Park SMART FORTWO COUPE 2008 Service Manual

Driving instructions
>> Operation
219
Road salts and chemicals can adversely affect
braking efficiency. Increased pedal force may
become necessary to produce the normal
braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically when
traveling at length on salt
strewn roads can
bring road
salt
impaired braking efficiency
back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven on
salt
treated roads, the braking efficiency
should be tested as soon as possible after
driving is resumed.For more information, see "Winter driving"
(

page 208).
Standing water!
Do not drive through flooded areas or
water of unknown depth. Before driving
through water, determine its depth. Never
accelerate before driving into water. The bow
wave could force water into the engine and
auxiliary equipment, thus damaging them.
If you must drive through standing water,
drive slowly to prevent water from entering
the passenger compartment, the front com

partment, or the engine compartment. Water
in these areas could cause damage to electri

cal components or wiring of the engine or
transmission, or could result in water being
ingested by the engine through the air intake,
causing severe internal engine damage.
Any such damage is not covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
G
Warning!
Make sure not to endanger any other
road users when carrying out these
braking maneuvers.
G
Warning!
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow,
make sure snow is kept clear of the
exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle
with the engine running. Otherwise,
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon

sciousness and death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the
vehicle not facing the wind.G
Warning!
The outside temperature display is not
designed to serve as an ice
warning
device and is therefore unsuitable for
that purpose. Indicated temperatures
just above the freezing point do not
guarantee that the road surface is free of
ice.

Vehicle care
224
>> Operation
Care tipsRegular and proper care will help to maintain
the value of your vehicle. The best way to pro

tect your vehicle from harmful environmental
influences is to wash it and use protective
treatments regularly.
smart recommends that you care for the
paintwork at least twice a year (e.g. in the
spring and autumn).
!
Follow the care tips. Wash your vehicle
preferably by hand.
While in operation, even while parked, your
vehicle is subjected to varying external influ

ences which, if gone unchecked, can attack
the paintwork as well as the vehicle underbody
and cause lasting damage.Such damage is caused not only by extreme
and varying climatic conditions, but also by:
•Air pollution
• Road salt
•Tar
• Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should
immediately remove:
•Insects
• Bird droppings
• Tree sap, etc.
• Grease and oil
•Break fluid
•Coolant
•Fuel
•Tar spots
!
Failure to remove such dirt immediately
can cause damage to the paint or the soft top
fabric*. Environmental influences are not
covered by the smart Limited Warranty.
G
Warning!
Many cleaning products can be hazard

ous. Some are poisonous, others are
flammable. Always follow the instructions
on the particular container. Always open
your vehicle’s doors or windows when
cleaning the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and
keep them out of reach of children.

Vehicle care
>> Operation
229
Power washer!
Never use a round nozzle to powerwash
tires. The intense jet of water can result in
damage to the tires. Always replace a dam

aged tire.
Do not aim directly at electrical parts,
electrical connectors, seals, or other rubber
parts. The distance should be at least 4 in
(10 cm) and the water temperature must not
exceed 140°F (60°C). Follow the instructions
provided by the power washer manufacturer
on maintaining a distance between the vehicle
and the nozzle of the power washer.
Always keep the jet of water moving across the
surface.Wheel trim cap
>Wash the wheel trim cap with shampoo and a
soft brush or in the car wash.
Decorative foils
!
Decorative foils are permanently adhered
to the painted parts of the vehicle and cannot
be removed.
!
Do not expose the foils to solvents, gaso

line or diesel.
i
When cleaning with a power washer, note
the following guideline values:
• Water temperature max. 176°F (80°C)
• Minimum distance 11.81 in (30 cm)
• Jet of water strike at a right angle
Paintwork careThe frequency with which you care for your
paintwork is dependent on
• how much the vehicle is used
• where you normally park the vehicle
(e.g. in a garage or under a tree)
•the season
• weather and environmental influences
Rectifying paintwork damage
You can use a touch
up paint pen to repair
minimal stone chip damage and scratches.
Recommended touch
up paint pens can be ob

tained in a smart center.i
For any major paintwork damage, please
contact a smart center.

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 ...
248
>> Practical hints. Flashes at double frequency:
• if one of the turn signals is malfunctioning.
>Replace the bulb as soon as possible
(
page 254).
or
>Have the turn signal checked at an autho

rized smart center as soon as possible.
EngineThe engine does not start:
>Check if
• the gear selector lever is in park
positionP,
• the brake pedal has been depressed,
• the transmission position indicator is on

or
.
The engine does not start within 4 seconds:
>Wait for a few seconds.
>Repeat the starting procedure.
Remember that extended starting attempts
can drain the vehicle battery.
The engine does not start after several
starting attempts:
>Set the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle.
>Contact Roadside Assistance or an autho

rized smart center.
Loss of keyIf you lose a key, you should do the following:
>Have the key deactivated at an authorized
smart center.
>Report the loss of the key to your car
insurance company immediately.
>If necessary have the mechanical lock
replaced.
Your authorized smart center will be glad to
supply you with a replacement following an
identity check.

Unlocking/locking manually
>> Practical hints.
251 Closing the rear soft top
If the rear soft top does not lock properly
after being closed, proceed as follows:
>Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
>Set the parking brake.
>Make sure that the key in the starter switch
is turned to position1.
>Fold up the rear soft top completely.
The rear soft top stops in the unlocked
position.
>Within one minute, press and hold
symbol± on the retractable soft top
switch for 15 seconds twice.
The rear soft top closes the locking hooks.
>Close the retractable soft top completely.
>Have the rear soft top checked at an autho

rized smart center.