2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE warning

Flat tire
270
>> Practical hints.
!
The manufacturer is unable to guarantee
that all tire punctures can be repaired with
the tire repair kit, in particular cuts or
perforations larger than approximately
0.16 in (4 mm) or away from the tire's tread.
The manufacturer is not liable for damage
sustained through improper use of the tire
repair kit.>Drive to the nearest authorized smart cen

ter, to have the damaged tire replaced.
>Contact an authorized smart center as soon
as possible to obtain a new filler hose
4 and
a new tire sealant container
9.
>Bring used tire sealant materials to an
authorized smart center for proper dispos

al.
>Replace your tire sealant container every
4 years. Replacement containers are avail

able at any authorized smart center.
G
Warning!
Follow recommended tire inflation
pressures.
Do not overinflate tires. Overinflated
tires can adversely affect handling and
ride comfort, wear unevenly, increase
stopping distance, and result in sudden
deflation (blowout) because they are
more likely to become punctured or
damaged by road debris, potholes etc.
Do not underinflate tires. Underinflated
tires wear excessively and/or unevenly,
adversely affect handling and fuel econ

omy, and are more likely to fail from being
overheated.
Do not overload the tires by exceeding
the specified load limit as indicated on
the Tire and Loading Information placard
on the driver’s door B
pillar. Overload

ing the tires can overheat them, possibly
causing a blowout. Overloading the tires
can also result in handling or steering
problems, or brake failure.
G
Warning!
After changing a tire, contact a smart
center to make sure that the bolts holding
the wheel to the car are tight enough.
Otherwise, the wheels could come off.
Each bolt should be tightened to a torque
of 81 lb
ft (110 Nm).

Battery
>> Practical hints.
271 About the battery
Your vehicle’s battery is located in the
passenger’s footwell below the footrest
(
page 273).
The battery should always be sufficiently
charged in order to achieve its rated service
life. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for battery
maintenance intervals.
If you use your vehicle mostly for short

distance trips, you will need to have the
battery charge checked more frequently.
When replacing the battery, always use
batteries approved by smart.
Battery: 12 volts and 42 Amps
If you do not intend to operate your vehicle
for an extended period of time, consult an
authorized smart center about steps you need
to observe.Batteries contain materials that can harm the
environment if disposed of improperly. Recy

cling of batteries is the preferred method of
disposal. Many states require sellers of bat

teries to accept old batteries for recycling.
G
Warning!
Observe all safety instructions and
precautions when handling automotive
batteries.
Risk of explosion.Fire, open flames and smoking
are prohibited when handling
batteries. Avoid creating
sparks.Battery acid is caustic. Do not
allow it to come into contact with
the skin, eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective cloth

ing, especially gloves, apron
and faceguard.
Wear eye protection.
Rinse any acid spills imme

diately with clean water. Contact
a physician if necessary.Keep children away.Follow the instructions in this
Operator’s Manual.

Battery
272
>> Practical hints.
G
Warning!
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and
precautions when handling automotive
batteries (

page 271).
Never lean over batteries while connect

ing, you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do
not allow this fluid to come in contact with
eyes, skin or clothing. In case it does,
immediately flush affected area with
water and seek medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc.
G
Warning!
Do not place any metal objects on a bat

tery. You could otherwise cause a short
circuit and the battery’s highly flammable
chemicals could ignite.
Never allow any metal object to contact
both battery terminals or the positive
terminal and the vehicle body at the same
time. This might short circuit the battery
and ignite the highly flammable and ex

plosive hydrogen gas generated by the
battery, causing serious personal injury.
G
Warning!
Keep flames or sparks away from battery,
avoid improper connection of jumper
cables, smoking, etc.
• When disconnecting the battery, always
disconnect the negative terminal first,
followed by positive terminal.
• When connecting the battery, always
connect the positive terminal first, fol

lowed by the negative terminal.
• Do not loosen or disconnect the
battery terminal clips while the engine
is running or the key is in the starter
switch.

Battery
>> Practical hints.
273
!
Never loosen or detach battery terminal
clamps while the engine is running or the key
is in the starter switch. Otherwise the alter

nator and other electronic components could
be severely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly at an
authorized smart center.
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for maintenance
intervals or contact an authorized smart cen

ter for further information.
!
Never invert the terminal connections!
Disconnecting, removing, charg

ing, reinstalling and reconnecting
the batteryDisconnecting the battery
>Set the parking brake.
>Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
>Turn off all electrical accessories.
>Turn off the engine.
>Open the passenger door.
>Move the passenger seat to the rear as far
as possible.>Unscrew the carpet holder in the
passenger’s footwell (

page 234).
>Lift the carpet.
1
Footrest
2
Fastening screw
>Unscrew fastening screw
2 counterclock

wise.
>Pull footrest
1 sideways out of the vehicle.
>Read and observe safety instructions and
precautions (
page 271).
G
Warning!
With a disconnected battery
• you will no longer be able to turn the
key in the starter switch.
• the gear selector lever will remain
locked in positionP.P54.10
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31

Battery
274
>> Practical hints.
3
Negative terminal
4
Positive terminal cover
5
Battery mount
!
Always disconnect the battery in the order
described below. Otherwise the vehicle’s
electronics can be damaged.>Disconnect the battery negative lead from
negative terminal
3.
Make sure the negative lead does not come
into contact with the positive lead.
>Remove cover
4 from the positive terminal.
>Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the battery
>Unscrew battery mount
5.
>Remove the battery support and bracket.
>Pull out the ventilation hose from the bat

tery (depending on battery arrangement in
your vehicle model, the ventilation hose is
located either on the left or right side of the
battery).
>Remove the battery.Charging the battery
P54.10
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31
G
Warning!
Avoid creating sparks when charging the
battery as escaping gases are flammable.
Keep open flames away from the battery
and do not smoke.
Do not touch the battery terminal with
metal objects and do not remove the bat

tery charger's terminal clamps until the
battery charger has been switched off
and no further gas is being discharged by
the batteries.
Only charge the battery in a well
ventilated area.
There is a risk of acid burns during the
charging procedure due to the gases
which escape from the battery. Do not
lean over the battery when it is being
charged.

Battery
>> Practical hints.
275
>Charge battery in accordance with the
instructions of the battery charger manu

facturer.!
Only use chargers of a correct and suit

able voltage.
!
Never attempt to recharge a frozen bat

tery. Have the battery checked at a smart
center. The battery housing could be dam

aged.Reinstalling the battery
>Reinstall the charged battery. Follow the
previously described steps in reverse
order.
!
The battery, its filler caps and the ventila

tion hose must always be securely installed
when the vehicle is in operation.
Reconnecting the battery
!
Always connect the battery in the order
described below. Otherwise the vehicle’s
electronics can be damaged.
>Turn off all electrical accessories.
>Remove the key from the starter switch.
!
Never invert the terminal connections!
>Connect the battery positive lead and
fasten cover
4 (
page 274).
>Connect battery negative lead
3
(

page 274).
i
After battery power (e.g. due to reconnec

tion) was interrupted, you will have to set the
clock (

page 138).
i
Have the battery’s charge status and acid
level checked at the start of the cold season at
a smart center.
G
Warning!
Never charge a battery while still
installed in the vehicle. Gases may escape
during charging and cause explosions
that may result in paint damage, corro

sion or personal injury.

Jump starting
276
>> Practical hints.
!
Do not tow start vehicle.
!
Avoid repeated and lengthy starting
attempts.
Do not attempt to start the engine using a
battery quick charge unit.
If the engine does not run after several
unsuccessful starting attempts, have it
checked at the nearest authorized smart cen

ter.
Excessive unburned fuel generated by
repeated failed starting attempts may damage
the catalytic converter and may present a fire
risk.
Make sure the jumper cables do not have loose
or missing insulation.
Make sure the cable clamps do not touch any
other metal part while the other end is still
attached to a battery.If the battery is discharged, the engine can be
started with jumper cables and the battery of
another vehicle. Observe the following:
• Jump starting should only be performed
when the engine and catalytic converter are
cold.
• Do not start the engine if the battery is
frozen. Let the battery thaw out first.
• Only jump start from batteries with the
same voltage rating (12 V). Jump starting
with a higher voltage battery could damage
the vehicle’s electrical system, which will
not be covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.
• Only use jumper cables with sufficient
cross
section and insulated terminal
clamps.
• Always make sure the jumper cables are not
on or near pulleys, fans or other parts that
move when an engine is started or running.
G
Warning!
Failure to follow these directions will
cause damage to the electronic compo

nents, and can lead to a battery explosion
and severe injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connect

ing or jump starting, you might get in

jured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do
not allow this fluid to come in contact with
eyes, skin or clothing. In case it does, im

mediately flush affected area with water,
and seek medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and very explosive.
K e e p f l a m e s o r s p a r k s a w a y f r o m b a t t e r y ,
avoid improper connection of jumper
cables, smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery
can result in it exploding, causing per

sonal injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.

Jump starting>> Practical hints.
277 Jump start assistance
Your vehicle’s battery is located in the
passenger’s footwell below the footrest
(
page 273).
For jump starting, use the terminals of the
battery, keeping the leads connected.
>Make sure the two vehicles do not touch.
>Set the parking brake.
>Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
>Turn off all electrical accessories.
>Turn off the engine.>Get access to the battery in the passen

ger’s footwell (

page 273).
>Remove the positive terminal cover.
1
Positive terminal of discharged battery
2
Negative terminal of charged battery
3
Positive terminal of charged battery
4
Negative terminal of discharged battery
!
Never invert the terminal connections!>Connect positive terminals
1
and
3 with
the jumper cable.
Clamp the cable to positive terminal3 of
the charged battery first.
>Start the engine of the vehicle with the
charged battery and run at idle speed.
>Connect negative terminals
2 and
4 with
the jumper cable.
Clamp the cable to negative terminal2 of
the charged battery first.
>Start the engine of the disabled vehicle.
You can now turn on the electrical accesso

ries. Do not switch on the headlamps under
any circumstances.
>Remove the jumper cables first from
negative terminals
2 and
4 and then from
positive terminals
1 and
3.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
>Have the battery checked at the nearest
authorized smart center.
G
Warning!
Keep flames or sparks away from battery.
Do not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and
precautions when handling automotive
batteries (

page 271).P54.10
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