2012 SMART FORTWO COUPE check engine

X
Engage the parking brake.
X Move the gear selector lever to park
position P.
X Switch off the ignition.
X Open the tailgate. 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 compartment
cover. Move away from the vehicle 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. G
WARNING
The engine is equipped with a
transistorized ignition system that
utilizes high voltage. Do not touch any
components (ignition coils, spark plug
sockets,

diagnostic socket) of the ignition
system
R while the engine is running
R while starting the engine
R if ignition is “on” and the engine is
turned manually X
Opening: Grasp the strap on cargo
compartment floor ;.
X Lift cargo compartment floor ;
with the
strap.
X Engage hook ? into top mounting = of
cargo compartment cover blind A.
X Remove fastening screw :.
X Remove engine compartment cover A.
X Closing:
Slide engine compartment cover
A forward into the tabs provided.
X Tighten fastening screw :.
X Disengage hook ? from top mounting
=.
X Fold cargo compartment floor ; back
down.
X Push the right hand and left hand cargo
compartment

floor edges under the edges
of the side panels.
X Close the tailgate. Engine oil
The amount of oil your engine needs will
depend on a number of factors, including
driving style. Increased oil consumption
can occur when the vehicle is new or the
vehicle is driven at higher engine speeds
frequently.
Engine

oil consumption checks should only
be made after the vehicle break-in period.
! Do not use any special lubricant
additives, as these may increase wear
and damage the drive assemblies. Using
special additives not approved by smart
may cause damage not covered by the
smart Limited Warranty. More
information on this subject is available
at any smart center.
Checking engine oil level !
Check the engine oil level at regular
intervals. 118
Engine compartment
>> Operation.

When checking the engine oil level
R
the vehicle must be parked on level
ground
R the
vehicle must have been stationary for
at least five minutes with the engine
turned off
X Turn off the engine.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Open the tailgate.
X Open the engine compartment cover
(Y page 117).
The oil dipstick is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger side. X
Pull out oil dipstick :.
X Wipe oil dipstick : clean with a clean
cloth.
X Fully insert oil dipstick : into the
dipstick guide tube.
X Pull out oil dipstick : again after
approximately one minute to obtain
accurate reading.
The oil level is correct when it is
between lower mark = (minimum) and
upper mark ; (maximum) on both sides
of oil dipstick :.
X Fully insert oil dipstick : into the
dipstick guide tube again.
X If necessary, add engine oil
(Y page 119).
i The
filling quantity between the upper
and lower marks on the oil dipstick is
approximately 1.1 US qt (1.0 l). Adding engine oil !
Only use approved engine oils and oil
filters required for vehicles with
Maintenance System. For a listing of
approved engine oils and oil filters
contact an authorized smart center.
Using engine oils and oil filters of
specification

other than those expressly
required for the Maintenance System, or
changing of oil and oil filter at change
intervals longer than those called for by
the Maintenance System will result in
engine or emission control system
damage not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty. G
WARNING
When adding engine oil, always use a funnel
to avoid spilling oil on any hot parts such
as the catalytic converter or exhaust
system.
If this should happen, however, the engine
must be thoroughly cleaned before you
continue your trip. The engine oil could
otherwise ignite.
The filler cap is located in the engine
compartment on the passenger side. X
Unscrew filler cap : from the filler
neck.
X Add engine oil as required.
Do not add more than 0.53 US qt (0.5 l)
engine oil at a time.
X Wait one minute until the engine oil has
run into the oil pan. Engine compartment
119
>> Operation. Z

X
Check the engine oil level once more.
X Add engine oil once more if necessary.
Be careful not to spill any oil when adding
to avoid environmental damage caused by
oil entering the ground and water.
! Excess engine oil must be siphoned or
drained
off. It could cause damage to the
engine or emission control system not
covered by the smart Limited Warranty.
X Screw filler cap : back on the filler
neck.
X Close the engine compartment cover
(Y page 117). Front compartment
Service flap
Remove the service flap to check the
coolant

level, windshield washer reservoir
level, and brake fluid level.
Insert the service flap on the front of the
vehicle so that it does not get damaged or
dirty.
i The service flap has a strap on the rear
side that ties it to the vehicle body. G
WARNING
Always turn the key to starter switch
position 0 and remove the key from the
starter switch before opening the service
flap.
If the windshield wipers should
inadvertently be switched on, you could be
seriously injured by the wiper washer
drive, which is located just below the
service flap. G
WARNING
Make sure the service flap is locked while
driving. Otherwise, the service flap could
become detached and pose a hazard to you
or others. G
WARNING
To help prevent personal injury, stay clear
of moving parts when the service flap is
open.
The radiator fan may continue to run for
approximately 30 seconds or may even
restart after the engine has been turned
off. Stay clear of fan blades.
! Check the fill levels at regular
intervals.
! Carefully remove ice, snow, and any
other deposits from the air intake
grilles above the service flap to ensure
air intake at all times.
X Park the vehicle on level ground.
X Turn off the engine.
X Engage the parking brake.
Removing X
Fold both levers ;
outward in direction
of the arrows = as far as they will go.
X Lift the front end of service flap :.
X Pull service flap :
forward slightly and
remove it upwards as indicated by
arrow ?. 120
Front compartment
>> Operation.

Coolant
G
WARNING
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
cooling system, or if the coolant
temperature warning lamp ? in the
instrument cluster indicates that the
coolant is overheated.
R Do
not remove the pressure cap on coolant
reservoir if coolant temperature is
above 158¦ (70¥). Allow engine to cool
down before removing cap. The coolant
reservoir contains hot fluid and is under
pressure.
R Using a rag, slowly turn the cap
approximately 1
/ 2 turn to relieve excess
pressure. If opened immediately,
scalding hot fluid and steam will be
blown out under pressure.
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” (Y page 223).
Checking coolant level X
Remove the service flap and insert it on
the front of the vehicle ( Y page 120). The coolant reservoir is located in the
front compartment on the driver’s side.
X
Allow the radiator to cool down for at
least 30 minutes.
X Using a rag, slowly turn pressure
cap : approximately 1
/ 2 turn
counterclockwise to release any excess
pressure.
X Continue turning pressure cap :
counterclockwise and remove it.
The coolant level is correct if the level
R
for cold coolant: reaches marking
bar ; visible through the filling
opening
R for warm coolant: is approximately
0.6 in (1.5 cm) higher
X If necessary, add coolant.
Adding coolant X
Add coolant as required. The coolant
level

may not exceed the maximum filling
level.
X Replace and tighten pressure cap :.
X Remount the service flap and close it
(Y page 120). Windshield/rear window washer system
Both the windshield and the rear window 14
washer are supplied from the windshield
washer reservoir.
The

recommended minimum filling level is
1.06 US qt (1.0 l).
X Remove the service flap and insert it on
the front of the vehicle ( Y page 120).
The windshield washer reservoir is located
in the front compartment on the driver’s
side.
14 Coupé only.122
Front compartment
>> Operation.

Treadwear indicators
Narrow bands, sometimes called “wear
bars” that show across the tread of a tire
when
only 1
/ 16 in (1.6 mm) of tread remains.
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards A tire information system that provides
consumers with ratings for a tire’s
traction, temperature and treadwear.
Ratings are determined by tire
manufacturers using U.S. government
testing

procedures. The ratings are molded
into the sidewall of the tire.
Vehicle maximum load on the tire Load on an individual tire that is
determined by distributing to each axle
its share of the maximum loaded vehicle
weight and dividing it by two.
Winter driving
Before the onset of winter, have your
vehicle winterized at an authorized smart
center.
This service includes:
R Check of anticorrosion and antifreeze
concentration.
R Addition of washer concentrate to the
water of the windshield/rear window.
Use a windshield washer concentrate
labeled for winter which is formulated
for temperatures below freezing point
(Y page 222).
R Battery

test. Battery capacity drops with
decreasing ambient temperature. A well
charged battery helps to make sure the
engine can be started, even at low
ambient temperatures.
R Tire change. Winter tires
G
WARNING
Winter tires with a tread depth of less
than 1
/ 6 in (4 mm) must be replaced. They
are no longer suitable for winter
operation.
Always use winter tires at temperatures
below 45 ¦ (7¥) and whenever wintry road
conditions

prevail. Not all M+S rated tires
provide special winter performance. Make
sure the tires you use show the mountain/
snowflake marking i on the tire
sidewall. These tires meet specific snow
traction performance requirements of the
Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA)
and the Rubber Association of Canada (RAC)
and have been designed specifically for
use in snow conditions. Use of winter tires
is the only way to achieve the maximum
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 217).
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. 142
Winter driving
>> Operation.
* optional

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 217).
R Use snow chains in pairs and on rear
wheels only. Follow the manufacturer’s
mounting instructions.
R Use of snow chains may be prohibited
depending on location. Always check
local and state laws before mounting
snow chains. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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. G
WARNING
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. Driving instructions
Drinking and driving
G
WARNING
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
G
WARNING
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
G
WARNING
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and
steering* systems. In this case, it is Driving instructions
143
>> Operation.
* optional Z

important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
Adapt your driving accordingly.
Brakes
G
WARNING
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 48).
! 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
surfaces. This may cause serious damage
to the drive- train which is not covered
by the smart Limited Warranty.
High and low stresses G
WARNING
Resting your foot on the brake pedal will
cause excessive and premature wear of the
brake pads.
It can also result in the brakes
overheating, thereby significantly
reducing their effectiveness and your
ability to stop the vehicle in sufficient
time to avoid an accident.
After

hard braking, it is advisable to drive
on for some time, rather than immediately
park, so that the air stream will cool down
the brakes faster.
If your brake system is normally only
subjected to moderate loads, you should
occasionally test the effectiveness of the
brakes by applying above-normal braking
pressure at higher speeds. This will also
enhance the grip of the brake pads. G
WARNING
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Wet road surface G
WARNING
After driving in heavy rain for some time
without applying the brakes or through
water

deep enough to wet brake components,
the first braking action may be somewhat
reduced and increased pedal pressure may
be necessary to obtain expected braking 144
Driving instructions
>> Operation.

Coolant temperature
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant
temperature may rise.
! Excessive coolant temperature causes
the red coolant temperature warning
lamp ? in the instrument cluster to
come on.
The engine should not be operated with
the red coolant temperature warning
lamp ? illuminated. Doing so may
cause serious engine damage which is
not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.
For more information on coolant
temperature warning lamp ( Y page 170).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. Driving abroad
Abroad,
there is an extensive smart service
network at your disposal. If you plan to
drive into areas which are not listed in the
index of your smart center directory, you
should request pertinent information from
an authorized smart center. Symmetrical low beams
i If you drive in countries where
vehicles drive on the other side of the
road than the country in which the
vehicle is registered, you must have the
headlamps

modified for symmetrical low
beams. Relevant information can be
obtained at any authorized smart center. Vehicle care
Care tips
Regular and proper care will help to
maintain the value of your vehicle. The
best way to protect your vehicle from
harmful environmental influences is to
wash it and use protective treatments
regularly.
smart recommends that you care for the
paintwork

at least twice a year (e.g. in the
spring and autumn). G
WARNING
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the
particular container. Always open your
vehicle’s doors or windows when cleaning
the inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and
keep them out of reach of children.
! Follow

the care tips. Wash your vehicle
preferably by hand.
While in operation or even while parked,
your vehicle is subjected to varying
external influences, which left unchecked
can attack the paint as well as the vehicle
underbody and lead to permanent damage. 150
Vehicle care
>> Operation.