trailer MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2015 MY15 Operator’s Manual

R
Only use jumper cables that have a suffi-
cient cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.
R If the battery is fully discharged, attach the
battery of another vehicle for a few minutes before attempting to start. This charges the
empty battery a little.
R Make sure that the two vehicles do not
touch.
Make sure that:
R the jumper cables are not damaged.
R bare parts of the terminal clamps do not
come into contact with other metal parts
while the jumper cables are connected to
the battery.
R the jumper cables cannot come into con-
tact with parts such as the V-belt pulley or
the fan. These parts move when the engine
is started and while it is running.
i Jumper cables and further information
regarding jump starting can be obtained at any qualified specialist workshop. Before connecting the jumper cables
On vehicles with a battery main switch, check whether the battery main switch is switched
on (Y page 137).
X Apply the parking brake.
X Move the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to position P.
X Switch off all electrical consumers, e.g.
audio equipment, blower.
X Turn the key to position 0in the ignition
lock and remove it (Y page 138).
X Open the hood (Y page 248). Tow-starting and towing away
Important safety notes
G
WARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
R the engine is not running.
R the brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
R there is a malfunction in the 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
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible gross weight of your vehicle, the:
R the towing eye could detach itself
R the vehicle/trailer combination could roll-
over.
There is a risk of an accident.
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle,
its weight should not be greater than the per- missible gross weight of your vehicle.
Information on the gross vehicle weight can
be found on the vehicle identification plate
(Y page 316).
! Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could
be damaged. Tow-starting and towing away
277Roadside Assistance Z

!
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 dam-
age the vehicle.
! Do not use the towing eye for recovery,
this could damage the vehicle. If in doubt,
recover the vehicle with a crane.
! When towing, pull away slowly and
smoothly. If the tractive power is too high,
the vehicles could be damaged.
When towing away, you must observe the
legal requirements for the country in which
you are currently driving.
It is preferable to have the vehicle transpor-
ted on a transporter or trailer instead of tow-
ing 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
N on vehicles with automatic transmission
Before the vehicle is towed, switch off the
automatic locking feature (Y page 71). You
could otherwise lock yourself out of the vehi-
cle when pushing or towing away the vehicle. Installing/removing the towing eye
The fixture for the front towing eye is located in the
bumper. Rear towing eye under the bumper, attached to the
chassis
Your vehicle may be equipped with rear tow-
ing eye 0044. If you tow or tow-start a vehicle,
attach the towing device to rear towing
eye 0044.
If your vehicle is equipped with a trailer tow
hitch, attach the towing device to the trailer
tow hitch (Y page 173).
Installing the front towing eye
X Take the towing eye and screwdriver from
the vehicle tool kit (Y page 274).
X Press cover 0043and remove cover 0043from
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. 278
Tow-starting and towing awayRoadside Assistance

i
Only have the propeller shafts fitted/
removed by qualified, skilled personnel.
Before towing the vehicle, observe the fol-
lowing:
R the information on towing in the event of
malfunctions (Y page 279) and
R the important safety notes (Y page 277).
Towing You may only tow the vehicle a maximum dis-
tance of 30 miles (50 km). For a towing dis-
tance of over 30 miles (50 km), the propeller
shafts to the driven axles must be removed.
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 posi-
tion 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 95).
X Do not exceed the towing speed of 30 mph
(50 km/h) and the towing distance of
30 miles (50 km). Recovering a vehicle that is stuck
! When recovering a vehicle that has
become stuck, pull it as smoothly and
evenly as possible. Excessive tractive
power could damage the vehicles.
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
trailer attached. Pull out the vehicle backwards, if possible,
using the tracks it made when it became
stuck. Transporting the vehicle
! You may only secure the vehicle by the
wheels, not by parts of the vehicle such as
axle or steering components. Otherwise,
the vehicle could be damaged. Tow-starting (emergency engine
starting)
Vehicles with automatic transmission !
Vehicles with automatic transmission
must not be tow-started. You could other-
wise damage the automatic transmission.
You can find information on jump-starting
under "Jump-starting“ (Y page 276). Electrical fuses
G
WARNING
If you manipulate or bridge a faulty fuse or if
you replace it with a fuse with a higher amper- age, the electric cables could be overloaded.
This could result in a fire. There is a risk of an
accident and injury.
Always replace faulty fuses with the specified
new fuses having the correct amperage.
! Only use fuses that have been approved
for Sprinter vehicles and that have the
required fuse rating for the systems con-
cerned. Components or systems could oth- erwise be damaged.
The fuses in your vehicle switch off defective power circuits. If a fuse blows, all the com-
ponents 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 infor- 280
Electrical fusesRoadside Assistance

Two instruction labels on your vehicle show
the maximum possible load.
(1) Only for vehicles with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4,536 kg):
Tire and Loading Information placard 0043
is on the B-pillar on the driver's side. Tire
and Loading Information placard 0043
shows the permissible number of occu-
pants and the maximum permissible load
of the vehicle. It also contains details of
the tire sizes and corresponding pres-
sures for tires mounted at the factory.
(2) The vehicle identification plate is located on the base of the driver's seat. The vehi-cle identification plate informs you of the
gross vehicle weight rating. It is made up
of the vehicle weight, all vehicle occu-
pants, the fuel and the cargo. You can
also find information about the maximum Gross Axle Weight Rating on the front and
rear axle.
The maximum gross axle weight rating is the maximum weight that can be carried
by one axle (front or rear axle). Do not
exceed the maximum gross vehicle
weight or the maximum gross axle weight
rating for the front or rear axle. Tire and Loading Information placard
General notes Only vehicles with a gross weight of less than
10,000 lbs (4,536 kg) have a Tire and Loading Information placard on the B-pillar on the
driver's side. Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating 0043
Maximum number of seats
0044 Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating
X Specification for maximum gross vehicle
weight 0044is listed in the Tire and Loading
Information placard: "The gross weight of
occupants and luggage must not exceed
XXX kilograms or XXX lbs."
The gross weight of all vehicle occupants,
cargo, luggage and trailer load/noseweight (if
applicable) must not exceed the specified
value.
i The details on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard illustration are only an
example. The maximum permissible gross
vehicle weight rating is vehicle-specific and
may differ from that which is illustrated.
You can find the valid maximum permissi-
ble gross vehicle weight rating for your
vehicle on the Tire and Loading Information
placard. 296
Loading the vehicleWheels and tires

Number of seats
0043
Maximum number of seats
0044 Maximum permissible gross vehicle
weight rating
Maximum number of seats 0043determines the
maximum number of occupants allowed to
travel in the vehicle. This information can be
found on the Tire and Loading Information
placard.
i The details on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard illustration are only an
example. The number of seats is vehicle-
specific and can differ from the details
shown. The number of seats in your vehicle can be found on the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard.
Determining the maximum load Individual steps
The following steps have been developed as
required of all manufacturers under Title 49,
Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575 in accordance with the "National Traffic and
Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1966".
X Step 1: Locate the statement "The com-
bined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your vehicle's Tire and Loading Information
placard.
X Step 2: Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be trav-
eling in your vehicle. X
Step 3: Subtract the combined weight of
the driver and passengers from XXX kilo-
grams or XXX lbs.
X Step 4: The resulting figure equals the
available amount of cargo and luggage load
capacity. For example, if the "XXX" amount
equals 1400 lbs and there will be five
150 pound passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and luggage load capacity is 650 lb s(1400 00F8750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs).
X Step 5: Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on the
vehicle. For reasons of safety, that weight
must not exceed the available cargo and
luggage cargo capacity calculated in step
4.
X Step 6 (if applicable): If you intend to tow
a trailer behind your vehicle, the load on the
trailer is transferred to your vehicle. Please
consult the Tire and Loading Information
placard, to determine how this reduces the available cargo and luggage load capacity
of your vehicle. Loading the vehicle
297Wheels and tires Z

Example 1 Example 2 Example 3
Step 3 Permissible cargo
and trailer load/
noseweight (maxi-
mum gross vehicle
weight rating from
the Tire and Loading
Information placard
minus the gross
weight of all occu-
pants)
1500 lbs
(680 kg)
00F8750 lbs
(340 kg) =
750 lbs (340 kg) 1500 lbs
(680 kg)
00F8540 lbs
(245 kg) =
960 lbs (435 kg) 1500 lbs
(680 kg)
00F8150 lbs (68 kg)
= 1350 lbs
(612 kg) The greater the combined weight of the occupants, the lower the maximum luggage load.
Further information can be found under "Towing a trailer" (Y page 177).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 driver seat frame of your vehicle
(Y page 316).
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 per-
missible 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 vehi-
cle 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 approx-
imately 10% of the gross weight of the trailer
and its load. What you should know about wheels
and tires Tire labeling
Overview 0043
DOT, Tire Identification Number
(Ypage 302)
0044 Maximum tire load (Y page 301) What you should know about wheels and tires
299Wheels and tires Z

DOT (Department of Transportation)
DOT marked tires fulfill the requirements of
the United States Department of Transporta- tion.
Average weight of vehicle occupants
The number of occupants for which the vehi-
cle is designed multiplied by 68 kilograms
(150 lbs).
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards
A uniform standard to grade the quality of
tires with regard to tread quality, traction and
temperature characteristics. The quality
grading assessment is made by the manufac- turer following specifications from the U.S
government. The quality grade of a tire is
imprinted on the sidewall of the tire.
Recommended tire pressure
The recommended tire pressures are the
pressures specified for the tires mounted on
the vehicle at the factory.
The tire and load information table 9
contains
the recommended tire pressures for cold
tires, the maximum permissible load and the
maximum permissible vehicle speed.
The tire pressure table contains the recom-
mended tire pressure for cold tires under var- ious operating conditions, i.e. loading and/orspeed of the vehicle.
Increased vehicle weight due to optional
equipment
The combined weight of all standard and
optional equipment available for the vehicle,
regardless of whether it is actually installed
on the vehicle or not.
Wheel rim
The part of the wheel on which the tire is
mounted.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
GAWR is the maximum gross axle weight rat-
ing. The actual load on an axle must never
exceed the gross axle weight rating. The Gross Axle Weight Rating can be found on the
vehicle identification plate on the driver seat
frame (Y page 316).
Speed index
The speed index is part of the tire identifica-
tion. It specifies the speed range for which the tire is approved.
GTW (Gross Trailer Weight)
GTW is the total of weight of a trailer and the
weight of the load, accessories etc. on the
trailer.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
The gross vehicle weight includes the weight
of the vehicle including fuel, tools, spare
wheel, accessories installed, occupants, lug-
gage and the drawbar noseweight if applica-
ble. The gross vehicle weight may never
exceed the gross vehicle weight rating
(GVWR) specified on the vehicle identification
plate at the base of the driver's seat
(Y page 316).
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
The GVWR is the maximum permitted gross
weight of the fully laden vehicle (weight of the
vehicle including all accessories, occupants,
fuel, luggage and the drawbar noseweight if
applicable). The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
is specified on the vehicle identification plate on the driver seat frame (Y page 316).
Maximum weight of the laden vehicle
The maximum weight is the sum of:
R the curb weight of the vehicle
R the weight of the accessories
R the load limit
R the weight of the factory installed optional
equipment
Kilopascal (kPa)
Metric unit for tire pressure. 6.9 kPa are the
equivalent of 1 psi. Another tire pressure unit
9 Only for vehicles with a gross weight of less than 10,000 lbs (4536 kg). What you should know about wheels and ti
res
303Wheels and tires Z

TWR (permissible trailer drawbar load)
The TWR is the maximum permissible weight
that may act on the ball coupling of the trailer tow hitch.
Wear indicator
Narrow bars (tread wear bars) that are dis-
tributed over the tire tread. If the tire tread is level with the bars, the wear limit of 00CDin
(1.6 mm) has been reached.
Distribution of the vehicle occupants
The distribution of vehicle occupants over
designated seat positions in a vehicle.
Maximum permissible payload weight
Nominal load and goods/luggage load plus
68 kg (150 lbs) multiplied by the number of
seats in the vehicle. Flat tire
General notes
If your vehicle is equipped with a spare wheel, the spare wheel is under the rear of the vehi-
cle (Y page 312).
Information about installing a wheel can be
found in the "Wheel change" section
(Y page 306).
When you replace a tire, we recommend that
you also replace the tire valve. Please observe
the safety-relevant information on tire valve
(Y page 290). Changing wheels
Rotating the wheels
G
WARNING
Interchanging the front and rear wheels may
severely impair the driving characteristics if
the wheels or tires have different dimensions. The wheel brakes or suspension components
may also be damaged. There is a risk of acci-
dent. Rotate front and rear wheels only if the wheels
and tires are of the same dimensions.
! On vehicles equipped with a tire pressure
monitor, electronic components are loca-
ted in the wheel.
Tire-mounting tools should not be used
near the valve. This could damage the elec- tronic components.
Only have tires changed at a qualified spe-cialist workshop.
Always observe the instructions and safety
notes in the "Mounting a wheel" section
(Y page 306).
The wear patterns on the front and rear tires
differ, depending on the operating conditions. Rotate the wheels before a clear wear pattern
has formed on the tires. Front tires typically
wear more on the shoulders and the rear tires in the center.
If your vehicle's tire configuration allows, you can rotate the wheels according to the inter-
vals in the tire manufacturer's warranty book
in your vehicle documents. If no warranty
book is available, the tires should be rotated
every 3,000 to 6,000 miles (5,000 to
10,000 km), or earlier if tire wear requires. Do
not change the direction of rotation.
Clean the contact surfaces of the wheel and
the brake disc thoroughly every time a wheel
is rotated.
Check the tire pressure and reactivate the tire pressure monitor if necessary. Diagram showing tire rotation for single and dual
tires Changing wheels
305Wheels and tires Z

i
Malfunctions resulting from paraffin sep-
aration can only be rectified by heating the
entire fuel system. Park the vehicle in a
heated garage, for example.
To prevent operating problems, diesel with
better flow qualities is available during the
winter months. You can obtain information at the gas station or from your fuel supplier.
Your vehicle is equipped with a fuel preheat-
ing system. This improves the flow properties
of the diesel by approximately 46 ‡ (8 †).
ULTRA-LOW SULFUR DIESEL can be used
without risk of malfunction down to an out-
side temperature of approximately 14 ‡
(00F810 †).
Fuel additives
! Do not add gasoline or kerosene to diesel
fuel to improve its flow characteristics.
Gasoline or kerosene impairs the lubricat-
ing properties of the diesel fuel. This can
result in damage to the fuel injection sys-
tem, for example.
Information on fuel consumption H
Environmental note
CO 2(carbon dioxide) is the gas which scien-
tists 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 efficient use of the fuel by the engine
R driving style
R other non-technical factors, such as envi-
ronmental influences, road conditions or
traffic flow
You can minimize your vehicle's CO 2emis-
sions by driving carefully and having it serv-
iced regularly.
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 on mountainous terrain
R when towing a trailer
To keep fuel consumption low, observe the
advice in the "Protection of the environment" section (Y page 23).
The following components of the different
vehicle versions influence fuel consumption:
R tire sizes, tire tread, tire pressure, tire con-
dition
R body
R transmission ratios for the drive assem-
blies
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 recor- ded in the on-board computer; use the steer-
ing wheel buttons to call up the Trip com-
puter menu (Y page 195).
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) General notes
! Only use DEF in accordance with
ISO 22241. The exhaust gas aftertreatment system may otherwise be damaged.
Observe the MB Specifications for Service
Products, Sheet No. 352.0.
Damage caused by the use of other reduc-
ing agents will invalidate the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. 320
Service products and capacitiesTechnical data

Load rails
The maximum tensile loads of the cargo tie
down points in the cargo compartment are: Cargo tie down
point Permissible nomi-
nal tensile load Load rails on cargo
compartment floor 1124.0 lbf
(5000 N) Lower load rail on
sidewall 562.0 lbf
(2500 N) Upper load rail on
sidewall 337.0 lbf
(1500 N) The values specified apply only to loads
placed on the cargo compartment floor if:
R the load is secured to 2 cargo tie down
points on the rail and
R the distance to the nearest load-securing
point on the same rail is approximately 3 ft
(1 m).
Roof carrier G
WARNING
When you load the roof, the center of gravity
of the vehicle rises and the driving character- istics change. If you exceed the maximum roof
load, the driving characteristics, as well as
steering and braking, will be greatly impaired. There is a risk of an accident.
Never exceed the maximum roof load and
adjust your driving style. G
WARNING
If you distribute the load unevenly in the vehi- cle, the handling as well as the steering and
braking characteristics are severely affected.
There is a risk of an accident.
Distribute the load evenly in the vehicle.
Secure the load to prevent it from slipping.
! The weight of any load carried on the roof,
including the roof carrier, must not exceed the maximum permissible roof load. The roof carrier supports must be mounted
at equal distances.
We recommend that you have a stabilizer
installed on the front axle.
! For safety reasons, we recommend that
you only use roof carrier systems that have
been tested and approved for the Sprinter.
This will help to avoid damage.
The data is valid for a load distributed evenly
over the entire roof area. Maximum roof load
and minimum number of pairs of roof carrier
supports on vehicles with: Maximum
roof load Minimum
number of pairs of
supports Standard
roof 660 lbs
(300 kg) 6
High roof 330 lbs
(150 kg) 3
Reduce the load on shorter roof carriers pro-
portionately. The maximum load per pair of
roof carrier supports is 110 lbs (50 kg).
Loading directions and other information con- cerning load distribution and load securing
can be found in the "Transporting" section
(Y page 240). Trailer tow hitch
General notes We recommend that you have the trailer tow
hitch mounted at an authorized Sprinter
Dealer.
Use only a trailer tow hitch that has been tes- ted and approved specially for your vehicle by
the distributor named on the inside of the
front cover. Only use a ball coupling that is
approved for your vehicle and Sprinter trailer
tow hitch. You can also find information on
the permitted dimensions of the ball coupling 328
Vehicle dataTechnical data