2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE service

Tires and wheels
>> Operation
199
• At the tire manufacturer’s option, any tire
with a speed capability above 149 mph
(240 km/h) can include a "ZR" in the size
designation (for example: 245/40 ZR18). To
determine the maximum speed capability of
the tire, the service description for the tire
must be referred to. The service descrip

tion is comprised of tire load rating5
(

page 196) and tire speed rating6
(
page 196).
If your tire includes "ZR" in the size
designation and no service description5
and6 (

page 196) is given, the tire
manufacturer must be consulted for the
maximum speed capability.
If a service description5 and6
(

page 196) is given, the speed capability
is limited by the speed symbol in the service
description. Example: 245/40 ZR18 97Y.
In this example, "97Y" is the service
description. The letter "Y" designates the
speed rating and the speed capability of the
tire is limited to 186 mph (300 km/h).• Any tire with a speed capability above
186 mph (300 km/h) must include a "ZR" in
the size designation AND the service
description must be placed in parenthesis.
Example: 275/40 ZR 18 (99Y). The "(Y)"
speed rating in parenthesis designates the
maximum speed capability of the tire as be

ing above 186 mph (300 km/h). Consult the
tire manufacturer for the actual maximum
permissible speed of the tire.All
season and winter tires
i
Not all M+S rated tires provide special
winter performance. Make sure the tires you
use show M+S and the mountain/snowflake
marking.on the tire sidewall. These tires
meet specific snow traction performance
requirements of the Rubber Manufacturers
Association (RMA) and the Rubber Association
of Canada (RAC) and have been designed
specifically for use in snow conditions.Index
Speed rating
Q M+S
1
1 or M+S.for winter tires
up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
T M+S
1
up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H M+S
1
up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V M+S
1
up to 149 mph (240 km/h)

Tires and wheels
>> Operation
203
Quality grades can be found, where applica

ble, on the tire sidewall between tread shoul

der and maximum section width. For example:
All passenger car tires must conform to fed

eral safety requirements in addition to these
grades.
Treadwear
The treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when tested
under controlled conditions on a specified
government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one
half (1
1/2) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in road
characteristics and climate.Traction
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are AA, A, B, and C. Those grades represent
the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
Temperature
The temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire’s resistance to
the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure. The grade C corre

sponds to a level of performance which all
passenger car tires must meet under the
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
No. 109. Grades B and A represent higher
levels of performance on the laboratory test
wheel than the minimum required by law.
Treadwear
Traction
Temperature
200
AA
A
G
Warning!
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight
ahead braking trac

tion tests, and does not include acceler

ation, cornering, hydroplaning, or peak
traction characteristics.
G
Warning!
The temperature grade for this tire is
established for a tire that is properly
inflated and not overloaded. Excessive
speed, underinflation, or excessive load

ing, either separately or in combination,
can cause excessive heat build
up and
possible tire failure.

Winter driving
208
>> Operation Before the onset of winter, have your vehicle
winterized at an authorized smart center. This
service includes:
>Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.
• Addition of washer concentrate to the water
of the windshield/rear window.
Use a windshield washer concentrate la

beled for winter which is formulated for
temperatures below freezing point
(
page 308).
• Battery test. Battery capacity drops with
decreasing ambient temperature. A well
charged battery helps to make sure that the
engine can be started, even at low ambient
temperatures.
• Tire change.
Winter tiresAlways use winter tires at temperatures
below 45°F (7°C) and whenever wintry road
conditions prevail. Not all M+S rated tires
provide special winter performance. Make
sure the tires you use show the mountain/
snowflake marking.on the tire sidewall.
These tires meet specific snow traction
performance requirements of the Rubber
Manufacturers Association (RMA) and the
Rubber Association of Canada (RAC) and have
been designed specifically for use in snow
conditions. Use of winter tires is the only way
to achieve the maximum effectiveness of the
ABS and ESP
® in winter operation.
For safe handling, make sure that all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have the
same tread design.Always observe the speed rating of the winter
tires installed on your vehicle. If the maximum
speed for which your tires are rated is below
the speed rating of your vehicle, you must
place a notice to this effect where it will be
seen by the driver. Such notices are available
at your tire dealer or any authorized smart
center.
G
Warning!
Winter tires with a tread depth of less
than
1/6 in (4 mm) must be replaced. They
are no longer suitable for winter opera

tion.

Driving instructions
212
>> Operation
BrakesRefer to the description of the hydraulic
brake assistant (

page 75).
!
Because the ESP
® operates automatically,
the engine must be shut 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
which is not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.Brake pad wear or a leak in the brake system
may be the reason for low brake fluid level in
the brake fluid reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir may be too low if the brake warning
lamp in the instrument cluster comes on
(

page 34) although the parking brake is
released.
Have the brake system inspected immediately.
Contact an authorized smart center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized smart
center.
Only install brake pads and use brake fluid
recommended by smart.Inclines
!
When driving down long and steep grades,
relieve the load on the brakes by shifting into
a lower gear to use the engine’s braking
power. This helps prevent overheating of the
brakes and reduces brake pad wear.
When using the engine’s braking power, a
drive wheel may not spin for an extended pe

riod of time, e.g. on slippery road surfaces.
This may cause serious damage to the drive

train which is not covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
G
Warning!
Make sure not to endanger any other
road users when carrying out braking
maneuvers.

Driving instructions
216
>> Operation
!
To prevent damage to the catalytic
converter, only use premium unleaded gaso

line in this vehicle.
Any noticeable irregularities in engine oper

ation should be repaired promptly. Otherwise,
excessive unburned fuel may reach the cata

lytic converter, causing it to overheat and
potentially start a fire.
It is essential to observe the following points,
as there is otherwise a danger of overheating
and the catalytic converter may be damaged.
• Fill up only with premium unleaded gasoline.
Even small quantities of leaded gasoline can
damage the catalytic converter.
• Make sure you adhere to the prescribed
service intervals.
• Never run the fuel tank empty.
• If the engine starts to misfire, bring the ve

hicle to an immediate standstill without en

dangering traffic.
• If the engine fails to start the first time, you
should not try to start it any more than
three times in succession.
• Do not try to start for more than four sec

onds at a time.
TiresTreadwear indicators (TWI) are required by
law. These indicators are located in six places
on the tread circumference and become visi

ble at a tread depth of approximately
1/16in
(1.6 mm), at which point the tire is considered
worn and should be replaced. The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread.
Specified tire inflation pressures must be
maintained. This applies particularly if the
tires are subject to high loads (e.g. high
speeds, heavy loads, high ambient tempera

tures).
G
Warning!
If you feel a sudden significant vibration
or ride disturbance, or you suspect that
possible damage to your vehicle has
occurred, you should turn on the hazard
warning flashers, carefully slow down,
and drive with caution to an area which is
a safe distance from the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle under

body for possible damage. If the vehicle
or tires appear unsafe, have the vehicle
towed to the nearest smart center or tire
dealer for repairs.
G
Warning!
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately
1/16in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not
allow your tires to wear down to that
level. As tread depth approaches
1/8in
(3 mm), the adhesion properties on a wet
road are sharply reduced.
Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction
varies widely.

Driving instructions
>> Operation
221 Emission control
Certain engine systems serve to keep the
toxic components of the exhaust gases within
permissible legal limits.
These systems, of course, will function prop

erly only when maintained strictly according
to factory specifications.
Any adjustments to the engine should there

fore be carried out only by qualified smart
center authorized technicians.
Engine adjustments should not be altered in
any way. Moreover, the specified service jobs
must be carried out regularly according to
smart servicing requirements. For details
refer to the Maintenance Booklet.
Coolant temperatureDuring severe operating conditions and stop

and
go city traffic, the coolant temperature
may rise close to approximately 248°F
(120°C).
The engine should not be operated with the
coolant temperature over 248°F (120°C).
Doing so may cause serious engine damage
which is not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.
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 lead to 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, contact a smart center immedi

ately. If you must drive under these con

ditions, drive only with at least one
window fully open at all times.

Driving abroad
>> Operation
223
Abroad, there is an extensive smart service
network at your disposal. If you plan to drive
into areas which are not listed in the index of
your smart center directory, you should re

quest pertinent information from an autho

rized smart center.
Symmetrical low beamsi
If you drive in countries where vehicles
drive on the other side of the road than the
country in which the vehicle is registered, you
must have the headlamps modified for
symmetrical low beams. Relevant information
can be obtained at any authorized smart cen

ter.

Replacing bulbs
256
>> Practical hints. Notes on bulb replacement
• Only use bulbs of the same type and with the
specified watt rating.
• Switch the lights off before replacing a bulb
to prevent short circuits.
• Always use a clean lint
free cloth when
handling bulbs.
• Your hands should be dry and free of oil and
grease.
• Avoid touching the glass of the bulb with
bare fingers.
• If the newly installed bulb does not come on,
contact an authorized smart center.
• Have the bulbs for the front fog lamps*
replaced at an authorized smart center.
Replacing bulbs for front lampsBefore you start to replace a bulb for a front
lamp, do the following first:
>Turn the exterior lamp switch to
positionM (

page 101).
>Switch off the ignition.
>Open the service flap (

page 176)
Left headlamp, (right headlamp in reverse)
1
Bulb socket for parking, and side marker
lamp
2
Bulb socket for turn signal lamp
3
Low beam headlamp cover
4
High beam headlamp coverParking and sidemarker lamp bulb
>Removing:
Driver side: Turn bulb socket
1 toward the
outside.
Passenger side: Turn bulb socket1 toward
the outside.
>Pull bulb socket
1 out of the headlamp
housing.
>Pull the bulb out of bulb socket
1.
> Installing: Insert the new bulb into bulb
socket
1.
>Insert bulb socket
1 into the headlamp
housing.
>Driver side: Turn bulb socket
1 toward the
inside.
Passenger side: Turn bulb socket1 toward
the inside. P82.10
4836
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