2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE brake

Instrument cluster (kilometers)
>> At a glance.
37
Function
Page
1
Selecting display for status
indicator
Setting digital clock
138
138
2
Left indicator lamp display
with:
¡Low beam headlamp
indicator lamp
AHigh beam headlamp
indicator lamp
HCombination low tire
pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale
=SRS indicator lamp
102
104
239
245
246
3
LLeft turn signal
indicator lamp
247
4
vESP
® warning lamp
243
Function
Page
5
KRight turn signal
indicator lamp
247
6
Speedometer
7
Right indicator lamp display
with:
GEPS* warning lamp
±Engine malfunction
indicator lamp
-ABS indicator lamp
3Brake warning lamp
243
242
237
238
8
Adjusting instrument cluster
illumination
Setting digital clock
141
138
9
Right center indicator lamp
display with:
PEngine oil pressure
indicator lamp
DCoolant temperature
warning lamp
242
241
Function
Page
a
Multifunction display with:
• Fuel level display
• Transmission position
indicator
• Main odometer display or,
when active, distance to
next maintenance service
• Digital clock
• Outside temperature
display
136
137
136
138
136
b
Status indicator with:
• Trip odometer display
• Maintenance service
interval display
• Reserve fuel indicator
139
139
136
c
Left center indicator lamp
display with:
–Battery indicator lamp
238

Lower center console
>> At a glance.
39
P68.20
3743
31
Function
Page
1
Auxiliary power outlet
164
2
Gear selector lever
128
3
Starter switch
91
4
Parking brake lever
125
5
Coin holder
Retractable soft top switch
1
1 cabrio only.
159
114

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.

Seats
92
>> Controls.G
Warning!
All seat adjustments, as well as fastening
of seat belts, must be done before the
vehicle is operated.G
Warning!
When adjusting the seat, make sure that
no one becomes trapped.
Do not adjust the driver’s seat while
driving. Adjusting the seat while driving
could cause the driver to lose control of
the vehicle.
Never ride in a moving vehicle with the
seat backrest in an excessively reclined
position as this can be dangerous. You
could slide under the seat belt in a colli

sion. If you slide under the seat belt, it
could apply force at the abdomen or neck,
potentially causing serious or fatal inju

ries. The seat backrest and seat belts
provide the best restraint when the
wearer is in a position that is as upright
as possible and seat belts are properly
positioned on the body.
Your seat must be adjusted so that you
can correctly fasten your seat belt
(
page 98).
Observe the following points:
• Adjust the seat backrest until your
arms are slightly angled when holding
the steering wheel.
• Adjust the seat to a comfortable
seating position that still allows you to
reach the accelerator/brake pedal
safely. The position should be as far to
the rear as possible, consistent with
ability to properly operate controls.
• Never place hands under the seat or
near any moving parts while a seat is
being adjusted.
Failure to do so could result in an acci

dent and/or serious personal injury.
Observe the notes on the air bag system
(
page 54).
G
Warning!
Children 12 years old and under must be
seated and properly secured in an
appropriately sized infant restraint,
toddler restraint, or booster seat recom

mended for the size and weight of the
child. For additional information, see
"Children in the vehicle" (

page 65).
A child’s risk of serious or fatal injuries
is significantly increased if the child re

straints are not properly secured in the
vehicle and/or the child is not properly
secured in the child restraint.