tires SMART FORTWO COUPE 2008 Service Manual

Driving instructions
>> Operation
217
For more information, see "Tires and wheels"
(
page 182).
HydroplaningDepending on the depth of the water layer on
the road, hydroplaning may occur resulting in
a loss of control, even at low speeds and with
new tires. Reduce vehicle speed, avoid track
grooves in the road and apply brakes cau

tiously when it is raining.
Tire tractionThe safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy
road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside
temperatures are close to the freezing point.smart recommends winter tires
(
page 208)

with a minimum tread depth of approximately 1/6in (4 mm) on all four wheels for the winter
season to ensure normal balanced handling
characteristics. On packed snow, they can
reduce your stopping distance compared to
summer tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still consider

ably greater than when the road is not cov

ered with snow or ice. Exercise appropriate
caution.
!
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an ex

tended period when driving off on slippery
road surfaces. Otherwise, the the drivetrain
c o u l d b e d a m a g e d , w h i c h i s n o t co v e r e d b y t h e
smart Limited Warranty.
G
Warning!
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire will
affect your ability to steer or brake and
may cause you to lose control of the vehi

cle. Continued driving with a flat tire or
driving at high speed with a flat tire will
cause excessive heat build
up and possi

bly a fire.
G
Warning!
If ice has formed on the road, tire trac

tion will be substantially reduced. Under
such weather conditions, drive, steer and
brake with extreme caution.

Driving instructions
218
>> Operation
Tire speed ratingRegardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use prudent
driving speeds appropriate to prevailing
conditions.
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of 90 mph
(145 km/h).The factory equipped tires on your vehicle
may have a tire speed rating above the maxi

mum speed permitted by the electronic speed
limiter.
Make sure your tires have the required tire
speed rating as specified for your vehicle in
t h e " T e c h n i c a l d a t a s e c t i o n " (

page 299), for
example when purchasing new tires.
For information on how to identify the tire
speed rating on a tire’s sidewall, see "Tire
size designation, load and speed rating"
(

page 196)
.
If you are uncertain about the correct read

ing of the information given on a tire’s side

wall, any authorized smart center will be glad
to assist you.i
For information on speed ratings for
winter tires, see "All
season and winter tires
"
(

page 199).
For additional general information on tire
speed markings on tire sidewall, see "Tire
speed rating" (

page 198).
Winter driving instructionsThe most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid abrupt
acceleration, braking and steering maneu

vers.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to neutral
positionN. Try to keep the vehicle under
control by corrective steering action.
For information on driving with snow chains*,
see "Snow chains*" (

page 209).
G
Warning!
Even when permitted by law, never oper

ate a vehicle at speeds greater than the
maximum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire
failure, causing loss of vehicle control
and possibly resulting in an accident
and/or personal injury and possible
death, for you and for others.
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.

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 ...
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.
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.

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.

Flat tire
270
>> Practical hints.
!
The manufacturer is unable to guarantee
that all tire punctures can be repaired with
the tire repair kit, in particular cuts or
perforations larger than approximately
0.16 in (4 mm) or away from the tire's tread.
The manufacturer is not liable for damage
sustained through improper use of the tire
repair kit.>Drive to the nearest authorized smart cen

ter, to have the damaged tire replaced.
>Contact an authorized smart center as soon
as possible to obtain a new filler hose
4 and
a new tire sealant container
9.
>Bring used tire sealant materials to an
authorized smart center for proper dispos

al.
>Replace your tire sealant container every
4 years. Replacement containers are avail

able at any authorized smart center.
G
Warning!
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
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 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 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.
G
Warning!
After changing a tire, contact a smart
center to make sure that the bolts holding
the wheel to the car are tight enough.
Otherwise, the wheels could come off.
Each bolt should be tightened to a torque
of 81 lb
ft (110 Nm).

>> Technical data.Parts service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 288
Warranty coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289
Engine electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 290
Identification labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293
Layout of poly
V
belt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 296
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297
Rims and tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 299
Electrical system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 300
Weights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301
Main dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 302
Service fluids and capacities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 303

Rims and tires
298
>> Technical data.
!
Only use tires which have been tested and
approved by smart. Tires approved by smart
are developed to provide best possible
performance in conjunction with the driving
safety systems on your vehicle such as ABS
or ESP
®.
Using tires other than those approved by
smart may result in damage that is not
covered by the smart Limited Warranty.
!
Using tires other than those approved by
smart can have detrimental effects, such as
• poor handling characteristics
• increased noise
• increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
smart may, under load, exhibit dimensional
variations and different tire deformation
characteristics that could cause them to come
into contact with the vehicle body or axle
parts. Damage to the tires or the vehicle may
be the result.
i
Further information on tires and rims is
available at any authorized smart center.
A placard with the recommended tire inflation
pressure is 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. Follow tire manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle.

Rims and tires
>> Technical data.
299
Rims and tires
Model pure
Model passion
Front axle:Rims (steel)
4.5 J x 15 H2
Rims (light alloy)
4.5 J x 15 H2*
4.5Jx15H2
Wheel offset
0.93 in (23.5 mm)
0.93 in (23.5 mm)
All
season tires
155/60 R15 74 T M+S
155/60 R15 74 T M+S
Winter tires
1
1 Not available as factory equipment
155/60 R15 74 T M+S
.
155/60 R15 74 T M+S
.
Rear axle:Rims (steel)
5.5 J x 15 H2
Rims (light alloy)
5.5 J x 15 H2*
5.5Jx15H2
Wheel offset
0.87 in (22 mm)
0.87 in (22 mm)
All
season tires
175/55 R15 77 T M+S
175/55 R15 77 T M+S
Winter tires
1
175/55 R15 77 T M+S
.
175/55 R15 77 T M+S
.