air condition MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2017 MY17 Operator’s Manual

button to reduce or theKbutton to
increase the airflow.
The blower speeds are shown in bars next to
the buttons.
Defrosting the windows
You can use the "defrosting" function to defrost
the windshield or to demist the inside of the
windshield and the side windows.
Only use the following settings until the win-
dows are clear again.
XVehicle with window heating: switch on the
front (Ypage 103) and/or rear window
defroster (Ypage 103) .
XSwitch on climate control (Ypage 100).
Vehicle with heating
XSet temperature control :and airflow con-
trol ;toz (Ypage 97).
XSet air-distribution control ?tosz
(Ypage 97).
XClose the center air vents (Ypage 104) and
the air outlets for the headroom and the rear compartment (
Ypage 105).
XDirect the side air vents towards the side win-dows and open the defroster vents for the
side windows (
Ypage 105).
Vehicle with air conditioning
XSet temperature control :to
z (Ypage 98).
XPress the Kbutton until the maximum
blower output is reached.
All bars in the display next to the button light up.
XSet air-distribution control Atosz
(Ypage 98).
XClose the center air vents (Ypage 104) and
the air outlets for the headroom and the rear compartment (
Ypage 105).
XDirect the side air vents towards the side win-dows and open the defroster vents for the
side windows (
Ypage 105).
Clearing condensation from the win-
dows
Windows fogged up on the inside
You should only select this setting until the win-
dows are clear again.
XVehicle with window heating: switch on the
front (Ypage 103) and/or rear window
defroster (Ypage 103) .
XSwitch on climate control (Ypage 100).
XSwitch off air-recirculation mode
(Ypage 103).
Vehicle with heating
XSet temperature control :to a higher tem-
perature (Ypage 97).
XSet airflow control ;to a higher blower set-
ting. It should be set at least to level two
(
Ypage 97).
XSet air-distribution control ?tosz
(Ypage 97).
iIf the windows still fog up, set the control as
described for defrosting (Ypage 102).
Vehicle with air conditioning
XActivate cooling with air dehumidification
(Ypage 101).
XPress the ¨button (Ypage 98).
Reheat mode is activated. The indicator lamp
in the switch lights up.
To deactivate reheat mode, press the ¨
button again. The indicator lamp in the button
goes out.
Windows fogged up on the outside
You should only select this setting until the
windshield is clear again.
XSwitch on the windshield wipers (Ypage 94).
XSwitch on climate control (Ypage 100).
XAdjust air distribution to the footwell
(Ypage 101).
XClose the air vents (Ypage 104).
102Operating the climate control system
Climate control

Heating and air-conditioning system
Air-recirculation mode switches off automati-
cally after about 10 to 30 minutes, depending on
the outside temperature.
XSwitch on climate control (Ypage 100).
XTo activate/deactivate:press theebut-
ton.
If the indicator lamp in the ebutton lights
up, air-recirculation mode is activated.
Rear-compartment heating and rear-
compartment air-conditioning system
On vehicles with rear-compartment heating and
a rear-compartment air-conditioning system,
you can activate or deactivate air-recirculation
mode for the rear-compartment climate control.
XSwitch on climate control (Ypage 100).
XTo activate: set the temperature control of
rear-compartment heating =(Ypage 99) or
rear-compartment air conditioning system ;
(
Ypage 100) to the center position.
Only one of the two climate control systems in
the rear compartment is activated and is in
air-recirculation mode.
XTo deactivate: turn the temperature control
of rear-compartment heating =(Ypage 99)
or rear-compartment air-conditioning sys-
tem ;(
Ypage 100) clockwise or counter-
clockwise. Only change the temperature in
small increments.
Adjusting the air vents
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Very hot or very cold air can flow from the air
vents. This could result in burns or frostbite in
the immediate vicinity of the air vents. There
is a risk of injury.
Make sure that all vehicle occupants always
maintain a sufficient distance to the air out-
lets. If necessary, redirect the airflow to
another area of the vehicle interior.
The center and side air vents are adjustable. On vehicles with a rear-compartment air-condi-
tioning system, you can also adjust the air vents
in the roof duct.
iFor virtually draft-free ventilation, adjust the
sliders of the center air vents to the center
position.
In order to ensure the direct flow of fresh air
through the air vents into the vehicle interior,
please observe the following notes:
Rkeep the air inlet grille on the hood free of
blockages, such as ice, snow or leaves.
Rnever cover the vents or the ventilation grilles
in the vehicle interior.
Setting the center air vents
:Center air vent, left
;Center air vent, right
=Thumbwheel for center air vent, right
?Thumbwheel for center air vent, left
XTo open: turn thumbwheel =to the left or
thumbwheel ?to the right.
XTo close: turn thumbwheel =to the right or
thumbwheel ?to the left.
104Adjusting the air vents
Climate control

Setting the side air vents
Side air vent (example: right-hand side of the vehi-
cle)
XTo open:turn thumbwheel =of side air
vents :upward.
XTo close: turn thumbwheel =of side air
vents :downward.
iIf the ® symbol can be seen on thumb-
wheel =, defroster vent ;is open.
Adjusting air vents for the passenger
compartment
Air vents (example: right-hand side of the vehicle)
You can use the air vents to ventilate the vehicle
interior on the left and right, in the rear and the
headroom.
XTo open: for the right-hand side of the vehi-
cle, turn thumbwheel ;to the left or for the
left-hand side of the vehicle, thumbwheel :
to the right.
XTo close: for the right-hand side of the vehi-
cle, turn thumbwheel ;to the right or for the
left-hand side of the vehicle, thumbwheel :
to the left.
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 condi-
tioning, adjustable air vents are integrated into
the roof duct.
XTo adjust the airflow: open or close the air
flap in air vents :as needed.
XTo adjust the air distribution: turn air
vent :to the desired position.
Operating the auxiliary heating sys-
tem
Important safety notes
GDANGER
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 run-
ning, keep the exhaust pipe and the area
around the vehicle free of snow. To ensure anadequate supply of fresh air, open a window
on the side of the vehicle that is not facing into
the wind.
Operating the auxiliary heating system105
Climate control
Z

GWARNING
When the auxiliary heating is switched on,
parts of the vehicle can become very hot, e.g.
the exhaust system.
Flammable materials such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact
with:
Rhot parts of the exhaust system
Rthe exhaust gas itself
There is a risk of fire.
When the auxiliary heating is switched on,
make sure that:
Rno flammable materials come into contact
with hot vehicle components
Rthe exhaust gas can escape from the
exhaust pipe unhindered
Rthe exhaust gas does not come into contact
with flammable materials.
!Turn on the auxiliary heating at least once a
month for approximately 10 minutes. The
auxiliary heating could otherwise be dam-
aged.
!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:
Rhot-water auxiliary heater is done via the on-
board computer and with the auxiliary heating
button in the control panel (
Ypage 107) or
with the remote control (Ypage 108).
Rauxiliary warm-air heater is done via the timer
above the overhead control panel
(
Ypage 112).
The auxiliary heating works independently of the
engine and supplements the climate control
system in the vehicle. The auxiliary heating
heats the air in the vehicle interior to the tem-
perature set.
If your vehicle is equipped with a hot-water aux-
iliary heater, the auxiliary heating also keeps the
coolant warm. This way, the load on the engine
is minimized and fuel is saved.
The heater booster function (
Ypage 110) of the
auxiliary heating supports the climate control system when the engine is running and the out-
side temperature is low.
You can use the auxiliary heating at an outside
temperature of up to 39 ‡ (4 †). At an outside
temperature above 39 ‡ (4 †) the auxiliary
heating system and the heater booster function
switch off automatically.
Hot-water auxiliary heating
Heating time
The heating time when operating the auxiliary
heating with the vehicle is stationary without the
engine running depends on the outside temper-
ature and the electrical consumers switched on.
Outside
tempera-
tureHeating
timePossible startup
procedures
Above 23‡
(Ò5 †)Approx.
20 minutes6
23 ‡
(Ò5 †) to
5 ‡
( Ò15 †)Approx.
40 minutes3
Below 5‡
( Ò 15 †)Approx.
50 minutes2
You can then switch on the auxiliary heating
again.
If you do not start the engine for a while, the total
duration of heating is limited to a maximum of
120 minutes to protect the starter battery.
Switching on the auxiliary heating is then auto-
matically disabled. You can, for example, switch
on the auxiliary heating without the engine run-
ning if the outside temperature is Ò5‡( Ò20 †) a
maximum of two times. If you try it again, the
indicator lamps in the ybutton
(
Ypage 107) flash alternately for approximately
2 minutes to signal switch-on interlock. The aux-
iliary heating cannot be switched on without
starting the engine.
When the condition of charge of the starter bat-
tery is sufficient again, the switch-on interlock
will be deactivated. To charge the starter bat-
tery, let the engine run. The engine run time
required to reach the necessary condition of
charge depends on the outside temperature and
on the electrical consumers switched on.
106Operating the auxiliary heating system
Climate control

Drivingin wet conditions
Hydroplaning
GWARNING
There is adanger of hydroplaning occurring,
eve nif you are drivin gslowly and your tires
hav esufficien ttread depth, dependin gon th e
dept hof water on th eroad. There is aris kof
an accident.
Fo rthis reason ,avoid tire rut sand brake care-
fully.
Therefore, in heav yrain or other condition sin
whic hhydroplaning can occur ,drive as follows:
Rreduce your speed
Ravoid tire rut s
Rapply thebrake swit hcar e
Drivin gon flooded road s
!Do notdrive through floode dareas. Chec k
th edept hof any water befor edrivin gthrough
it .Drive slowly through standin gwater. Oth-
erwise ,water may ente rth evehicle interio ror
th eengin ecompartment. Thi scan damage
th eelectronic component sin th eengin eor
th eautomatic transmission. Water can also
be drawn in by th eengine's air suction nozzles
and this can cause engin edamage.
If you hav eto drive on stretches of road on whic h
water has collected, please bear in min dthat :
Rthewater level of standin gwater should no t
be abov eth elowe redg eof th efron tbumper
Rdo no tdrive faste rthan walkin gspeed
Drivin gin winter
General notes
GWARNING
If you shift down on aslipper yroad surfac ein
an attempt to increase th eengine's braking
effect ,th edrive wheels could los etheir grip.
There is an increase ddanger of skidding and
accidents .
Do no tshift down fo radditional engin ebrak-
in g on aslipper yroad surface.
GDANGER
If th eexhaus tpipe is blocke dor adequat e
ventilation is no tpossible, poisonous gases
suc has carbon monoxide (CO) may ente rth e
vehicle. Thi sis th ecase, e.g. if th evehicle
becomes trappe din snow. There is aris kof
fatal injury.
If you leav eth eengin eor th eauxiliar yheatin g
running ,mak esur eth eexhaus tpipe and are a
around th evehicle are clear of snow. To
ensur ean adequat esupply of fresh air, ope n a
window on th esid eof th evehicle that is no t
facin ginto th ewind.
Hav eyour vehicle winterproofed at aqualified
specialis tworkshop in goo dtime at th eonset of
winter.
iDo no tcover th eradiator ,e.g. wit h awinte r
cover .The measurement sof th eon-boar d
diagnostic system may otherwise return inac-
curat evalues. Some of these values are
legally prescribed and mus ttherefore always
be exact .
Observ eth enote sin th e"Winte roperation "sec -
tion (
Ypage 245).
Slipper yroad surfaces
GWARNING
If you shift down on aslipper yroad surfac ein
an attempt to increase th eengine's braking
effect ,th edrive wheels could los etheir grip.
There is an increase ddanger of skidding and
accidents .
Do no tshift down fo radditional engin ebrak-
in g on aslipper yroad surface.
GWARNING
The outsid etemperature indicator is no t
designed to serve as an ice-warnin gdevic e
and is therefore unsuitable fo rthat purpose.
Indicated temperature sjust abov eth efreez -
in g poin tdo no tguarantee that th eroad sur -
fac eis free of ice. The road may still be icy,
especially in wooded areas or on bridges.
!Vehicles wit hautomatic transmissio nmay
roll only briefly in th eneutral position N.Pro-
134Driving tips
Driving and parking

If you want the distance warning function to
assist you, the function must be activated and
operational.
Due to the nature of the system, particularly
complicated driving conditions may cause the
system to display an unnecessary warning.
With the help of the radar sensor system, the
distance warning function can detect obstacles
that are in the path of your vehicle for an exten-
ded period of time.
Up to a speed of around 45 mph (70 km/h), the
distance warning function can also react to sta-
tionary obstacles, such as stopped or parked
vehicles.
If you approach an obstacle and the distance
warning function detects a risk of a collision, the
system will alert you both visually and acousti-
cally.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired in the case of:
Rdirt on the sensors or anything else covering
the sensors
Rsnow or heavy rain
Rinterference from other radar sources
Rthere are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple in parking garages
Ra narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
Ra vehicle traveling in front on a different line
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle,
have the configuration and operation of the
radar sensor checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. This also applies to collisions at slow
speeds where there is no visible damage to the
front of the vehicle.
Activating/deactivating the distance
warning function
When you switch on the engine, the distance
warning function switches on after a few sec-
onds.
XTo deactivate: press theæbutton
(Ypage 36).
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons:
the Ä warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter lights up and the OFF
message flashes. The
message then disappears and the Äindi-
cator lamp remains lit.
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons: the
Ä warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes and the Distance
warningsystemdeactivatedmessage appears .The mes- sage then disappears and the
Äwarning
lamp remains lit.
XTo activate: press theæbutton again
(Ypage 36).
Vehicles without steering wheel buttons:
the Ä warning lamp in the instrument clus-
ter lights up and the on
message flashes. The
message then disappears and the Äindi-
cator lamp goes out.
Vehicles with steering wheel buttons: the
Ä warning lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes and the Distance
warningsystemactivatedmessage appears in the multi-
function display. The message then disap-
pears and the indicator lamp Ägoes out.
Adaptive Brake Assist
iObserve the "Important safety notes" sec-
tion for driving safety systems (Ypage 53).
GWARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist cannot always clearly
identify objects and complex traffic situa-
tions.
In such cases, Adaptive Brake Assist can:
Rintervene unnecessarily
Rnot intervene
There is a risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake. Terminate the
intervention in a non-critical driving situation.
GWARNING
Adaptive Brake Assist does not react:
Rto people or animals
Rto oncoming vehicles
Rto crossing traffic
Rto stationary obstacles
Rwhen cornering
As a result, the Adaptive Brake Assist may not
intervene in all critical conditions. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always pay careful attention to the traffic sit- uation and be ready to brake.
Adaptive Brake Assist aids you when braking
during hazardous situations at speeds above
140Driving systems
Driving and parking

20 mph (30 km/h). With the help of Adaptive
Brake Assist, the distance warning signal can
detect obstacles that are in the path of your
vehicle for an extended period of time.
When you approach an obstacle and adaptive
Brake Assist detects that there is a risk of a col-
lision, adaptive Brake Assist calculates the brak-ing force necessary to avoid a collision. Should
you apply the brakes forcefully, adaptive Brake
Assist will automatically increase the braking
force to the calculated level.
XKeep the brake pedal depressed until the
emergency braking situation is over.
ABS prevents the wheels from locking.
The brakes function as usual again if:
Ryou release the brake pedal
Rthere is no longer any danger of a collision
Rno obstacle is detected in front of your vehicle
Adaptive Brake Assist is then deactivated.
Up to the maximum vehicle speed, adaptive
Brake Assist can react to moving obstacles that
have already been recognized as such at least
once over the period of observation. Adaptive
Brake Assist does not react to stationary obsta-
cles.
In particular, the detection of obstacles can be
impaired if:
Rdirt on the sensors or anything else covering
the sensors
Rsnow or heavy rain
Rinterference from other radar sources
Rthere are strong radar reflections, for exam-
ple in parking garages
Ra narrow vehicle traveling in front, e.g. a
motorbike
Ra vehicle traveling in front on a different line
If adaptive Brake Assist is not available due to a
malfunction in the radar sensor system, the full
brake boosting effect with the help of BAS
remains available.
Following damage to the front end of the vehicle,
have the configuration and operati
on of the
radar sensor checked at a qualified specialist
workshop. This also applies to collisions at slow
speeds where there is no visible damage to the
front of the vehicle.
Lane Tracking package
Blind Spot Assist
General notes
Blind Spot Assist monitors the areas on either
side of the vehicle that are not visible to the
driver with two lateral, rear-facing radar sensors
in the bumper. It supports you from speeds of
approximately 20 mph (30 km/h). A warning
display in the exterior mirrors draws your atten-
tion to vehicles detected in the monitored area. If you then switch on the corresponding turn
signal to change lane, you will also receive an
optical and audible collision warning.
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Blind Spot Assist does not react to:
Rvehicles overtaken too closely on the side,
placing them in the blind spot area
Rvehicles which approach with a large speed
differential and overtake your vehicle
As a result, Blind Spot Assist may not give
warnings in such situations. There is a risk of
an accident.
Always observe the traffic conditions care-
fully, and maintain a safe lateral distance.
Blind Spot Assist is only an aid. It may fail to
detect some vehicles and is no substitute for
attentive driving. Always ensure that there is
sufficient distance to the side for other road
users and obstacles.
iUSA only:
This device has been approved by the FCC as
a "Vehicular Radar System". The radar sensor
is intended for use in an automotive radar
system only. Removal, tampering, or altering
of the device will void any warranties, and is
not permitted by the FCC. Do not tamper with, alter, or use in any non-approved way.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
Driving systems141
Driving and parking
Z

Lane Keeping Assist does not keep your vehicle
in its lane.
The system may be impaired or may not function
if:
Rif the vehicle is incorrectly loaded
(Ypage 208)
Rthere is poor visibility, e.g. due to insufficient
illumination of the road, or due to snow, rain,
fog or spray
Rthere is glare, e.g. from oncoming traffic, the
sun or reflection from other vehicles (e.g. if
the road surface is wet)
Rthe windshield is dirty, fogged up, damaged or
covered, for instance by a sticker, in the vicin-
ity of the camera
Rno, or several, unclear lane markings are pres-
ent for one lane, e.g. in a construction area
Rthe lane markings are worn away, dark or cov-
ered up, e.g. by dirt or snow
Rthe distance to the vehicle in front is too small
and the lane markings thus cannot be detec-
ted
Rthe lane markings change quickly, e.g. lanes
branch off, cross one another or merge
Rthe road is narrow and winding
Rthere are highly variable shade conditions on
the road
A warning may be given if a front wheel passes
over a lane marking. In addition, a warning tone
sounds and the Ãindicator lamp in the
instrument cluster flashes red.
Activating/deactivating Lane Keeping
Assist
Lane Keeping Assist is automatically activated
when you start the engine.
XTo deactivate: press thejbutton in the
center console (Ypage 36).
On vehicles without steering wheel but-
tons:
OFF
flashes briefly in the display and the Ã
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes yellow and then lights up continu-
ously.
On vehicles with steering wheel buttons:
The Lane
Keep.AssistDeactivatedmes-
sage appears in the display and the Ã
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster
flashes yellow and then lights up continu-
ously. Lane Keeping Assist is deactivated.
XTo activate:
press thejbutton in the
center console again (Ypage 36).
On vehicles without steering wheel but-
tons:
on
flashes briefly in the display and the Ã
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes
out. If a lane marking is detected, the Ã
indicator lamp lights up green.
On vehicles with steering wheel buttons:
The Lane Keep. Assist Activated
mes-
sage appears in the display and the Ã
indicator lamp in the instrument cluster goes
out. If a lane marking is detected, the Ã
indicator lamp lights up green.
Lane Keeping Assist is activated.
A Lane Keeping Assist warning is suppressed if:
Ra driving safety system intervenes, such as
ABS, BAS or ESP®.
Ryou have set the turn signal and a lane change is detected. In this case, the warnings are
suppressed for a certain period of time.
Ryou accelerate hard, e.g. kickdown on vehi-
cles with an automatic transmission.
Ryou brake hard.
Ryou steer actively, e.g. swerve to avoid an
obstacle or change lane quickly.
Ryou cut the corner on a sharp bend.
In order that you are warned only when neces-
sary and in good time if you cross the lane mark-
ing, the system recognizes certain conditions
and warns you accordingly.
Lane Keeping Assist warns you earlier if:
Ryou approach the outer lane marking on a
bend.
Rthe road has very wide lanes, e.g. a freeway.
Rthe system recognizes solid lane markings.
Warnings are given later if:
Rthe road has narrow lanes.
Ryou cut the corner on a bend.
All-wheel drive
Important safety notes
!Never tow the vehicle with one axle raised.
This may damage the transfer case. Damage
of this sort is not covered by the Mercedes-
Benz Limited Warranty. All wheels must
144Driving systems
Driving and parking

Install and secure the ball coupling as descri-
bed in the ball coupling manufacturer's instal-
lation instructions. Make sure that the ball
coupling is correctly installed and secured
before every journey.
GWARNING
When the vehicle/trailer combination begins
to lurch, you could lose control of it. The vehi- cle/trailer combination could even rollover.
There is a risk of an accident.
On no account should you attempt to
straighten up the vehicle/trailer combination
by increasing the speed. Reduce vehicle
speed and do not countersteer. Apply the
brake as necessary.
Always observe the operating instructions pro-
vided by the manufacturers of the trailer cou-
pling and the ball coupling.
Couple and decouple the trailer carefully. When backing up the towing vehicle, make sure
nobody is standing between the vehicle and the
trailer.
A trailer which is incorrectly coupled to the tow-
ing vehicle could break away. A correctly cou-
pled trailer must be positioned horizontally
behind the towing vehicle.
Ensure that the following weights are not excee-
ded:
Rthe permissible noseweight
Rthe permissible trailer load
Rthe permissible rear axle load of the towing
vehicle
Rthe permissible gross weight of both the tow-
ing vehicle and the trailer
Rthe permissible gross combination weight
The applicable permissible values that may not
be exceeded can be found:
Rin your vehicle documents
Ron the type plates for the trailer tow hitch
Ron the type plates for the trailer
Ron the vehicle identification plate
(Ypage 272).
Where the values differ, the lowest is valid.
You will find values approved by the manufac-
turer on the identification plates and those for
the towing vehicle in the "Permissible trailer loads and trailer drawbar noseweights" section
(
Ypage 156).
Your vehicle behaves differently with a trailer
than without one.
The vehicle/trailer combination:
Ris heavier
Ris restricted in its acceleration and gradient-
climbing capability
Rhas an increased braking distance
Ris more susceptible to strong crosswinds
Rrequires more sensitive steering
Rhas a larger turning circle
This may impair the handling characteristics.
When towing a trailer, always adjust your speed
to suit the road and w
eather conditions. Drive
carefully. Maintain a safe distance.
If you require any further explanation of the
information contained in the Operator's Manual,
please contact an authorized Sprinter dealer.
General notes
RObserve the legally prescribed maximum
speed for vehicle/trailer combinations in the
relevant country, state or Canadian province. Before setting off, check the vehicle docu-
ments of the your trailer to find out the per-
missible maximum speed.
This reduces the risk of accidents.
RInstall only an approved trailer coupling on
your vehicle. Only use a ball coupling that is
approved for your vehicle and Sprinter trailer
tow hitch. More information on the availabil-
ity, mounting and installation of the trailer
electrics is available at any qualified specialist
workshop.
RThe trailer coupling is one of the most impor-
tant vehicle parts with regard to road safety.
The notes on operation, care and mainte-
nance issued by the manufacturer should be
observed.
RThe bumpers of your vehicle are not suitable
for installing detachable trailer couplings.
RDo not attach rented trailer tow hitches or
other detachable trailer tow hitches to the
bumper.
RMinimize the risk of damage to the ball cou-
pling. If you do not require the ball coupling,
remove it from the ball coupling recess.
Towing a trailer153
Driving and parking
Z

Most federal states and all Canadian provinces
require by law:
Rsafety chains between the towing vehicle andthe trailer. The chains should be cross-wound
under the trailer drawbar. They must be fas-
tened to the vehicle's trailer coupling, not to
the bumper or the axle.
Leave enough slack in the chains. This allows you to drive round tight corners.
Ra separate brake system for certain types of
trailer.
Ra safety shut-off for braked trailers. Find out
the specific requirements according to the
applicable laws.
If the trailer becomes detached from the tow-
ing vehicle, the safety feature applies the
trailer brakes.
Towing a trailer
There are numerous legal requirements con-
cerning the towing of a trailer, e.g. speed restric-tions.
Many states require a separate functional brak-
ing system for your trailer once a certain weight limit is exceeded. For your safety, it is recom-
mended to use a separate functional braking
system on any towed vehicle.
Make sure your vehicle/trailer combination
complies with local laws. This not only means
where you live, but also anywhere you are driv-
ing to. Information is available from the police
and local authorities.
Observe the following when towing a trailer:
RPractice driving around bends, stopping and
backing up at a place where there is no traffic.This enables you to gain experience and get
used to the new handling characteristics.
RBefore driving, check:
-that the trailer tow hitch and ball coupling
are secure
-that the safety switch for a braked trailer is
functioning properly
-that the safety chains are secure and not
damaged
-that the electrical connections are secure
-that the lights are working
-that the wheels are in good order and the
tire pressure is correct
RAdjust the exterior mirrors to provide an
unobstructed view of the rear section of the
trailer.
RIf the trailer is equipped with an individual
braking system, check before each journey
whether the brakes are functioning correctly.
RIf the trailer has electronically controlled
brakes, pull the vehicle/trailer combination
away carefully. Brake manually using the
brake controller and check that the brakes
are working.
RSecure the load on the trailer according to the
applicable specifications and current stand-
ards on securing loads (
Ypage 210).
RWhen driving with a trailer, check at regular
intervals that the load is secured and that the
brakes and lights are working.
RBear in mind that the handling will be less
stable when towing a trailer than when driving
without one. Avoid sudden steering move-
ments.
RThe vehicle/trailer combination is heavier,
accelerates more slowly and has a decreased
gradient climbing capability and a longer
braking distance.
It is more susceptible to crosswinds and
requires cautious steering.
RIf possible, do not brake suddenly, but rather
moderately at first so that the trailer can acti-
vate its brakes. Then increase the force on the
brake pedal.
RIf the automatic transmission repeatedly
shifts between gears when driving on inclines,
restrict the shift range. Select shift range 4,3,
2 or 1.
Driving in a low gear and at a low speed
reduces the risk of damaging the engine.
RWhen driving on a downhill gradient, shift to a
low gear and take advantage of the engine's
braking effect.
Avoid continuous brake application as this
may overheat the vehicle brakes and, if instal-
led, the trailer brakes.
RIf the coolant temperature increases dramat-
ically while the air-conditioning system is
switched on, switch off the air-conditioning
system.
Coolant heat can also be dissipated by
switching the airflow and the temperature of
Towing a trailer155
Driving and parking
Z