2008 SMART FORTWO COUPE engine overheat

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.

Front compartment
178
>> Operation
Coolant
The engine coolant is a mixture of water and
anticorrosion/antifreeze.
To check the coolant level the vehicle must be
parked on level ground and the engine must
have cooled down. For more information, see
"Coolants" (

page 309).Checking coolant level
The coolant reservoir is located in the front
compartment on the driver’s side.
1
Pressure cap
2
Marking bar
G
Warning!
In order to avoid potentially serious
burns:
• Use extreme caution when opening the
service flap if there are any signs of
steam or coolant leaking from the
cooling system, or if the coolant
temperature warning lampD in the
instrument cluster indicates that the
coolant is overheated.
• Do not remove pressure cap on coolant
reservoir if coolant temperature is
above 158°F (70°C). Allow engine to
cool down before removing cap. The
coolant reservoir contains hot fluid
and is under pressure.
• Using a rag, slowly open the cap ap

proximately
1/2 turn to relieve excess
pressure. If opened immediately,
scalding hot fluid and steam will be
blown out under pressure.
P20.30
2265
31

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
222
>> Operation
G
Warning!
• Driving when your engine is over

heated can cause some fluids, which
may have leaked into the engine com

partment, to catch fire. You could be
seriously burned.
• Steam from an overheated engine can
cause serious burns which can occur
just by opening the front compartment
cover. Stay also away from the engine if
you see or hear steam coming from it.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.

What to do if ...
238
>> Practical hints. Battery indicator lamp
Illuminates:
• when the ignition is switched on.
The indicator lamp goes out if the engine is
running.
If the Battery indicator lamp illuminates while
driving or does not go out after the engine is
started, the battery is no longer charged.
Possible causes:
• Alternator malfunctioning
• Broken poly
V
belt>Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe
location.
>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.
!
Among other possible causes, the
poly
V
belt could be broken. Do not continue
to drive. Otherwise, the engine will overheat
due to an inoperative water pump which may
result in damage to the engine.Brake warning lamp (USA only)
Brake warning lamp (Canada only)
Illuminates:
• when the ignition is switched on.
Goes out:
• at least after 10 seconds
or
• after starting the engine.

What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.
241
Coolant temperature warning lamp
Illuminates:
• when the ignition is switched on.
The warning lamp goes out if the engine is
running.
• if the coolant is too hot.
>Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe
location.
>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.If the coolant level has fallen below the
marking bar on the coolant reservoir
(

page 178):
>Add coolant as required.
>Have the coolant system checked for leaks
at an authorized smart center.
!
Among other possible causes, the
poly
V
belt could be broken. Do not continue
to drive. Otherwise, the engine will overheat
due to an inoperative water pump which may
result in damage to the engine.
When the system detects a malfunction,
the telltale will flash for approximately
1 minute and then remain continuously
illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subse

quent vehicle start
ups as long as the
malfunction exists. When the malfunction
indicator is illuminated, the system may
not be able to detect or signal low tire
pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a vari

ety of reasons, including the installation
of incompatible replacement or alternate
tires or wheels on the vehicle that pre

vent the TPMS from functioning properly.
Always check the TPMS malfunction tell

tale after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the
replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to
function properly.
G
Warning!
Driving when your engine is overheated
can cause some fluids, which may have
leaked into the engine compartment, to
catch fire. You could be seriously burned.
Turn off the engine, get out of the vehicle
and do not stand near the vehicle until
the engine has cooled down.

Flat tire
268
>> Practical hints. >Unscrew the valve cap from the tire valve of
the damaged tire.
>Pull off the stopper of filler hose
4.
>Screw the end of filler hose
4
onto the tire
valve.
>Insert electrical plug
6
into the auxiliary
power outlet (

page 164).
>Insert the key in the starter switch and turn
it to position1.
i
The vehicle's battery is drained by use of
the electric air pump. You should therefore
keep the engine running
in the open air

while inflating the tire.
>PressI on electric air pump switch
7.
The electric air pump is switched on and
inflates the tire.
i
First, the sealant is pumped into the tire.
The pressure may briefly increase to a high
value. This is normal and not an indication of a
malfunction. Do not switch off the electric air
pump.>Let the electric air pump inflate the tire for
a maximum of ten minutes.
Pressure gauge
2 must display at least
26 psi (1.8 bar) is reached. The filler hose
can become hot during inflation.
Please exercise appropriate caution.
!
Do not operate the electric air pump
longer than ten minutes without interruption.
Otherwise it may overheat.
You may operate the electrical air pump again
after it has cooled off.
>If the tire inflation pressure of at least
26 psi (1.8 bar) is not attained, turn off the
electric air pump by pressing0 on electric
air pump switch
7.
>Unscrew the end of filler hose
4
from the
tire valve.
>After clearing the area around the vehicle
of people and obstacles, drive vehicle back
or forth very slowly approximately 30 ft
(10 m).
This serves to better distribute the tire
sealant material inside the tire.>Screw the end of filler hose
4 onto the tire
valve.
>Inflate the tire again.
>After attaining a tire inflation pressure of
26 psi (1.8 bar), press0 on electric air
pump switch
7.
The electric air pump is switched off.
>Turn the key in the starter switch to
position0.
G
Warning!
If a tire inflation pressure of 26 psi
(1.8 bar) is not attained, the tire is too
severely damaged for the tire sealant to
provide a reliable tire repair.
In this case, the tire sealant cannot
properly seal the tire.
Do not drive the vehicle.
Contact the nearest smart center for as

sistance or call Roadside Assistance.