2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE Owners 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
2831
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
2832
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
2749
31

Towing
278
>> Practical hints.
About towingsmart recommends that the vehicle be trans

ported with all wheels off the ground using
flatbed or appropriate wheel lift/dolly equip

ment.!
Use flatbed or wheel lift/dolly equipment
with the key in the starter switch in position0.
Do not tow with sling
type equipment. Towing
with sling
type equipment over bumpy roads
will damage radiator and supports.
To prevent damage during transport, do not
tie down the vehicle by its chassis or suspen

sion parts. Use the towing eye.
Switch off the tow
away protection*
(
page 78).
When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing methods, the vehicle
may be towed with all wheels on the ground or
front wheels raised only so far as necessary
to have the vehicle moved to a safe location
where the recommended towing methods can
be employed.
!
If the vehicle is towed with the front axle
raised, the gear selector lever must be in
neutral positionN and the engine must be shut
off (key in starter switch position0). Active
braking action through the ESP
® may other

wise seriously damage the brake system.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground, the gear selector lever must be in
neutral positionN and the key must be in
starter switch position0.
When towing the vehicle with all wheels on the
ground or the front axle raised, the vehicle
may be towed only for distances up to 30 miles
(50 km) and at a speed not to exceed 30 mph
(50 km/h).
i
If the the battery is disconnected or dis

charged the gear selector lever will remain
locked in park position P. Contact an autho

rized smart center for assistance or call
Roadside Assistance.G
Warning!
smart does not recommend towing a vehi

cle when all wheels are on the ground.
However, in an emergency a tow bar can
be utilized if:
• the engine will not run
• there is a malfunction in the brake
system
• there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
A tow bar is necessary to adequately con

trol the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, make sure that the key is
in starter switch position0.

Towing
>> Practical hints.
279
!
Towing of the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing eye bolt.
Never attach tow cable, tow rope or tow rod to
the vehicle chassis, frame or suspension
parts.
!
Towing the vehicle with a base carrier*
mounted is not permissible. The vehicle must
not be towed by the base carrier*.
Towing eye boltThe towing eye bolt is located in the passen

ger’s footwell under the carpet.1
Towing eye bolt
>Unscrew the carpet holder in the
passenger’s footwell (

page 234).
>Lift the carpet.
>Take out towing eye bolt1.Covers
Depending on whether you are towing a vehi

cle or you are being towed, the towing eye bolt
can be screwed into threaded holes which are
located behind covers on the front and rear
bumper.
1
Front cover
G
Warning!
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and
steering systems. In this case, it is im

portant to keep in mind that a consider

ably higher degree of effort is necessary
to brake and steer the vehicle. Adapt
your driving accordingly.