SMART FORTWO COUPE 2015 Owners Manual

Wet road surface
G
WARNING
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through
water deep enough to wet brake components, the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking
effect. Maintain a safe distance from vehi-
cles in front.
To help prevent brake disc corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes. G
WARNING
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Limited braking effect on salted roads Remember that the effect of the brakes can
be limited on salted road surfaces. A layer of salt can form on brake discs and brake
pads, considerably reducing the friction
between the brake disc and the brake pad.
The effect is most noticeable after long
trips without braking, e.g. on the highway, and after the vehicle has been parked for
several hours. G
WARNING
The accumulation of salt on brake discs and brake pads reduces braking effectiveness
and increases the distance necessary to
come to a complete standstill. This could
potentially cause an accident and/or per-
sonal injury.
To avoid this risk, you should
R brake carefully every now and then on
salted roads in order to remove any layer
of salt on the brake disc and brake pad, but do so without endangering any other
road users
R keep a good safe distance from the vehi-
cle in front and drive carefully
R press the brake carefully at the end of the
trip and again when beginning the next
trip in order to remove any salt residues
from the brake disc
New brake pads Only install brake pads recommended by
smart. G
WARNING
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired.
This could result in an accident. G
WARNING
New brake pads will not achieve their opti- mal braking effect until after several hun- dred miles (kilometers). This means that
you must compensate for the reduced brak-
ing effect by pressing harder on the brake
pedal and adapt your driving style accord-
ingly. The same applies after brake pads or
brake discs have been changed. Drive sensibly - save energy
Energy consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operating
conditions.
To save energy you should: R Drive carefully and maintain a suitable
distance from the vehicle in front.
R Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.
R Keep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures.
R Remove carriers* when not in use. Driving instructions
149>> Operation.
* optional Z

R
Remove unnecessary loads.
R Have all maintenance work performed at
the intervals specified in the Mainte-
nance Booklet and as required by the
Maintenance System. Contact an author-
ized electric drive smart center.
Energy consumption is also increased by
driving in stop-and-go traffic, on short
trips, and in hilly areas. Tires
G
WARNING
If you feel a sudden significant vibration
or ride disturbance, or you suspect that
possible damage to your vehicle has occur- red, you should turn on the hazard warning
flashers, carefully slow down, and drive
with caution to an area which is a safe dis-
tance from the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed to the nearest smart center or tire dealer for
repairs.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately 1
/ 16 in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be
replaced.
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread. G
WARNING
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately 1
/ 16 in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not allow your tires to wear down to that level. As
tread depth approaches 1
/ 8 in (3 mm), the
adhesion properties on a wet road are
sharply reduced. Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction var- ies widely.
Specified tire inflation pressures must be maintained. This applies particularly if
the tires are subject to high loads (e.g.
high speeds, heavy loads, high ambient
temperatures). G
WARNING
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire will affect your ability to steer or brake and maycause you to lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire or driv-
ing at high speed with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a
fire.
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (Y page 127). Hydroplaning
Depending 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 cautiously when it is raining. Tire traction
The 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. G
WARNING
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
smart recommends winter tires (Y page 146)
with a minimum tread depth of approx- 150
Driving instructions>> Operation.

imately
1
/ 6 in (4 mm) on all four wheels for
the winter season to ensure normal bal-
anced handling characteristics. On packed
snow, they can reduce your stopping dis-
tance compared to summer tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still con-
siderably greater than when the road is not covered with snow or ice. Exercise appro-
priate caution.
! Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. Otherwise, the
drivetrain could be damaged, which is
not covered by the smart Limited War-
ranty. Tire speed rating
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use prudent
driving speeds appropriate to prevailing
conditions. G
WARNING
Even when permitted by law, never operate 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 fail-
ure, causing loss of vehicle control and
possibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury and possible death, for you and for others.
Make sure your tires have the required tire speed rating as specified for your vehicle
in the “Technical data section”
(Y page 216), 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”
(Y page 140).
If you are uncertain about the correct read-
ing of the information given on a tire’s sidewall, any authorized electric drive
smart center will be glad to assist you.
i For information on speed ratings for
winter tires, see “All-season and winter
tires” (Y page 141). Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers.
For information on driving with snow
chains*, see “Snow chains*” (Y page 146).
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 brak- ing efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking effi-
ciency should be tested as soon as possible after driving is resumed. G
WARNING
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers. G
WARNING
The outside temperature display is not
designed to serve as an ice-warning device and is therefore unsuitable for that pur-
pose. Indicated temperatures just above
the freezing point do not guarantee that the
road surface is free of ice.
For more information, see “Winter driving”
(Y page 146). Driving instructions
151>> Operation.
* optional Z

Standing water
Do not drive through flooded areas or water of unknown depth. Before driving through
water, determine its depth. Never acceler-
ate before driving into water.
If you must drive through standing water,
drive slowly to prevent water from entering
R the front compartment
R the engine compartment
R the passenger compartment
! Water in these areas could cause dam-
age to
R electrical components
R electrical wiring
R the drive system
R the high-voltage battery
Any such damage is not covered by the
smart Limited Warranty. Passenger compartment
G
WARNING
Always fasten items being carried as
securely as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud- den maneuvers, loose items thrown around
inside the vehicle may injure vehicle
occupants.
The cargo compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects. Control and operation of radio trans-
mitters
Radio and telephone G
WARNING
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle
safely. Only operate the radio or tele- phone
8
if road, weather and traffic condi-
tions 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 (approx-
imately 14 m) every second.
Telephones and two-way radios 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
drive system is switched on. Doing so couldlead to a malfunction of the vehicle’s elec-
tronic system, possibly resulting in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
Radio transmitters, such as a mobile phone
or a citizens band unit should only be used inside 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. Coolant temperature
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise. ! Excessive coolant temperature causes
the red coolant temperature warning
lamp ? in the instrument cluster to
come on.
The drive system should not be operated
with the red coolant temperature warn-
ing lamp ?illuminated. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drive system
and the high-voltage battery, which is
not covered by the smart Limited War-
ranty.
8 Observe all legal requirements. 152
Driving instructions>> Operation.

For more information on coolant tempera-
ture warning lamp (Y page 172).Driving abroad
Abroad, there is an extensive smart service network at your disposal. If you plan to
drive into areas which are not listed in the
index of your smart center directory, you
should request pertinent information from an authorized electric drive smart center.
Keep in mind, however, that due to the tech-
nical requirements of the smart fortwo
electric drive and its high-voltage power
systems, the vehicle should be serviced
only at an authorized electric drive smart
center.
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:
R Service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available.
R The AC power sockets in some countries,
especially overseas, require different
plugs on the charging cable.
R Charging stations may not be available. Symmetrical low beams
i If you drive in countries where vehi-
cles drive on the other side of the road
than the country in which the vehicle is
registered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized electric drive smart cen- ter. Vehicle care
Care tips
Regular and proper care will help to main-
tain the value of your vehicle. The best way to protect your vehicle from harmful envi- ronmental 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). G
WARNING
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the par-
ticular container. Always open your vehi-
cle’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.
! Follow the care tips. Wash your vehicle
preferably by hand.
While in operation or even while parked,
your vehicle is subjected to varying exter-
nal influences, which left unchecked can
attack the paint as well as the vehicle
underbody and lead to permanent damage.
Such damage is caused not only by extreme
and varying climatic conditions, but also
by:
R Air pollution
R Road salt
R Tar
R Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should imme-
diately remove:
R Insects
R Bird droppings
R Tree sap, etc.
R Grease and oil
R Brake fluid
R Coolant
R Fuel
R Tar spots
! Failure to remove such dirt immedi-
ately can cause damage to the paint or the Vehicle care
153>> Operation. Z

soft top fabric*. Environmental influen-
ces are not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.
Frequent washing reduces and/or elimi-
nates the aggressiveness and potency of the
above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:
R near the ocean
R in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)
R during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody of
the vehicle. A prerequisite for a thorough
check is a washing of the underbody fol-
lowed by a thorough inspection. Damaged
areas need to be re-undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the factory with a wax-base rustproofing in the body
cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
smart because of the possibility of incom-
patibility between materials used in the
production process and others applied
later.
We have selected vehicle-care products
and compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and
which always reflect the latest technology. You can obtain smart approved vehicle-
care products at an authorized electric
drive smart center.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, corrosion
or damage due to negligent or incorrect
care cannot always be removed or repaired with the vehicle-care products recommen-
ded here. In such cases it is best to seek aid
at an authorized electric drive smart cen- ter. The following topics deal with the cleaning
and care of your vehicle and give important
“how-to” information as well as references to smart approved vehicle-care products. Vehicle care
Contact an authorized electric drive smart
center for recommended and approved care
products.
i Advice on caring for the soft top sys-
tem, see (Y page 157). G
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, the brakes may
still be wet and thus their functionality
impaired. Therefore, when you start off,
brake lightly several times without endan- gering traffic. 154
Vehicle care>> Operation.
* optional

Selecting the right cleaning agent
!
To avoid damage to interior equipment and materials: Never rub roughly or use
cleaning spirits on the cloth upholstery, never use strong agents, stain remover etc. on
the leather upholstery. Never scour or use solvent on plastic parts. Never use strong and aggressive agents on windows, do not touch the inside of the windows with hard objects
such as an ice scraper or ring, doing so may damage the windows. Interior Special considera-
tions Light soiling Heavy soiling
Cloth upholstery Use a clean, lint-
free cloth Light soap suds Stain remover (test
on an inconspicuous
place first) Plastic parts Use a color-fast
cloth Damp, clean cloth,
cockpit spray Damp, clean cloth,
cockpit spray
Leather upholstery Use a clean, color-
fast cloth Clean cloth with
lukewarm water,
leather care prod-
uct Leather care prod-
uct
Windows Damp, clean cloth,
microfiber cloth,
glass cleaner Microfiber cloth,
glass cleaner
!
To avoid damage to exterior surfaces never do the following: Use aggressive paint
cleaner, machine polish, abrasive cleanser, acidic, highly alkaline agents, abrasive
sponges, high-pressure or hot water cleaning equipment. Exterior Special considera-
tions Lightly soiled
Hand-/Automatic
car washes Heavily soiled
Hand-/Automatic
car washes
tridion safety cell,
black Powder coated sin-
gle-coat paint fin-
ish Car shampoo con-
centrate, insect
remover for insect
remains, polish Car shampoo con-
centrate, hard wax,
insect remover for
insect remains,
polish
tridion safety cell,
silver Powder coated sin-
gle-coat paint fin-
ish and clearcoat
Highly polished
plastic parts (body
panels) Body panels with
base coat and clear-
coat or clearcoat
only Vehicle care
155>> Operation. Z

Exterior Special considera-
tions Lightly soiled
Hand-/Automatic
car washes Heavily soiled
Hand-/Automatic
car washes
Wheels and wheel
covers Two-layer metallic
paint (high-gloss) Car shampoo con-
centrate, rim care Car shampoo con-
centrate, rim care
Retractable soft top PAC fabric Car shampoo con-
centrate, soft top
cleaner, impregna-
tion spray Car shampoo con-
centrate, soft top
cleaner, impregna-
tion spray
Removing insects
Remove insect remains before you start to
wash the vehicle.
X Spray insect remover on.
X Allow insect remover to work in briefly.
X Rub in gently with a soft cloth or sponge.
X Rinse with plenty of water.
X Treat the cleaned surface with hard wax.
Removing tar Remove any tar marks before washing the
vehicle.
X Apply tar remover with a soft cloth.
X Allow tar remover to work in briefly.
X Rub in gently.
X Rinse with plenty of water.
X Treat the cleaned surface with hard wax.
Vehicle washing In the winter, thoroughly remove all traces
of road salt as soon as possible.
When washing the vehicle underbody, do not forget to clean the inner sides of the
wheels.
Washing your vehicle by hand
X Wash the vehicle using car shampoo con-
centrate and a sponge.
X Rinse with clean water.
X Towel dry the vehicle. !
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sun-
light. The body panel surfaces and paint finish may be damaged.
Washing your vehicle in an automatic car
wash
i When running your vehicle through an
automatic car wash, water droplets can
run down the inside of the side windows.
Unscrew your vehicle’s antenna before
driving into an automatic car wash. X
Removing: Unscrew antenna :counter-
clockwise.
X Fitting: Screw antenna :in clockwise.
Power washer G
WARNING
Do not use a round nozzle (dirt grinders) to powerwash your vehicle, in particular the
tires. You could otherwise damage the tires
and cause an accident. 156
Vehicle care>> Operation.

!
Do not aim directly at
R electrical parts
R electrical connectors
R seals
R other rubber parts
The distance should be at least 3.9 in
(10 cm) and the water temperature must
not exceed 140¦ (60¥). 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.
! Powerwashing could damage
R the high-voltage battery
R the drive system
R the engine compartment
Do not powerwash these components.
Decorative foils !
Decorative foils are permanently
adhered to the painted parts of the vehi-
cle and cannot be removed.
! Do not expose the foils to solvents, gas-
oline or diesel.
i When cleaning with a power washer, note
the following guideline values:
R Water temperature max. 176 ¦(80¥)
R Minimum distance 11.8 in (30 cm)
R Jet of water strike at a right angle Paintwork care
The frequency with which you care for your paintwork is dependent on
R how much the vehicle is used
R where you normally park the vehicle (e.g.
in a garage or under a tree)
R the season
R 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
obtained in a smart center.
i For any major paintwork damage, please
contact a smart center. Exterior Repair options
Plastic parts (body
panels) with clear-
coat Clearcoat touch-up
paint pen
Body panels with
base coat and
clearcoat recommended
touch-up paint pen
set in the relevant
color
tridion safety cell recommended
touch-up paint pen
set in the relevant
color
Soft top system (cabriolet only)
Regular care will protect the retractable
soft top and the rear soft top against exter- nal influences, helping to preserve its
value. Use only an approved soft top
cleaner when removing dirt from the soft
top.
! Never clean the soft top using a power
washer, as water could get into the inside of the vehicle.
Cleaning the soft top fabric !
Only clean the retractable soft top and
the rear soft top when they are closed.
Dry cleaning
X Brush the soft top fabric with a soft
brush, always working in the same direc-
tion, i.e. from front to back. Vehicle care
157>> Operation. Z

Wet cleaning
smart recommends that you use an approved
car shampoo concentrate and soft top
cleaner.
X “Dry clean” the vehicle first.
X Wash the soft top off using a soft brush or
sponge and plenty of lukewarm water.
X Then rinse thoroughly with clear water.
i If you have the vehicle cleaned in a car
wash, you may find that some water gets
into the interior. 158
Vehicle care>> Operation.