SMART FORTWO COUPE 2008 Owners Manual

Transmission
130
>> Controls.The current gear selector lever position
appears in the transmission position indicator
(

page 137).
Effect
í
Reverse gear
Shift into reverse gearR only when
vehicle is stopped.
ë
Neutral position
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When the
brakes are released, the vehicle
can be moved freely (pushed or
towed).
Effect
ê
Drive position
The transmission shifts auto

matically.
M
Manual gearshifting
System
controlled automatic gear

shifting is switched off. The driver
has to change the gears manually.
G
Warning!
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever 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, park
positionP alone is not intended to or
capable of preventing your vehicle from
moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition
to shifting to park positionP
(
page 125).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
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.

Transmission
>> Controls.
131 Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle, earlier upshifting
More throttle, later upshifting
Kickdown
Use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
>Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.
>Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:
>Leave the transmission in gear.
>Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop for a longer period with the
engine idling and/or on a hill:
>Set the parking brake.
>Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
Working on the vehicle
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 move the gear selector
lever from park positionP, which could
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
G
Warning!
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move the gear selec

tor lever to park positionP. Otherwise
the vehicle could roll away.

Transmission
132
>> Controls. Driving off uphill
Your vehicle has a hill start assist system.
On uphill grades the hill start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake system
for approximately one second after you have
released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can
start off smoothly without the vehicle moving
immediately after releasing the brake pedal.>Release the brake pedal.
>Apply sufficient pressure to the accelera

tor.
!
After approximately one second, the hill
start assist system stops braking the vehicle,
which then can roll backwards. If you open the
driver’s door within this time, the hill start as

sistance is deactivated and a warning signal
sounds.
i
The hill start assist system is inactive if
you start off with the parking brake set.
Manual gearshiftingWith manual gearshiftingM selected, system

controlled automatic gearshifting is switched
off and you need to change the gears by up

shifting or downshifting manually using the
gear selector lever or the steering wheel
gearshift control
1.
!
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.
G
Warning!
The hill start assist system is not
designed to function as a parking brake
and does not prevent the vehicle from
moving when parked on an incline.
Always set the parking brake in addition
to shifting to park positionP.1 Model passion only.

Transmission
>> Controls.
133
Steering wheel gearshift control
1
1
Left shift paddle
2
Multifunction display
3
Right shift paddleActivating manual gearshifting
>Move the gear selector lever to manual
gearshiftingM (

page 128).
System
controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off.
You can upshift or downshift through the
gears in succession.
The currently engaged gear appears in the
transmission position indicator (

page 137).
Upshifting
>Briefly push the gear selector lever for

ward in the +direction (

page 128).
or
>Pull right shift paddle
3 (
page 133)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next higher
gear.
i
With manual gearshiftingM selected, the
transmission shifts up only to prevent engine
overreving.Downshifting
>Briefly pull the gear selector lever back

ward in the
direction (

page 128).
or
>Pull left shift paddle
1 (
page 133)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next lower
gear.
1 Model passion only.
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.

Transmission
134
>> Controls. Kickdown
You can use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
>Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.
>When you have reached the desired speed,
briefly push the gear selector lever for

ward in the +direction (

page 128).
or
>Pull right shift paddle
3 (
page 133)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next higher
gear.
Deactivating manual gearshifting
>Move the gear selector lever to drive
positionD (

page 128).
System
controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched on again.
Emergency operation (limp
home
mode)In this mode only a certain gear or a certain
gear combination can be selected. This mode
is triggered in case of transmission malfunc

tions and enables you driving to the nearest
workshop such as a smart center.
If vehicle acceleration becomes less respon

sive or sluggish or the transmission no longer
shifts, the transmission is most likely operat

ing in limp
home (emergency operation)
mode. The transmission position indicator
flashes and the ¬ symbol appears in the mul

tifunction display (

page 136).
Driving in limp
home mode:
>Move the gear selector lever to drive
positionD (

page 128).
>Continue to drive.
>Have the transmission checked at an autho

rized smart center as soon as possible.
i
It is possible that a gear combination in

cluding the reverse gear can not be selected.
Keep in mind when parking, that reversing the
vehicle might be impossible.
In case of a minor transmission malfunction, it
might be possible to teach
in the transmis

sion in order to restore the normal transmis

sion mode.
i
If the attempt to teach
in the transmission
fails, you cannot continue to drive. Therefore
we strongly recommend that you have the
transmission taught
in at a qualified work

shop or at an authorized smart center.
Teaching
in the transmission system:
>Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
>Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
>Turn off the engine.
>Wait at least 30 seconds before restarting.

Transmission
>> Controls.
135
>Press the brake pedal.
>Restart the engine
• Three bars instead of
 appear in the
multifunction display(
page 236).
>Wait at least 30 seconds.
• The transmission is taught in.
When teaching
in was successful:
•
appears in the multifunction display
(
page 136) again.
• Normal transmission operating is re

stored.
>Continue to drive.After an unsuccessful tech
in
• Three bars instead of
 appear in the
multifunction display.
>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.

Instrument cluster
136
>> Controls.
Multifunction displayThe following displays and indicators appear
in the multifunction display:1
Status indicator with:
• Trip odometer display
• Maintenance service interval display
• Reserve fuel display
2
Main odometer display or when active
distance to next maintenance service
3
Transmission position indicator
4
Digital clock
5
Outside temperature display
6
Fuel level displayMultifunction display illumination
The multifunction display illumination comes
on when the starter switch is in position1.
It goes out after approximately 30 seconds
when the starter switch is in position0.
For adjusting the multifunction display
illumination, see "Adjusting instrument clus

ter illumination“ (

page 141).Fuel level display/reserve fuel indicator
Fuel level display
The fuel level display shows the tank's fuel
level with the aid of eight segments. The num

ber of dark segments indicates the fuel level
in the tank.
If all eight segments are dark, the tank is full. P54.32
5174
31
G
Warning!
No messages will be displayed if either
the instrument cluster or the multifunc

tion display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving condi

tions, such as speed, outside tempera

ture, or warning/indicator lamps. Driving
characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do
so with added caution. Visit an authorized
smart center as soon as possible.P54.32
5176
31

Instrument cluster
>> Controls.
137
Reserve fuel indicator
You are driving on reserve fuel if there are no
more than 1.0 US gal (3.78 l) of fuel in the
tank.
If this occurs,
• the fuel pump symbol in the fuel level
display flashes
• the reserve fuel indicator shows the fuel
level in the tank at exactly 0.1 US gal (0.5 l)
Transmission position indicator
The following information is displayed in the
transmission position indicator:
• Current gear selector lever position
• Current engaged gear (when manual
gearshifting selected)i
A flashing
in the display indicates that
the gear selector lever is in position R but the
reverse gear is not engaged. Stop the vehicle
to let the reverse gear engage.When manual gearshifting is selected:
Display
Function

Gear selector lever in park
positionP

Gear selector lever in
positionR (Reverse gear
engaged)

Gear selector lever in neutral
positionN

Gear selector lever in drive
positionD
Display
Function

First gear engaged

Second gear engaged

Third gear engaged

Fourth gear engaged

Fifth gear engaged

Instrument cluster
138
>> Controls.
Selecting display for status
indicatorYou can select the information to be displayed
in the status indicator:
• Trip odometer display (

page 139)
• Maintenance service interval display
(

page 139)
• Reserve fuel indicator (

page 140)
1
Selecting display for status indicator/
setting the clock/activating maintenance
service interval display
2
Setting the clock/adjusting instrument
cluster illuminationDigital clock
> Activating time setting: Press right
button
2 (
page 138) for approximately
five seconds.
The colon in the digital clock starts
flashing.
> Setting the time in 1 minute increments:
Press left button
1 or right button
2
(

page 138) repeatedly until the desired
time is set.>Setting the time quickly: Press left
button
1 or right button
2 (
page 138)
for longer than one second.
The setting speed accelerates.
> Setting the time in 10 minute increments:
Press left button
1 or right button
2
(

page 138) for longer than five seconds.
The time is set in 10 minute increments.
>Confirm time setting: Refrain from pressing
either left button
1 or right button
2
(

page 138) for more than five seconds.
The colon in the digital clock stops flashing.
The time is set.
i
The digital clock in the multifunction
display is not synchronized with the cockpit
clock*.
P54.32
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31

Instrument cluster
>> Controls.
139
Trip odometer display
> Selecting trip odometer display: Press left
button
1 (
page 138) repeatedly until the
trip odometer display appears in the status
indicator.
> Resetting trip odometer display: Press and
hold left button
1 (
page 138) until the
value is set to
.Maintenance service interval display
The maintenance service interval display will
notify you approximately one month before
the next maintenance service is due.
The maintenance service interval display also
shows the type of maintenance service that is
due.
After starting the engine, the maintenance
service interval display shows this informa

tion in miles (km) or in days for approximately
ten seconds.>Start the engine.
> Selecting maintenance service interval
display: Press left button
1 (
page 138)
repeatedly until the maintenance service
interval display appears in the status
indicator.
Depending on the type of maintenance
service that is due, symbol¬ or}
is dis

played.
> Clearing maintenance service interval
display: Press the left button on the
instrument cluster (

page 138).
The maintenance service interval display is
cleared.
> Activating maintenance service interval
display: Press the left button on the instru

ment cluster (

page 138) twice in quick
succession. P54.32
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31
P54.32
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31