Before Driving Off-Road - Mercedes-Benz 2016 Sprinter Operator's Manual

Driving tips
138
could slip sideways, tip and rollover. There is a
risk of an accident.
Always drive on a steep incline in the line of
fall (straight up or down) and do not turn the
vehicle.
G
WARNING
When driving off-road, your body is subject to
forces from all directions, due to the uneven
surface. You could be thrown from your seat,
for instance. There is a risk of injury.
Always wear a seat belt, even when driving off-
road.
G
WARNING
If you drive over obstacles or in ruts, the steer-
ing wheel may jerk out of your grip, causing
injury to your hands.
Always hold the steering wheel firmly with
both hands. When driving over obstacles, you
must expect steering forces to increase
briefly and suddenly.
G
WARNING
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact with
hot parts of the exhaust system. There is a risk
of fire.
When driving off road or on unpaved roads,
check the vehicle's underside regularly. In
particular, remove parts of plants or other
flammable materials which have become
trapped. In the case of damage, contact a
qualified specialist workshop.
!
When driving off-road or on unpaved surfa-
ces, check the underside of the vehicle and
the wheels and tires at regular intervals. In
particular, remove any trapped foreign
objects, e.g. stones and branches.
Such foreign objects may:
damage the chassis, the fuel tank or the
R
brake system
cause imbalances and thus vibrations
R
be flung out when you continue driving
R
If there is any damage, inform a qualified spe-
cialist workshop.
When driving off-road and on construction sites,
sand, mud and water mixed with oil, for exam-
ple, may get into the brakes. This may lead to a
reduction in braking performance or total brake
failure, also as a result of increased wear. The
braking characteristics will vary depending on
the material that has got into the system. Clean
the brakes after driving off-road. If you then
notice reduced braking performance or hear
scraping noises, have the brake system checked
at a qualified specialist workshop. Adjust your
driving style to the changed braking character-
istics.
Driving off-road or on construction sites increa-
ses the possibility of vehicle damage which may
in turn lead to the failure of certain assemblies
and systems. Adapt your driving style to the off-
road driving conditions. Drive carefully. Have
any vehicle damage rectified at a qualified spe-
cialist workshop as soon as possible.
When driving on rough terrain, do not shift the
transmission into the neutral position. You could
lose control when attempting to brake the vehi-
cle with the service brake. If your vehicle cannot
manage an uphill slope, drive back down the
slope in reverse gear.
When loading your vehicle for driving off-road or
on a construction site, keep the vehicle's center
of gravity as low as possible.
Checklist before driving off-road
Check the fuel and DEF levels (
X
and top up ( page 129).
Y
Engine: check the oil level (
X
add oil ( page 222).
Y
Before driving up or down steep gradients, fill
the oil to the maximum level.
i
If you drive up or down steep gradients, the
4 symbol may appear in the display. The
engine operating safety is not put at risk if you
have filled the engine oil to the maximum level
before the journey.
Vehicle tool kit: check that the jack is work-
X
ing ( page 240).
Y
Make sure that a lug wrench (
X
wooden underlay for the jack, a robust tow
cable and a folding spade are carried in the
vehicle.
Wheels and tires: check the tire tread depth
X
( page 248) and tire pressure
Y
( page 250).
Y
page 162)
Y
page 220) and
Y
page 240),
Y