2012 SMART FORTWO COUPE driving

Brake
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutionsò (USA only)
! (Canada only)
The ABS indicator
lamp illuminates
while the engine is
running. There is a malfunction in the ABS system.
X
Have the ABS system checked at an authorized smart center
immediately. ò (USA only)
! (Canada only)
The ABS indicator
lamp illuminates
together with the
brake warning lamp
while the engine is
running. The ABS system fails.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Turn off the engine.
X Engage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.
X Contact Roadside Assistance or an authorized smart center. G
WARNING
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. What to do if ...
163>> Practical hints. Z

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions$ (USA only)
J (Canada only)
The brake warning
lamp illuminates
while the engine is
running. You are driving with the parking brake engaged.
X
Release the parking brake. The brake circuit fails or the brake fluid level in the brake
fluid reservoir is too low.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Turn off the engine.
X Do not add brake fluid as this will not solve the problem.
X Engage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.
X Contact Roadside Assistance or an authorized smart center. $ (USA only)
J (Canada only)
The brake warning
lamp illuminates
together with the ABS
indicator lamp while
the
engine is running. The ABS system has failed.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Turn off the engine.
X Engage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.
X Contact Roadside Assistance or an authorized smart center. G
WARNING
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. 164
What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions6
Scenario 1:
The SRS
indicator lamp
illuminates
when the
ignition is
switched
on and
goes out after a
maximum of
4 seconds. The subsequent self check of the safety systems detected no
malfunction. The supplemental restraint system is
operational.
6
Scenario 2:
The SRS
indicator lamp
illuminates
when the
ignition is
switched

on and
goes out after a
maximum of
4 seconds for
approximately
1 second, then it
comes on again
and stays on. There is a malfunction in the supplemental restraint systems.
The air bags or Emergency Tensioning Devices could deploy
unexpectedly or fail to deploy in an accident.
X
Do not sit on the passenger seat; this applies particularly
to children.
X Have the system checked at an authorized smart center. G
WARNING
If the SRS indicator lamp does not come on when you switch on the ignition or does not go
out
again after a few seconds once the engine is running or comes on again, the supplemental
restraint systems are malfunctioning.
In the event that a malfunction of the SRS is indicated as described in scenario 2, the SRS
may not be operational. For your safety, we strongly recommend that you contact an
authorized smart center immediately to have the system checked; A malfunctioning SRS
system may not deploy when needed in an accident resulting in serious or fatal injury, or
it might deploy unexpectedly and unnecessarily which could result in an accident and/or
injury to you or to others.
! If the SRS indicator lamp comes on while driving, have the system checked at an
authorized smart center immediately.
It is possible that the air bag and the emergency tensioning device could be activated
unintentionally or will not function in the event of an accident.
i Information on the operating principle of the air bags can be found in the “Safety”
section (Y page 33). 166
What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions÷
The ESP ®
warning lamp
flashes while
driving. The ESP
®
has engaged because of detected traction loss in at
least one tire.
X When driving off, apply as little throttle as possible.
X While driving, ease up on the accelerator pedal.
X Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road and
weather conditions. ÷
The ESP ®
warning lamp
illuminates
continuously
while the
engine is
running. The ESP
®
is not operational due to a system failure.
X Have the system checked at an authorized smart center. The ESP
®
is not available.
X Have the system checked at an authorized smart center. G
WARNING
When the ESP ®
warning lamp is illuminated continuously, the ESP ®
is not available or not
operational due to a system failure.
Adapt
your speed and driving to the prevailing road conditions and the non-operating status
of the ESP ®
.
i It may be possible to clear a system failure by restarting the engine.
X Restart the engine.
If

the warning lamp still does not go out, have the system checked at an authorized smart
center immediately.
i More information on the ESP ®
can be found in the “Safety” section (Y page 47). Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsD
The yellow EPS*
warning lamp
illuminates
while the
engine is
running. The Electronic Power Steering (EPS)* is not available.
X
Have the EPS* checked at an authorized smart center
immediately. G
WARNING
When the EPS* is not available a higher degree of effort is necessary to steer the vehicle.
Have the system checked at an authorized smart center. What to do if ...
167
>> Practical hints.
* optional Z

Vehicle
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions#
The battery
indicator lamp
illuminates
while driving
or does not go
out after the
engine is
started. The alternator is malfunctioning. The battery is no longer
charged.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Turn off the engine.
X Engage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.
X Contact Roadside Assistance or an authorized smart center. The poly-V-belt is broken. The battery is no longer charged.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Turn off the engine.
X Engage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.
X Contact Roadside Assistance or 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. 168
What to do if ...>> Practical hints.

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions# !
The turn signal
indicator lamp(s)
flashes at double
frequency. One of the turn signals is malfunctioning.
X
Replace the bulb as soon as possible ( Y page 179).
or
X Have the turn signal checked at an authorized smart center
as soon as possible. ®
The fuel cap
indicator lamp
comes on when
the engine is
running. The fuel cap may not be closed properly or the fuel system may
be leaky.
X
Check the fuel cap ( Y page 116).
X If it is not closed properly: Close the fuel cap.
X If it is closed properly: Have the fuel system checked at an
authorized smart center. Engine
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions?
The red coolant
temperature
warning lamp
illuminates
while the
engine is
running. The coolant is too hot.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Turn off the engine.
X Engage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.
X Contact Roadside Assistance or an authorized smart center. The coolant level has fallen below the marking bar on the
coolant reservoir (Y page 122).
X
Add coolant as required.
X Have the coolant system checked for leaks at an authorized
smart center. 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.
Steam from an overheated engine can cause serious burns which can occur just by opening
the engine hood. Stay away from the engine if you see or hear steam coming from it.
Stop the vehicle in a safe location away from other traffic. Turn off the engine, get out of
the vehicle and do not stand near the vehicle until the engine has cooled down.
! 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. 170
What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.

Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions;
The engine
malfunction
indicator lamp
illuminates
while driving. There is a malfunction in the system.
X
Have the vehicle checked at an authorized smart center
immediately. i
Some states may by law require you to visit a workshop as soon as the engine
malfunction indicator lamp comes on. Check local requirements. Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions5
The engine oil
pressure
indicator lamp
illuminates
while driving. The engine oil pressure is low.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Turn off the engine.
X Engage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.
X Contact Roadside Assistance or an authorized smart center. 5
The engine oil
pressure
indicator lamp
goes out before
the engine
starts. The engine oil pressure indicator lamp has failed.
X
Check the engine oil level.
X Have the system checked at an authorized smart center. !
The engine oil pressure indicator lamp should not be ignored. Extended driving with
the engine oil pressure indicator lamp illuminated could result in serious engine
damage that is not covered by the smart Limited Warranty. What to do if ...
171
>> Practical hints. Z

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)*
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutionsh
The yellow
combination
low tire
pressure/TPMS
malfunction
telltale
illuminates
continuously. The TPMS detects a loss of pressure in at least one tire.
X
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers. Observe the traffic
situation around you.
X Check and correct tire inflation pressure as required
(Y page 126).
If the tire inflation pressure in the respective tire(s) has
(have) been corrected, the combination low tire pressure/TPMS
malfunction telltale goes out after a few minutes of driving.
See also “Restarting the TPMS” (Y page 129). h
The
combination
low tire
pressure/TPMS
malfunction
telltale flashes
60 seconds and
then stays
illuminated. There is a malfunction in the TPMS.
X
Have the TPMS checked at an authorized smart center.
After the malfunction has been remedied the combination low
tire pressure/TPMS malfunction telltale goes out after a few
minutes of driving. G
WARNING
Each tire should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure
recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the Tire and Loading Information placard. If
your vehicle has tires of a different size than the size indicated on the Tire and Loading
Information placard, you should determine the proper tire inflation pressure for those
tires.
As

an added safety feature, your vehicle has been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that illuminates a low tire pressure telltale when one or more of your tires
is significantly underinflated.
Accordingly, when the low tire pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible, and inflate them to the proper pressure. Driving on a significantly
underinflated tire causes the tire to overheat and can lead to tire failure.
Underinflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread life, and may affect the vehicle’s
handling and stopping ability. Please note that the TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver’s responsibility to maintain correct tire pressure, even
if underinflation has not reached the level to trigger illumination of the TPMS low tire
pressure telltale.
Your vehicle has also been equipped with a TPMS malfunction indicator to indicate when
the system is not operating properly. The TPMS malfunction indicator is combined with the 172
What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.
* optional