ESP SMART FORTWO COUPE 2008 Owner's Guide

Winter driving
208
>> Operation Before the onset of winter, have your vehicle
winterized at an authorized smart center. This
service includes:
>Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.
• Addition of washer concentrate to the water
of the windshield/rear window.
Use a windshield washer concentrate la

beled for winter which is formulated for
temperatures below freezing point
(
page 308).
• Battery test. Battery capacity drops with
decreasing ambient temperature. A well
charged battery helps to make sure that the
engine can be started, even at low ambient
temperatures.
• Tire change.
Winter tiresAlways use winter tires at temperatures
below 45°F (7°C) and whenever wintry road
conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated tires
provide special winter performance. Make
sure the tires you use show the mountain/
snowflake marking.on the tire sidewall.
These tires meet specific snow traction
performance requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the
Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and have
been designed specifically for use in snow
conditions. Use of winter tires is the only way
to achieve the maximum effectiveness of the
ABS and ESP
® in winter operation.
For safe handling, make sure that all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have the
same tread design.Always observe the speed rating of the winter
tires installed on your vehicle. If the maximum
speed for which your tires are rated is below
the speed rating of your vehicle, you must
place a notice to this effect where it will be
seen by the driver. Such notices are available
at your tire dealer or any authorized smart
center.
G
Warning!
Winter tires with a tread depth of less
than
1/6 in (4 mm) must be replaced. They
are no longer suitable for winter opera

tion.

Driving instructions
212
>> Operation
BrakesRefer to the description of the hydraulic
brake assistant (

page 75).
!
Because the ESP
® operates automatically,
the engine must be shut off (key in starter
switch position0) when
• the parking brake is being tested on a
brake test dynamometer
• the vehicle is being towed with the front
axle raised
Active braking action through the
ESP
® may
otherwise seriously damage the brake system
which is not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.Brake pad wear or a leak in the brake system
may be the reason for low brake fluid level in
the brake fluid reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir may be too low if the brake warning
lamp in the instrument cluster comes on
(

page 34) although the parking brake is
released.
Have the brake system inspected immediately.
Contact an authorized smart center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized smart
center.
Only install brake pads and use brake fluid
recommended by smart.Inclines
!
When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into
a lower gear to use the engine’s braking
power. This helps prevent overheating of the
brakes and reduces brake pad wear.
When using the engine’s braking power, a
drive wheel may not spin for an extended pe

riod of time, e.g. on slippery road surfaces.
This may cause serious damage to the drive

train which is not covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
G
Warning!
Make sure not to endanger any other
road users when carrying out braking
maneuvers.

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.

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 ...
240
>> Practical hints. If the tire inflation pressure in the respective
tire(s) has (have) been corrected, the combi

nation low tire pressure/TPMS malfunction
telltale goes out after a few minutes of driv

ing. See also "Restarting the TPMS"
(

page 194).
Flashes 60 seconds and then stays
illuminated:
• when there is a malfunction in the TPMS.
>Have the TPMS checked at an authorized
smart center.
After the malfunction has been remedied the
combination low tire pressure/TPMS mal

function telltale goes out after a few minutes
of driving.
G
Warning!
Each tire should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door
B
Pillar (

page 185) . If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size in

dicated on the Tire and Loading Informa

tion placard you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for those
tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS) that illumi

nates a low tire pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires is significantly
underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure.
Driving on a significantly underinflated
tire causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel effi

ciency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance,
and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if
underinflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low
tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with
a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating
properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator
is combined with the low tire pressure
telltale.

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®.

What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.
247
The subsequent self check of the safety
systems yields the following results:
Scenario 1:
The SRS indicator lamp goes out after a
maximum of 4 seconds:
No malfunction detected. The supplemental
restraint system is operational.
Scenario 2:
The SRS indicator lamp goes out after a maxi

mum of 4 seconds for approximately 1 second,
then it comes on again and stays on:
There is a malfunction in the supplemental
restraint systems. The air bags or Emer

gency Tensioning Devices could deploy un

expectedly or fail to deploy in an accident.
>Do not sit on the passenger seat; this ap

plies particularly to children.
>Have the system checked at an authorized
smart center.
!
If the SRS indicator lamp comes on while
driving, have the system checked at an autho

rized smart center immediately.
It is possible that the air bag and the emer

gency tensioning device could be activated
unintentionally or will not function in the event
of an accident.Turn signal indicator lamp(s)
Flash(es):
• when the ignition is switched on:
• the corresponding turn signal is switched
on.
• the hazard warning flasher is switched on.
>If the turn signal indicator lamp(s) do(es)
not illuminate, have the turn signal indica

tor lamp(s) checked at an authorized smart
center.

Replacing bulbs
258
>> Practical hints. Side turn signal lamp bulb
>Removing: Open the door on the corre

sponding side.
1
Retaining lug
>Press on retaining lug
1 in the direction of
the arrow until the side turn signal lamp
housing disengages.
>Use a suitable tool to loosen the side turn
signal lamp housing from the fender.
>Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and
pull it out out of the side turn signal lamp
housing.
>Pull the bulb out of the bulb socket.>Installing: Insert the new bulb into the bulb
socket.
>Insert the bulb socket into the side turn
signal lamp housing and turn the bulb
socket clockwise.
>Fit the side turn signal lamp housing onto
the fender.
>Press gently onto the side turn signal lamp
housing.
The side turn signal lamp housing must
audibly engage.
Replacing bulbs for rear lampsBefore you start to replace a bulb for a rear
lamp, do the following first:
>Turn exterior lamp switch to positionM
(

page 101).
>Switch off the ignition.
Tail lamp unit
>Removing:
Coupé:
>Open the upper tailgate.
>Open the lower tailgate.
Cabrio:
>Open the lower tailgate
>Open the rear soft top (

page 89)
>Remove the side cover in the cargo
compartment on the corresponding side.
>Fold the damping material forward, if
necessary.
P82.10
4556
31

Flat tire
>> Practical hints.
265 Preparing the vehicle
Upon experiencing any type of problem with
the vehicle's tires, switch on the hazard warn

ing flasher, carefully slow down and exit the
roadway in a cautious manner.
>Park the vehicle at a safe distance from
moving traffic on a hard, flat surface when
possible
.
>Set the parking brake.
>Turn the steering wheel so that the front
wheels are in a straight ahead position.
>Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
>Turn off the engine.
>Remove the key from the starter switch and
take the key with you.i
Open door only when conditions are safe to
do so.
>Have any passenger exit the vehicle at a
safe distance from the roadway.
Using the tire repair kitThe tire repair kit can be used to seal punc

tures of up to approximately 0.16 in (4 mm) on
the tire tread.
The tire repair kit enables you to drive on the
sealed tire to the nearest authorized smart
center.
>You should have the sealed tire replaced at
an authorized smart center.
G
Warning!
Take care not to allow the contents of the
tire sealant to come in contact with hair,
eyes or clothing. The tire sealant is
harmful if inhaled, swallowed or absorbed
through the skin it may causes skin, eye
and respiratory irritation. Wear gloves
while using this product if they are avail

able.
Any contact with eyes or skin should be
flushed immediately with plenty of water.
If clothing comes in contact with the tire
sealant, change clothing as soon as pos

sible.
In case of allergic reaction or rash,
consult a physician immediately.