The information on this page offers some tips and tricks specifically for Mercedes Sprinter vans.
We hope you find them useful. Most are written for newer Sprinter vans (2019+), but there are some tips for older vans as well.
One downside to owning a Sprinter is the limited number of repair shops that you can take it to for servicing. Mercedes dealerships offer good service, but at a premium price. I have found a few Dodge dealers who will work on them and may be more reasonably priced.
Another issue is getting a front-end alignment at a Mercedes shop. We paid $340 after scrubbing off the inside of a set of front tires at 17K miles and found they did nothing to correct it. The problem may be that they are setting the alignment for an empty cargo van rather than a heavy, up-fitted recreational vehicle.
Page Contents:
NEW PAGE – Sprinter Fluids
NEW – 2019+ Serpentine Belt
NEW – 2019+ Hood Gas Struts
2019+ Dash Display
2019+ Tires
2020+ Hand Brake
NEW – Sprinter ScanGauge III
Sprinter Catalytic Converter Theft
2019+ EIS Module Condensation
2019+ Secure Storage
2019+ Brake Hold
2019+ Seats
2019+ Speed Limit Display
2019+ Cruise Control
2019+ Sun Visors
2019+ Mod – Center Speaker
2019+ Wireless Phone Charging
2019+ Mercedes Me Connect
2019+ Backup Alarm OFF
2019+ Lane Keeping OFF
2019+ Cross Wind Assist
2019+ Turn Off Beep Notices
2019+ Turn Off Beep When Locking
2019+ Key Fob *New info added*
Sprinter Laser Temperature Gun
Sprinter Sliding Door Mod
Sprinter – Drivers Door Controls Bumper
2019+ Mod – Horn Replacement
Sprinter – Folding Mirrors
2019+ Useless Tool Kit
Sprinter – Paint Spray Can
2004-06 – Soft Brake Pedal
2004-06 – Power Window Repair
2004-06 – Windshield Replacement
NEW Sprinter – Error Code Issues
NEW Sprinter – Maintenance Schedule
Sprinter Parts
— Dash storage
— Oil Dipstick
— Floor Mats
— Full Van Cover
— Turbo Resonator 2004-06
— Spare Parts
Coming Soon:
2019+ Suspension
2019+ Safety Controls
2019+ Body Shop
Sprinter Tool Box
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Sprinter Fluids – This information is a general overview of the late-model Mercedes Sprinter specifications. It has been collected from multiple sources and may not reflect your vehicle’s specifications. Even among the Mercedes documents, we found slight differences. If you need information for your specific Sprinter model, it’s best to contact a Mercedes Service Center with your VIN (Vehicle Identification Number), and they can look up your vehicle specifications.
The Sprinter Fluids Information has grown into a new webpage: Sprinter Fluids
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EIS Module Condensation – Some 2019+ Sprinters have had problems with condensation shorting out the EIS Module and stranding drivers. Condensation from cooking, showers, breathing, etc. can collect on the wire harness and run down into the EIS, shorting out the circuit board.
TIP#074: Mercedes offers a protective boot (part no: A 638 546 00 35) that should eliminate the problem. Some people have wrapped the module in plastic as protection.
The module is located behind the plastic panel, to the left of the brake pedal.
TIP#102: EIS module damage can also occur from spilled drinks in the driver’s dash cup holders. It is recommended not to place drinks in the dash cup holders.
TIP#084: When cooking or showering, turn on the ventilation fan to remove moisture from inside the van.
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TIP#254: ScanGauge III – is a big step up from the previous model. It is larger and has a color touch screen that can display 9 gauges of information per screen and multiple page screens. The screen gauge layout is customizable. Trip information can be displayed on multiple screens, including the daily trip, trip mileage, fuel mileage, distance till empty, driving time, cost per mile, cost per trip, and many more. Engine and transmission screens show temperatures, pressures, power levels, and other gauges.
Trouble codes that have activated the Check Engine light can be displayed and cleared using the ScanGauge. Firmware for the unit can be updated using a WiFi connection.
If you have installed a larger fuel tank or are driving on larger-diameter tires, ScanGauge can be calibrated to compensate for these changes and report speed and fuel levels accurately. (It won’t change the sprinter display’s programming.)
With so many gauge displays to choose from, the hardest part is deciding on your own display layout.
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TIP#096: Sprinter – Secure storage. Under the passenger seat skirt on the side toward the door is a secure, lockable storage compartment. You should have received a key along with the sprinter’s electronic key fobs. If you do not have a locking door, they can be purchased separately. This is a great place to keep your checkbook, extra cash, and your wife’s diamonds. Ya, I know we just spilled the beans about this box – just don’t tell anyone else.
https://www.sprinterstore.com/product/safe-stor-door-sprinter-vans/
Just to make it a little more fun and discourage thieves, I added a warning label that says “DANGER – HIGH VOLTAGE!”
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TIP#011: Brake Hold Sprinter 2019+ – Here’s a handy tip when you are sitting at one of those 4-minute-long traffic lights and your leg is starting to twitch from holding the brake down: With your foot still on the brake, give the brake pedal a quick, sharp push down. You can now gently lift your foot off the brake, and if you have done it correctly, the van will not roll forward. If you didn’t quite get it, you probably rolled into the guy in front of you. Sorry! It does take a few tries to get the hang of it. It comes in handy. Once the light turns green, just press the accelerator, and the brake will automatically release, and off you go.
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Hand Brake – Like a few other Sprinter owners, on our first day out driving, we had an issue with the hand brake lever on the newer chassis. Once you have applied the hand brake by pulling it up, you can push it back down out of the way of the swivel seat. We were parked in a shopping mall, and the brake handle was just moving up and down loosely. We tried driving, and the brake was definitely on. After a few choice words, my thoughts turned to having to call a tow truck on our very first day driving around. It took a few minutes, but eventually we discovered it was “OE” (Operator Error).
TIP#035: Grab hold of the lever and pull it up firmly while holding the release button in. While still holding the button in, lower the lever, and you are all set. No tow truck needed. It sure would have been nice to learn this in the walk-through.
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TIP#079: Sprinter 2019+ Seat Memory Settings – The front seats in many Class B coaches are mounted on a rotating platform. When you want to swivel the seats, you need to reposition them to clear the door. Once you get it positioned for rotating, set the position as one of the seat memory settings (we use setting 3), and it will be easy to repeat the position next time.
TIP#138: Sprinter 2019+ Seat Sensors: Speaking of seats, on long drives, my wife likes to use a memory foam seat cushion to sit on. During our first few outings with the new Sprinter, the cruise would shut off for no particular reason. It never did it when a man was driving, so we assumed Ms. Mercedes didn’t like female drivers. Eventually, we discovered there are seat sensors that monitor if someone is sitting in the seat. If not, the cruise turns off. Her cushion spread her weight just enough that when she hit a dip or incline, the seat sensor would think there was no one in the seat and turn off the cruise control. Mystery solved.
TIP#090: 2/27/2022 – 12 volt DC power outlet: If you ever need a cigarette-style socket, there is one in the driver’s seat pedestal on the right side, toward the front of the pedestal. With the upholstered seat skirts RV manufacturers install, many people don’t know what’s under there. Our Sprinter also has another socket under the lower cup holders above the “key hole.” Unfortunately, on 2019+ Sprinters, the cigarette-style sockets are only powered when the ignition is on, so they cannot be used to trickle-charge the chassis battery.
TIP#007: The upper height of the seatbelt [19] at the B-pillar can be adjusted up and down for a more comfortable fit. There isn’t much range to the adjustment, but I guess it’s the thought that counts. 😉
TIP#165: The sprinter headrest [16] can be adjusted to tilt forward and back using the side button [17]. To move the headrest up and down, there is a release button [18] on the top of the seat where the headrest inserts into the seat.
TIP#176: Emergency Escape – Mercedes notes that the seat headrest may be removed by pressing the release button [18] in the top of the seat and the metal shafts used to hammer and break the side window for escape. Don’t bother trying this on the windshield since it is constructed with triple-layered glass.
TIP#094: Seat Front Extend – Under the front edge of the seats is a handle [2] that allows the front section [1] of the seat to extend. This will give you additional leg support on those long drives. (Seat swivel lever [3] .)
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TIP#186: Paint Spray Can – Sprinters have plastic parts on the body that may need repainting from time to time. Most automotive paint stores can custom mix a small batch using the paint code (located on the driver’s seat pedestal). They can put it in a spray paint can for easy use. We used this option to spray our black roof AC cover to match the van.
TIP#069: 2/27/2022 – Paint Code – The paint code for many Sprinters is on the driver’s seat pedestal, door side. For touching up some bumpers, many automotive paint stores can mix the matching paint and put it into a spray can for easy use. When we painted the air-conditioner cover on Gal_1.0, this is what we did, as well as the Truma exhaust vent.
If your paint code is not shown, you may find information about your van by entering your VIN number on the site: https://mb.vin
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TIP#061: Sprinter 2019+ Speed Limit Sign Display: The front camera system in our 2020 Sprinter recognizes speed limit signs and displays them on the driver’s display panel. Unfortunately, any speed limit sign that reads more than 55 MPH always displays 55. The dealership insisted that there was no fix at this time. They updated the maps the last time the van was in for service, and it now works. The dealership still says there is no solution, and it took some convincing that it’s now working correctly. (Knock on wood!)
Update: On a recent month-long trip, on some days it’d display 75-80mph signs, while on other days only 55mph. Ms. Mercedes definitely has a mind of her own!
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TIP#046: Sprinter 2019+ Cruise Control: The resume button on the steering wheel has a symbol that looks like a lollipop. In Europe, speed limit signs are known as lollipops. If you push this button up once, the cruise control will resume the last setting. Pushing it up twice will set the cruise to the speed of the speed limit sign that the camera has detected.
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TIP#065: Sprinter 2019+ Sun Visor: If you want to swing the sun visors to the door, you will need to remove the locking clips.
NOTE: The visor clips may be installed to prevent anyone from swinging them to the door since there is now an airbag located above the door.
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Sprinter 2019+ Center Speaker: The center speaker for the Mercedes MBUX sound system is an enigma. It overpowers the other speakers in the van and has a rather tinny sound. There are tweeters in the far corners of the dash next to the windshield and larger speakers in each door. Many people have just disconnected the black connector from the center speaker and are satisfied with the results. For more information, see: TIP#133
We added a volume control (L-Pad attenuator) so the level can be adjusted. For more information, see: TIP#140
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TIP#108: Wireless Charging – Newer Sprinter chassis (2019+) have wireless phone charging in the dash center storage compartment. If your phone has Near Field Communication (NFC), simply place the phone on the pad to charge. If your phone is older and doesn’t have NFC, you can add a charge coil that connects to the phone charge port for wireless charging. For charging at home, you can use a wireless charging stand.
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TIP#003: Mercedes Me Connect is a free service that offers an additional connection and information to 2018+ Sprinter vans from a smart phone app. The app can monitor your van’s location, status, lock the doors, display maintenance information, and wirelessly download software updates.
To get started, download the app and follow the instructions to pair it with your vehicle. Note: Our setup has never gone smoothly on either of our vans, but Mercedes help has always been able to fix the problem ((800) 367-6372).
One thing we really like is the additional voice interactions with Ms. Mercedes. For example:
Hey Mercedes! How can I help you? Tell me a joke! I’m sorry, my engineers were German!
Hey Mercedes! How can I help you? I love you! We need to get you out more.
Hey Mercedes! How can I help you? Who is Oprah? Oprah Winfrey is a talk show host, media executive, actress, and billionaire…… (That response really surprised us!)
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TIP#115: Backup Alarm – When reversing with a hitch-mounted bike rack or storage box, the rear distance sensors will sound an annoying alarm and may even prevent you from backing up. Tap the “P” displayed on the upper left of the main display to override the sensors.
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TIP#228: Lane Keeping OFF – Shortcut to turn it off: (1) press the “Vehicle” button and (2) the lane keeping symbol, and select OFF. It will need to be turned off every time you start the van.
The Sprinter lane-keeping function uses the forward camera located behind the rearview mirror to monitor the road stripes. It seems to have some kind of built-in parameter because I’ve noticed that if we are on a narrow backcountry road, it doesn’t beep like on a wide highway. It is one of those love it or hate it features. If you are in the hate group, a shortcut to turn it off without going through a bunch of menus will help.
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TIP#172: Cross Wind Assist – Unlike lane-keeping, Cross Wind Assist (CWA) cannot be turned off. The purpose is to provide correction when the van is hit by a strong gust of wind to the side when driving over 50mph. The assist will engage a brake on one wheel to straighten the vehicle back up. It is a sudden, jarring experience, and many people have looked for ways to turn it off. If you haven’t experienced CWA, consider yourself lucky. A suspension upgrade helps reduce the number of activations. We have found another method: keep the van to the up-wind side of the lane, and when a strong gust hits, let the van drift with the gust (within reason). When the driver attempts to correct it, it can make things worse, and the CWA engages.
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TIP#143: Beep Notices – While traveling with our van, we would get these pop-up notices on the center screen about various tests and other useless information, always announced with a beep. We would read the message and dismiss it, and 15 minutes later we would get another. Talk about annoying. After searching and searching, we found a post that had a setting that stopped the messages.
Open the RADIO Screen – select the SETTING button in the lower right corner – on the next page, select the icon in the top right corner – in the next screen, select SYSTEM SETTINGS icon lower right – next page, select the ACOUSTIC NOTIFICATION and touch it to turn the blue bar off.
Sorry, we don’t have pictures of the screens just yet.
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TIP#198: Horn Beep When Locking – If you are annoyed by the horn beeping every time you lock the vehicle, it is a very simple setting.
From the HOME screen, scroll to the far right to SETTINGS, then to the top of the screen to VEHICLE, and finally to ACOUSTIC LOCK. The bar on the right side will be lit if the switch is on and unlit if it is off.
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TIP#099: Key Fob – If the battery in your Sprinter key fob dies or loses juice due to cold weather, there is a key in the fob that will open the driver’s door. Press the silver button on the back to release the key. But if the battery is dead, how do you start the engine?
TIP#154: Place the fob in the hole under the center of the dash, and the van will recognize the fob using RFID, and you can start the engine.
While you have the key out, press the silver button and slide the back cover off. There’s a pull-out tray housing the battery. Replace it with a fresh CR2032 battery.
2-27-2022 – We’ve found a couple more new tricks on our 2020 Sprinter:
TIP#093: Unlock and roll the windows down – by pressing and holding the unlock button on the key fob while standing outside close to the driver’s door. The driver’s and passenger’s windows will roll down after the doors are unlocked. Perfect for releasing all of the sweltering heat before getting into the vehicle. By pressing and holding the lock button, all of the windows will roll up, and the vehicle will be locked.
TIP#132: Unlock some or all doors – Another feature is whether you want the key fob to (1) unlock just the driver’s door, (2) unlock the driver’s and passenger doors, or (3) unlock all doors. To cycle through these options, press and hold the lock and unlock buttons on the key fob for 6 seconds to cycle through the options. My test only found options (2) and (3) to work. Let me know if you have all three options.
TIP#139: Automatic door lock at 9 mph – A third discovery was turning on and off the automatic door lock when the van goes faster than 9 mph. To change the settings, press and hold the driver’s door lock button for 5 seconds – auto-lock on. Press and hold the driver’s door unlock button for 5 seconds – auto-lock off. You will hear a beep to indicate that the setting is complete.
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TIP#106: Laser Temperature gun – isn’t just for COVID checks or testing your pizza to see if the cheese is going to burn the roof of your mouth. Around your Sprinter, you can check mechanical temperatures like: tires, bearings, brakes, radiators, hoses, rear differential, transmission cooler, etc. Checking wheel hubs could indicate a wheel bearing going bad. Tire temp – 180F or above is a warning that something is seriously wrong, like under-inflation or overloaded. Tires usually heat to 50 degrees above ambient temperature. What temperature are those glowing brake rotors at when coming down from Mt. Washington in a Sprinter?
A cool spot on the radiator could indicate a plugged core tube. A misfiring cylinder can be located by measuring the temperature of each cylinder’s exhaust manifold. Check van insulation – test the inside and outside van walls to see if you need more insulation.
Truma – heater and hot water temp.
Fridge – fridge and freezer temp.
AC cooling – should have a 20 degree temp drop below ambient.
Oven temp, hot pan on the stove.
BBQ grill grate – time to throw on the steaks!
Use on kids summer playground equipment, slides and swings to avoid contact burns.
And finally, you can always use the laser to run your cat around the house. 
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Sliding Door mods – added to the (non-powered) sliding door of our Galleria 24FL.
TIP#082: The lock knob is a little difficult to get hold of, so we drilled it and added a key ring.
TIP#075: Added the pull handle toward the rear of the door so you can pull it in when closing without having to slam the door so hard.
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TIP#249: Door Controls Bumper – This mod is probably of interest to only 2–3 people. I am 6-6, so when I’m driving, my knee rests against the controls on the driver’s door. Every so often, I’ll be driving and the seat starts getting hot or it starts moving. This mod is a test to see if a 3D-printed part will keep me from hitting the buttons. We’ll see. (2023-03-16).
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TIP#225: Horn Replacement – The little roadrunner beep-beep horn doesn’t seem to go along with the image of a large van.
2022-10-05
We replaced it with a Wolo Bad Boy air horn.
The first step in replacing the horn is removing the front grill. It is held in place by three screws across the top and several snap-in tabs around the sides. After removing the screws, it takes an uncomfortable amount of pulling to pop the grill off. It ultimately came off, despite my fear of breaking something.
Once the original horn has been removed, the next choice is where to mount the replacement so that the radiator won’t be damaged. We decided to tuck it into the side, so we drilled a mounting hole in a plastic support piece, added a spacer, and used a large washer. It pushes slightly against a plastic baffle, but in my opinion, that is the best location. We spliced on a new piece of wiring without removing the original connector. No horn relay was required to be added.
NOTE: While you have the grill removed, you can see the forward radar module. It snaps into the center vertical support.
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TIP#260: Hood Lift Struts – The Sprinter hood “Kickstand” makes opening the hood a two-handed juggle. While holding the hood up with one hand, you have to fiddle with the kickstand with the other.
To make matters worse, some shops (and an occasional owner) forget about the kickstand when closing and pull down on the hood, bending it.
Strut installation kits for the 2019+ Sprinters have made changing to gas lift struts a 30-minute job with only a few tools. (Longer if you install them facing the wrong sides, like I did.)
The kit I purchased didn’t come with any instructions other than a couple pictures on their website. I must have guessed right, because it works. (There were a couple washers in the kit, so I did ‘best guess’ as to where they went.)
The 10mm bolt in the top of the fender is removed and reinstalled to attach the 90-degree mounting bracket.
While supporting the hood with a board or other support, use a flat screwdriver to unclip the upper plastic part from the kickstand rod and back the kickstand out of the hole. Discard the plastic part and kickstand; they won’t be needed.
Install the 90-degree bracket on the driver’s side.
(Passenger side shown)
The ball-bolts are installed with the ball on the engine side.
The upper ball-bolt is longer and uses two flanged washers mounted with the wide flanges facing to the outside. The narrow portion fits into the hood bracket hole and centers the bolt.
The lower ball-bolt also mounts with the ball to the engine side.
Snap the strut onto the ball mounts with the cylinder at the top.
Close the hood slowly to make sure there are no obstructions or tools.
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TIP#265: Replacing the Serpentine Belt (Two belt configuration) – The serpentine belt drives the alternator, air conditioner, and power steering (if not electric). If this breaks on the highway, it isn’t the end of the world. With a couple tools, a spare belt, and a little knowledge, you should be able to fix it yourself. The tools required are:
1 – Long breaker bar for leverage or a smaller bar and a pipe extension.
2 – 17 mm 12 point socket
3 – Medium-diameter screwdriver of heavy nail.
4 – New belt.
To keep the serpentine belt tight, Mercedes uses a spring-loaded belt tensioner. On the bottom of the tensioner is a star-shaped protrusion that the breaker bar socket will fit onto. Pulling the breaker bar in the counter-clockwise direction releases the tension on the belt. Inserting the pin, nail, or screwdriver into the hole on the side of the tensioner will hold it in so the new belt can be installed. (Pin shown in image)
1 – Alternator (Chassis Battery)
2 – Water Pump
3 – Belt Tensioner Pulley
4 – Serpentine Belt
5 – Air-conditioner Compressor
6 – Tensioner Star Lug
7 – Crank Shaft Pulley
If you have a 3 belt configuration:
8 – Belt Tensioner (Second Alternator)
9 – Secondary Alternator (House Battery)
In a two-belt configuration, loop the new belt over the fan blade between the fan and radiator. The belt ribs should be facing the inside of the belt loop. Once in the general operating area, feed a loop of the belt through the gap between the crank pulley and the water pump pulley and around the tensioner. Position the belt ribs on their respective pulleys. If everything is in place, use the breaker bar to pull the belt tensioner and remove the safety pin. Start the engine and check for proper alignment of the belt. If it looks OK, congratulate yourself on saving many hours at the repair shop and saving $400 on your repair bill.
In a three-belt configuration, as shown in the above photo, you will need to remove the belt for the second alternator.
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Sprinter Parts:
TIP#144: Sprinter 2019+ DASH Compartments – These storage compartments replace the open trays and can be purchased from Mercedes dealers and installed yourself. They do require a couple of special tools and working in limited space, but they are a very nice addition.
910-680-07-00-9051 ($150)
910-680-08-00-9051 ($150)
Update Feb 2022: RvXplor is leading in innovation – Coachmen has now decided to include the dash storage boxes in their builds.
TIP#016: While we are discussing the components of the dash, just a quick note – the AC vents on either side of the center dash compartment do not provide heat. It isn’t a malfunction; they are there to provide fresh, cool air to the driver and passenger, and they can be closed in winter.
TIP#111: 2019+ Oil dipstick: Another item that has gone electronic is the engine oil dipstick. The tube is still on the engine and has a rubber plug in it. You can purchase a dipstick from Mercedes – part no: 642-010-49-72-64 ($30). Now you can check the oil level without having to run the engine.
2019+ Floor Mats: Mercedes sells some very nice, high-quality floor mats.
Part No: A90768048019G33
Van Full Cover: When storing the van outside, we use a full cover for protection. As you can see, it is snug and a little short. It does fit over the rear door-mounted bike rack, but you will want to cover the sharp edges with pool noodles or something. Installation will require a ladder and two people to install it.
Cover is the Classic Accessories – 25-foot for the Sprinter 170 XL.
TIP#145: We have simplified installation by rolling the sides up and then rolling the ends toward the middle. When rolling ends, include a long webbing strap in the rollup that will act as a pull strap to help unroll. That way, you throw it up onto the roof and unroll it lengthwise, then unroll the sides. Much easier. (Needs pictures, right?)
TIP#012: Storage – Fuel – Fill the fuel tank when storing the van for long periods. Daily warm and cold temperature cycles will cause the air volume in the tank to expand and contract. This “breathing” action pulls moisture into the tank, where it can condense and contaminate the fuel. Moisture in the fuel can cause algae growth, which is also a problem with the long-term storage of biofuels. If you are storing for more than 3 months, consider adding a fuel stabilizer when filling the tank.
TIP#232: Storage – Drive – If the RV is stored for more than a couple months, it is recommended that it be driven for approximately 30 minutes to circulate fluids and reduce any flat-spotting on the tires.
TIP#124: Turbo Resonator 2004-2006. Our Great West Van was based on the 2005 Sprinter chassis. One problem with the early Sprinter models was the plastic turbo resonator splitting open, causing the engine to go into “limp home” mode. After our second one broke, we replaced it with a metal tube. Problem solved. $25
TIP#134: If the engine goes into limp home mode, pull over, turn off the engine, and restart. The computers may reset to run without the turbo boost.
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TIP#201: Soft Brake Pedal 2004-2006 – Some older Sprinters suffered from soft pedal. When stopped with your foot on the brake, the pedal would slowly go to the floor. We replaced the vacuum booster and master cylinder with no change. Our solution was to change the master cylinder for a 2012 model. It required trimming the push rod, but that solved the problem.
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TIP#202: Window Mechanism Repair 2004-2006 – Heading home from a winter camping trip in our Great West Van, we rolled down the window to hand in our camping pass, and the window went down with a thud. It wouldn’t come up, so the next stop was Lowes for a piece of plexiglass and duct tape to cover the hole.
A plastic slider part in the window mechanism was worn out, and one option was a brass part that required drilling out some rivets in the mechanism. Our solution was to line the track with a couple small pieces of wax paper and form a new slider in the track by tightly molding it around the pin using JB Weld. This worked well beyond our expectations and was still working after many years when we finally traded the van.
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TIP#203: Windshield Replacement – Our 2006 Great West RV was rust-free until we developed a crack in the windshield and contacted a nationally known windshield company. I was concerned when I saw them attacking the seal with a zaw-saw with a flat blade. It chipped the paint around the flange, and the fingernail polish brush they repainted with was obviously inadequate. Months later, rust appeared, and when I checked with Mercedes, they pointed out in the user manual that it clearly states to remove the windshield with cutting wire only. The company reimbursed us for the damage, but rust continued to be a problem.
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TIRES:
TIP#097: Lug Nuts – If your van has aluminum wheels, your spare tire may still have a steel rim. It requires a different set of lug nuts than the aluminum wheels. They can be supplied by the coach manufacturer or purchased from Mercedes dealers.
TIP#086: If you are planning on changing a tire yourself in an emergency, practice jacking up your vehicle at home, removing the tire, and getting the spare tire out, among other things. That way, when you get that flat in the pouring rain at 10 pm you’ll have some experience. (Wait. Why are you driving in the rain at that hour? You should be at your site by now.)
TIP#020: The Sprinter hydraulic jack is stored in the step under the passenger seat. There are a couple screwdriver tools under the passenger floormat but they are totally useless.
TIP#039: Tire Pressure – When I first learned to drive, I assumed the tire pressure stamped on the sidewall was what you needed to fill the tires to. That is the MAX tire pressure. Tire pressure is calculated by how much weight load the tires are carrying. For our RV, the manufacturer weighs the van and puts a weight and pressure label on the driver’s door jam.
TIP#018: Tire Pressure – At my age, by the time I look at the door jam for the tire pressure and walk back to the tire, I’ve forgotten what the pressure should be. (Not really, but some days it sure seems like it.) To simplify, I added stick-on labels with the pressure next to each valve stem. I picked up a “Digital Tire Inflator Pressure Gauge, LED Display Tire Deflator Gage with Dual Head” from Amazon. It works beautifully, and I don’t need to have a separate gauge to check pressure.
TIP#103: Changing a Tire – If you ever plan on changing a tire yourself, you will probably want to get a better lug wrench. We also carry a length of steel pipe to slide on the handle for additional leverage. As mentioned in tip#097, the lug nuts are different from alloy to steel wheels, and, you guessed it, they are different socket sizes too, so you’ll need one of each.
TIP#088: Our van came with “Haltec DS-1-50 Double Seal Valve Caps” on the rear tires. I had to look them up to see why anyone would want them. The idea is that you can check the pressure or fill the tire without removing a valve cap. Huh? Why not just leave the caps off in the first place? Probably because you get dirt in the valve. The double seal may stop valve leaks, but it seems like it is just another place to leak, and you can still blow dirt into the valve when filling. I have plenty of time to take a cap off, so I removed them and installed caps. Call me old-fashioned.
TIP#177: Tire Pressure – How do tire manufacturers decide what the tire pressure should be for a vehicle? Tire pressure is calculated by the use of the vehicle and the load it will be carrying. That’s why it is important to weigh each axle when the vehicle is fully loaded. There are load charts for each tire manufacturer where you can look up the pressure for the weight of your RV. You may even want to find someplace that can weigh each tire to make sure the loads are distributed evenly from side to side. RV conventions like the Family Motor Coaching Association (FMCA) offer this service.
TIP#182: Tire Care for Storage – Before you put your van in storage for the season, give the tires a good scrub to remove any road chemicals and debris. Fill them to the recommended air pressure, and if possible, put the vehicle up on jack stands. Unfortunately, few Class-B RVs have hydraulic leveling jacks like our bigger cousins, so a floor jack would be handy. This takes the weight off the tires and prevents flat spots from forming. If you can’t jack the van up, some people prefer to use tire cradles or curved pads, which distribute the weight and reduce flat spotting. If you are storing outside, cover the tires to protect them from the sun.
We have a lot more tire tips, but my fingers are tired from typing.
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Dash Displays:
TIP#009: Fuel Cap Arrow – Newer vehicles display a small arrow by the gas gauge on your dashboard. Depending on your vehicle, it may look like an arrow or a triangle pointing to the left or to the right. The indicator is located next to the fuel icon and is always pointing to the side of the vehicle that the gas cap is on. Some show just the pump hose to indicate which side, but that’s not always reliable.
TIP#266: Fuel Level Reserve – It’s a good idea to refill as soon as the reserve light illuminates, if possible. Going much further could cause the fuel level in the tank to drop to the point where the fuel is not cooling the fuel pump properly, which could reduce the life of the fuel pump. Low fuel levels may also agitate sediment at the tank’s bottom and clog the fuel filter.
TIP#021: Take a Break – Once on a long day’s driving, Ms. Mercedes notified us that it had been awhile since we stopped for a break. ATTENTION ASSIST relies on an algorithm and a specialized sensor to detect driver fatigue. During the first few minutes of your drive, the system analyzes your personal driving habits using over 70 different types of parameters. If the system detects these common driver-fatigue-related errors, it will encourage you to take a break from your journey. Now if she would only tell us how far to the next rest area too.
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TIP#193: Catalytic Converter Theft – Because of their expensive metals, including rhodium, platinum, and palladium, Sprinter catalytic converters are being stolen at an increasing rate. On the black market, stolen catalytic converters can fetch anywhere from $350 to $450, with a replacement cost of up to $2,500 for vehicle owners. Catalytic converters have been stolen in large numbers from dealerships and RV manufacturers’ lots, with 4×4 Sprinters particularly vulnerable due to their increased ground clearance. Stamping your VIN number on the converter is one technique to deter theft. Another option is to use high-heat paint to make it more visible to law enforcement authorities.
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TIP#092: Tool Kit – Under the floorboards on the passenger side is probably the most useless tool kit there is. One useful piece is the tow loop. There is a rudimentary wheel lug wrench, but it only fits Mercedes steel rims. (Alloy rims use different-size lug nuts.) There’s an empty place for a wrench, but even the Mercedes dealership didn’t know what it was for. This probably shouldn’t even count this as a TIP#.
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TIP#147: Folding Mirrors – The side mirrors on most Sprinters can be folded in. This is a nice feature when you are using a full cover, like we do, or just to make room on the sides. Our 2020 does sound like something is going to break, but just use ear plugs. 😉
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Error Code Issues
TIP#281: Intermittent Error Code Displayed – The cause of an intermittent error code is very difficult to diagnose. One possible cause if you occasionally venture off-road is a loose or disconnected engine ground strap.
TIP#282: Seat SRS Airbag Error – A common error on Sprinter RVs is the SRS (Supplemental Restraint Systems) Airbag warning. It is caused by the connector under the seat becoming disconnected. When swiveling the seat around, the wiring can become tangled around the seat lever, and when moving the seat forward or back, it pulls the connector apart. The error code cannot be cleared with an OBD scanner and requires a trip to the Mercedes repair shop. A recall was issued for some models.
TIP#283: Transmission Disengages – The Sprinter transmission has occasionally shifted back to neutral while moving slowly. A low voltage of the chassis battery is one potential cause. The transmission and the CAN (Controller Area Network) may stop communicating when the voltage falls below a particular point. The transmission will then default to the neutral gear when this occurs.
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TIP#289: Mercedes Sprinter Maintenance Schedule
