2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE engine

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.

Anti
theft systems
>> Safety.
77 Electronic immobilizer
The electronic immobilizer prevents unautho

rized persons from starting your vehicle.
When leaving the vehicle, always take the key
with you and lock the vehicle. The engine can
be started by anyone with a key that is left
inside the vehicle.
> Activating: Remove the key from the starter
switch.
> Deactivating: Turn the key to starter switch
position1.
Anti
theft warning system*Once the anti
theft warning system has been
armed, a visual and audible alarm is triggered
when
• someone opens a door or the tailgate,
• someone enters the vehicle’s interior,
• there is motion inside the vehicle,
• someone attempts to raise the vehicle.
The alarm will also be triggered when
unlocking and opening the driver’s door with
the key.i
The alarm will stay on, even if the driver’s
door is immediately closed. For canceling the
alarm, see (

page 78).Close the windows and the tailgate before
arming the alarm system. Make sure that there
are no moving objects inside the vehicle.
The switch is located in the upper center
console.
1
Warning system indicator lampP54.25
5363
31

Opening and closing
86
>> Controls.
Opening the upper tailgate on the
coupé1
Handle recess>Press button
©
on the key twice.
>Press and hold button
»
on the key for ap

proximately two seconds.
or
>Pull the release handle in handle recess
1
of the lower tailgate.
The upper tailgate is unlocked.
>Swivel the upper tailgate upwards to open.
Observe information on loading the vehicle
(

page 155).
For information on vehicle weights, see
(
page 301).
Opening the lower tailgate on the
coupé
G
Warning!
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving.
Among other dangers, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.
G
Warning!
High outside temperature, stop
and
go
traffic, driving on long uphill grades, or
driving at high engine speed may in

crease the temperature in the engine
compartment. Therefore the area around
the air slots in the rear apron may be hot.
Let the engine cool off before touching
this area to prevent burns.

Opening and closing
>> Controls.
89 Opening the tailgate on the cabrio
1
Handle recess
>Press button
©
on the key twice.
>Pull the release handle in handle recess
1
of the tailgate.
The tailgate is unlocked.
>Swivel the tailgate downwards to open.
Opening and closing the rear soft
top
1
You can open the rear soft top to ease loading
and unloading.1
Release lever
G
Warning!
Make sure the tailgate is closed when the
engine is running and while driving.
Among other dangers, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness
and death.G
Warning!
High outside temperature, stop
and
go
traffic, driving on long uphill grades, or
driving at high engine speed may in

crease the temperature in the engine
compartment. Therefore the area around
the air slots in the rear apron may be hot.
Let the engine cool off before touching
this area to prevent burns.
1 cabrio only.

Starter switch positions
>> Controls.
91
Starter switch0For removing key
1Ignition (power supply for all electrical
consumers) and driving position
All lamps (except low beam headlamp
indicator lamp, high beam headlamp
indicator lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instrument
cluster come on. If a lamp in the instru

ment cluster fails to come on when the
ignition is switched on, have it checked
and replaced if necessary. If a lamp in the
instrument cluster remains on after start

ing the engine or comes on while driving,
refer to "Warning and indicator lamps in
the instrument cluster" (

page 237).
2Starting (

page 122)
i
When you switch on the ignition, the indi

cator and warning lamps (except low beam
headlamp indicator lamp, high beam headlamp
indicator lamp, and turn signal indicator
lamps unless activated) in the instrument
cluster come on. The indicator and warning
lamps (except low beam headlamp indicator
lamp, high beam headlamp indicator lamp, and
turn signal indicator lamps if activated) will go
out when the engine is running. This indicates
that the respective systems are operational. P82.00
2491
31

Lighting>> Controls.
103
>Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionU.
With the key in starter switch position1, the
tail and parking lamps, the license plate
lamps, and the side marker lamps will come
on and go out automatically depending on
the brightness of the ambient light.
With the engine running, the low beam
headlamps, the tail and parking lamps, the
license plate lamps and the side marker
lamps will come on and go out automatically
depending on the brightness of the ambient
light.Daytime running lamp mode
1
In Canada the daytime running lamp mode is
mandatory and therefore in a constant mode.
>Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM.i
With the daytime running lamp mode acti

vated and the engine running, the low beam
headlamps cannot be switched off manually.
You cannot switch on the high beam head

lamps.
The high beam flasher is available at all times.
For nighttime driving you should turn the
exterior lamp switch to positionB to
permit activation of the high beam headlamps.When the engine is running, and you
• turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionC, the low beam headlamps, the
tail and parking lamps, the license plate
lamps and the side marker lamps come on.
• turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionB, the manual headlamp mode
has priority over the daytime running lamp
mode. The corresponding exterior lamps
come on.
1 Canada only.

Soft top system (cabrio only)
114
>> Controls. Opening from outside
You can open the retractable soft top com

pletely with the key.
1
ª
Locking button
2
»
Opening the retractable soft top
3
 Panic button
4
ª
Unlocking button
>Press button
»
on the key for approxi

mately two seconds.
The retractable soft top opens completely.Opening from the inside
Retractable soft top switch
1
Closing
2
Opening
>Make sure that the key in the starter switch
is turned to position1.
>Press symbolÖ on the retractable soft
top switch until the desired position is
reached or the retractable soft top is
opened completely.
or>Press symbolÖ on the retractable soft
top switch briefly.
The retractable soft top opens completely.
i
Pressing symbolÖ or± on the
retractable soft top switch while opening the
retractable soft top will interrupt the opening
procedure.
Closing
For safety reasons, you can only close the
retractable soft top using the retractable soft
top switch inside the vehicle.
>Make sure that the key in the starter switch
is turned to position1.
>Press symbol± on the retractable soft
top switch until the retractable soft top is
closed.
i
To avoid draining the battery, leave the
engine running when opening and closing the
retractable soft top. P80.35
2313
31
P54.25
6093
31

Driving and parking
122
>> Controls.
Starting
Gearshift pattern for transmission1
Release button
G
Warning!
Make sure that absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of move

ment. Keep the driver’s footwell clear of
all obstacles. If there are any floormats*
or carpets in the footwell, make sure that
the pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking maneu

vers, objects could become caught be

tween the pedals, reducing or eliminating
entirely the driver's ability to brake or
accelerate. This could lead to accidents
and injury.
G
Warning!
Inhalation of exhaust gas is hazardous to
your health. All exhaust gas contains
carbon monoxide (CO), and inhaling it can
cause unconsciousness and possible
death.
Do not run the engine in confined areas
(such as a garage) which are not properly
ventilated. If you think that exhaust gas
fumes are entering the vehicle while
driving, have the cause determined and
corrected immediately. If you must drive
under these conditions, drive only with at
least one window fully open.PPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral position
DDrive position
MManual gear shifting
+Upshifting

Downshifting