2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE Owners Manual

Driving safety systems
72
>> Safety.
i
In winter operation, the maximum effec

tiveness of the ABS, the hydraulic brake
assistant and the ESP
® is only achieved with
winter tires (

page 208) or snow chains* as
required.
Antilock brake system (ABS)The A
ntilock B
rake S
ystem (ABS) regulates the
brake pressure so that the wheels do not lock
during braking. This allows you to maintain the
ability to steer your vehicle.
On slippery road surfaces, the ABS will
respond even to light brake pressure.
The ABS indicator lamp in the instrument
cluster (

page 34) comes on when you switch
on the ignition. It goes out when the engine is
running.Braking
At the instant one of the wheels is about to
lock up, a slight pulsation can be felt in the
brake pedal, indicating that the ABS is regu

lating the brake pressure.
>Keep firm and steady pressure on the brake
pedal while experiencing the pulsation.
Continuous, steady brake pedal pressure
yields the advantages provided by the ABS,
namely braking power and the ability to steer
the vehicle.
A pulsating brake pedal can be an indication
of hazardous road conditions and functions as
a reminder to take extra care while driving.
G
Warning!
The following factors increase the risk of
accidents:
• Excessive speed, especially in turns
• Wet and slippery road surfaces
• Following another vehicle too closely
The driving safety systems described in
this section cannot reduce these risks or
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle.
Always adapt your driving style to the
prevailing road and weather and traffic
conditions and keep a safe distance to
other road users and objects on the
street.
G
Warning!
Do not pump the brake pedal. Use firm,
steady brake pedal pressure instead.
Pumping the brake pedal defeats the
purpose of the ABS and significantly
reduces braking effectiveness.

Driving safety systems
>> Safety.
73
Emergency brake maneuver
>Keep continuous full pressure on the brake
pedal.
Electronic Stability Program
(ESP)Your vehicle is equipped with the E
lectronic
S
tability P
rogram (ESP
®). The ESP
® is opera

tional as soon as the engine is running and it
monitors the vehicle’s traction (force of ad

hesive friction between the tires and the road
surface) and handling.
The ESP
® recognizes when a wheel is spinning
or if the vehicle starts to skid.
By applying brakes to the appropriate wheel
and by limiting the engine output, the ESP
®
works to stabilize the vehicle.
The ESP
® is especially useful while driving off
and on wet or slippery road surfaces.
The ESP® also stabilizes the vehicle during
braking and steering maneuvers.
The ESP® warning lampv in the instrument
cluster flashes when the ESP
® is engaged.
G
Warning!
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the
hydraulic brake assistant and the ESP
®
are also switched off.
When the ABS is malfunctioning, the
wheels may lock during hard braking,
reducing steering capability and extend

ing the braking distance.
G
Warning!
The ABS cannot prevent the natural laws
of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor
can it increase braking or steering effi

ciency beyond that afforded by the con

dition of the vehicle brakes and tires or
the traction afforded. The ABS cannot
prevent accidents, including those
resulting from excessive speed in turns,
following another vehicle too closely, or
hydroplaning. Only a safe, attentive, and
skillful driver can prevent accidents. The
capabilities of an ABS equipped vehicle
must never be exploited in a reckless or
dangerous manner which could jeopar

dize the user’s safety or the safety of
others.

Driving safety systems
74
>> Safety. The ESP
® warning lampv in the instrument
cluster comes on when you switch on the igni

tion. It goes out when the engine is running.
Depending on the driving situation, the ESP
®
• will reduce the speed,
• selectively brakes individual wheels,
• equalizes the speed of the driven wheels,
• stabilizes the vehicle when braking,
• assists you in evasive maneuvers on all
roads.
G
Warning!
If the ESP
® warning lampv in the
instrument cluster flashes, proceed as
follows:
• While driving off, apply as little throttle
as possible.
• While driving, ease up on the accelera

tor.
• Adapt your speed and driving style to
the prevailing road conditions.
Failure to observe these guidelines could
cause the vehicle to skid.
The ESP
® cannot prevent accidents
resulting from excessive speed.
G
Warning!
The ESP
® cannot prevent the natural laws
of physics from acting on the vehicle, nor
can it increase the traction afforded. The
ESP
® cannot prevent accidents, including
those resulting from excessive speed in
turns, or hydroplaning. Only a safe,
attentive, and skillful driver can prevent
accidents. The capabilities of an ESP
®
equipped vehicle must never be exploited
in a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.

Driving safety systems
>> Safety.
75
!
Because the ESP
® operates automatically,
the engine must be turned 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
on the rear axle.
i
The ESP
® wi ll on l y f un cti on p ro p er ly if you
use wheels of the recommended tire size
(

page 299).
Hydraulic brake assistantThe hydraulic brake assistant operates in
emergency situations. If you apply the brakes
very quickly, the hydraulic brake assistant
automatically provides full brake boost,
thereby potentially reducing the braking
distance.
>Apply continuous full braking pressure
until the emergency braking situation is
over.
The ABS will prevent the wheels from
locking.When you release the brake pedal, the brakes
function again as normal. The hydraulic brake
assistant is then deactivated.
G
Warning!
When the hydraulic brake assistant is
malfunctioning, the brake system is still
functioning normally, but without the
additional brake boost that would nor

mally be provided during an emergency
braking maneuver. Therefore, the brak

ing distance may increase.

Driving safety systems
76
>> Safety.
Activating the hazard warning
flasher after an emergency
braking maneuver If you bring the vehicle to a complete stop by
hard braking at a speed of more than 43 mph
(70 km/h), the hazard warning flasher auto

matically comes on as soon as the vehicle is at
a standstill. The hazard warning flasher will
remain on until it is switched off using the
hazard warning flasher switch (

page 107)
or until the speed of the vehicle has exceeded
6mph (10km/h).
G
Warning!
The hydraulic brake assistant cannot
prevent the natural laws of physics from
acting on the vehicle, nor can it increase
braking efficiency beyond that afforded
by the condition of the vehicle brakes and
tires or the traction afforded. The
hydraulic brake assistant cannot prevent
accidents, including those resulting from
excessive speed in turns, following
another vehicle too closely, or hydro

planing. Only a safe, attentive, and skillful
driver can prevent accidents. The capa

bilities of a hydraulic brake assistant
equipped vehicle must never be exploited
in a reckless or dangerous manner which
could jeopardize the user’s safety or the
safety of others.

Anti
theft systems
>> Safety.
77 Electronic immobilizer
The electronic immobilizer prevents unautho

rized persons from starting your vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. The engine can
be started by anyone with a key that is left
inside the vehicle.
> Activating: Remove the key from the starter
switch.
> Deactivating: Turn the key to starter switch
position1.
Anti
theft warning system*Once the anti
theft warning system has been
armed, a visual and audible alarm is triggered
when
• someone opens a door or the tailgate,
• someone enters the vehicle’s interior,
• there is motion inside the vehicle,
• someone attempts to raise the vehicle.
The alarm will also be triggered when
unlocking and opening the driver’s door with
the key.i
The alarm will stay on, even if the driver’s
door is immediately closed. For canceling the
alarm, see (

page 78).Close the windows and the tailgate before
arming the alarm system. Make sure that there
are no moving objects inside the vehicle.
The switch is located in the upper center
console.
1
Warning system indicator lampP54.25
5363
31

Anti
theft systems
78
>> Safety. >Arming: Lock the vehicle using the remote
control.
Warning system indicator lamp
1 flashes
rapidly.
The anti
theft warning system arms after
about 25 seconds.
When the anti
theft warning system is
armed, warning system indicator lamp
1
flashes about every three seconds.
i
You can also arm the anti
theft warning
system by locking the vehicle without using
the remote control (

page 250).
>Disarming: Unlock the vehicle using the
remote control.
The anti
theft warning system is disarmed.
Warning system indicator lamp
1 stops
flashing.
Canceling the alarm
>Insert the key in the starter switch.
>Turn Starter switch in Position 1
(

page 91).
or
>Press button
©
or
ª
on the key.
Tow
away alarm* and interior mo

tion sensor*Once the anti
theft warning system has been
armed, a visual and audible alarm is triggered
when someone attempts to raise the vehicle or
if motion is detected inside the vehicle.
>Arming: Lock the vehicle using the remote
control.
The tow
away protection and the interior
motion sensor arm after about 25 seconds.
>Disarming: Unlock the vehicle using the
remote control.
The tow
away protection and the interior
motion sensor are disarmed.Canceling the alarm
>Insert the key in the starter switch.
>Turn Starter switch in Position 1
(

page 91).
or
>Press button
©
or
ª
on the key.
Switching off tow
away protection and
interior motion sensor
Deactivate the tow
away protection and the
interior motion sensor when locking the vehi

cle and
• transporting the vehicle,
• board, e.g. a ferry or auto train,
• there are people or animals in the vehicle,
• the side windows remain open.
This prevents any false alarm.

Anti
theft systems
>> Safety.
79
The switch is located in the upper center
console.1
Tow
away protection/interior motion sen

sor switch
2
Indicator lamp
>Remove the key from the starter switch.
>Press switch
1 within 60 seconds.
Indicator lamp2 comes on.
>Exit the vehicle.
>Lock the vehicle using the remote control.
i
The tow
away protection and the interior
motion sensor remain switched off until you
lock your vehicle again.
P54.25
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