamaged.
! Make sure there is sufficien tclearance
when opening the emergency exit window.
Hold the open window in position. You
could otherwise damage the emergency
exit window. The emergency exit window is intended for
use in an emergency only and must not be
opened unless the vehicle is stationary. The
emergency exit window is the firs
twindow
behind the driver's seat on the driver's side.
It is marked by the "Emergency Exit" label.
X To open: position both handles 0005
vertically. This will break locking pins 0006.
The window is unlocked.
X Swing the window outward by the handles
and hold it in this position. Make sure there
is sufficien tclearance when doing so.
X To close: close the window.
X Position both handles 0005horizontally.
Make sure that the locks 0026are inside in
front of the window frame.
The window is locked.
X Replace locking pins 0006at the lates tbefore
starting on a new journey.
You can obtain information on this at any
qualified specialist workshop.
In an emergency, or after an accident, the
vehicle occupants can exit the vehicle
through the emergency exit window.
Observe the following notes to make sure that
the emergency exit window can be used
safely in the event of an emergency:
R Before beginning a journey, inform the
vehicle occupants of the emergency exit
window and explain how to use it. Make Emergency exit
59Safety Z

X
To open: for the left-hand side of the
vehicle, tur nthumbwheel 0005or for the
right-hand side of the vehicle,
thumbwheel 0006of the air vents clockwise.
X To close: for the left-hand side of the
vehicle, turn thumbwheel 0005or for the
right-hand side of the vehicle,
thumbwheel 0006of the air vents counter-
clockwise. Adjusting the air vents in the roof duct
! Always leave at least one air vent open.
If the rear-compartment air conditioning is
switched on and all the air vents are closed,
the air-conditioning system may be
damaged. On vehicles with rear-compartment air
conditioning, adjustable air vents are
integrated into the roof duct.
X
To adjust the airflow: open or close the
air flap in air vents 0005as needed.
X To adjust the air distribution: turn air
vent 0005to the desired position. Operating the auxiliary heating
system
Important safety notes
G
DANGER
If the exhaust pipe is blocked or adequate
ventilation is not possible, poisonous gases such as carbon monoxide (CO) may enter the
vehicle. This is the case, for example in
enclosed spaces or if the vehicle gets stuck
in snow. There is a risk of fatal injury.
Switch the auxiliary heating off in enclosed
spaces without extraction systems, e.g. in
garages. If the vehicle is stuck in snow and
you have to leave the auxiliary heating
running, keep the exhaust pipe and the area
around the vehicle free of snow. To ensure an
adequate supply of fresh air, open a window
on the side of the vehicle that is not facing
into the wind. G
WARNING
When the auxiliary heating is switched on,
parts of the vehicle can become very hot, e.g.
the exhaust system. If flammable materials
such as leaves, grass or twigs remain in
contact with hot parts of the exhaust system
for a prolonged period, they could ignite.
There is a risk of fire.
When the auxiliary heating is switched on,
make sure that no flammable material can
come into contact with hot vehicle
components.
! Switch on the auxiliary heating system at
least once a month for approximately
10 minutes. The auxiliary heating could
otherwise be damaged.
! Make sure that the flow of hot air is not
blocked. The auxiliary heating will
otherwise overheat and switch off.
Your vehicle may be equipped with either an
auxiliary hot-water heater or an auxiliary
warm-air heater. Adjustment and operation of
the:
R hot-water auxiliary heater is done via the
on-board computer and with the auxiliary
heating button in the control panel
(Y page 119) or with the remote control
(Y page 121).
R auxiliary warm-air heater is done via the
timer above the overhead control panel
(Y page 122). 118
Operating the auxiliary heating systemClimate control

X
Press the 0003or0006 button until the
0001 symbol in menu bar 0006flashes.
X Press the 000Abutton.
In program column 0005, the day selected
flashes.
X Press the 0003or0006 button to set the
desired day.
X Press the 000Abutton.
The day selected is stored. The hour setting
of the clock flashes.
X In the same way, set the hour and
subsequently the minutes, then confirm by
pressing the 000Abutton.
The time is stored. Program column 0005
disappears and the operating duration
flashes.
i The operating duration set is the default
setting for immediate heating mode. You
can set the operating duration from 10 to
120 minutes or activate continuous
operation.
X Using the 0003or0006 button, set the
minute value or select the 0005symbol for
continuous operation.
X Press the 000Abutton.
The operating duration is stored. The time
is shown.
Activating/deactivating immediate
heating mode X
To switch on: press the0003or0006
button until the 0020symbol in the menu
bar flashes.
X Press the 000Abutton.
The operation duration flashes in the
display.
i You can preset the default value that is
shown (Y page 123).
X Using the 0003or0006 button, set the
minute value (10 – 120) or select the
0005 symbol for continuous operation. X
Press the 000Abutton.
Immediate heating mode is activated. The
time and the 0020symbol appear.
X To switch off: press the0003or0006
button until the 0020symbol flashes in the
menu bar, and then press the 000Abutton.
Immediate heating mode is deactivated.
The 0020 symbol disappears.
The auxiliary heating operates for another
two minutes and then switches off
automatically.
i If you switch off the ignition while
immediate heating mode (operating
duration 10– 120 minutes) is active,
immediate heating mode is also switched
off. The auxiliary heating operates for
another two minutes and then switches off
automatically.
If you have set continuous operation as the
operating duration and you switch off the
ignition, the auxiliary heating switches off
automatically after about 15 minutes .If, in
the remaining time, the ignition is switched
on again, continuous operation of the
auxiliary heating continues.
Setting the preselection time G
WARNING
The auxiliary heating must not be operated if
there are highly flammable substances
nearby or in enclosed spaces without an
extraction system. Make sure that the
auxiliary heating is not switched on
automatically by the timer in such places. If
this possibility exists, deactivate the
respective programmed time.
You can set three preselectio ntimes using
the timer.
Observe that when setting the preselection
time, this does not correspond to the switch-
on time but to the switch-off or departure
time. The auxiliary heatin gsystem starts up
automatically and runs fo rthe operating
duration set prior to departure. 124
Operating the auxiliary heating systemClimate control

steering, chassis and exhaust system for
any damage.
X Check the service brake for operating
safety, e.g. carry out a brake test.
X If you notice strong vibrations after driving
off-road, check the wheels and drive train
for foreign objects again. Remove any
foreign objects which can lead to
imbalances and thus cause vibrations. Driving systems
Cruise control
Important safety notes Observe the notes on braking in the "Driving
tips" section (Y
page 150).
If you fail to adapty our driving style or if you
are inattentive, cruise control can neither
reduce the risk of an accident nor override the
laws of physics. Cruise control cannot take
road, weather and traffic conditions into
account .Cruise control is only an aid.Y ou are
responsible for the distance to the vehicle in
front, for vehicle speed and for braking in
good time.
Do not use cruise control:
R in traffic conditions that are unsuitable for
driving at a constant speed, e.g. in heavy
traffic, on winding roads or off-road
R on slippery roads. Brakin goraccelerating
may cause the drive wheel sto lose traction
and the vehicle could then skid.
R when there is poor visibility, e.g. due to fog,
heavy rain or snow
If there is a change of drivers, make sure that
you inform the new driver about the set cruise
speed.
General notes Cruise control maintains the speed of the
vehicle for you.
Use cruise control if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
set any speed from 20 mph upwards in
increments of 1 mph.
Use cruise control if road and traffic
conditions make it appropriate to maintain a
steady speed for a prolonged period. You can
set any speed from 20 mph upwards in
increments of 1 mph.
i
If you have set km/h as the unit for the
digital speedometer (Y page 185), you can
set any speed from 30 km/h upwards in
increments of 1 km/h.
i Cruise control should not be activated
when driving off-road or on construction
sites.
Cruise control may not be able to maintain
the stored speed on uphill or downhill
gradients. If the gradient evens out and the
vehicle's speed does not fall below 20 mph
(30 km/h), the stored speed is resumed.
Cruise control lever 0005
To activate and store the current speed or
a higher speed
0006 To activate at the last stored speed
0026 To activate and store the current speed or
a lower speed
0025 To deactivate cruise control
The cruise control lever is the uppermost
lever on the left of the steering column. Driving systems
155Driving and parking Z

When parking your vehicle, make sure that
the tires do not get deformed by the curb or
other obstacles. If it is necessary to drive over
curbs, speed humps or similar elevations, try
to do so slowly and not at a sharp angle.
Otherwise, the tires, particularly the
sidewalls, can get damaged. Regular wheel and tirec
hecksG
WARNING
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation
pressure loss .As a result, you could lose
control of your vehicle. There is a risk of
accident.
Check the tires regularly for signs of damage
and replace any damaged tires immediately.
Check the wheels and tires of your vehicle for
damage regularly, i.e. at least every two
weeks, as well as after driving off-road or on
rough roads. Damaged wheels can cause a
loss of tire pressure. Pay particular attention
to damage such as:
R cuts in the tires
R punctures
R tears in the tires
R bulges on tires
R deformation or severe corrosion on wheels
Regularly check the tire tread depth and the
condition of the tread across the whole width
of the tire (Y page 275). If necessary, turn
the front wheels to full lock in order to inspect
the inner side of the tire surface.
All wheels must have a valve cap to protect
the valve against dirt and moisture. Do not
install anything onto the valve other than the
standard valve cap or other valve caps
approved for your vehicle by dealers listed on
the inside of the front cover. Do not install any
other valve caps or systems, e.g. tire pressure
monitor systems.
Regularly check the pressure of all the tires,
particularly prior to long trips. Adjust the tire
pressure if necessary (Y page 278).The service life of tires depends on various
factors, including the following:
R
driving style
R tire pressure
R mileage Tire tread
G
WARNING
Insufficient tire tread will reduce tire traction.
The tire is no longer able to dissipate water.
This means that on wet road surfaces, the risk
of hydroplaning increases, in particular where
speed is not adapted to suit the driving
conditions. There is a risk of accident.
If the tire pressure is too high or too low, tires
may exhibit different levels of wear at
different locations on the tire tread. Thus, you
should regularly check the tread depth and
the condition of the tread across the entire
width of all tires.
Minimum tire tread depth for:
R Summer tires: 000Cin (3 mm)
R M+S tires: 000Din (4 mm)
For safety reasons, replace the tires before
the legally prescribed limit for the minimum
tire tread depth is reached. Bar marking
0005for tread wear is integrated
into the tire tread.
Tread wear indicators (TWIs) are required by
law. Six indicators are positioned over the tire
tread. They are visible once the tread depth
is approximately 000Bin (1.6 mm). If this is the Operation
275Wheels and tires Z

Always observe the maximu
mpermissible
speed specified for the M+S tires you have
mounted.
If you mount M+S tires that have a lower
maximum permissible speed than that of the
vehicle, affix a corresponding warning label in
the driver's field of vision. You can obtain this
at a qualified specialist workshop.
Once you have mounted the winter tires:
X Check the tire pressure (Y page 278).
X Reactivate the tire pressure
monitor*(Y page 283). Snow chains
G
WARNING
If you drive too fast with snow chains
mounted, they may snap. As a result, you
could injure others and damage the vehicle.
There is a risk of an accident.
Observe the maximum permissible speed for
operation with snow chains.
When driving with snow chains mounted, do
not exceed the maximum permissible speed
of 30 mph (50 km/h). Observe the country-
specific laws and regulations for operation
with snow chains.
! Check the snow chains for damage before
mounting them. Damaged or worn snow
chains may snap and damage the following
components:
R wheel
R wheel housing
R wheel suspension
For this reason, you must use only snow
chains that are free of defects. Observe the
manufacturer's mounting instructions.
! Vehicles with steel wheels: if you
mount snow chains on steel wheels, you
may damage the hub caps. Remove the hub
caps from the relevant wheels before
mounting the snow chains. Snow chains increase traction on roads in
wintry conditions.
For reasons of safety we only recommend
using snow chains or traction aids that are
approved for the Sprinter. The snow chains or
traction aids must be of class U or meet the
SAE type U specification. Information on
snow chains is available at any qualified
specialist workshop.
When mounting snow chains, please bear the
following points in mind:
R
You may not mount snow chains on all
wheel/tire combinations. When mounting
the snow chains, note the permissible tire
and snow chain dimensions.
R Mount snow chains only in pairs and only
to the rear wheels. On vehicles with twin
tires, mount the snow chains to the outer
wheels. Observe the manufacturer's
mounting instructions.
R Only use snow chains when the road is
covered by a layer of snow. Remove the
snow chains as soon as possible when you
come to a road that is not snow-covered.
R The use of snow chains may be restricted
by local regulations. Observe the
appropriate regulations before mounting
snow chains.
R When driving with snow chains mounted,
do not exceed the maximum permissible
speed of 30 mph (50 km/h).
R Check the tension of the chains after a
distance of approximately 0.5 miles
(1.0 km).
You can deactivate ASR (Y page 58) when
pulling away with snow chains mounted. This
allows the wheels to spin in a controlled
manner, achieving an increased driving force
(cutting action). Operation in winter
277Wheels and tires
*optional Z