2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE brake

Transmission
128
>> Controls. Your vehicle is equipped with a a 5
speed au

tomated transmission with manual or auto

matic mode. For information on driving with
the transmission see also
"Starting"(

page 122).
Gear selector leverGearshift pattern for transmission1
Release buttonThe current gear selector lever position ap

pears in the transmission position indicator.
When M is selected the currently selected
gear appears (

page 137).
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.PPark position
RReverse gear
NNeutral position
DDrive position
MManual gear shifting
+Upshifting

Downshifting
G
Warning!
It is dangerous to shift the transmission
out of park positionP or neutral
positionN if the engine speed is higher
than idle speed. If your foot is not firmly
on the brake pedal, the vehicle could
accelerate quickly forward or in reverse.
You could lose control of the vehicle and
hit someone or something. Only shift into
gear when the engine is idling normally
and when your right foot is firmly on the
brake pedal.

Transmission
>> Controls.
129 Shifting procedure
The transmission selects individual gears
automatically, depending on:
• the gear selector lever
positionD(

page 129)
• the position of the accelerator
(

page 131)
• the vehicle speed
• uphill or downhill grades
Press release button
1 (
page 128) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock when
moving the gear selector lever from
•P toR,N, orD
•R toP
•N toR orP
!
Allow engine to warm up under low load
use. Do not place full load on the engine until
the operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extend

ed period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. Otherwise, the the drivetrain could
be damaged, which is not covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
With manual gearshiftingM selected
(

page 132), you can use the gear selector
lever or steering wheel gearshift control
1
to change the gears manually.
Gear selector lever positions
1 Model passion only.
Effect
ì
Park position
Gear selector lever position when
the vehicle is parked. Place the
gear selector lever in park
positionP only when the vehicle is
stopped. The park position is not
intended to serve as a brake when
the vehicle is parked.
Rather, the driver should always
set the parking brake in addition to
placing the gear selector lever in
park positionP to secure the
vehicle.
The key can only be removed from
the starter switch with the gear
selector lever in park positionP.
With the key removed, the gear
selector lever is locked in park
positionP.

Transmission
130
>> Controls.The current gear selector lever position
appears in the transmission position indicator
(

page 137).
Effect
í
Reverse gear
Shift into reverse gearR only when
vehicle is stopped.
ë
Neutral position
No power is transmitted from the
engine to the drive axle. When the
brakes are released, the vehicle
can be moved freely (pushed or
towed).
Effect
ê
Drive position
The transmission shifts auto

matically.
M
Manual gearshifting
System
controlled automatic gear

shifting is switched off. The driver
has to change the gears manually.
G
Warning!
Getting out of your vehicle with the gear
selector lever not fully engaged in park
positionP is dangerous. When the engine
is shut off and the brakes are released,
the vehicle can be moved freely with the
gear selector lever in all positions ex

cept park position P. Also, park
positionP alone is not intended to or
capable of preventing your vehicle from
moving, possibly hitting people or
objects.
Always set the parking brake in addition
to shifting to park positionP
(
page 125).
When parked on an incline, turn the front
wheels towards the road curb.
Do not park 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.

Transmission
>> Controls.
131 Driving tips
Accelerator position
Your driving style influences the
transmission’s shifting behavior:
Less throttle, earlier upshifting
More throttle, later upshifting
Kickdown
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.
>Ease on the accelerator when you have
reached the desired speed.
The transmission shifts up again.Stopping
When you stop briefly, e.g. at traffic lights:
>Leave the transmission in gear.
>Hold the vehicle with the brake.
When you stop for a longer period with the
engine idling and/or on a hill:
>Set the parking brake.
>Move the gear selector lever to park
positionP.
Working on the vehicle
G
Warning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove
the key from the starter switch, take it
with you, and lock the vehicle. Do not
leave children unattended in the vehicle,
or with access to an unlocked vehicle.
Children could move the gear selector
lever from park positionP, which could
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
G
Warning!
When working on the vehicle, set the
parking brake and move the gear selec

tor lever to park positionP. Otherwise
the vehicle could roll away.

Transmission
132
>> Controls. Driving off uphill
Your vehicle has a hill start assist system.
On uphill grades the hill start assist system
maintains the pressure in the brake system
for approximately one second after you have
released the brake pedal. Therefore, you can
start off smoothly without the vehicle moving
immediately after releasing the brake pedal.>Release the brake pedal.
>Apply sufficient pressure to the accelera

tor.
!
After approximately one second, the hill
start assist system stops braking the vehicle,
which then can roll backwards. If you open the
driver’s door within this time, the hill start as

sistance is deactivated and a warning signal
sounds.
i
The hill start assist system is inactive if
you start off with the parking brake set.
Manual gearshiftingWith manual gearshiftingM selected, system

controlled automatic gearshifting is switched
off and you need to change the gears by up

shifting or downshifting manually using the
gear selector lever or the steering wheel
gearshift control
1.
!
Allow engine to warm up under low load
use. Do not place full load on the engine until
the operating temperature has been reached.
Shift into reverse gearR or parking
positionP only when the vehicle is stopped.
Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an extend

ed period when driving off on slippery road
surfaces. Otherwise, the the drivetrain could
be damaged, which is not covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
G
Warning!
The hill start assist system is not
designed to function as a parking brake
and does not prevent the vehicle from
moving when parked on an incline.
Always set the parking brake in addition
to shifting to park positionP.1 Model passion only.

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.

Loading and storing
>> Controls.
159
> Opening: Take hold of cargo compartment
cover blind
1 in the middle, pull
backwards, and remove from rear
mountings
2.
>Guide cargo compartment cover blind
1
into position.
Coat hooksThe coat hooks are located at the rear roof
rail on the driver’s and passenger side.1
Coat hook
Storage compartmentsAn overview of the storage compartments can
be found on (

page 40).
Coin holder
The coin holder is located in front of the gear
selector lever.
coupé illustrated as example
1
Coin holder P68.00
4654
31
G
Warning!
To help avoid personal injury during a
collision or sudden maneuver, exercise
care when storing objects in the vehicle.
Put luggage or cargo in the cargo com

partment if possible. Do not pile luggage
or cargo higher than the seat backrests.
Keep compartment lids closed. This will
help to prevent stored objects from
being thrown about and injuring vehicle
occupants during
•braking
•vehicle maneuvers
• an accident
Do not store objects under the driver’s
seat. Objects stored under the driver’s
seat can slide forward into driver’s foot
well during braking and get caught be

tween or beneath the pedals. This could
restrict your ability to brake or acceler

ate and could lead to accidents and inju

ry.
P68.00
4795
31

Engine compartment
>> Operation
171 Engine compartment cover
>Turn off the engine.
>Set the parking brake.
>Open the tailgate.1
Cargo compartment floor
2
Fastening screw
3
Engine compartment cover
4
Hook
5
Top mounting of cargo compartment cover
blind
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 engine
compartment cover and parts in the area
around the engine compartment cover
may be hot. Parts of the engine can be

come very hot. To prevent burns, let the
engine cool off completely before touch

ing the engine compartment cover, parts
in the area around the engine compart

ment cover, and parts of the engine.
G
Warning!
Exercise extreme caution if you see
flames or smoke coming from the engine
compartment. Move away from the vehicle
and call the fire department.
If the coolant temperature warning lamp
indicates that the engine is overheated,
do not attempt to open the engine com

partment cover. Move away from the ve

hicle and wait until the engine has cooled
before opening the engine compartment.G
Warning!
To help prevent personal injury, stay
clear of moving parts when the engine
compartment cover is open and the
engine is running.