Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Operating Instructions Manual page 118

116 Driving and parking
& WARNING Risk of skidding and of an
accident due to shifting down on slippery
road surfaces
If you shift down on slippery road surfaces to
increase the engine braking effect, the drive
wheels may lose traction.
Do not shift down on slippery road sur‐
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faces to increase the engine braking
effect.
Vehicles with automatic transmissions may roll in
neutral position i for only a short time. Allowing
the wheels to roll for longer, e.g. when towing,
causes transmission damage.
If the vehicle threatens to skid, or cannot be stop‐
ped when traveling at a low speed, you can stabi‐
lize the vehicle using the following measures:
Shift the automatic transmission to neutral
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position i.
Try to maintain control of the vehicle using
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corrective steering.
Drive particularly carefully on slippery roads.
Avoid sudden acceleration, steering and braking
maneuvers.
Have your vehicle winterized at a qualified spe‐
cialist workshop in good time at the onset of win‐
ter.
Observe the notes on snow chains
( page 223).
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Regularly check the vehicle and remove snow or
ice when traveling in wintry conditions.
An accumulation of snow and ice, particularly
when frozen, in the area around the air intake,
moving parts, the axles and the wheel housing,
may cause the following problems:
Obstruction of the air intake
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Damage to vehicle parts
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Malfunctions due to restriction of mobility
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intended by the design (e.g. reduced steering
movement)
If there is any damage, inform a qualified special‐
ist workshop.
Information about driving off-road
& WARNING Risk of accident if you do not
keep to line of fall on inclines
If you drive at an angle or turn on an incline,
the vehicle could slip sideways, tip and roll‐
over.
Always drive on inclines in the line of fall
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(straight up or down) and do not turn.
& WARNING Risk of injury due to acceler‐
ating force during off-road driving
When driving off-road on uneven surfaces,
the force of the vehicle's acceleration affects
your body from all directions.
You could, for example, be thrown from your
seat.
Always wear a seat belt when driving
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off-road.
& WARNING Risk of injury to the hands
when driving over obstacles
If you drive over obstacles or in tire ruts, the
steering wheel may fold back and cause inju‐
ries to the hands.
Steering wheel must always be held
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securely with both hands.
When driving over obstacles, expect
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increased steering forces at short
notice.
& WARNING Risk of fire due to flammable
materials on hot parts of the exhaust sys‐
tem
Flammable material such as leaves, grass or
twigs may ignite if they come into contact
with hot parts of the exhaust system.
When driving on unpaved roads or off-
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road, regularly check the vehicle under‐
side.
Remove trapped plants or other flam‐
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mable material.
If there is damage, consult a qualified
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specialist workshop immediately.