Common Problems with Mercedes Sprinter Vans

by | Nov 15, 2018 | Uncategorized

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter and the Economy

With the economy relying heavily on e-commerce and delivery services, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter will play a significant role in its continued growth. Earlier this year, Amazon announced that it will be purchasing 20,000 Sprinter vans for its new Delivery Service Partner program. That alone shows how reliable the Sprinter vans are.

In order to fulfill this order and future growth in the United States, Mercedes-Benz announced a new $500 million investment in a manufacturing plant in South Carolina. The 2019 model is full of modern gadgetry that you find in passenger vehicles and will be the model that Amazon will first start using for its new delivery program.

The Sprinter has been around since 1995, so that gives us enough time to understand what common problems drivers/owners are reporting. Also, understanding the common problems with Mercedes sprinter vans allows fleet managers to plan and budget accordingly.

Common Problems with Mercedes Sprinter Vans

While there aren’t too many problems people report with the Sprinter, these vans are constantly on the road working. So, problems are bound to arise, no matter how well they are designed. Furthermore, because of the wear and tear of the vehicles, owners can expect to pay a significant amount of money in annual repair costs. More specifically, brake pad and broker rotor replacement, brake caliper replacement, and a starter replacement. That said, here are the two most common problems with Mercedes Sprinter vans.

Mercedes Sprinter Not Starting

As previously mentioned, the Sprinter vans are worked very hard with a minimum of 12 hour days, so problems are guaranteed to arise. One of these issues is not being able to start the engine. There can be many reasons behind an engine not starting. In the case of the sprinter van engine not starting, there are 3 main culprits:

  1. Battery – A dead battery is the number one reason why your sprinter van won’t start. Replacing a battery should not be too costly, and it will get your van back on the road delivering.
  2. Alternator – If the battery is fine, then the next reason your Sprinter is not starting is the alternator. Alternators can either undercharge or overcharge your battery, resulting in electrical charges. It’s best to get it looked at to see if it can be repaired or replaced.
  3. Starter – A major sign of a bad starter is slow and difficult cranking. If you are experiencing this, have one of our ASE certified mechanics check it out immediately. A sprinter van that is not on the road is one that is not delivering, so schedule your appointment here to get it back on the road as soon as possible.

We have locations in Texas (Dallas, Uptown, and Houston) and Georgia (Alpharetta, Buckhead, Duluth), so make sure to give us a visit to help you diagnose any common problems with Mercedes Sprinter vans.

Mercedes Sprinter Van AC Not Working

Again, these vehicles are pushed to the limits and issues are expected. Another reported problem with Sprinter vans is the AC not working. And there are common reasons why this is occurring:

  1. AC Refrigerant Leak – With so much wear and tear occurring with these work vans, the probability of an AC refrigerant leak is high. And if that is the case, then the AC will not work. It is hard to spot a leak with the naked eye, so make sure to get it checked by a certified professional mechanic.
  2. Electrical Issue – In some cases, the cause of the AC not working is electrical. This can affect most component of the HVAC system, such as the AC compressor and AC condenser. Your best plan of action to is to have one of our service mechanics diagnose your Sprinter van.
  3. AC Compressor – the least common reason why the sprinter van AC is not working is the AC compressor. This the easiest one to diagnose. For example, if hot air instead of cold air is blowing from the vents, it’s a problem with the AC compressor. You may also hear noise when starting up the AC. If you do, then your AC compressor needs to be repaired or replaced.

Having an AC system that works is important to keep drivers comfortable. The more comfortable they are, the more they can deliver, so it is important to get this common problem with Mercedes Sprinter vans fixed. Schedule your appointment today.

European Service Center

The European Service Center has been servicing European vehicles for over 35 years. We serve the cities of Dallas, Uptown, and Houston in Texas. We also serve the cities of Alpharetta, Buckhead, Duluth, and Sandy Springs in Georgia. You will find satisfied customers in all of those communities, and we look forward to satisfying your needs as well. Schedule a visit here, or contact us here if you have any questions regarding common problems with Mercedes Sprinter vans.