2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE transmission

Transmission
>> Controls.
133
Steering wheel gearshift control
1
1
Left shift paddle
2
Multifunction display
3
Right shift paddleActivating manual gearshifting
>Move the gear selector lever to manual
gearshiftingM (

page 128).
System
controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched off.
You can upshift or downshift through the
gears in succession.
The currently engaged gear appears in the
transmission position indicator (

page 137).
Upshifting
>Briefly push the gear selector lever for

ward in the +direction (

page 128).
or
>Pull right shift paddle
3 (
page 133)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next higher
gear.
i
With manual gearshiftingM selected, the
transmission shifts up only to prevent engine
overreving.Downshifting
>Briefly pull the gear selector lever back

ward in the
direction (

page 128).
or
>Pull left shift paddle
1 (
page 133)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next lower
gear.
1 Model passion only.
G
Warning!
On slippery road surfaces, never down

shift in order to obtain braking action.
This could result in drive wheel slip and
reduced vehicle control. Your vehicle’s
ABS will not prevent this type of loss of
control.

Transmission
134
>> Controls. Kickdown
You can use kickdown when you want maximum
acceleration.
>Press the accelerator past the point of
resistance.
Depending on the engine speed the
transmission shifts into a lower gear.
>When you have reached the desired speed,
briefly push the gear selector lever for

ward in the +direction (

page 128).
or
>Pull right shift paddle
3 (
page 133)
towards you.
The transmission shifts to the next higher
gear.
Deactivating manual gearshifting
>Move the gear selector lever to drive
positionD (

page 128).
System
controlled automatic gearshifting
is switched on again.
Emergency operation (limp
home
mode)In this mode only a certain gear or a certain
gear combination can be selected. This mode
is triggered in case of transmission malfunc

tions and enables you driving to the nearest
workshop such as a smart center.
If vehicle acceleration becomes less respon

sive or sluggish or the transmission no longer
shifts, the transmission is most likely operat

ing in limp
home (emergency operation)
mode. The transmission position indicator
flashes and the ¬ symbol appears in the mul

tifunction display (

page 136).
Driving in limp
home mode:
>Move the gear selector lever to drive
positionD (

page 128).
>Continue to drive.
>Have the transmission checked at an autho

rized smart center as soon as possible.
i
It is possible that a gear combination in

cluding the reverse gear can not be selected.
Keep in mind when parking, that reversing the
vehicle might be impossible.
In case of a minor transmission malfunction, it
might be possible to teach
in the transmis

sion in order to restore the normal transmis

sion mode.
i
If the attempt to teach
in the transmission
fails, you cannot continue to drive. Therefore
we strongly recommend that you have the
transmission taught
in at a qualified work

shop or at an authorized smart center.
Teaching
in the transmission system:
>Stop the vehicle in a safe location.
>Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
>Turn off the engine.
>Wait at least 30 seconds before restarting.

Transmission
>> Controls.
135
>Press the brake pedal.
>Restart the engine
• Three bars instead of
 appear in the
multifunction display(
page 236).
>Wait at least 30 seconds.
• The transmission is taught in.
When teaching
in was successful:
•
appears in the multifunction display
(
page 136) again.
• Normal transmission operating is re

stored.
>Continue to drive.After an unsuccessful tech
in
• Three bars instead of
 appear in the
multifunction display.
>Do not continue to drive.
>Turn off the engine.
>Set the parking brake when leaving the
vehicle.
>Contact Roadside Assistance or an autho

rized smart center.

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
5174
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
5176
31

Instrument cluster
>> Controls.
137
Reserve fuel indicator
You are driving on reserve fuel if there are no
more than 1.0 US gal (3.78 l) of fuel in the
tank.
If this occurs,
• the fuel pump symbol in the fuel level
display flashes
• the reserve fuel indicator shows the fuel
level in the tank at exactly 0.1 US gal (0.5 l)
Transmission position indicator
The following information is displayed in the
transmission position indicator:
• Current gear selector lever position
• Current engaged gear (when manual
gearshifting selected)i
A flashing
in the display indicates that
the gear selector lever is in position R but the
reverse gear is not engaged. Stop the vehicle
to let the reverse gear engage.When manual gearshifting is selected:
Display
Function

Gear selector lever in park
positionP

Gear selector lever in
positionR (Reverse gear
engaged)

Gear selector lever in neutral
positionN

Gear selector lever in drive
positionD
Display
Function

First gear engaged

Second gear engaged

Third gear engaged

Fourth gear engaged

Fifth gear engaged

Tires and wheels
194
>> Operation
i
Operating radio transmission equipment
(e.g. wireless headsets, two
way radios) in or
near the vehicle could cause the TPMS to mal

function.
Restarting the TPMSThe TPMS must be restarted when you have
adjusted the tire inflation pressure to a new
level (e.g. because of different load or driving
conditions). The TPMS is then recalibrated to
the current tire inflation pressures.
>Using the Tire and Loading Information
placard on the driver’s door B
pillar

(
page 185)
, make sure the tire inflation
pressure of all four tires is correct.
i
Restart the TPMS after adjusting the tire
inflation pressure to the inflation pressure
recommended for the vehicle operating con

dition. Tire pressure should only be adjusted
on cold tires. Observe the recommended tire
inflation pressure on the Tire and Loading
Information placard on the driver’s door
B
pillar (

page 185).
1
Restarting TPMS button
G
Warning!
It is the driver’s responsibility to cali

brate the TPMS on the recommended cold
inflation pressure. Underinflated tires
affect the ability to steer or brake and
might cause you to lose control of the ve

hicle.

Tires and wheels
204
>> Operation Tire ply material
1
Plies in sidewall
2
Plies under tread
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual data
on tires are specific to each vehicle and may
vary from data shown in above illustration.
This marking tells you about the type of cord
and number of plies in the sidewall and under
the tread.
Tire and loading terminologyAccessory weight
The combined weight (in excess of those stan

dard items which may be replaced) of auto

matic transmission, power steering, power
brakes, power windows, power seats, radio,
and heater, to the extent that these items are
available as factory
installed equipment
(whether installed or not).
Air pressure
The amount of air inside the tire pressing
outward on each square inch of the tire.
Air pressure is expressed in pounds per
square inch (psi), or kilopascal (kPa) or bars.
Aspect ratio
Dimensional relationship between tire section
height and section width expressed in per

centage.Bar
Another metric unit for air pressure. There
are 14.5038 pounds per square inch (psi)
to 1 bar; there are 100 kilopascals (kPa)
to 1 bar.
Bead
The tire bead contains steel wires wrapped by
steel cords that hold the tire onto the rim.
Cold tire inflation pressure
Tire inflation pressure when your vehicle has
been sitting for at least 3 hours or driven no
more than 1 mile (1.6 km).
Curb weight
The weight of a motor vehicle with standard
equipment including the maximum capacity of
fuel, oil, and coolant, and, if so equipped, air
conditioning and additional optional equip

ment, but without passengers and cargo.

Driving instructions
>> Operation
219
Road salts and chemicals can adversely affect
braking efficiency. Increased pedal force may
become necessary to produce the normal
braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically when
traveling at length on salt
strewn roads can
bring road
salt
impaired braking efficiency
back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven on
salt
treated roads, the braking efficiency
should be tested as soon as possible after
driving is resumed.For more information, see "Winter driving"
(

page 208).
Standing water!
Do not drive through flooded areas or
water of unknown depth. Before driving
through water, determine its depth. Never
accelerate before driving into water. The bow
wave could force water into the engine and
auxiliary equipment, thus damaging them.
If you must drive through standing water,
drive slowly to prevent water from entering
the passenger compartment, the front com

partment, or the engine compartment. Water
in these areas could cause damage to electri

cal components or wiring of the engine or
transmission, or could result in water being
ingested by the engine through the air intake,
causing severe internal engine damage.
Any such damage is not covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
G
Warning!
Make sure not to endanger any other
road users when carrying out these
braking maneuvers.
G
Warning!
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow,
make sure snow is kept clear of the
exhaust pipe and from around the vehicle
with the engine running. Otherwise,
deadly carbon monoxide (CO) gases may
enter vehicle interior resulting in uncon

sciousness and death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the
vehicle not facing the wind.G
Warning!
The outside temperature display is not
designed to serve as an ice
warning
device and is therefore unsuitable for
that purpose. Indicated temperatures
just above the freezing point do not
guarantee that the road surface is free of
ice.