Jump-Start the Van

A flat 12V battery leaves the Sprinter unable to crank or wake its electronics. On this generation you do not clamp onto the battery in the driver’s footwell — use the dedicated jump-start terminal in the engine bay and an engine-bay earth point, which are provided for exactly this job.

Before you connect anything, prepare the van: apply the parking brake, put the automatic transmission in P, switch the van and all electrical consumers off, and open the bonnet. If your van has a battery main switch, it must be connected. Only use a 12V donor battery or vehicle, and make sure the two vehicles are not touching each other.

1. Attach the first red clamp to the positive post of the external or donor battery.
2. Push back the red cap on the engine-bay jump-start terminal by twisting it clockwise, then attach the second red clamp to the positive contact of the jump-start terminal.
3. Attach the black clamp to the negative post of the external or donor battery.
4. Attach the last black clamp to a bare-metal earth point in the engine bay of your van — not to the battery.
5. Start the donor vehicle and let it idle, then start your Sprinter.
6. Let both engines run for a few minutes. Before disconnecting, switch on a consumer in your van, such as the rear-window heater or the lights, to absorb voltage spikes.
7. Disconnect in reverse order: the black earth clamp first, then the black clamp from the donor, then the red clamp from the jump-start terminal (the red cap springs back), and finally the red clamp from the donor.

Good to know

Right-hand-drive vans may carry the jump-start terminal on the opposite side of the engine bay, so check both sides if you cannot find it straight away.

A frozen battery must be thawed before you jump-start or charge it. If the cluster warning and indicator lamps do not light at all in freezing weather, the battery is probably frozen — do not jump-start it. When charging, only use a charger limited to 14.8 V.

FAQ

Can I clamp straight onto the Sprinter’s battery?

No. On this generation the battery sits in the driver’s footwell and is not the connection point for a jump-start. Use the positive jump-start terminal in the engine bay and a bare-metal earth point in the engine bay instead.

Where is the earth point?

Any clean, bare-metal earth point in the engine bay of your van will do. Avoid attaching the black clamp to the battery or to painted, greasy or moving parts.

Do I connect positive or negative first?

Positive first when connecting: donor positive, then the engine-bay jump-start terminal. When disconnecting, take the earth clamp off first and work back in reverse.

My van still won’t start after a jump. Now what?

The battery may be deeply discharged or frozen, or it may have failed. Thaw a frozen battery before trying again, and if it still will not start have the battery and charging system checked by a workshop.