XRemoving: Fold both levers 0046 outward in
direction of the arrows as far as they will
go.XLift the front end of service flap 0047.XRemove service flap 0047.XInserting: Insert hooks 008A on the back of
service flap 0047 completely into
openings 0088.XRemounting: Lift service flap 0047 out of
openings 0088 (Y page 111).XInsert tabs 0086 on the back of service
flap 0047 completely into openings 0087.XClosing: Push front end of service
flap 0047 down.XFold levers 0046 inward in direction of the
arrows as far as they will go.
Coolant
GWarning!
In order to avoid potentially serious burns:
R Use extreme caution when opening the
service flap if there are any signs of
steam or coolant leaking from the
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The windshield washer reservoir is located
in the front compartment on the driver’s
side.GWarning!
Windshield washer concentrate is highly
flammable. Fire, naked flames and smoking
are prohibited when windshield washer
concentrate is being handled.
XUse a windshield washer concentrate
labeled for summer and water for
temperatures above freezing point.XUse a windshield washer concentrate
labeled for winter and water for
temperatures below freezing point.
! Always use a windshield washer
concentrate labeled for winter where
temperatures may fall below freezing
point. Failure to do so could result in
damage to the washer system/reservoir.
XPremix the windshield washer fluid in a
suitable container.
Observe mixing ratios depending on the
outside temperature ( Y page 208).XUse the tab to pull cap 0046 upwards.XRefill the windshield washer reservoir.XPush cap 0046 onto the windshield washer
reservoir.XRemount the service flap and close it
( Y page 110).Brake fluidGWarning!
During vehicle operation, the boiling
point of the brake fluid is continuously
reduced through the absorption of moisture
from the atmosphere. Under extremely
strenuous operating conditions, this
moisture content can lead to the formation
of bubbles in the system, thus reducing the
system’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced
regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s
Maintenance Booklet for replacement
interval.
The brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir may be too low if the brake
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
comes on ( Y page 22) although the parking
brake is released.
! If you find that the brake fluid in the
brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the
minimum mark or below, have the brake
system checked for brake pad thickness
and leaks immediately. Contact an
authorized smart center immediately. Do
not add brake fluid as this will not solve
the problem.
XRemove the service flap and insert it on
the front of the vehicle ( Y page 110).
The brake fluid reservoir is located in the
front compartment on the passenger side.
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In addition to the tire load rating, special
load identification 0046 may be molded into
the tire sidewall following the letter
designating the tire speed rating 0087
( Y page 127).
No specification given: absence of any text
(like in above example) indicates a
standard load (SL) tire.
XL or Extra Load: designates an extra load
(or reinforced) tire.
Light Load: designates a light load tire.
C, D, E: designates load range associated
with the maximum load a tire can carry at a
specified pressure.
DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)
U.S. tire regulations require each new tire
manufacturer or tire retreader to mold a
TIN into or onto a sidewall of each tire
produced.
The TIN is a unique identifier which
facilitates efforts by tire manufactures to
notify purchasers in recall situations or
other safety matters concerning tires and
gives purchasers the means to easily
identify such tires.
The TIN is comprised of “Manufacturer’s
identification mark” 0047, “Tire size” 008A,
“Tire type code” 0088, and “Date of
manufacture” 0086.
i For illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehicle
and may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
DOT (Department of Transportation)
Tire branding symbol 0046 which denotes the
tire meets requirements of the U.S.
Department of Transportation.
Manufacturer’s identification mark
Manufacturer’s identification mark 0047
denotes the tire manufacturer.
New tires have a mark with two symbols.
Retreaded tires have a mark with four
symbols. For more information on
retreaded tires ( Y page 114).
Tire size
Code 008A indicates the tire size.
Tire type code
Tire type code 0088 may, at the option of the
manufacturer, be used as a descriptive
code for identifying significant
characteristics of the tire.
Date of manufacture
Date of manufacture 0086 identifies the week
and year of manufacture.
The first two figures identify the week,
starting with “01” to represent the first
full week of the calendar year. The second
two figures represent the year.
For example, “3202” represents the 32nd
week of 2002.
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effectiveness of the ABS and ESP®
in winter
operation.
For safe handling, make sure all mounted
winter tires are of the same make and have
the same tread design.
For information on winter tires for your
vehicle model, see the "Technical data"
section ( Y page 202).
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.
Snow chains*
! Remember that snow chains must always
be compatible with the tire sizes of a
vehicle. Snow chains that are approved
by smart are only permitted for the
following tire size:
175/55 R15 on the rear axle.
For safety reasons, smart recommends
that you only use snow chains that have
been approved by smart.
Information on this is available from any
smart center.
Please refer to the separate operating
instructions for detailed information on
mounting the snow chains.
Snow chains should only be driven on
snow-covered roads at speeds not to
exceed 30 mph (50 km/h). Remove chains
as soon as possible when driving on roads
without snow.
Please observe the following guidelines
when using snow chains:
R Using snow chains is not permissible
with all wheel/tire combinations
( Y page 202).
R Use snow chains in pairs and on rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer’s
mounting instructions.
! If snow chains are mounted to the front
wheels, they may scrape against the body
or axle components. The tires or the
vehicle could be damaged as a result.
R Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before mounting
snow chains.GWarning!
When mounting or removing snow chains,
always park your vehicle on level ground,
engage the parking brake, and turn off the
engine. The vehicle could otherwise move
and injure yourself or other road users.
GWarning!
When mounting and removing snow chains,
ensure that you and your vehicle are at a
safe distance from moving traffic. Not
doing so could endanger other road users or
even lead to you being injured by the
vehicles behind you.
GWarning!
The vehicle’s handling changes when
driving with snow chains on any kind of
road surface. This means that you should
always adapt your driving style to suit the
current road and weather conditions.
! If snow chains that do not meet
requirements are mounted, they may
scrape against the body or axle
components when the vehicle is in
motion. This could result in damage to
the rim/tire or vehicle.
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Driving instructions
Drinking and driving
GWarning!
Do not drink alcohol or take drugs and drive
or allow anyone to drive who has been
drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Even a
small amount of alcohol or drugs can affect
your reflexes, perceptions and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident are greatly increased when you
drink or take drugs and drive.
Pedals
GWarning!
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals’ range of motion.
Keep the driver’s footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats* or
carpets in the footwell, make sure the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden acceleration or braking
maneuvers, the objects could get caught
between or beneath the pedals and restrict
your ability to brake or accelerate. This
could lead to accidents and/or injury.
Power assistance
GWarning!
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and
steering* systems. In this case, it is
important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
Adapt your driving accordingly.
BrakesGWarning!
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out braking
maneuvers.
Refer to the description of the hydraulic
brake assistant ( Y page 46).
! Because the ESP ®
operates
automatically, the engine must be turned
off (ignition switched off) when the
parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer. 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 ( Y page 22) 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
period of time, e.g. on slippery road
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smart recommends winter tires
( Y page 132) with a minimum tread depth of
approximately 1
/ 6 in (4 mm) on all four
wheels for the winter season to ensure
normal balanced handling characteristics.
On packed snow, they can reduce your
stopping distance compared to summer
tires.
Stopping distance, however, is still
considerably greater than when the road is
not covered with snow or ice. Exercise
appropriate caution.
! Avoid spinning of a drive wheel for an
extended period when driving off on
slippery road surfaces. Otherwise, the
drivetrain could be damaged, which is
not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.
Tire speed rating
Regardless of the tire speed rating, local
speed limits should be obeyed. Use prudent
driving speeds appropriate to prevailing
conditions.
GWarning!
Even when permitted by law, never operate
a vehicle at speeds greater than the
maximum speed rating of the tires.
Exceeding the maximum speed for which
tires are rated can lead to sudden tire
failure, causing loss of vehicle control and
possibly resulting in an accident and/or
personal injury and possible death, for you
and for others.
An electronic speed limiter prevents your
vehicle from exceeding a speed of 90 mph
(145 km/h).
The factory equipped tires on your vehicle
may have a tire speed rating above the
maximum speed permitted by the
electronic speed limiter.
Make sure your tires have the required tire
speed rating as specified for your vehicle
in the “Technical data section”
( Y page 202), for example when purchasing
new tires.
For information on how to identify the tire
speed rating on a tire’s sidewall, see “Tire
size designation, load and speed rating”
( Y page 126).
If you are uncertain about the correct
reading of the information given on a
tire’s sidewall, any authorized smart
center will be glad to assist you.
i For information on speed ratings for
winter tires, see “All-season and winter
tires” ( Y page 127).
Winter driving instructions
The most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to neutral
position N. Try to keep the vehicle under
control by corrective steering action.
For information on driving with snow
chains*, see “Snow chains*” ( Y page 133).
GWarning!
On slippery road surfaces, never downshift
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.
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
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Display messagesPossible causes/consequences and 0050 SolutionsThe electronic immobilizer is not working.XHave the system checked at an authorized smart center.There is a malfunction in the shifting system.XHave the system checked at an authorized smart center.The transmission is taught-in ( Y page 83).XHave the system checked at an authorized smart center.What to do if ...
Warning and indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster
General information
If any of the following lamps in the
instrument cluster fails to come on during
the bulb self-check when switching on
ignition ( Y page 55), have the respective
bulb checked and replaced if necessary.
Brake
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and 0050 Solutions00EB (USA only)
0031 (Canada only)
The ABS indicator
lamp illuminates
while the engine is
running.There is a malfunction in the ABS system.XHave the ABS system checked at an authorized smart center
immediately.00EB (USA only)
0031 (Canada only)
The ABS indicator
lamp illuminates
together with the
brake warning lamp
while the engine is
running.The ABS system fails.XStop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.XDo not continue to drive.XTurn off the engine.XEngage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.XContact Roadside Assistance or an authorized smart center.What to do if ...149>> Practical hints.451_AKB; 3; 22, en-USd2ureepe,Version: 2.11.8.12009-07-27T09:36:34+02:00 - Seite 149Z
GWarning!
When the ABS system is malfunctioning, the wheels may lock during hard braking, reducing
steering capability and extending the braking distance.
When the ABS is switched off due to a malfunction, the ESP ®
is also switched off. The basic
driving and braking functions are still available.
The risk of your vehicle skidding is then increased in certain situations. You should
therefore always adapt your speed and driving style to the prevailing road and weather
conditions.
ProblemPossible causes/consequences and 0050 Solutions0027 (USA only)
004D (Canada only)
The brake warning
lamp illuminates
while the engine is
running.You are driving with the parking brake engaged.XRelease the parking brake.The brake circuit fails or the brake fluid level in the brake
fluid reservoir is too low.XStop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.XDo not continue to drive.XTurn off the engine.XDo not add brake fluid as this will not solve the problem.XEngage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.XContact Roadside Assistance or an authorized smart center.0027 (USA only)
004D (Canada only)
The brake warning
lamp illuminates
together with the ABS
indicator lamp while
the engine is running.The ABS system fails.XStop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.XDo not continue to drive.XTurn off the engine.XEngage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.XContact Roadside Assistance or an authorized smart center.GWarning!
Driving with the brake warning lamp illuminated can result in an accident. Have your brake
system checked immediately if the brake warning lamp stays on.
Do not add brake fluid before checking the brake system.
! If you find that the brake fluid in the brake fluid reservoir has fallen to the minimum
mark or below, have the brake system checked for brake pad thickness and leaks
immediately. Contact an authorized smart center immediately. Do not add brake fluid
as this will not solve the problem.
150What to do if ...>> Practical hints.
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