SMART FORTWO COUPE 2008 Owners Manual
Page 121 of 314
Side windows
120
>> Controls.
Opening and closing the side 
windows Opening and closing the side windows 
manually
Crank for side window on driver’s door1
Crank
Side window on the driver’s door
> Opening: Turn crank
1 counterclockwise.
>Closing: Turn crank
1 clockwise.Side window on the passenger door
> Opening: Turn crank
1 clockwise.
>Closing: Turn crank
1 counterclockwise.
Opening and closing the power windows
1
P67.30223331
1  Model passion only.G
Warning!
Do not keep any part of your body up 
against the side window pane when open
ing a window. The downward motion of the 
pane may pull that part of your body down 
between the window pane and the door 
frame and trap it there. If there is a risk 
of entrapment, release the switch and 
pull up the top of the switch to close the 
window.
G
Warning!
When closing the windows, make sure that 
there is no danger of anyone being 
harmed by the closing procedure.
The closing of the side windows can be 
immediately halted by releasing the 
switch.
When leaving the vehicle, always remove 
the key from the starter switch, take it 
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle, 
or with access to an unlocked vehicle. A 
child’s unsupervised access to a vehicle 
could result in an accident and/or seri
ous personal injury. 
Page 122 of 314
Side windows
>> Controls.
121
The switches for both power windows are on 
the driver’s door. In addition, there is a 
switch for the passenger side on the passen
ger door.1
Side window driver’s door
2
Side window passenger door
>Make sure that the key in the starter switch 
is turned to position1.> Opening: Press the top of the respective 
switch to the resistance point.
The corresponding side window moves 
downwards until you release the switch.
>Closing: Pull up the top of the respective 
switch to the resistance point.
The corresponding side window moves 
upwards until you release the switch.
> Automatic opening: Press the top of the re
spective switch briefly.
The corresponding side window opens com
pletely.
> Stopping during automatic opening: 
Press or pull up the top of the the respec
tive switch briefly.
The corresponding side window stops 
immediately. P54.25534631 
Page 123 of 314
Driving and parking
122
>> Controls.
Starting
Gearshift pattern for transmission1
Release button
G
Warning!
Make sure that absolutely no objects are 
obstructing the pedals’ range of move
ment. Keep the driver’s footwell clear of 
all obstacles. If there are any floormats* 
or carpets in the footwell, make sure that 
the pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu
vers, objects could become caught be
tween the pedals, reducing or eliminating 
entirely the driver's ability to brake or 
accelerate. This could lead to accidents 
and injury.
G
Warning!
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to 
your health. All exhaust gas contains 
carbon monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can 
cause unconsciousness and possible 
death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas 
(such as a garage) which are not properly 
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas 
fumes are entering the vehicle while 
driving, have the cause determined and 
corrected immediately. If you must drive 
under these conditions, drive only with at 
least one window fully open.PPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral position
DDrive position
MManual gear shifting
+Upshifting
Downshifting
 
  
Page 124 of 314
Driving and parking
>> Controls.
123
Starting the engine
For information on turning off the engine, see 
(page 127).
!
Shift the transmission into park positionP 
or reverse gearR only when the vehicle is 
stopped in order to avoid damaging the trans
mission.
>Make sure the gear selector lever is set to 
park positionP.
The transmission position indicator should 
be on
.
>Do not depress the accelerator.
>Turn the key in the starter switch to 
position2 (
page 91) and release it again 
immediately.
The engine starts automatically ("touch 
start" function).
Driving >Depress the brake pedal.
>Press the release button (
page 122) to 
disengage the gear selector lever lock.
>Move the gear selector lever to drive 
positionD.
appears in the transmission position 
indicator.
>Release the brake pedal.
>Carefully depress the accelerator.
!
Do not run cold engine at high engine 
speeds. Running a cold engine at high engine 
speeds may shorten the service life of the 
engine.
!
Simultaneously depressing the accelera
tor and applying the brakes reduces engine 
performance and causes premature brake and 
drivetrain wear.
G
Warning!
On slippery road surfaces, never down
shift in order to obtain braking action. 
This could result in drive wheel slip and 
reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle’s 
ABS will not prevent this type of loss of 
control.
G
Warning!
It is dangerous to shift the transmission 
out of park positionP or neutral 
positionN if the engine speed is higher 
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly 
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could 
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. 
You could lose control of the vehicle and 
hit someone or something. Only shift into 
gear when the engine is idling normally 
and when your right foot is firmly on the 
brake pedal. 
Page 125 of 314
Driving and parking
124
>> Controls.
Reversing the vehicle!
Shift the transmission into reverse gearR 
only when the vehicle is stopped in order to 
avoid damaging the transmission.
You can drive in reverse gear at a speed of up 
to9mph (15km/h).
>Depress the brake pedal.
>Press the release button (
page 122) to 
disengage the gear selector lever lock.>Move the gear selector lever to reverse 
gearR.
appears in the transmission position 
indicator.
>Release the brake pedal.
>Carefully depress the accelerator.
ParkingG
Warning!
Do not park this vehicle in areas where 
combustible materials such as grass, hay 
or leaves can come into contact with the 
hot exhaust system, as these materials 
could be ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
To reduce the risk of personal injury or 
damage to the drivetrain as a result of 
vehicle movement, before turning off the 
engine and leaving the vehicle always:
• Keep right foot on the brake pedal.
• Pull the parking brake lever up as many 
notches as possible.
• Move the gear selector lever to park 
positionP.
• Slowly release the brake pedal.
• When parked on an incline, always turn 
the front wheels towards the road curb.
• Turn the key in the starter switch to 
position0 and remove.
Take the key with you and lock the vehicle 
when leaving.G
Warning!
With the engine not running, there is no 
power assistance for the brake servo and 
the steering system. In this case, it is 
important to keep in mind that a consid
erably higher degree of effort is neces
sary to brake and steer the vehicle. 
Page 126 of 314
Driving and parking
>> Controls.
125
>Properly stop and park the vehicle.
>Depress the brake pedal.
>Pull up the parking brake lever as many 
notches as possible (
page 125).
When the ignition is switched on or the 
engine is running, the brake warning 
lamp; (USA only) or3 (Canada only) 
in the instrument cluster comes on.
>Release the brake pedal.
Parking brake
The parking brake serves to secure the vehi
cle against rolling away when it is stationary 
or parked.
1
Parking brake lever
2
Release button
>Applying: Pull up parking brake lever
1 as 
many notches as possible.
When the ignition is switched on or the 
engine is running, the brake warning 
lamp; (USA only) or3 (Canada only) 
in the instrument cluster comes on.
> Releasing: Depress the brake pedal.
>Pull up slightly on parking brake lever1 
and press release button 
2.>Push parking brake lever
1 down as far as 
it will go.
When the ignition is switched on or the 
engine is running, the brake warning 
lamp; (USA only) or3 (Canada only) 
in the instrument cluster goes out.
G
Warning!
Engaging the parking brake while the 
vehicle is in motion can cause the rear 
wheels to lock up. You could lose control 
of the vehicle and cause an accident. In 
addition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not 
light up when the parking brake is 
engaged.P42.20234631
G
Warning!
Getting out of your vehicle with the 
transmission not fully engaged in park 
positionP is dangerous. When the engine 
is shut off and the brakes are released, 
the vehicle can be moved freely with the 
gear selector lever in all positions ex
cept park position P. Also, when parked 
on an incline, park positionP alone may 
not prevent your vehicle from moving, 
possibly hitting people or objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition 
to shifting to park positionP.
When parked on an incline, always turn 
the front wheels towards the road curb. 
Page 127 of 314
Driving and parking
126
>> Controls.Brake pedal
The brake pedal has two brake circuits inde
pendent of each other. A brake servo is used 
during braking (when the engine is running) to 
increase pedal force.
G
Warning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove 
the key from the starter switch, take it 
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not 
leave children unattended in the vehicle, 
or with access to an unlocked vehicle. 
Children could release the parking brake 
and/or move the gear selector lever from 
park positionP, either of which could 
result in an accident and/or serious 
personal injury.
G
Warning
Make sure that absolutely no objects are 
obstructing the pedals’ range of move
ment. Keep the driver’s footwell clear of 
all obstacles. If there are any floormats* 
or carpets in the footwell, make sure that 
the pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu
vers, objects could become caught be
tween the pedals, reducing or eliminating 
entirely the driver's ability to brake or 
accelerate. This could lead to accidents 
and injury.
G
Warning!
Considerably more effort will be required 
to apply the brakes if
• the brake servo has failed
• a brake circuit has failed
• the engine is switched off, e. g. for 
towing the vehicle
The braking distance is likewise greater.
Make sure that the engine is running 
whenever the vehicle is rolling. Have the 
brake system repaired at an authorized 
smart center, if there is a fault in the 
brake system. 
Page 128 of 314
Driving and parking
>> Controls.
127
1
Brake pedalIf a brake circuit has failed (
page 238),
• you must depress the brake pedal further 
down to achieve the same effect
• the braking distance is increased
i
The brake servo will only function with the 
engine switched on.
Turning off the engine>Depress the brake pedal.
>Press the release button (
page 122) to 
disengage the gear selector lever lock.
>Move the gear selector lever to park 
positionP.
!
Always set the parking brake in addition to 
shifting to park positionP (
page 125).
>Release the brake pedal.
>Turn the key in the starter switch to 
position0.
>Remove the key from the starter switch.
The immobilizer is activated.
P42.10259131
G
Warning!
In the event of the vehicle needing to be 
towed, a significantly greater amount of 
pedal pressure will be required when the 
engine is switched off. 
Page 129 of 314
Transmission
128
>> Controls. Your vehicle is equipped with a a 5speed au
tomated transmission with manual or auto
matic mode. For information on driving with 
the transmission see also 
"Starting"(
page 122).
Gear selector leverGearshift pattern for transmission1
Release buttonThe current gear selector lever position ap
pears in the transmission position indicator. 
When M is selected the currently selected 
gear appears (
page 137).
G
Warning!
Make sure that absolutely no objects are 
obstructing the pedals‘ range of move
ment. Keep the driver’s footwell clear of 
all obstacles. If there are any floormats* 
or carpets in the footwell, make sure that 
the pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu
vers, objects could become caught be
tween the pedals, reducing or eliminating 
entirely the driver's ability to brake or 
accelerate. This could lead to accidents 
and injury.PPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral position
DDrive position
MManual gear shifting
+Upshifting
Downshifting
G
Warning!
It is dangerous to shift the transmission 
out of park positionP or neutral 
positionN if the engine speed is higher 
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly 
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could 
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse. 
You could lose control of the vehicle and 
hit someone or something. Only shift into 
gear when the engine is idling normally 
and when your right foot is firmly on the 
brake pedal. 
Page 130 of 314
Transmission
>> Controls.
129 Shifting procedure
The transmission selects individual gears 
automatically, depending on:
• the gear selector lever 
positionD(
page 129)
• the position of the accelerator 
(
page 131)
• the vehicle speed
• uphill or downhill grades
Press release button
1 (page 128) to 
disengage the gear selector lever lock when 
moving the gear selector lever from
•P toR,N, orD
•R toP
•N toR orP
!
Allow engine to warm up under low load 
use. Do not place full load on the engine until 
the operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking 
positionP only when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extend
ed period when driving off on slippery road 
surfaces. Otherwise, the the drivetrain could 
be damaged, which is not covered by the smart 
Limited Warranty.
With manual gearshiftingM selected 
(
page 132), you can use the gear selector 
lever or steering wheel gearshift control
1
to change the gears manually.
Gear selector lever positions
1  Model passion only.
Effect
ì
Park position
Gear selector lever position when 
the vehicle is parked. Place the 
gear selector lever in park 
positionP only when the vehicle is 
stopped. The park position is not 
intended to serve as a brake when 
the vehicle is parked.
Rather, the driver should always 
set the parking brake in addition to 
placing the gear selector lever in 
park positionP to secure the 
vehicle.
The key can only be removed from 
the starter switch with the gear 
selector lever in park positionP. 
With the key removed, the gear 
selector lever is locked in park 
positionP.