towing MERCEDES-BENZ SPRINTER 2017 MY17 Operator’s Manual

Useful information
This Operator's Manual describes all models as
well as standard and optional equipment of your
vehicle that were available at the time of going
to print. Country-specific variations are possi-
ble. Note that your vehicle may not be equipped
with all of the described functions. This also
applies to systems and functions relevant to
safety.
Read the information on qualified specialist
workshops (
Ypage 27).
Where will I find...?
Vehicle tool kit
General notes
The vehicle tool kit is in the stowage compart-
ment in the footwell on the front-passenger
side.
The vehicle tool kit consists of:
Ra towing eye
Ra screwdriver with Torx, Phillips and slotted
bits
If your vehicle is equipped with a spare wheel
bracket and a jack, the vehicle tool kit addition-
ally contains:
Ra lug wrench
Ra wrench
Ra pump lever rod
iThe jack has a maximum weight of 7.5 kg
depending on the vehicle's equipment.
The maximum payload of the jack can be
found on the sticker on the jack itself.
In the event of a malfunction, please contact a qualified specialist workshop.
Jack maintenance
XAfter use: clean all movable parts and grease
again.
XEvery six months: extend and retract the
piston fully.
Stowage compartment in the front-
passenger footwell
Unlocking and removing the cover
XTurn quick-release fastener :counter-clock-
wise or clockwise 2.
XSlightly raise and pull out the cover.
Removing the vehicle tool kit and the jack
XRemove vehicle tool kit A.
XPull up quick-release lever =and unhook the
retaining strap of jack ?.
XLift jack?upwards out of the holder.
iWhen stowing away the jack, place it in the
holder as shown in the illustration. Make sure
that the retaining strap of the jack is hooked
in and tensioned.
Inserting and engaging the cover
XSlide in the cover and fold it down.
XPress down quick-release fastener :until it
engages.
236Where will I find...?
Breakdown assistance

Before connecting the jumper cables
On vehicles with a battery main switch, check
whether the battery main switch is switched on
(
Ypage 116).
XApply the parking brake.
XMove the selector lever of the automatic
transmission to positionP.
XSwitch off all electrical consumers, e.g. audio
equipment, blower.
XTurn the key to position0in the ignition lock
and remove it (Ypage 117).
XOpen the hood (Ypage 214).
Tow-starting and towing away
Important safety notes
GWARNING
Functions relevant to safety are restricted or
no longer available if:
Rthe engine is not running.
Rthe brake system or the power steering is
malfunctioning.
Rthere 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.
GWARNING
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.
GWARNING
When towing or tow-starting another vehicle
and its weight is greater than the permissible
gross weight of your vehicle, the:
Rthe towing eye could detach itself
Rthe 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
(
Ypage 272).
!Only secure the tow rope or tow bar at the
towing eyes. Otherwise, the vehicle could be
damaged.
!Observe the following points when towing
with a tow rope:
RSecure the tow rope on the same side on
both vehicles.
REnsure 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.
ROnly secure the tow cable to the towing
eye.
RObserve the brake lamps of the towing
vehicle while driving. Always maintain a dis-
tance so that the tow rope does not sag.
RDo not use steel cables or chains to tow
your vehicle. You could otherwise damage
the vehicle.
!Do not use the towing eye for recovery, this
could damage the vehicle. If in doubt, recover
the vehicl
e 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 transported
on a transporter or trailer instead of towing it.
Tow-starting and towing away239
Breakdown assistance
Z

The automatic transmission selector lever must
be in theNposition when towing the vehicle.
The battery must be connected and charged.
Otherwise, you:
Rcannot turn the key in the ignition lock to
position 2
Rcannot move the selector lever to position N
on vehicles with automatic transmission
Before the vehicle is towed, switch off the auto-
matic locking feature (
Ypage 64). You could
otherwise lock yourself out of the vehicle 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 towing
eye ;. If you tow or tow-start a vehicle, attach
the towing device to rear towing eye ;.
If your vehicle is equipped with a trailer tow
hitch, attach the towing device to the trailer tow hitch (
Ypage 152). Installing the front towing eye
XTake the towing eye and screwdriver from the
vehicle tool kit (Ypage 236).
XPress cover
:and remove cover :from the
opening.
You will see the fixture for the towing eye.
XScrew in the towing eye clockwise to the stop.
XInsert screwdriver into the towing eye and
tighten it.
Removing the front towing eye
XRemove the screwdriver from the vehicle tool
kit.
XInsert the screwdriver into the towing eye and
turn the screwdriver counter-clockwise.
XUnscrew the towing eye.
XInsert cover :with the lug at the bottom and
press it in at the top until it engages.
XPlace the towing eye and screwdriver back in
the vehicle tool kit.
Towing away in the event of malfunc-
tions
Front or rear axle damage on all-wheel-
drive vehicles
!For vehicles with all-wheel drive, all four
wheels must be raised for towing away. Oth-
erwise, you may damage the transfer case.
If the vehicle can only be raised by the front
axle, you must remove the propeller shaft
between the rear axle and the transfer case.
Always use new bolts when installing the pro-
peller shaft.
If the vehicle has front or rear axle damage, have
it transported on a transporter or trailer.
With transmission damage
!Always use new bolts when installing the
propeller shafts.
iOnly have the propeller shafts fitted or
removed by qualified, skilled personnel.
If the vehicle has transmission damage, have the
propeller shaft removed before towing away.
240Tow-starting and towing away
Breakdown assistance

Towing with the front or rear axle
raised
General notes
!The ignition must be switched off if the vehi-
cle is being towed with the front or rear axle
raised. Otherwise, ESP
®may intervene and
damage the brake system.
!Always use new bolts when installing the
propeller shafts.
iOnly have the propeller shafts installed and
removed by qualified, skilled personnel.
Observe the following before towing a vehicle
with a raised front or rear axle:
Rthe information on towing in the event of mal-
functions (Ypage 240) and
Rthe important safety notes (Ypage 239).
If the front axle is damaged, raise the vehicle at
the front axle and if the rear axle is damaged,
raise the vehicle at the rear axle.
Towing
If the front axle is raised, the vehicle may be
towed a maximum of 30 miles (50 km). For a
towing distance of over 30 miles (50 km), the
propeller shafts to the driven axles must be
removed.
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
XShift the automatic transmission to position
N.
XTurn the key to position 1in the ignition lock
and leave it in this position.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 83).
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the parking brake.
XIf the front axle is raised, do not exceed the
towing speed of 30 mph (50 km/h) and the
towing distance of 30 miles (50 km).
Towing the vehicle with both axles on
the ground
Important safety notes
GWARNING
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.
!Do not exceed a towing speed of 31 mph
(50 km/h). You could otherwise damage the
transmission.
iOnly have the propeller shafts fitted and
removed by qualified, skilled personnel.
Before towing the vehicle, observe the follow-
ing:
Rthe information on towing in the event of mal-
functions (Ypage 240) and
Rthe important safety notes (Ypage 239).
Towing
You may only tow the vehicle a maximum dis-
tance of 30 miles (50 km). For a towing distance
of over 30 miles (50 km), the propeller shafts to the driven axles must be removed.
XTurn the key to position 2in the ignition lock.
XDepress the brake pedal and keep it
depressed.
XShift the automatic transmission to position
N.
XRelease the brake pedal.
XRelease the parking brake.
XLeave the key in position 2in the ignition lock.
XSwitch on the hazard warning lamps
(Ypage 83).
XDo 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 pos-
sible. Excessive tractive power could damage
the vehicles.
Tow-starting and towing away241
Breakdown assistance
Z

Example 1Example 2Example 3
Step 2Number of people in
the vehicle (driver and
occupants)531
Distribution of the
occupantsFront: 2
Rear: 3Front: 1
Rear: 2Front: 1
Weight of the occu-
pantsOccupant 1:
150 lbs (68 kg)
Occupant 2:
180 lbs (82 kg)
Occupant 3:
160 lbs (73 kg)
Occupant 4:
140 lbs (63 kg)
Occupant 5:
120 lbs (54 kg)Occupant 1:
200 lbs (91 kg)
Occupant 2:
190 lbs (86 kg)
Occupant 3:
150 lbs (68 kg)Occupant 1:
150 lbs (68 kg)
Gross weight of all
occupants750 lbs (340 kg)540 lbs (245 kg)150 lbs (68 kg)
Example 1Example 2Example 3
Step 3Permissible cargo and
trailer load/nose-
weight (maximum
gross vehicle weight
rating from the Tire
and Loading Informa-
tion placard minus the
gross weight of all
occupants)1500 lbs
(680 kg)Ò750 lbs
(340 kg) =
750 lbs (340 kg)1500 lbs
(680 kg) Ò540 lbs
(245 kg) =
960 lbs (435 kg)1500 lbs
(680 kg) Ò150 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" (
Ypage 156).
Vehicle identification plate
Even if you have calculated the total cargo care-
fully, 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
(
Ypage 272).
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 vehicle
weight and maximum gross axle weight rating),
have your loaded vehicle (including driver, occu-
pants, cargo, and full trailer load if applicable)
weighed on a suitable vehicle weighbridge.
256Loading the vehicle
Wheels and tires

damage to the fuel injection system, for
example.
B20 fuels with bio-diesel content
!Continuous use of B20 fuel can lead to fuel
filter clogging and injector deposits. This can
cause engine performance degradation.
Injector deposits can cause the engine oil
level to rise due to unburned fuel washing into
the oil pan. This can cause engine mechanical
damage.
To avoid damages and performance degrada-
tion:
RFill up with ULSD (B5 or less) whenever
possible.
RRegularly monitor your engine oil level if
you use B20 fuel on a regular basis.
RStrictly follow the oil change intervals quo-
ted in the instrument cluster and within
your maintenance booklet.
RUse only engine oils and filters approved for
use in your vehicle.
RIf you do not plan to drive your vehicle for
several weeks, fill your vehicle’s fuel tank in
advance with ULSD fuel.
For more information, consult the gas station
staff. The fatty acid methyl ester B5 or B20 label on the fuel pump must clearly state that the
standard for ULSD is complied with. If the mark-
ing does not make this clear, do not refuel from that pump.
Do not refuel with any fuels that have not been
approved for your vehicle.
For more information about refueling
(
Ypage 125).
Information on fuel consumption
HEnvironmental 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:
Refficient use of the fuel by the engine
Rdriving style
Rother 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:
Rthe vehicle version
Rthe style of driving
Rthe operating conditions
Rthe type or quality of the fuel used
The vehicle will use more fuel than usual in the
following situations:
Rat very low outside temperatures
Rin city traffic
Rduring short journeys
Ron mountainous terrain
Rwhen towing a trailer
To keep fuel consumption low, observe the
advice in the "Protection of the environment"
section (
Ypage 25).
The following components of the different vehi-
cle versions influence fuel consumption:
Rtire sizes, tire tread, tire pressure, tire condi-
tion
Rbody
Rtransmission ratios for the drive assemblies
Radditional equipment (e.g. air-conditioning
system, auxiliary heating system)
For these reasons, the actual consumption fig-
ures for your vehicle may deviate from the con-
sumption figures determined according to EU
Directive 80/1268/EEC.
Data concerning fuel consumption are recorded in the on-board computer; use the steering
wheel buttons to call up the Trip computer
menu (
Ypage 171).
Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF)
General notes
HEnvironmental note
Dispose of DEF in an environmentally respon-
sible manner.
Service products and capacities275
Technical data
Z