Potential faults on the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter

Nul acht funfzehn?

 

Since 1995, Daimler oversaw the manufacturing of the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, a 4-door light commercial vehicle (LCV) originating from Stuttgart, Germany. The Sprinter currently finds itself in its third generation, this after an impressive eleven years in its first generation, and twelve years in its second generation. We may only speculate how long it will remain in this, its third generation. When it first rolled out in 1995 with its 2.3 litre (19 hp) diesel and 2.9 litre (102 & 129 hp) turbo diesel engines, it was a van to behold and it stuck to these engines. It even raked in the “International Van of the Year” award the year it made its debut. When it entered its second generation in 2006, it shed the skins of these engines and dressed itself respectively with a 2.1 litre inline four, a 3.0 litre common rail, and a 3.5 litre diesel engine. In 2018, 12 years after it started its second generation, it entered its third generation. The Sprinter is still offered with its inline four and V6 diesel engines. Daimler also introduced its new electric Sprinter van, the eSprinter, early in 2018.

 

Now that we have a little bit of background regarding this van, we can move on to question its reliability; after all, is that not the most important aspect of a vehicle we are mostly interested in? Is the Sprinter, in a true German fashion, a top-of- the-notch van or just a Nul acht funfzehn (a so-so vehicle)? A bit of trivia regarding this German expression. The typical machine gun used during WWI was called the 08-15. This machine gun was not too impressive, so the numbers became a clever code to describe something unexceptional. Nul acht funfzehn therefore refers to something of rather “standard issue” and nothing to write home about.

 

Now, is the Sprinter something to write home about? Let us answer this after looking at the issues the Sprinter may present you with.

 

Possible problems of a Mercedes Sprinter

 

Limp mode

For safety reasons, the turbo may be switched off and the vehicle will enter limp mode (reduction in power). When the Sprinter enters limp mode, it usually is caused by either a faulty Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) valve, a turbo actuator, or a leaking inter-cooler hose & turbo resonator. When your Sprinter enters limp mode, have it immediately checked by one of our qualified technicians.

 

Exhaust flex pipe

This flexible piece of pipe may break, and it is especially prone to do so with regards to the 3.0 litre diesel engines. Ensure that the flex pipe is in good condition. If you are not familiar with this pipe, let us at SAC inspect it on your behalf.

Heater blower

It seems that it is a common issue for the brushes in the heater blower motor to wear out quite fast. Simply have the brushes changed to remedy this. If the system blows cold air, then the motor is working, so check the water hoses or the unit behind the dashboard, it could be blocked.

 

Failing NOx sensor, EGR valve, Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) Catalytic Converter, Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)

When any of these parts fail, you are in for some big trouble. It seems as if the exhaust system of the Sprinter may be a contributor to the failing of these components. If you experience any of these faults, and you find yourself between a rock and a hard place, not knowing what to do, then let us remind you again what the best course of action is – call us, make a booking, and bring your van to us at SAC. That is what we do, we alleviate your automotive woes.

 

Oil cooler leakage

Oil cooler seal leakages are common on the V6 models. If there is a leakage in the area of the oil cooler, prepare yourself for a costly repair because, due to its location, the turbocharger, intake manifold etc. have to be removed in order to gain access to the cooler. If you suspect your Sprinter of having a leakage in this area, bring it in and let us have a look.

 

Torque converter lock up clutch

This clutch may wear down and causes a shuddering, similar to driving on rumble strips on the side of a road. You know what to do whenever you experience any clutch issues.

 

Start countdown

When there is an issue with the Nox sensors or any other part of the AdBlue system, your Sprinter will start counting down how many times more it can be started. Do not let it reach its final countdown, bring your Sprinter in for a thorough diagnostic.

 

Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) heater failure

Having mentioned the AdBlue, the heater element in the tank may burn out, in which case you will see a “check engine light”. When this happens (in the winter), you risk the AdBlue to freeze up, which in turn will initiate a start countdown, as mentioned above. Prevent this by all costs.

 

Clogged Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF)

When the DPF clogs up, it will restrict exhaust flow. Ensure that your vehicle undergo regular regenerations to burn off any clogged soot. Also ensure that faulty sensors or a faulty EGR valve, do not impede this process. Any restriction in the exhaust system will have a severe loss of power.

Copper seal ring failure

When the ring between the fuel injector and the cylinder head fails, it will allow combustion gasses to leak, causing a black tar like substance to build up around the fuel injector. This failure seems to be a common issue. When you notice such a build-up, address it as quickly as possible because the longer you postpone to have it looked at, the worse it will get.

 

This brings us to the end of the issues identified with the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter. With these issues in mind, we should also consider the class action lawsuit that was filed against Mercedes-Benz. The lawsuit involved the Sprinter 2500 and 3500 models that leaked water from their air conditioning unit in the roof, onto the occupants within the Sprinter. With so many issues, the Sprinter does not seem to be an exceptional van, and it will, as such, not be unfair to label it a Nul acht funfzehn.

 

At your nearest SAC Service Centre, we have willing and able technicians and staff to assist you with any Sprinter related issues. We stock high-quality aftermarket replacement parts and we have ample experience to assist you to the best of our ability. Choose us for you next Sprinter service, repair or diagnostic – choose SAC.

 

Within the above article, potential problems, causes and fixes have been identified as founded on the experience of vehicle owners and repairers, online sources such as discussion blogs, technical service bulletins and SAC experience. This information is provided solely for reference purposes. SAC strictly instruct readers that only properly qualified individuals should carry out repairs and/or modifications on your vehicles. It should also be made clear that the number of times an item is identified within this discussion should by no way be seen as an indicator of a model’s reliability or the frequency with which they may occur. Two of the exact same vehicles, owned by tow entirely different owners, driven in entirely different ways and on different terrains, and looked after in their own unique ways, will each behave differently. As mentioned, this information is provided solely for reference purposes but we hope – in the process of doing so – to empower you with relevant information which may enable you to make informative decisions whenever you experience any of the mentioned setbacks.