weight SMART FORTWO COUPE 2008 Owner's Manual

Soft top system (cabrio only)
112
>> Controls. The soft top system of the smart cabrio
consists of a:
• Retractable soft top
• Rear soft top
• Side rails
You can remove the side rails over the doors
when you open the retractable soft top and
open the rear soft top.
i
Opening the rear soft top is possible after
the retractable soft top has been opened
completely (

page 115).
Notes on the soft top system!
When transporting long objects inside the
vehicle, make sure that they do not press
against the retractable soft top when it is
closed.
When carrying objects that protrude from the
rear of the vehicle, make sure that they are
not resting on the retaining clips.
When loading, make sure that no sharp objects
come into contact with the soft top or the rear
window.
Do not place any evenly distributed loads with
a weight of more than 165 lbs (75 kg) on the
rear soft top when folded down.
Make sure that the high mounted brake lamp is
not concealed.
!
Do not block the soft top system's locking
apertures.
Only place the side rails in the designated
storage space of the tailgate.
!
Do not sit on the folded
down rear soft
top.
Do not fold down the rear soft top at temper

atures below 14°F (
10°C).
Do not place any pointed, sharp
edged, hot
(above 176°F (80°C)), incandescent or burn

ing objects on the soft top's lining.
Do not apply wax to the soft top fabric and
select only wax
free washing programs when
using an automatic car wash.
Only drive with the retaining clips closed, as
exhaust fumes could otherwise reach the
vehicle’s interior.
!
Please keep in mind that weather condi

tions can sometimes change rapidly. Make
sure to close the retractable soft top and the
rear soft top when leaving the vehicle. If water
enters the vehicle interior, vehicle electron

ics could be damaged which is not covered by
the smart Limited Warranty.

Loading and storing
>> Controls.
157
The cargo compartment cover blind
• serves to protect objects that are stored in
the vehicle's cargo compartment from
prying eyes.
• prevents smaller objects from penetrating
into the passenger compartment from the
cargo compartment; however, it is not in

tended to act as a load restraining device.
The parcel net bag
• is for storing small, lightweight objects.
• prevents small objects from sliding around
inside the passenger compartment.!
If objects are placed on the cargo
compartment cover blind when mounted, the
cover may be damaged.Fitting
1
Cargo compartment cover blind
2
Top mounting
3
Bottom mountingIf you wish to use the cargo compartment
cover blind as normal, assemble it in
mounts
2. If you do not need the cargo
compartment cover blind, insert in mounts
3.
>Open the tailgate.
>Secure cargo compartment cover blind
1
at the front of the cargo compartment with
the parcel net bag.
>Insert cargo compartment cover blind
1
on the right
hand side in top mounting2
or in bottom mounting
3.

Loading and storing
>> Controls.
161
> Opening: Pull on glove box lid release
2
and fold down the glove box lid.
>Closing: Lift up the glove box lid with a bit
of force until it engages.
>Locking: Insert the key into glove box
lock
1 and turn counterclockwise.
> Unlocking: Insert the key into glove box
lock1 and turn clockwise.Storage compartment in the tailgate
1
You can store small objects in the storage
compartment in the tailgate.1
Handle
>Open the tailgates.
>Pull handle
1 on the inside of the tailgate
backward.
>Lift up the storage compartment cover.
Loading instructions
1 coupé only.
G
Warning!
Transport heavy or hard objects in the
cargo compartment, not in the passenger
compartment.
Always fasten items being carried as
securely as possible using fastening ma

terials appropriate for the weight and
size of the load.
In an accident, during hard braking or
sudden maneuvers, loose items may be
thrown around inside the vehicle, causing
injury to vehicle occupants.

Loading and storing
>> Controls.
163
The gross vehicle weight which is the weight
of the vehicle including fuel, tools, installed
accessories, passengers, and luggage/cargo
must never exceed the load limit and the
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) for your
vehicle as specified on the placard located on
the driver’s door B
pillar (

page 293). In
addition, the load must be distributed in such
a way so that the weight on each axle never
exceeds the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
for the front and rear axle. The GVWR and
GAWR for your vehicle are indicated on the
certification label which can be found on the
driver’s door B
pillar (

page 293).
For more information, see "Tire and Loading
Information" (

page 185).
The handling characteristics of a fully loaded
vehicle depend greatly on the load distribu

tion. It is therefore recommended to load the
vehicle with the heaviest items being placed
towards the front of the vehicle.Please pay attention to and comply with the
following instructions when loading the
vehicle and transporting cargo:
• Always place items being carried against
seat backrests, and fasten them as securely
as possible.
• The heaviest portion of the cargo should
always be kept as low as possible against
seat backrests.
• Do not stack loads higher than the top edge
of the head restraints.
• Make sure that no luggage/cargo items can
get above or next to the driver’s and/or
passenger seat into the passenger com

partment.
• Make sure that luggage/cargo is properly
secured.
• Always use, if so equipped, cargo net* when
transporting cargo.
G
Warning!
Do not store any flammable substances
inside the vehicle that could ignite and
start a fire. G
Warning!
The manufacturer has not approved your
vehicle for towing a trailer. A trailer can
permanently impair driving safety.

Tires and wheels
>> Operation
185 Loading the vehicle
Two labels on your vehicle show how much
weight it may properly carry.
1) The Tire and Loading Information placard
can be found on the driver’s door B
pillar.
This placard tells you important informa

tion about the number of people that can
be in the vehicle and the total weight that
can be carried in the vehicle. It also con

tains information on the proper size and
recommended tire inflation pressures for
the original equipment tires on your vehi

cle.2) The certification label, also found on the
driver’s door B
pillar, tells you about the
gross weight capacity of your vehicle,
called the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR). The GVWR includes the weight of
the vehicle, all occupants, fuel and cargo.
The certification label also tells you about
the front and rear axle weight capacity,
called the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR). The GAWR is the total allowable
weight that can be carried by a single axle
(front or rear). Never exceed the GVWR or
GAWR for either the front axle or rear
axle.
1
Driver’s door B
pillar
Following is a discussion on how to work with
the information contained on the Tire and
Loading Information placard with regards to
loading your vehicle.

Tires and wheels
186
>> Operation Tire and Loading InformationTire and Loading Information placard
i
Data shown on Tire and Loading Informa

tion placard example are for illustration pur

poses only. Load limit data are specific to
each vehicle and may vary from data shown in
the following illustration. Refer to Tire and
Loading Information placard on vehicle for
actual data specific to your vehicle.
1
Load limit information on the Tire and
Loading Information placardThe Tire and Loading Information placard
showing the load limit information is located
on the driver’s door B
pillar (

page 185).
>Locate the statement "The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should never
exceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on the Tire and
Loading Information placard.
The combined weight of all occupants and
cargo / luggage should never exceed the
weight referenced in that statement.
Seating capacity
The seating capacity gives you important
information on the number of occupants that
can be in the vehicle. The Tire and Loading
Information placard showing the seating
capacity is located on the driver’s door
B
pillar (

page 185)
.
G
Warning!
Do not overload the tires by exceeding
the specified load limit as indicated on
the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the driver’s door B
pillar. Overload

ing the tires can overheat them, possibly
causing a blowout. Overloading the tires
can also result in handling or steering
problems, or brake failure.

Tires and wheels
>> Operation
187
i
Data shown on Tire and Loading Informa

tion placard example are for illustration pur

poses only. Seating capacity data are specific
to each vehicle and may vary from data shown
in the following illustration. Refer to Tire and
Loading Information placard on vehicle for
actual data specific to your vehicle.
1
Seating capacity information on the Tire
and Loading Information placardSteps for determining correct load limit
The following steps have been developed as
required of all manufacturers under Title 49,
Code of U.S. Federal Regulations, Part 575
pursuant to the "National Traffic and Motor
Vehicle Safety Act of 1966".
Step 1
>Locate the statement "The combined weight
of occupants and cargo should never ex

ceed XXX kg or XXX lbs." on your vehicle’s
Tire and Loading Information placard.
Step 2
>Determine the combined weight of the
driver and passenger that will be riding in
your vehicle.
Step 3
>Subtract the combined weight of the driver
and passenger from XXX kilograms or
XXX lbs.Step 4
>The resulting figure equals the available
amount of cargo and luggage load capacity.
For example, if the "XXX" amount equals
540 lbs and there will be one 150 lbs
passenger in your vehicle, the amount of
available cargo and luggage load capacity
is 390 lbs (540 lbs
150 lbs = 390 lbs).
Step 5
>Determine the combined weight of luggage
and cargo being loaded on the vehicle. That
weight may not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity calculated
in step 4.
i
The maximum cargo compartment load is
100 lbs (50 kg).

Tires and wheels
188
>> Operation The following table shows examples on how to calculate total and cargo load capacities with varying seating configurations and number and size
of occupants. The following examples use a load limit of 540 lbs. This is for illustration purposes only. Make sure you are using the actual load
limit for your vehicle stated on the vehicle’s Tire and Loading Information placard (

page 186).
The higher the weight of all occupants, the less cargo and luggage load capacity is available.
Example
Combined weight
limit of occupants
and cargo from
Tire and Loading
Information
placard
Number of
occupants
(driver and
passenger)
Occupants weight
Combined weight of
all occupants
Available cargo weight (total load limit
from Tire and Loading Information
placard minus combined weight of all
occupants)
1
540 lbs
2
Occupant 1: 150 lbs
Occupant 2: 180 lbs
330 lbs
540 lbs
330 lbs = 210 lbs
2
540 lbs
1
Occupant 1: 150 lbs
150 lbs
540 lbs
150 lbs = 390 lbs

Tires and wheels
>> Operation
189
Certification label
Even after careful determination of the
combined weight of all occupants and cargo as
to not exceed the permissible load limit, you
must make sure that your vehicle never
exceeds the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) and the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) for either the front or rear axle. You
can obtain the GVWR and GAWR from the
certification label. The certification label can
be found on the driver’s door B
pillar, see
"Technical data" (

page 293).
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) means:
the total weight of the vehicle, all occupants,
and all cargo must never exceed the GVWR.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) means:
the total allowable weight that can be carried
by a single axle (front or rear).To assure that your vehicle does not exceed
the maximum permissible weight limits (GVWR
and GAWR for front and rear axle), have the
loaded vehicle (including driver, passenger,
and all cargo) weighed on a suitable commer

cial scale.
Recommended tire inflation
pressure
Your vehicle is equipped with the Tire and
Loading Information placard located on the
driver’s door B
pillar (

page 185).
The tire inflation pressure should be checked
regularly and should only be adjusted on cold
tires. The tires can be considered cold if the
vehicle has been parked for at least 3 hours
or driven less than 1 mile (1.6 km).
G
Warning!
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated
tires wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel econ

omy, and are more likely to fail from being
overheated.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated
tires can adversely affect handling and
ride comfort, wear unevenly, increase
stopping distance, and result in sudden
deflation (blowout) because they are
more likely to become punctured or
damaged by road debris, potholes etc.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding
the specified load limit as indicated on
the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the driver’s door B
pillar. Overload

ing the tires can overheat them, possibly
causing a blowout. Overloading the tires
can also result in handling or steering
problems, or brake failure.

Tires and wheels
190
>> Operation Follow recommended cold tire inflation pres

sures listed on Tire and Loading Information
placard on the driver’s door B
pillar.
Keeping the tires properly inflated provides
the best handling, tread life and riding com

fort.
For more information, see "Important notes on
tire inflation pressure" (

page 190).
i
Data shown on Tire and Loading Informa

tion placard example are for illustration pur

poses only. Tire data are specific to each
vehicle and may vary from data shown in the
following illustration. Refer to Tire and Load

ing Information placard on vehicle for actual
data specific to your vehicle.
1
Tire and Loading Information placard
with recommended cold tire inflation
pressures
The Tire and Loading Information placard
lists the recommended cold tire inflation
pressures for maximum loaded vehicle weight.
The tire inflation pressures listed apply to the
tires installed as original equipment.Important notes on tire inflation pressure
Tire temperature and tire inflation pressure
are also increased while driving, depending
on the driving speed and the tire load.
Tire inflation pressure changes by approxi

mately 1.5 psi (0.1 bar) per 18°F (10°C) of air
temperature change. Keep this in mind when
checking tire inflation pressure where the
temperature is different from the outside
temperature.
G
Warning!
If the tire inflation pressure drops
repeatedly:
• Check the tires for punctures from
foreign objects.
• Check to see whether air is leaking
from the valves or from around the rim.