2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE light

Occupant safety
60
>> Safety.
i
The front air bags in this vehicle have
been designed to inflate in two stages. This
allows the air bag to have different rates of
inflation that are based on the rate of relevant
vehicle deceleration and a fastened or unfas

tened seat belt as assessed by the air bag
control unit.
On the passenger side, the front air bag
deployment is additionally influenced by the
passenger’s weight category as identified by
the Occupant Classification System (OCS)
(
page 60).
The lighter the passenger side occupant, the
higher the vehicle deceleration rate required
for the second stage inflation of the air bag.
The air bags will not deploy in impacts which
do not exceed the system’s deployment
thresholds. In such instances, the seat belts
are designed to protect you.The passenger air bag will only be deployed if
• the system, based on OCS weight sensor
readings, senses that the passenger seat is
occupied and the 57 indicator
lamp is not lit (

page 64).
• the impact exceeds a preset deployment
threshold.
The driver front air bag is located in the
steering wheel housing, the passenger front
air bag above the glove box.
1
Driver front air bag
2
Passenger front air bag
Occupant Classification SystemThe O
ccupant C
lassification S
ystem (OCS)
automatically turns the passenger front air
bag on or off based on the classified occupant
weight category determined by weight sensor
readings from the passenger seat.
i
The system does not deactivate the head

thorax air bag, the seat Emergency Tension

ing Devices, and the seat belt force limiters.
Occupants must sit properly belted in a posi

tion that is as upright as possible with their
back against the seat backrest and feet on the
floor to be correctly classified. If the occu

pant's weight is transferred to another object
in the vehicle (e.g. by leaning on armrests),
the OCS may not be able to properly approxi

mate the occupant’s weight category. P91.60
3287
31

Occupant safety
66
>> Safety.Infant and child restraint system*
We recommend all infants and children be
properly restrained at all times while the
vehicle is in operation.
The passenger lap
shoulder belt has a special
seat belt retractor for secure fastening of
child restraints.
To fasten a child restraint, follow all mounting
instructions provided by the child restraint
manufacturer. Then pull the shoulder seat
belt out completely and let it retract. During
seat belt retraction, a ratcheting sound can
be heard to indicate that the special seat belt
retractor is activated. The seat belt is now
locked. Push down on child restraint to take up
any slack.
To deactivate, release seat belt buckle and let
seat belt retract completely. To deactivate
the special seat belt retractor for the pas

senger seat, the passenger seat must be in
the most backward position. The seat belt can
again be used in the usual manner.The use of infant or child restraints is
required by law in all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, the U.S. territories, and all
Canadian provinces.
Infants and small children should be seated in
an appropriate infant or child restraint
system properly secured in accordance with
the manufacturer’s instructions for the child
restraint, that complies with U.S. Federal
Motor Vehicle Safety Standards 213 and 225
and Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety
Standards 213, 213.1 and 213.2.Do not expose the child restraint system
to direct sunlight. The child restraint
system’s metal parts, for example, could
become very hot, and the child could be
burned on these parts.
If children open a door, they could
• injure other persons
• get out of the vehicle and injure
themselves or be injured by following
traffic
Do not carry heavy or hard objects in the
passenger compartment unless they are
firmly secured in place.
For more information, please refer to the
"Loading and storing section"
(
page 155).
Unsecured or improperly positioned
cargo increases a child’s risk of injury in
the event of
• strong braking maneuvers
• sudden changes of direction
• an accident
G
Warning!
Never release the seat belt buckle while
the vehicle is in motion, since the special
seat belt retractor will be deactivated.

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.

>> Controls.Opening and closing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Starter switch positions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Seats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92
Mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 96
Seat belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 98
Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Windshield wipers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Soft top system (cabrio only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Side windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Driving and parking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Instrument cluster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136
Audio system* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Air vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Heating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
Air conditioning with climate control* . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Rear window defroster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Loading and storing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Useful features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

Opening and closing
>> Controls.
83
i
USA only:
This device complies with Part 15 of the
FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the follow

ing two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful inter

ference, and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
i
Canada only:
This device complies with RSS
210 of Industry
Canada. Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause interference,
and
(2) this device must accept any interference
received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation of the device.
Any unauthorized modification to this device
could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
!
The remote control has an operating range
of approximately 50 ft (15 meters).
This can fluctuate greatly as a consequence of
local conditions (reflective or absorbing
objects) and interference emitted by other
radio
transmission systems. Similarly, the
operating range fluctuates in line with the
direction from which the remote control is
activated.
To prevent theft, however, it is advisable to
only unlock the vehicle when you are in close
proximity to it.
Locking and unlocking from the
outside> Selective unlocking: Press button
©
on
the key once. All turn signal lamps flash
once.
The anti
theft warning system* is disarmed.
The driver’s door and the fuel filler flap are
unlocked.
•Global unlocking: Press button
©
on the
key twice. All turn signal lamps flash once
again. The passenger door and the tailgate
are unlocked in addition to the driver’s
door and the fuel filler flap.
> Global locking: Press button
ª
on the key.
With the doors, the tailgate(s), and the fuel
filler flap closed the turn signal lamps flash
three times.
The anti
theft warning system* is armed.
The indicator lamp on the central locking
switch (

page 85) flashes.
The interior and exterior
1 lamps come on
and then go out again after 12 seconds.
1 Vehicles with rain
light sensor* only.

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.

Seats
>> Controls.
93
1
Seat backrest tilt
2
Seat fore and aft adjustment
Seat backrest tilt> Adjusting: P u l l a d j u s t m e n t l e v e r
1 upwards
and adjust the seat backrest until your arms
are slightly angled when holding the steer

ing wheel.
>Release adjustment lever
1 when the
desired seat backrest tilt is reached.
When you hear an audible click, the seat
backrest is again fixed into place.
>Check for proper engagement before
driving.
Seat fore and aft adjustment> Adjusting: Pull adjustment handle
2
upwards and slide the seat to a seating
position that still allows you to reach the
accelerator/brake pedal safely.
>Release adjustment handle
2 when the
desired seating position is reached.
When you hear an audible click, the seat is
again fixed into place.
>Check for proper engagement before
driving.
Seat heightThe seat guide is inclined in the horizontal
plane. Seat fore and aft adjustment also alters
the seat height.
G
Warning!
Contact an authorized smart center if the
seats have become damaged.
The seat is an integral part of the vehi

cle's safety system in the same way as
seat belts and air bags. Damage to the
seats may reduce their ability to protect
the occupants in an accident.P91.10
2993
31

Lighting>> Controls.
101 Exterior lamp switch
For safety, smart recommends that you drive
with your low beam headlamps on during the
day. In certain countries, local laws dictate
that low beam headlamps are switched on au

tomatically during operation of the vehicle.i
If you drive in countries where vehicles
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 smart cen

ter.Exterior lamp switch Exterior lamp switch (USA only)
M
Lamps off
Daytime running lamp mode
1
1 Canada only.C
Parking lamps
B
Low beam headlamps or high beam
headlamps
M
Lamps off
C
Parking lamps
B
Low beam headlamps or high beam
headlamps
U
Automatic headlamp mode* P54.25
5343
31