Applying The Parking Brake - Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Operating Instructions Manual

Parking
146
If you leave the vehicle parked up for longer than
3 weeks:
connect the batteries to a trickle charger or
R
disconnect the vehicle starter battery or
R
switch off the electrical system using the bat-
R
tery main switch and
disconnect the additional battery
R
Otherwise you must check the charge of the
batteries every 3 weeks, as off-load current con-
sumers can discharge the batteries. If the bat-
tery voltage is under 12.2 V, the batteries must
be charged. Otherwise the batteries may be
damaged by exhaustive discharging.
Be sure to observe the notes on disconnecting
and charging the batteries under "Battery"
Y
( page 250). You can obtain information about
trickle chargers from a qualified specialist work-
shop.
Parking brake
G
WARNING
If you must brake the vehicle with the parking
brake, the braking distance is considerably
longer and the wheels could lock. This increa-
ses the risk of skidding and an accident.
Only use the parking brake to brake the vehi-
cle when the service brake is faulty. Do not
apply the parking brake too firmly. If the
wheels lock, release the parking brake until
the wheels begin turning again.
The brake lamps are not illuminated when you
brake the vehicle using the parking brake.
As a rule, you should only apply the parking
brake when the vehicle is stationary.
X
To apply the parking brake: pull brake
lever : up as far as the last possible detent.
The c warning lamp in the instrument
cluster lights up if the engine is running.
i On vehicles with a folding brake lever, you
can then press lever : down to the stop.
X
To release the parking brake: on vehicles
with a folding brake lever, first pull brake
lever : up to the stop.
X
Raise brake lever : slightly and press
release knob ;.
X
Guide brake lever : down to the stop.
The c indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster goes out.
Exceptionally, if the service brake fails, the park-
ing brake can be used to brake the vehicle in an
emergency.
X
Emergency braking: press and hold release
button ; and carefully apply brake lever :.
Switching off the engine
G
WARNING
The automatic transmission switches to neu-
tral position N when you switch off the engine.
The vehicle may roll away. There is a risk of an
accident.
After switching off the engine, always switch
to parking position P. Prevent the parked vehi-
cle from rolling away by applying the parking
brake.
! If the coolant temperature is very high, e.g.
after driving on hilly roads, leave the engine
running at idle speed for about two minutes
before turning it off.
This allows the coolant temperature to return
to normal.
X
Stop the vehicle.
X
Shift the manual transmission into neutral or
the automatic transmission to position P.
X
Apply the parking brake.
X
Turn the key to position 0 in the ignition lock
and remove it.
The immobiliser is activated.
X
Secure the vehicle to prevent it from rolling
Y
away ( page 145).