warning MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2015 MY15 Operator’s Manual

If the restraint system control unit detects a
side impact or that the vehicle is rolling over, the relevant restraint system components areactivated independently of one another
depending on the apparent type of accident.
If the system determines a need for additional
protection for the vehicle occupants, the
Emergency Tensioning Devices are triggered.
R Thorax bag on the side of impact, inde-
pendently of the Emergency Tensioning
Device and the use of the seat belt
R Window curtain air bag on the side of
impact, independently of the use of the
seat belt and independently of whether the
front-passenger seat is occupied
i Not all air bags are deployed in an acci-
dent. The different air bag systems work
independently of each other.
How the air bag system works is deter-
mined by the severity of the accident detec- ted, especially the vehicle deceleration or
acceleration and the apparent type of acci-
dent:
R frontal collision
R side impact Children in the vehicle
Important safety notes
Accident statistics show that children
secured in the rear seats are safer than chil-
dren secured in the front-passenger seat. For this reason, we strongly advise that you install
a child restraint system on a rear seat. Chil-
dren are generally better protected there.
If a child younger than 12 years and under 5 ft
(1.50 m) in height is traveling in the vehicle:
R always secure the child in a child restraint
system suitable for this vehicle. The child
restraint system must be appropriate to the
age, weight and size of the child
R be sure to observe the instructions and
safety notes in this section in addition to the child restraint system manufacturer's
installation instructions G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi- cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
R start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. 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 persons, particularly children are subjected to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is subjected to
direct sunlight, parts may get very hot. Chil-
dren may burn themselves on these parts,
particularly on the metal parts of the child
restraint system. There is a risk of injury.
If you leave the vehicle, taking the child with
you, always ensure that the child restraint
system is not exposed to direct sunlight. Pro- tect it with a blanket, for example. If the child
restraint system has been exposed to direct
sunlight, let it cool down before securing the
child in it. Never leave children unattended in the vehicle.
Always ensure that all vehicle occupants have
their seat belts fastened correctly and are sit- ting properly. Particular attention must be
paid to children.
Observe the safety notes on the seat belt
(Y page 44) and the notes on correct use of
seat belts (Y page 45). Children in the vehicle
51Safety Z

A booster seat may be necessary to achieve
proper seat belt positioning for children over
41 lbs (18 kg) or until they reach a height
where a lap/shoulder belt can be fastened
properly without a booster seat. Special seat belt retractor
G
WARNING
If the seat belt is released while driving, the
child restraint system will no longer be
secured properly. The special seat belt retrac- tor is disabled and the inertia real draws in a
portion of the seat belt. The seat belt cannot
be immediately refastened. There is an
increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Stop the vehicle immediately, paying atten-
tion to road and traffic conditions. Reactivate
the special seat belt retractor and secure the
child restraint system properly.
All seat belts in the vehicle, except the driv-
er's seat belt, are equipped with a special seat belt retractor. When activated, the special
seat belt retractor ensures that the seat belt
cannot slacken once the child seat is secured.
Installing a child restraint system:
X Make sure you observe the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation instruc- tions.
X Pull the seat belt smoothly from the belt
outlet.
X Engage seat belt tongue in belt buckle.
Activating the special seat belt retractor:
X Pull the seat belt out fully and let the inertia
reel retract it again.
While the seat belt is retracting, you should hear a ratcheting sound. The special seat
belt retractor is enabled.
X Push the child restraint system down so
that the seat belt is tight and does not
loosen. Removing a child restraint system/deactivat-
ing the special seat belt retractor:
X Make sure you observe the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation instruc- tions.
X Press the belt buckle release button, hold
the belt tongue and guide it back towards
the belt outlet.
The special seat belt retractor is deactiva-
ted. Child restraint system
The use of seat belts and child restraint sys-
tems is required by law in:
R all 50 states
R the U.S. territories
R the District of Columbia
R all Canadian provinces
You can obtain further information about the correct child restraint system from any
authorized Sprinter Dealer. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is installed incor- rectly on a suitable seat, it cannot protect as
intended. The child cannot then be restrained in the event of an accident, heavy braking or
sudden changes of direction. There is an
increased risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Make sure that you observe the child restraint
system manufacturer's installation instruc-
tions and the notes on use. Please ensure,
that the base of the child restraint system is
always resting completely on the seat cush-
ion. Never place objects, e.g. cushions, under or behind the child restraint system. Only use
child restraint systems with the original cover
designed for them. Only replace damaged
covers with genuine covers. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is installed incor- rectly or is not secured, it can come loose in
the event of an accident, heavy braking or a 52
Children in the vehicleSafety

sudden change in direction. The child
restraint system could be thrown about, strik- ing vehicle occupants. There is an increased
risk of injury, possibly even fatal.
Always install child restraint systems prop-
erly, even if they are not being used. Make
sure that you observe the child restraint sys-
tem manufacturer's installation instructions.
You will find further information on stowing
objects, luggage or loads under "Loading
guidelines" (Y page 240). G
WARNING
Child restraint systems or their securing sys-
tems which have been damaged or subjected to a load in an accident can no longer protect
as intended. The child cannot then be
restrained in the event of an accident, heavy
braking or sudden changes of direction. There is an increased risk of injury, possibly even
fatal.
Replace child restraint systems which have
been damaged or subjected to a load in an
accident as soon as possible. Have the secur-
ing systems on the child restraint system
checked at a qualified specialist workshop,
before you install a child restraint system
again.
The securing systems of child restraint sys-
tems are:
R the seat belt system
R the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing rings
R the Top Tether anchorages
i If it is absolutely necessary to carry a child
on the front-passenger seat, be sure to
observe the information on "Child restraint
systems on the front-passenger seat"
(Y page 55).
All child restraint systems must meet the fol- lowing standards:
R U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Stand-
ards 213 and 225
R Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
213 and 210.2 Confirmation that the child restraint system
corresponds to the standards can be found
on an instruction label on the child restraint
system. This confirmation can also be found
in the installation instructions that are inclu-
ded with the child restraint system.
Observe the warning labels in the vehicle inte-
rior and on the child restraint system. LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat secur-
ing system G
WARNING
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint systems
do not offer sufficient protective effect for
children whose weight is greater than 48 lbs
(22 kg) who are secured using the safety belt integrated in the child restraint system. In the
event of an accident, a child might not be
restrained correctly. This poses an increased
risk of injury or even fatal injury.
If the child weighs more than 48 lbs (22 kg),
only use LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child restraint
systems with which the child is also secured
with the vehicle seat belt. Also secure the
child restraint system with the Top Tether
belt, if available.
Always comply with the manufacturer's
installation and operating instructions for the child restraint system used.
Before every trip, make sure that the LATCH- type (ISOFIX) child restraint system is
engaged correctly in both LATCH-type (ISO-
FIX) securing rings
! When installing the child restraint system,
make sure that the seat belt for the middle seat does not get trapped. The seat belt
could otherwise be damaged. Children in the vehicle
53Safety Z

0043
LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing rings
X Install the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restraint system on both LATCH-type (ISO-
FIX) securing rings 0043.
ISOFIX is a standardized securing system for
specially designed child restraint systems on
the rear seats. LATCH-type (ISOFIX) securing rings 0043for a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restraint system are installed between the
seat cushion and the seat backrest:
R on the outer left and right seat on rear
bench seats with 3 seats
R on the outer left seat on rear bench seats
with 2 seats
Non-LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seats may
also be used and can be installed using the
vehicle's seat belt system. Install the child
seat according to the manufacturer's instruc- tions. Top Tether
Introduction Top Tether provides an additional connection
between the child restraint system secured
with a LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child seat mount
and the vehicle. This helps reduce the risk of
injury even further. If the child restraint sys-
tem is equipped with a Top Tether belt, this
should always be used. Important safety notes G
WARNING
If the Top Tether belt has been incorrectly
secured, e.g. to an eyelet in the cargo com-
partment, the child restraint system is not
correctly kept in place. It therefore cannot
perform its intended protective function in the
event of an accident. There is an increased
risk of injury.
Only secure the Top Tether hook to the Top
Tether anchorage intended for this purpose.
Top Tether anchorages Example: rear bench seat with 3 seats
Top Tether anchorages 0044are on the bench
seat legs on the rear side of the respective
rear bench seat. X
Move head restraint 0043upwards.
X Install the LATCH-type (ISOFIX) child
restraint system with Top Tether. Always
comply with the child restraint system
manufacturer's installation instructions
when doing so. 54
Children in the vehicleSafety

X
Route Top Tether belt 0085under head
restraint 0043between the two head restraint
bars.
X Hook Top Tether hook 0087into Top Tether
anchorage 0044.
Make sure that:
R Top Tether hook 0087is hooked into Top
Tether anchorage 0044as shown.
R Top Tether belt 0085is not twisted.
X Tension Top Tether belt 0085. Always comply
with the child restraint system manufactur- er's installation instructions when doing so.
X If necessary, move the head restraint back
down again slightly (Y page 86). Make
sure that you do not interfere with the cor-
rect routing of Top Tether belt 0085.Child restraint system on the co-driv-
er's seat
General notes Accident statistics show that children
secured in the rear seats are safer than chil-
dren secured in the front-passenger seat. For this reason, Mercedes-Benz strongly advises
that you install the child restraint system on a
rear seat.
Rearward-facing child restraint system The front-passenger front air bag cannot be
deactivated. Always install a rearward-facing
child restraint system on a suitable rear seat.
Always observe the child restraint system
manufacturer's installation and operating
instructions.
Forward-facing child restraint system If it is absolutely necessary to install a
forward-facing child restraint system on the
front-passenger seat, always move the front- passenger seat as far back as possible. The
entire base of the child restraint system must
always rest on the seat cushion of the front-
passenger seat. The backrest of the child restraint system must lie as flat as possible
against the backrest of the front-passenger
seat. The child restraint system must not be
subjected to a load by the head restraint.
Adjust the head restraint position accord-
ingly. Always make sure that the shoulder belt strap is correctly routed from the vehicle belt
outlet to the shoulder belt guide on the child
restraint system. The shoulder belt strap
must be routed forwards and downwards
from the vehicle belt outlet. If necessary,
adjust the vehicle belt outlet and the front-
passenger seat accordingly.
Always observe the child restraint system
manufacturer's installation and operating
instructions. Child-proof locks
Important safety notes G
WARNING
If children are traveling in the vehicle, they
could:
R open doors, thus endangering other people
or road users
R exit the vehicle and be caught by oncoming
traffic
R operate vehicle equipment and become
trapped
There is a risk of an accident and injury.
Always activate the child-proof locks and
override feature if children are traveling in the vehicle. When leaving the vehicle, always take
the key with you and lock the vehicle. Never
leave children unattended in the vehicle.
Child-proof lock/override feature for: R Sliding door (Y page 56)
R Rear door (Y page 56) Child
ren in the vehi cle
55Safety Z

G
WARNING
If you leave children unsupervised in the vehi- cle, they could set it in motion by, for example:
R release the parking brake.
R shift the automatic transmission out of the
parking position P.
R start the engine.
In addition, they may operate vehicle equip-
ment and become trapped. 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 persons, particularly children are subjected to prolonged exposure to extreme heat or
cold, there is a risk of injury, possibly even
fatal. Never leave children unattended in the
vehicle. G
WARNING
If the child restraint system is subjected to
direct sunlight, parts may get very hot. Chil-
dren may burn themselves on these parts,
particularly on the metal parts of the child
restraint system. There is a risk of injury.
If you leave the vehicle, taking the child with
you, always ensure that the child restraint
system is not exposed to direct sunlight. Pro- tect it with a blanket, for example. If the childrestraint system has been exposed to direct
sunlight, let it cool down before securing the
child in it. Never leave children unattended in the vehicle. Child-proof locks for the sliding door
and rear door Sliding door
Rear door
0043
Child safety bolt
0048 Door secured – then make sure that the
child-proof locks are working properly.
0049 Door released
The child-proof lock on the doors enable you
to secure each door individually.
A door with an activated child-proof lock can- not be opened from the inside. If the vehicle is unlocked, the door can be opened from the
outside. Pets in the vehicle
G
WARNING
If you leave animals unattended or unsecured in the vehicle, they could press buttons or
switches, for example. 56
Pets in the vehicleSafety

As a result, they could:
R activate vehicle equipment and become
trapped, for example
R activate or deactivate systems, thereby
endangering other road users
Unsecured animals could also be flung around the vehicle in the event of an accident or sud-
den steering or braking, thereby injuring vehi- cle occupants. There is a risk of an accident
and injury.
Never leave animals unattended in the vehi-
cle. Always secure animals properly during
the journey, e.g. use a suitable animal trans-
port box. Driving safety systems
Overview
In this section, you will find information about the following driving safety systems:
R ABS ( Anti-lock BrakingSystem)
R ASR (A cceleration SkidControl)
R BAS (B rakeAssist System)
R EBD ( Electronic Brake Force Distribution)
R ESP ®
(E lectronic StabilityProgram) Important safety notes
If you fail to adapt your driving style or if you
are inattentive, the driving safety systems can
neither reduce the risk of accident nor over-
ride the laws of physics. Driving safety sys-
tems are merely aids designed to assist driv- ing. You are responsible for the distance to
the vehicle in front, for vehicle speed, braking in good time and for staying in your lane.
Always adapt your driving style to the prevail-
ing road and weather conditions and maintain a sufficient, safe distance from other road
users. Drive carefully.
The driving safety systems described can only
attain their maximum effectiveness when
there is optimum contact between the tires and the road can. Pay particular attention to
the information regarding tires, recommen-
ded minimum tire tread depth etc. under
"Wheels and tires" (Y page 284).
In wintry driving conditions, always use winter
tires (M+S tires) and if necessary, snow
chains. This is the only way to get the full
benefit from the driving safety systems
described. ABS (Anti-lock Braking System)
Important safety notes Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (Y
page 57). G
WARNING
If ABS is faulty, the wheels could lock when
braking. The steerability and braking charac-
teristics may be severely impaired. Addition-
ally, further driving safety systems are deac-
tivated. There is an increased danger of skid- ding and accidents.
Drive on carefully. Have ABS checked imme-
diately at a qualified specialist workshop.
If ABS is malfunctioning, other systems will
also fail, including driving safety systems.
Observe the information relating to the 0025
warning lamp (Y page 218).
ABS regulates brake pressure in such a way
that the wheels do not lock when you brake.
This allows you to continue steering the vehi-
cle when braking.
ABS works from a speed of about 5 mph
(8 km/h), regardless of road-surface condi-
tions. ABS works on slippery surfaces, even
when you only brake gently.
The yellow 0025warning lamp in the instru-
ment cluster lights up when the ignition is
switched on. The lamp goes out when the
engine starts running. Driving safety systems
57Safety Z

Braking
If ABS intervenes when braking, you will feel a
pulsating in the brake pedal.
The pulsating brake pedal can be an indica-
tion of hazardous road conditions and func-
tions as a reminder to take extra care while
driving.
X If ABS intervenes: continue to depress the
brake pedal with force until the braking sit-
uation is over.
X To make a full brake application:
depress the brake pedal with full force. ASR (acceleration skid control)
General notes Important safety notes
Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (Y
page 57).
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 003Dindicator
lamp lights up while the engine is running and the engine power may be reduced
(Y page 218).
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 signifi-
cantly 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 with- out 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
0072warning lamp in
the instrument cluster flashes.
Activating/deactivating ASR G
WARNING
If deactivated, ASR will not attempt to stabi-
lize the vehicle during pulling away and accel- eration. There is an increased risk of skiddingand of an accident.
Only deactivate ASR in the situations descri-
bed in the following.
! If you deactivate ASR, ESP ®
will still inter-
vene to stabilize the vehicle. Frequent brak-
ing 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 0072warn-
ing 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 00E3button.
If ASR is deactivated, the 0072warning
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 safety systemsSafety

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 limit because 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 0072 warning lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes when ESP ®
is intervening. BAS (Brake Assist System)
G
WARNING
If BAS is malfunctioning, the braking distance
in an emergency braking situation is
increased. There is a risk of an accident.
In an emergency braking situation, depress
the brake pedal with full force. ABS prevents
the wheels from locking.
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons: if
the BAS driving safety system is malfunction-
ing, the 003Dwarning lamp lights up while the
engine is running (Y page 218).
BAS operates in emergency braking situa-
tions. If you depress the brake quickly, BAS
automatically increases the brake pressure,
thereby reducing the stopping distance.
The brakes will function as usual once you
release the brake pedal. BAS is deactivated. EBD (electronic brake force distribu-
tion) G
WARNING
If EBD is malfunctioning, the rear wheels can
lock, e.g. under full braking. This increases the risk of skidding and an accident. You should therefore adapt your driving style
to the different handling characteristics. Have
the brake system checked at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
EBD monitors and controls the brake pres-
sure to the rear wheels. This enables EBD to
improve handling during braking.
Observe the information on warning and indi- cator lamps (Y page 218). ESP
®
(Electronic Stability Program)
Important safety notes Observe the important safety guidelines for
the driving safety system (Y
page 57). G
WARNING
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning it will not provide
any vehicle stabilization. There is an increased
risk of skidding or of an accident.
Exercise caution when continuing to drive.
Have ESP ®
checked at a qualified specialist
workshop.
! Do not run the vehicle on a roller dyna-
mometer (e.g. for performance tests). If
you must operate the vehicle on a roller
dynamometer, please consult a qualified
specialist workshop in advance. You could
otherwise damage the drive train or the
brake system.
If ESP ®
is malfunctioning, the 0089warning
lamp lights up while the engine is running and
the engine power may be reduced
(Y page 218).
Only use wheels with the recommended tire
sizes. Only then will ESP ®
function properly.
Crosswind Assist Crosswind Assist does not work if ESP
®
is
deactivated or disabled because of a mal-
function. Driving safety systems
59Safety Z

Crosswind Assist does not react:
R in the event of severe jolts and vibrations,
e.g. as a result of uneven surfaces or pot-
holes
R if the vehicle loses traction, e.g. on snow or
ice or when aquaplaning
R to large and sudden steering movements
by the driver
Crosswind Assist is operational again as soon as the driving conditions return to normal.
Crosswind Assist detects strong crosswind
gusts that can impair the road holding of your
vehicle when driving straight ahead. Cross-
wind Assist intervenes depending on the
direction and strength of the crosswind.
A stabilizing brake application helps you to
keep the vehicle on track.
Information appears in the instrument cluster
In the event that Crosswind Assist intervenes noticeably.
On vehicles without steering wheel but-
tons: the0072 indicator lamp in the instru-
ment cluster flashes.
On vehicles with steering wheel buttons:
the 0072 indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster flashes and the message Crosswind
Crosswind
Assist Active Assist Active appears in the multifunction
display.
Crosswind Assist is active above a vehicle
speed of 50 mph (80 km/h)when the vehicle
is driving straight ahead or cornering gently. 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 emer-
gency exit window is locked and the locking
pins are undamaged.
! Make sure there is sufficient clearance
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 first window
behind the driver's seat on the driver's side. It
is marked by the "Emergency Exit" label.
X To open: position both handles 0043verti-
cally. This will break locking pins 0044.
The window is unlocked.
X Swing the window outward by the handles
and hold it in this position. Make sure there
is sufficient clearance when doing so.
X To close: close the window. 60
Emergency exitSafety