engine SMART FORTWO COUPE 2008 Repair Manual

Driving instructions
220
>> Operation
Passenger compartment Control and operation of radio
transmitters
Radio and telephoneTelephones and two
way radios
Radio transmitters, such as a mobile phone or
a c i ti z e n s b a n d u n i t s h o u l d o n l y b e u se d i n s i d e
the vehicle if they are connected to an
antenna that is installed on the outside of the
vehicle.
Refer to the radio transmitter operation
instructions regarding use of an external
antenna.
G
Warning!
Always fasten items being carried as
securely as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or
sudden maneuvers, loose items thrown
around inside the vehicle may injure
vehicle occupants.
The cargo compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects.
G
Warning!
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle
safely. Only operate the radio or
telephone
1 if road, weather and traffic
conditions permit.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just
30 mph (approximately 50 km/h), your
vehicle is covering a distance of 44 feet
(approximately 14 m) every second.
1 Observe all legal requirements.
G
Warning!
Never operate radio transmitters
equipped with a built
in or attached
antenna (i.e. without being connected to
an external antenna) from inside the
vehicle while the engine is running. Doing
so could lead to a malfunction of the
vehicle’s electronic system, possibly
resulting in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.

Driving instructions
>> Operation
221 Emission control
Certain engine systems serve to keep the
toxic components of the exhaust gases within
permissible legal limits.
These systems, of course, will function prop

erly only when maintained strictly according
to factory specifications.
Any adjustments to the engine should there

fore be carried out only by qualified smart
center authorized technicians.
Engine adjustments should not be altered in
any way. Moreover, the specified service jobs
must be carried out regularly according to
smart servicing requirements. For details
refer to the Maintenance Booklet.
Coolant temperatureDuring severe operating conditions and stop

and
go city traffic, the coolant temperature
may rise close to approximately 248°F
(120°C).
The engine should not be operated with the
coolant temperature over 248°F (120°C).
Doing so may cause serious engine damage
which is not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.
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 lead to 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, contact a smart center immedi

ately. If you must drive under these con

ditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.

Driving instructions
222
>> Operation
G
Warning!
• Driving when your engine is over

heated can cause some fluids, which
may have leaked into the engine com

partment, to catch fire. You could be
seriously burned.
• Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the front compartment
cover. Stay also away from the engine if
you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.

What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.
237 Warning and indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster
General information:
If any of the following lamps in the instrument
cluster fails to come on during the bulb
self
check when switching on ignition
(
page 91), have the respective bulb
checked and replaced if necessary.
ABS indicator lamp (USA only)
ABS indicator lamp (Canada only)Illuminates:
• when the ignition is switched on.
Goes out:
• if engine is running or after 10 seconds• when there is a malfunction in the ABS sys

tem.
>Have the ABS system checked at an autho

rized smart center immediately.
• together with the brake warning lamp
(

page 238) when the ABS system fails.
>Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe
location.
>Do not continue to drive.
>Turn off the engine.
>Set the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle.
>Contact Roadside Assistance or an autho

rized smart center.
G
Warning!
When the ABS system is malfunctioning,
the wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability and extend

ing the braking distance.
When the ABS is switched off due to a mal

function, the ESP
® is also switched off.
The basic driving and braking functions
are still avaiable.
The risk of your vehicle skidding is then
increased in certain situations. You
should therefore always adapt your
speed and driving style to the prevailing
road and weather conditions.

What to do if ...
238
>> Practical hints. Battery indicator lamp
Illuminates:
• when the ignition is switched on.
The indicator lamp goes out if the engine is
running.
If the Battery indicator lamp illuminates while
driving or does not go out after the engine is
started, the battery is no longer charged.
Possible causes:
• Alternator malfunctioning
• Broken poly
V
belt>Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe
location.
>Do not continue to drive.
>Turn off the engine.
>Set the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle.
>Contact Roadside Assistance or an autho

rized smart center.
!
Among other possible causes, the
poly
V
belt could be broken. Do not continue
to drive. Otherwise, the engine will overheat
due to an inoperative water pump which may
result in damage to the engine.Brake warning lamp (USA only)
Brake warning lamp (Canada only)
Illuminates:
• when the ignition is switched on.
Goes out:
• at least after 10 seconds
or
• after starting the engine.

What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.
239
• with the parking brake set.
• if the brake circuit fails or the brake fluid
level in the brake fluid reservoir is too low.
>Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe
location.
>Do not continue to drive.
>Turn off the engine.
>Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve
the problem.
>Set the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle.
>Contact Roadside Assistance or an autho

rized smart center.
!
If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark
or below, have the brake system checked for
brake pad thickness and leaks.
• together with the ABS indicator lamp
(
page 237) when the ABS system fails.
>Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe
location.
>Do not continue to drive.
>Turn off the engine.
>Set the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle.
• Contact Roadside Assistance or an autho

rized smart center.Combination low tire pressure/
TPMS malfunction telltale
Illuminates continuously:
• when the TPMS detects a loss of pressure in
at least one tire.
>Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt,
avoiding abrupt steering and braking
maneuvers. Observe the traffic situation
around you
.
>Check and correct tire inflation pressure
as required (

page 190).
G
Warning!
Driving with the brake warning lamp illu

minated can result in an accident. Have
your brake system checked immediately
if the brake warning lamp stays on.
Do not add brake fluid before checking
the brake system.

What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.
241
Coolant temperature warning lamp
Illuminates:
• when the ignition is switched on.
The warning lamp goes out if the engine is
running.
• if the coolant is too hot.
>Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe
location.
>Do not continue to drive.
>Turn off the engine.
>Set the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle.
>Contact Roadside Assistance or an autho

rized smart center.If the coolant level has fallen below the
marking bar on the coolant reservoir
(

page 178):
>Add coolant as required.
>Have the coolant system checked for leaks
at an authorized smart center.
!
Among other possible causes, the
poly
V
belt could be broken. Do not continue
to drive. Otherwise, the engine will overheat
due to an inoperative water pump which may
result in damage to the engine.
When the system detects a malfunction,
the telltale will flash for approximately
1 minute and then remain continuously
illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subse

quent vehicle start
ups as long as the
malfunction exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may
not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a vari

ety of reasons, including the installation
of incompatible replacement or alternate
tires or wheels on the vehicle that pre

vent the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction tell

tale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to
function properly.
G
Warning!
Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids, which may have
leaked into the engine compartment, to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.

What to do if ...
242
>> Practical hints. Engine malfunction indicator lamp
Illuminates:
• when the ignition is switched on.
Goes out:
• at least after 10 seconds if the engine elec

tronics are functioning properly
or
• after starting the engine.
If illuminated while driving:
>Have the vehicle checked at an authorized
smart center immediately.
i
Some states may by law require you to visit
a workshop as soon as the engine malfunction
indicator lamp comes on. Check local require

ments.Engine oil pressure indicator lamp
i
The engine oil pressure indicator lamp
indicates low engine oil pressure.
Check the engine oil level at regular intervals
(
page 173).
Illuminates:
• when the ignition is switched on.
The indicator lamp goes out after starting
the engine and if there is sufficient engine
oil pressure.
If illuminated while driving:
>Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe
location.
>Do not continue to drive.
!
The engine oil pressure indicator lamp
should not be ignored. Extended driving with
the indicator lamp illuminated could result in
serious engine damage that is not covered by
the smart Limited Warranty.
>Turn off the engine.
>Set the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle.
>Contact Roadside Assistance or an autho

rized smart center.
Goes out:
• before the engine starts.
The indicator lamp has failed.
>Check the engine oil level.
>Have the system checked at an authorized
smart center.

What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.
243
EPS* warning lamp
Illuminates:
• when the ignition is switched on.
The warning lamp goes out after starting
the engine.
• when the power steering is not available.
>Have the power steering checked at an au

thorized smart center immediately.ESP
® warning lamp
Flashes:
•when the ESP
® is engaged.
Illuminates continuously:
•if ESP
® is not operational due to a system
failure.
•if ESP® is not available.
G
Warning!
When the power steering is not available
a higher degree of effort is necessary to
steer the vehicle. Have the system che

cked at a smart center.

What to do if ...
244
>> Practical hints.
i
It may be possible to clear a system failure
by restarting the engine.
>Restart the engine.
>If the warning lamp still does not go out,
have the system checked at an authorized
smart center immediately.
i
More information on the ESP
® can be found
in the "Safety" section (

page 73).High beam headlamp indicator lamp
Illuminates:
• with the high beam headlamps switched on.
• when using the high beam flasher.
i
If the high beam headlamp indicator lamp
does not illuminate when the high beam head

lamps are switched on or when using the high
beam flasher, have the system checked at an
authorized smart center. Low beam headlamp indicator lamp
Illuminates:
• with the low beam headlamps switched on.
i
If the low beam headlamp indicator lamp
does not illuminate when the low beam head

lamps are switched on, have the system
checked at an authorized smart center.
G
Warning!
When the ESP
® warning lamp is
illuminated continuously, the ESP
® is not
available or not operational due to a
system failure.
Adapt your speed and driving to the
prevailing road conditions and the
non
operating status of the ESP®.