2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE maintenance

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
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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
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31

Instrument cluster
138
>> Controls.
Selecting display for status
indicatorYou can select the information to be displayed
in the status indicator:
• Trip odometer display (

page 139)
• Maintenance service interval display
(

page 139)
• Reserve fuel indicator (

page 140)
1
Selecting display for status indicator/
setting the clock/activating maintenance
service interval display
2
Setting the clock/adjusting instrument
cluster illuminationDigital clock
> Activating time setting: Press right
button
2 (
page 138) for approximately
five seconds.
The colon in the digital clock starts
flashing.
> Setting the time in 1 minute increments:
Press left button
1 or right button
2
(

page 138) repeatedly until the desired
time is set.>Setting the time quickly: Press left
button
1 or right button
2 (
page 138)
for longer than one second.
The setting speed accelerates.
> Setting the time in 10 minute increments:
Press left button
1 or right button
2
(

page 138) for longer than five seconds.
The time is set in 10 minute increments.
>Confirm time setting: Refrain from pressing
either left button
1 or right button
2
(

page 138) for more than five seconds.
The colon in the digital clock stops flashing.
The time is set.
i
The digital clock in the multifunction
display is not synchronized with the cockpit
clock*.
P54.32
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Instrument cluster
>> Controls.
139
Trip odometer display
> Selecting trip odometer display: Press left
button
1 (
page 138) repeatedly until the
trip odometer display appears in the status
indicator.
> Resetting trip odometer display: Press and
hold left button
1 (
page 138) until the
value is set to
.Maintenance service interval display
The maintenance service interval display will
notify you approximately one month before
the next maintenance service is due.
The maintenance service interval display also
shows the type of maintenance service that is
due.
After starting the engine, the maintenance
service interval display shows this informa

tion in miles (km) or in days for approximately
ten seconds.>Start the engine.
> Selecting maintenance service interval
display: Press left button
1 (
page 138)
repeatedly until the maintenance service
interval display appears in the status
indicator.
Depending on the type of maintenance
service that is due, symbol¬ or}
is dis

played.
> Clearing maintenance service interval
display: Press the left button on the
instrument cluster (

page 138).
The maintenance service interval display is
cleared.
> Activating maintenance service interval
display: Press the left button on the instru

ment cluster (

page 138) twice in quick
succession. P54.32
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P54.32
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Engine compartment
174
>> Operation Adding engine oil
!
Only use approved engine oils and oil fil

ters required for vehicles with Maintenance
System. For a listing of approved engine oils
and oil filters contact an authorized smart
center.
Using engine oils and oil filters of specifica

tion other than those expressly required for
the Maintenance System, or changing of oil
and oil filter at change intervals longer than
those called for by the Maintenance System
will result in engine or emission control sys

tem damage not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.The filler cap is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger side.
1
Filler cap
>Unscrew filler cap
1
from filler neck.
>Add engine oil as required.
Do not add more than 0.53 US qt (0.5 l)
engine oil at a time.
>Wait one minute until the engine oil has run
into the oil pan.
>Check the engine oil level once more.
>Add engine oil once more if necessary.
G
Warning!
When adding engine oil, always use a fun

nel to avoid spilling oil on any hot parts
such as the catalytic converter or ex

haust system.
If this should happen, however, the en

gine must be thoroughly cleaned before
you continue your trip. The engine oil
could otherwise ignite.P01.00
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31

Front compartment
180
>> Operation
!
Always use a windshield washer concen

trate labeled for winter where temperatures
may fall below freezing point. Failure to do so
could result in damage to the washer system/
reservoir.
>Premix the windshield washer fluid in a
suitable container.
Observe mixing ratios depending on the
outside temperature (

page 308).
>Use the tab to pull cap1 upwards.
>Refill the windshield washer reservoir.
>Push cap
1 onto the windshield washer
reservoir.
Brake fluidThe brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir may be too low if the brake warning
lamp in the instrument cluster comes on
(
page 34) although the parking brake is
released.
!
If you find that the brake fluid in the brake
fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum mark
or below, have the brake system checked for
brake pad thickness and leaks immediately.
Contact an authorized smart center immedi

ately. Do not add brake fluid as this will not
solve the problem.
The brake fluid reservoir is located in the
front compartment on the driver’s side.
1
Cap
G
Warning!
During vehicle operation, the boiling
point of the brake fluid is continuously
reduced through the absorption of
moisture from the atmosphere. Under
extremely strenuous operating condi

tions, this moisture content can lead to
the formation of bubbles in the system,
thus reducing the system’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be re

placed regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s
Maintenance Booklet for replacement
interval.P42.00
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31

Tires and wheels
>> Operation
183 Tire care and maintenance
Regularly check your tire inflation pressure
at least once a month. For more information on
checking tire inflation pressure, see
"Recommended tire inflation pressure"
(
page 189)
.
Tire inspection
Every time you check the tire inflation pres

sure, you should also inspect your tires for
the following:
• excessive treadwear (

page 183)
• cord or fabric showing through the tire’s
rubber
• bumps, bulges, cuts, cracks or splits in the
tread or side of the tire
Replace the tire if you find any of the above
conditions.
Life of tire
The service life of a tire is dependent upon
varying factors including but not limited to:
•Driving style
• Tire inflation pressure
•Distance drivenTread depth
Do not allow your tires to wear down too far.
Adhesion properties on wet roads are sharply
reduced at tread depths of less than
1/8in
(3 mm)
.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six places
on the tread circumference and become visi

ble at a tread depth of approximately
1/16in
(1.6 mm), at which point the tire is considered
worn and should be replaced.
Recommended minimum tire tread depth:
Summer tires
1/8in (3 mm)
Winter tires
1/6in (4 mm)
G
Warning!
Regularly check the tires for damage.
Damaged tires can cause tire inflation
pressure loss. As a result, you could lose
control of your vehicle.
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire tread is badly worn, or if the tires
have sustained damage, replace them.
G
Warning!
Tires should be replaced after 6 years,
regardless of the remaining tread.

Tires and wheels
>> Operation
193
i
If a condition causing the TPMS to
malfunction develops, it may take up to
10 minutes for the system to signal a malfunc

tion using the TPMS telltale flashing and illu

mination sequence.
The telltale extinguishes after a few minutes
driving if the malfunction has been corrected.
G
Warning!
Each tire should be checked monthly
when cold and inflated to the inflation
pressure recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer on the Tire and Loading
Information placard. If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size in

dicated on the Tire and Loading Informa

tion placard, you should determine the
proper tire inflation pressure for those
tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle
has been equipped with a tire pressure
monitoring system (TPMS) that illumi

nates a low tire pressure telltale when
one or more of your tires is significantly
underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure
telltale illuminates, you should stop and
check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure.
Driving on a significantly underinflated
tire causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel effi

ciency and tire tread life, and may affect
the vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance,
and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if
underinflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low
tire pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with
a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate
when the system is not operating
properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator
is combined with the low tire pressure
telltale. When the system detects a
malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately 1 minute and then remain
continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subse

quent vehicle start
ups as long as the
malfunction exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may
not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a vari

ety of reasons, including the installation
of incompatible replacement or alternate
tires or wheels on the vehicle that pre

vent the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction tell

tale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to
function properly.

Driving instructions
>> Operation
215 Drive sensibly
save fuel
Fuel consumption, to a great extent, depends
on driving habits and operating conditions.
To save fuel you should:
• Shift gears in a timely manner.
• Avoid frequent acceleration and decelera

tion.
• Keep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures.
• Remove carriers* when not in use.
• Remove unnecessary loads.
• Allow engine to warm up under low load use.
• Have all maintenance work performed at the
intervals specified in the Maintenance
Booklet and as required by the Maintenance
System. Contact an authorized smart cen

ter.
Fuel consumption is also increased by driving
in cold weather, in stop
and
go traffic, on
short trips, and in hilly areas.
Catalytic converterYour smart is equipped with monolithic
type
catalytic converter, an important element in
conjunction with the oxygen sensors to
achieve substantial control of the pollutants
in the exhaust emissions. Keep your vehicle in
proper operating condition by following our
recommended maintenance instructions as
outlined in your Maintenance Booklet.
G
Warning
The catalytic converter can become very
hot. Coming into contact with the catalytic
converter could result in burns.
Note the following:
• Do not remove the protective heat
guards.
• Do not apply any underseal.
• As with any vehicle, do not idle, park, or
operate this vehicle in areas where
combustible materials such as grass,
hay, or leaves can come into contact
with the hot exhaust system, as these
materials could be ignited and cause a
vehicle fire.