2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE warning

Transmission
132
>> Controls. Driving off uphill
Your vehicle has a hill start assist system.
On uphill grades the hill start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake system
for approximately one second after you have
released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can
start off smoothly without the vehicle moving
immediately after releasing the brake pedal.>Release the brake pedal.
>Apply sufficient pressure to the accelera

tor.
!
After approximately one second, the hill
start assist system stops braking the vehicle,
which then can roll backwards. If you open the
driver’s door within this time, the hill start as

sistance is deactivated and a warning signal
sounds.
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The hill start assist system is inactive if
you start off with the parking brake set.
Manual gearshiftingWith manual gearshiftingM selected, system

controlled automatic gearshifting is switched
off and you need to change the gears by up

shifting or downshifting manually using the
gear selector lever or the steering wheel
gearshift control
1.
!
Allow engine to warm up under low load
use. Do not place full load on the engine until
the operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extend

ed period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. Otherwise, the the drivetrain could
be damaged, which is not covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
G
Warning!
The hill start assist system is not
designed to function as a parking brake
and does not prevent the vehicle from
moving when parked on an incline.
Always set the parking brake in addition
to shifting to park positionP.1 Model passion only.

Transmission
>> Controls.
133
Steering wheel gearshift control
1
1
Left shift paddle
2
Multifunction display
3
Right shift paddleActivating manual gearshifting
>Move the gear selector lever to manual
gearshiftingM (

page 128).
System
controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off.
You can upshift or downshift through the
gears in succession.
The currently engaged gear appears in the
transmission position indicator (

page 137).
Upshifting
>Briefly push the gear selector lever for

ward in the +direction (

page 128).
or
>Pull right shift paddle
3 (
page 133)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next higher
gear.
i
With manual gearshiftingM selected, the
transmission shifts up only to prevent engine
overreving.Downshifting
>Briefly pull the gear selector lever back

ward in the
direction (

page 128).
or
>Pull left shift paddle
1 (
page 133)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next lower
gear.
1 Model passion only.
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.

Instrument cluster
136
>> Controls.
Multifunction displayThe following displays and indicators appear
in the multifunction display:1
Status indicator with:
• Trip odometer display
• Maintenance service interval display
• Reserve fuel display
2
Main odometer display or when active
distance to next maintenance service
3
Transmission position indicator
4
Digital clock
5
Outside temperature display
6
Fuel level displayMultifunction display illumination
The multifunction display illumination comes
on when the starter switch is in position1.
It goes out after approximately 30 seconds
when the starter switch is in position0.
For adjusting the multifunction display
illumination, see "Adjusting instrument clus

ter illumination“ (

page 141).Fuel level display/reserve fuel indicator
Fuel level display
The fuel level display shows the tank's fuel
level with the aid of eight segments. The num

ber of dark segments indicates the fuel level
in the tank.
If all eight segments are dark, the tank is full. P54.32
5174
31
G
Warning!
No messages will be displayed if either
the instrument cluster or the multifunc

tion display is inoperative.
As a result, you will not be able to see
information about your driving condi

tions, such as speed, outside tempera

ture, or warning/indicator lamps. Driving
characteristics may be impaired.
If you must continue to drive, please do
so with added caution. Visit an authorized
smart center as soon as possible.P54.32
5176
31

Audio system*
142
>> Controls.
G
Warning!
In order to avoid distraction which could
lead to an accident, the driver should
enter system settings with the vehicle at
a standstill and operate the system only
when road and traffic conditions permit.
Always pay full attention to traffic condi

tions first before operating system con

trols while driving.
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.
G
Warning!
Always select a volume that allows you to
still hear ambient sound in your immedi

ate vicinity (e.g. horns, emergency res

cue vehicles, police vehicles, etc.). You
could otherwise cause an accident.
G
Warning
If you wish to have a radio other than an
original smart radio fitted in your vehi

cle, please always have the necessary
work performed at an authorized smart
center.
This is particularly important if your ve

hicle is fitted with a radio preinstallation.
Improper connection can result in the
failure of important vehicle functions,
thereby endangering the operating
safety of your vehicle and thus your own
safety and that of other people.

Air vents
146
>> Controls.To make sure that the
•heating
•climate control*
works properly, please observe the following:
• Keep the air intake grill free from deposits,
e.g. ice or snow, to ensure that fresh air can
flow freely into the vehicle interior.
• Do not obstruct air vents or ventilation
grilles in the vehicle interior.
Opening and closing air vents> Opening: Turn slider
2,3,5, or
6
inwards towards the center console.
>Closing: Turn slider
2,3,5, or
6 fully
outwards towards the side window.
Adjusting air vents>Turn slider
2,3,5, or
6 to the left,
right, up, or down.
i
For draft
free ventilation, move the
sliders for the center air vents and side air
vents to the middle position.
G
Warning!
When operating the
•heating
•climate control*
the air that enters the passenger com

partment through the air vents can be
very hot or very cold (depending on the
set temperature). This may cause burns
or frostbite on unprotected skin in the
immediate area of the air vents. Always
keep sufficient distance between unpro

tected parts of the body and the air
vents. If necessary, use the air distribu

tion control to direct the air to air vents
in the vehicle interior that are not in the
immediate area of unprotected skin.

Heating
148
>> Controls.
Switching heating on/off>Switching on: Make sure that the key in the
starter switch is turned to position1.
>Push temperature control
4 up.
> Switching off: Push temperature control
4
fully down.
Setting the temperaturei
You should raise or lower the temperature
setting in small increments.
> Increasing or decreasing: Push tempera

ture control
4 up or down.
Rapid cooling
>Push air volume control
1 fully up.
>Turn air distribution control
3 to
positiona.
>Push temperature control
4 fully down.
>Adjust the air vents as desired.
Rapid heating
>Push air volume control
1 to level3.
>Turn air distribution control
3 to a posi

tion betweenP andY.
>Push temperature control
4 fully up.
>Adjust the air vents towards the occupants.
Adjusting air distributionYou can adjust the air distribution using air
distribution control
3.
The following symbols are found on the air
distribution control:
G
Warning!
Follow the recommended settings for
heating and cooling given on the following
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog
up, impairing visibility and endangering
you and others.
Symbol
Function
P
Directs air to the windshield
and side windows
Y
Directs air to the footwells and
air distribution is reduced at
the center and side air vents
a
Directs air through the center
and side air vents

Heating>> Controls.
149
>Turn air distribution control
3 to the
desired symbol.
The air distribution is controlled depending
on the position of the air distribution con

trol.
i
You can also turn the air distribution
control to a position between two symbols.
Adjusting air volumeYou can adjust the air volume using air volume
control
1. Five blower speeds are available.
The air volume is controlled depending on the
blower speed selected.
0Off
1Slow
2Medium
3High/defrosting
4Maximum
> Increasing or decreasing: Push air volume
control1 up or down.
DefrostingThe best defrosting of windows is achieved if
the ice is completely removed from the win

dows manually with an ice scraper before
starting the engine.
>Switching on: Push air volume control
1 to
level3.
>Turn air distribution control
3 to
positionP.
>Push temperature control
4 fully up.
G
Warning!
Never drive with iced up or fogged
windows. Visibility will be significantly
impaired. Impaired visibility could en

danger yourself and others. This may
prevent you from observing the traffic
conditions, thereby causing an accident.

Air conditioning with climate control*
>> Controls.
151
The air conditioning improves the level of
comfort when driving at high outside
temperatures by cooling and dehumidifying
the air.Nearly all dust particles, pollutants, are
filtered out by an integrated particle filter
before outside air enters the passenger com

partment through the air distribution system.
It also operates when the air conditioning is
switched off and you have switched on the
blower.
The air conditioning only works when the
engine is running and the blower is switched
on. Maximum effectiveness is achieved if you
drive with the windows closed.
i
In warmer weather, ventilate the passen

ger compartment for a short period of time
before utilizing the air conditioning.
Switching air conditioning on/off>Make sure that the engine is running.
>Switching on: Push air volume control
1 to
level1 or higher.
>Press switch
2.
The air conditioning is switched on.
The indicator lamp on the switch comes on.
>Switching off: Press switch
2 once more.
The air conditioning is switched off.
The indicator lamp on the switch goes out.
i
The stored status is restored, if you switch
on the ignition again.
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The air condition will be suspended tem

porarily:
• if the engine speed is too low
•when driving off
The air condition is switched off:
• at a coolant temperature of more
than 239°F (115°C)
• at outside temperatures below 38°F (3°C)
G
Warning!
Follow the recommended settings for
heating and cooling given on the following
pages. Otherwise the windows could fog
up, impairing visibility and endangering
you and others.