2012 SMART FORTWO COUPE page 90

key is in the starter switch. Otherwise
the alternator and other electronic
components could be severely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly at an
authorized smart center.
Refer to Maintenance Booklet for
maintenance intervals or contact an
authorized smart center for further
information.
! Never invert the terminal connections! Disconnecting, removing, charging,
reinstalling and reconnecting the
battery
Disconnecting the battery i
If the battery is disconnected or
discharged
R the key will not turn in the starter
switch
R the automatic transmission will
remain in park position P
For more information see “Jump
starting” ( Y page 199).
X Engage the parking brake.
X Move the gear selector lever to park
position P.
X Turn off all electrical accessories.
X Turn off the engine.
X Open the passenger door.
X Move the passenger seat to the rear as far
as possible.
X Unscrew the carpet holder in the
passenger footwell (Y page 158).
X Lift the carpet. X
Unscrew fastening screw ;
counterclockwise.
X Pull footrest : sideways out of the
vehicle.
X Read and observe safety instructions and
precautions (Y page 196). !
Always disconnect the battery in the
order described below. Otherwise the
vehicle’s electronics can be damaged.
X Disconnect the battery negative lead
from negative terminal =.
Make sure the negative lead does not
come
into contact with the positive lead.
X Remove cover ? from the positive
terminal.
X Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the battery X
Unscrew battery mount A.
X Remove the battery support and bracket.
X Pull out the ventilation hose from the
battery (depending on battery198
Battery
>> Practical hints.

arrangement in your vehicle model, the
ventilation
hose is located either on the
left or right side of the battery).
X Remove the battery.
Charging the battery G
WARNING
Avoid creating sparks when charging the
battery as escaping gases are flammable.
Keep

open flames away from the battery and
do not smoke.
Do not touch the battery terminal with metal
objects and do not remove the battery
charger’s terminal clamps until the battery
charger has been switched off and no
further gas is being discharged by the
batteries.
Only charge the battery in a well ventilated
area.
There is a risk of acid burns during the
charging procedure due to the gases which
escape from the battery. Do not lean over
the battery when it is being charged. G
WARNING
Never charge a battery while still installed
in the vehicle. Gases may escape during
charging and cause explosions that may
result in paint damage, corrosion or
personal injury.
X Charge battery in accordance with the
instructions of the battery charger
manufacturer.
! Only use chargers of a correct and
suitable voltage.
! Never attempt to recharge a frozen
battery. Have the battery checked at a
smart center. The battery housing could
be damaged. Reinstalling the battery X
Reinstall the charged battery. Follow the
previously described steps in reverse
order.
! The battery, its filler caps and the
ventilation

hose must always be securely
installed when the vehicle is in
operation.
Reconnecting the battery !
Always
connect the battery in the order
described below. Otherwise the
vehicle’s electronics can be damaged.
X Turn off all electrical accessories.
X Remove the key from the starter switch.
! Never invert the terminal connections!
X Connect the battery positive lead and
fasten cover ? (Y page 198).
X Connect battery negative lead =
(Y page 198).
i After battery power (e.g. due to
reconnection) was interrupted, you will
have to set the clock (Y page 88).
i Have the battery’s charge status and
acid

level checked at the start of the cold
season at a smart center. Jump starting
Notes
G
WARNING
Failure to follow these directions will
cause
damage to the electronic components,
and can lead to a battery explosion and
severe injury or death.
Never lean over batteries while connecting
or jump starting, you might get injured.
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with
eyes, skin or clothing. In case it does, Jump starting
199
>> Practical hints.
Z

Jump start assistance
Your vehicle’s battery is located in the passenger footwell below the footrest
(Y page 198).
For jump starting, use the terminals of the battery, keeping the leads connected.
X Make sure the two vehicles do not touch.
X Switch off all electrical consumers.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Move the gear selector lever to park position P.
X Turn off the engine.
X Get access to the battery in the passenger footwell (Y page 198).
X Remove the positive terminal cover. Position
A represents the charged battery of another vehicle or an equivalent starter
pack.
! Never invert the terminal connections!
X Connect positive terminal : of charged battery A with positive terminal ; of
discharged battery B with a jumper cable. Clamp the jumper cable to positive
terminal : of charged battery A first.
X Start the engine of the vehicle with charged battery A and run at idle speed.
X Connect negative terminal = of charged battery A with negative terminal ? of
discharged battery B with a jumper cable. Clamp the jumper cable to negative
terminal = of charged battery A first.
X Start the engine of the vehicle with discharged battery B and run at idle speed. You
can now switch on the electrical consumers. Do not switch on the headlamps under any
circumstances. Jump starting
201>> Practical hints. Z

X
Remove the jumper cables from negative terminals = and ? first.
X Remove the jumper cables from positive terminals : and ;.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
X Remount the positive terminal cover.
X Have the battery checked at the nearest authorized smart center. Towing
About towing
This section offers information on towing
methods for breakdown situations,
emergency towing, and flat towing smart
vehicles. Recommended towing method -
Breakdown situation
smart recommends that the vehicle be
transported with all wheels off the ground
using a flatbed carrier truck or
appropriate wheel lift/dolly equipment.
X Switch off the tow‑away protection* and
interior motion sensor*
(Y page 49).
! To
prevent damage during transport, do
not tie down the vehicle by its chassis or
suspension parts — use only wheel straps
to position and hold down the vehicle.
Improper tie down on a flatbed carrier
truck or trailer can damage suspension
parts and body panels. Emergency towing
When circumstances do not permit the
recommended towing method, the vehicle
may

be towed with all wheels on the ground
using a strap or tow bar connected to
another vehicle. Only tow the vehicle as far
as necessary to have the vehicle moved to a
safe location where the recommended
towing method can be employed. G
WARNING
If circumstances require towing the
vehicle with all wheels on the ground,
always tow with a tow bar if:
R the engine will not run
R there is a malfunction in the brake
system
R there is a malfunction in the power
supply or in the vehicle’s electrical
system
A

tow bar is necessary to adequately control
the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheels
on the ground, make sure the gear selector
lever is in neutral position N and the
ignition is switched off. G
WARNING
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.
! Do not tow the vehicle with the front
axle raised. Doing so may cause serious
damage to the brake system which is not
covered by the smart Limited Warranty.
! Before towing the vehicle observe the
following instructions:
R Do not tow with sling-type equipment
attached

to suspension parts. This may202
Towing
>> Practical hints.
* optional

cause damage to the radiator and other
supports if towing on a bumpy road.
R Towing
the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing
eye bolt. Never attach a tow cable, tow
rope, or tow rod to the vehicle chassis,
frame, or suspension parts.
! Make sure the ignition is switched off
while towing the vehicle. Doing
otherwise may result in
R the ESP ®
being activated. Active
braking action through the ESP ®
may
seriously damage the brake system
which is not covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
R a discharged battery.
! Make sure the gear selector lever is in
neutral position N while towing the
vehicle. Doing otherwise may result in
significant transmission damage.
! Towing the vehicle with a luggage
rack* mounted is not permissible. The
vehicle must not be towed by the luggage
rack*.
i If the battery is disconnected or
discharged, the gear selector lever will
remain locked in park position P.
Contact an authorized smart center for
assistance or call Roadside Assistance.
Towing eye bolt The towing eye bolt is located in the
passenger footwell under the carpet.
X
Unscrew the carpet holder in the
passenger footwell (Y page 158).
X Lift the carpet. X
Take out towing eye bolt :.
Installing towing eye bolt
Depending of whether you are towing a
vehicle

or being towed, the towing eye bolt
can be screwed into threaded holes which
are located behind covers on the front and
rear bumper. Front cover
G
WARNING
High outside temperature, stop-and-go
traffic, driving on long uphill grades, or
driving

at high engine speed may increase
the temperature in the engine
compartment. Therefore the area around the
air slots in the rear apron may be hot. Let
the engine cool off before touching this
area to prevent burns. Towing
203
>> Practical hints.
* optional Z

X
From the fuse chart (Y page 208),
determine which fuse belongs to the
malfunctioning accessory or component.
X Remove the respective fuse.
X Replace the defective fuse with a new one
of the same amperage.206
Fuses>> Practical hints.

=
Emission control information label,
includes both federal and California
certification exhaust emission
standards (engine compartment)
? Heat warning label (engine
compartment)
A Certification label (driver’s door
B‑pillar)
B Tire and loading information placard
(driver’s door B‑pillar)
C VIN (lower edge of windshield) Certification label
X Open the driver’s door. :
Certification label (on driver’s door
B‑pillar)
i Data shown on the example
certification label are for illustration
purpose only. These data are specific to
each vehicle and may vary from data
shown in the illustration. Refer to
certification
label on vehicle for actual
data specific to your vehicle. Example certification label (U.S. vehicles)
;
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
= Paintwork code Example certification label (Canada vehicles)
;
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
= Paintwork code Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
can be found in the following locations:
R on
the certification label on the driver’s
door B‑pillar (Y page 214)
R on the rear right on the cargo
compartment floor ( Y page 215)
R in the lower edge of the windshield
(Y page 213)
X Open the cargo compartment.
X Fold back the carpet.214
Identification labels
>> Technical data.

Rims and tires
Notes
! Only use tires which have been tested
and
approved by smart. Tires approved by
smart are developed to provide best
possible performance in conjunction
with the driving safety systems on your
vehicle such as the ABS or the ESP ®
.
Using tires other than those approved by
smart may result in damage that is not
covered by the smart Limited Warranty.
! Using tires other than those approved
by smart can have detrimental effects,
such as
R poor handling characteristics
R increased noise
R increased fuel consumption
Moreover, tires and rims not approved by
smart may, under load, exhibit
dimensional variations and different
tire deformation characteristics that
could cause them to come into contact
with the vehicle body or axle parts.
Damage to the tires or the vehicle may be
the result.
i Further information on tires and rims
is available at any authorized smart
center. A placard with the recommended
tire inflation pressure is located on the
driver’s door B‑pillar.
The tire inflation pressure should be
checked regularly and should only be
adjusted on cold tires. Follow tire
manufacturer’s maintenance
recommendation included with vehicle. Mobility
Your
vehicle is equipped with a tire repair
kit (Y page 186). In case of a flat tire, it
enables you to drive to the nearest
authorized smart center on the sealed tire. If the tire is damaged too severely for the
tire sealant to provide a reliable tire
repair:
X
Contact the nearest authorized smart
center.
or
X Call Roadside Assistance. Rims and tires
217
>> Technical data. Z