Rretractable soft top
R rear soft top
R side rails
You can remove the side rails over the doors
when you open the retractable soft top and
open the rear soft top.
i Opening the rear soft top is possible
after the retractable soft top has been
opened completely.
Notes on the soft top system
! When transporting long objects inside
the vehicle, make sure they do not press
against the retractable soft top when it
is closed.
When carrying objects that protrude from
the rear of the vehicle, make sure they
are not resting on the retaining clips.
When loading, make sure no sharp objects
come into contact with the soft top or the
rear window.
Do not place any evenly distributed loads
with a weight of more than 165 lbs (75 kg)
on the rear soft top when folded down.
Make sure the high-mounted brake lamp
is not concealed.
! Do not block the soft top system’s
locking apertures.
Only place the side rails in the
designated storage space of the tailgate.
! Do not sit on the folded-down rear soft
top.
Do not fold down the rear soft top at
temperatures below 14 ¦ (-10 ¥).
Do not place any pointed, sharp-edged,
hot (above 176 ¦ [80 ¥]), incandescent or
burning objects on the soft top’s lining.
Do not apply wax to the soft top fabric and
select only wax-free washing products
when using an automatic car wash.
Only drive with the retaining clips
closed, as exhaust fumes could otherwise
reach the vehicle’s interior.
! Please keep in mind that weather
conditions can sometimes change
rapidly. Make sure to close the
retractable soft top and the rear soft top
when leaving the vehicle. If water enters
the vehicle interior, vehicle
electronics could be damaged which is
not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.
Opening and closing the retractable
soft top
You can open and close the retractable soft
top when the vehicle is either stationary
or in motion.
GWarning!
Never operate the retractable soft top if
there is the possibility of anyone being
harmed by the opening or closing
procedure.
GWarning!
The retractable soft top is made out of
fabric. In the event of an accident, the
fabric may tear. This may result in an
opening in the roof.
In a vehicle rollover, occupants not
wearing their seat belts or not wearing
them properly may be thrown out of the
opening. Such an opening also presents a
potential for injury for occupants wearing
their seat belts properly as entire body
parts or portions of them may protrude from
the passenger compartment.
GWarning!
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. A child’s
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unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
! To avoid damaging the seals, do not
transport any objects with sharp edges
which can stick out of the retractable
soft top.
Do not open the retractable soft top if
there is snow or ice on the roof, as this
could result in malfunctions.
If you cannot open or close the
retractable soft top due to a malfunction
contact Roadside Assistance or an
authorized smart center.
Opening from outside
You can open the retractable soft top
completely with the key.
Key with remote control
0046 0038 Lock button0047 0035 Opening the retractable soft top008A 0034 Unlock buttonXPress button 0035 on the key for
approximately two seconds.
The retractable soft top opens
completely.Opening from the insideXMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.XPress symbol 0047 on the retractable soft
top switch until the desired position is
reached or the retractable soft top is
opened completely.
or
XPress symbol 0047 on the retractable soft
top switch briefly.
The retractable soft top opens
completely.
i Pressing symbol 0046 or 0047 on the
retractable soft top switch while
opening the retractable soft top will
interrupt the opening procedure.
Closing
For safety reasons, you can only close the
retractable soft top using the retractable
soft top switch inside the vehicle.
XMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.XPress symbol 0046 on the retractable soft
top switch until the retractable soft top
is closed.
i To avoid draining the battery, leave the
engine running when opening and
closing the retractable soft top.
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Opening and closing the rear soft top
You can open and close the rear soft top
when the vehicle is either stationary or in
motion.GWarning!
Never operate the rear soft top if there is
the possibility of anyone being harmed by
the opening or closing procedure.
! Make sure objects are not stacked too
high in the cargo compartment. They
could get damaged when opening or
closing the rear soft top.
! When the rear soft top is folded down,
the side rails are accessible. To prevent
theft, you should remove the side rails
and store them in the storage
compartment of the tailgate or close the
soft top system.
XMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.
Retractable soft top switch
0046 Closing0047 Opening
Opening the rear soft top
XPress symbol 0047 on the retractable soft
top switch or button 0035 on the key untilthe retractable soft top has opened
completely.XRelease retractable soft top switch 0047 or
button 0035 on the key.XPress symbol 0047 on the retractable soft
top switch once more until the rear soft
top has folded down completely.
Closing the rear soft top
XPress symbol 0046 on the retractable soft
top switch until the rear soft top has
folded up completely.XRelease retractable soft top switch 0046.
i
If you release the retractable soft top
switch while driving before the rear soft
top has closed completely, the rear soft
top will fold down again.
Removing the side rails
XOpen the retractable soft top
( Y page 56).XOpen the rear soft top ( Y page 74).XOpen the driver’s and passenger door
when conditions are safe to do so.XOpen the tailgate ( Y page 56).XPull handle 0046 on the inside of the
tailgate backward.XLift up the storage compartment cover.74Soft top system (cabriolet only)>> Controls.
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! Make sure the side rails are installed
correctly. Otherwise the side rails may
not function properly or may be damaged.
XClose the storage compartment cover.XPress on the “PRESS” marking in the
middle of the storage compartment cover
until it engages audibly.
XClose the tailgate. Let the tailgate lock
into place.
XClose the driver’s and passenger door.XOpen the side windows if desired.
! Make sure the storage compartment
cover is closed before closing the
tailgate. Otherwise the tailgate could
jam.
Side windows
Opening and closing the side windows
Opening and closing the side windows
manually
Crank for side window on passenger door
Side window on the driver’s door
XOpening: Turn crank \000F
counterclockwise.
XClosing: Turn crank \000F clockwise.
Side window on the passenger door
XOpening: Turn crank \000F clockwise.XClosing: Turn crank \000F
counterclockwise.
Opening and closing the power windows
This feature is only available on the model
passion and BRABUS.
GWarning!
Do not keep any part of your body up against
the side window pane when opening a
window. The downward motion of the pane
may pull that part of your body down between
the window pane and the door frame and trap
it there. If there is a risk of entrapment,
release the switch and pull up the top of the
switch to close the window.
GWarning!
When closing the windows, make sure there
is no danger of anyone being harmed by the
closing procedure.
The closing of the side windows can be
immediately stopped by releasing the
switch.
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. A child’s
unsupervised access to a vehicle could
result in an accident and/or serious
personal injury.
The switches for both power windows are on
the driver’s door. In addition, there is a
switch for the passenger side on the
passenger door.
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\000FSide window driver’s door\000GSide window passenger doorXMake sure the key is in starter switch
position 1.
XOpening: Press and hold the top of the
respective switch.
The corresponding side window moves
downwards until you release the switch.
XClosing: Pull and hold the top of the
respective switch.
The corresponding side window moves
upwards until you release the switch.
XAutomatic opening: Press the top of the
respective switch briefly.
The corresponding side window opens
completely.
XStopping during automatic opening:
Press or pull the top of the respective
switch again.
The corresponding side window stops
immediately.
Driving and parking
Starting
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.
GWarning!
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, have the cause determined and
corrected immediately. If you must drive
under these conditions, drive only with at
least one window fully open at all times.
Gearshift pattern for transmission
\000FRelease button\000`Park position\000aReverse gear\000_Neutral position\000^Drive position\000fManual gearshifting\000gUpshifting\000XDownshifting78Driving and parking>> Controls.* optionalBA 451 USA, CA Edition A 2011; 1; 4, en-UShereepeVersion: 3.0.3.62010-05-11T15:12:26+02:00 - Seite 78
Starting the engine
! Shift the transmission into park
position P or reverse gear R only when the
vehicle is stopped in order to avoid
damaging the transmission.
XMake sure the gear selector lever is set
to park position P.
The transmission position indicator
should be on P.XDo not depress the accelerator pedal.XTurn the key to starter switch position
2 and release it.
The engine starts automatically (“touch-
start” function).
Driving
XDepress the brake pedal.XPress release button 0046 (Y page 78) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock.XMove the gear selector lever to drive
position D.
D appears in the transmission position
indicator.XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.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.
GWarning!
It is dangerous to shift the transmission
out of park position P or neutral position
N 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.
! Do not run a cold engine at high engine
speeds. Running a cold engine at high
engine speeds may shorten the service
life of the engine.
! Simultaneously depressing the
accelerator pedal and applying the
brakes reduces engine performance and
causes premature brake and drivetrain
wear.
Reversing the vehicle
! Shift the transmission into reverse
gear R only when the vehicle is stopped
in order to avoid damaging the
transmission.
You can drive in reverse gear at a speed
of up to 9 mph (15 km/h).
XDepress the brake pedal.XPress the release button ( Y page 78) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock.XMove the gear selector lever to reverse
gear R.
R appears in the transmission position
indicator.XRelease the brake pedal.XCarefully depress the accelerator pedal.
Parking
GWarning!
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. These materials could be
ignited and cause a vehicle fire.
Vehicle movement can cause serious
personal injury or damage to the vehicle or
the vehicle drivetrain. Therefore, always
do the following before turning off the
engine and leaving the vehicle:
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RKeep right foot on the brake pedal.
R Engage the parking brake.
R Move the gear selector lever to park
position P.
R Slowly release the brake pedal.
R When parked on an incline, always turn
the front wheels towards the curb.
R Turn the key to starter switch position 0
and remove the key from the starter
switch.
R Take the key with you and lock the vehicle
when leaving.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.
XProperly stop and park the vehicle.XDepress the brake pedal.XEngage the parking brake ( Y page 80).
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp 0027 (USA only) or 004D (Canada
only) in the instrument cluster comes on.XRelease the brake pedal.
Parking brake
The parking brake serves to secure the
vehicle against rolling away when it is
stationary or parked.
GWarning!
Engaging the parking brake while the
vehicle is in motion can cause the rear
wheels to lock up. You could lose control of
the vehicle and cause an accident. In
addition, the vehicle’s brake lights do not
light up when the parking brake is engaged.
XReleasing: Depress the brake pedal.XPull up slightly on parking brake
lever 0047 and press release button 0046.XPush parking brake lever 0047 down as far
as it will go.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp 0027 (USA only) or 004D (Canada
only) in the instrument cluster goes out.XEngaging: Pull up parking brake
lever 0047 firmly.
When the ignition is switched on or the
engine is running, the brake warning
lamp 0027 (USA only) or 004D (Canada
only) in the instrument cluster comes on.GWarning!
Getting out of your vehicle with the
transmission not fully engaged in park
position P 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 except park
position P. Also, when parked on an incline,
park position P alone may not prevent your
vehicle from moving, possibly hitting
people or objects.
Always engage the parking brake in
addition to shifting to park position P.
When parked on an incline, always turn the
front wheels towards the curb.
GWarning!
When leaving the vehicle, always remove the
key from the starter switch, take it with
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XRelease the brake pedal.XTurn the key to starter switch position
0 .XRemove the key from the starter switch.
The electronic immobilizer is
activated.
Transmission
Introduction
Your vehicle is equipped with a 5‑speed
automated transmission with manual or
automatic mode. For information on
driving with the transmission see also
“Starting” ( Y page 78).
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.
Gear selector lever
Gearshift pattern for transmission
0046 Release button0060Park position0061Reverse gear005FNeutral position005EDrive position0066Manual gearshifting0067Upshifting0058Downshifting
The current gear selector lever position
appears in the transmission position
indicator. When manual gearshifting M is
selected, the currently selected gear
appears ( Y page 88).
GWarning!
It is dangerous to shift the transmission
out of park position P or neutral position
N 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.
Shifting procedure
The transmission selects individual gears
automatically, depending on:
R the gear selector lever position D
( Y page 83)
R the position of the accelerator pedal
( Y page 84)
R the vehicle speed
R uphill or downhill grades
Press release button 0046 (Y page 82) to
disengage the gear selector lever lock
when moving the gear selector lever from
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