2012 SMART FORTWO COUPE Owners Manual

Vehicles without control system
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions The electronic immobilizer is not working.
X
Have the system checked at an authorized smart center. There is a malfunction in the shifting system.
X
Have the system checked at an authorized smart center. The transmission is taught-in (
Y page 86).
X Have the system checked at an authorized smart center. Vehicles with control system*
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions?
Switch Engine Off The coolant is too hot.
X
Stop the vehicle immediately as soon as it is safe to do so.
X Turn off the engine immediately.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Make sure the air supply for the radiator is uninterrupted.
X Only start the engine again after the display message
disappears. You could otherwise damage the engine. 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. Display messages
159
>> Practical hints.
* optional Z

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions4
Switch Engine Off The engine oil level is too low. The engine could be damaged.
X
Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do so.
X Turn off the engine.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Check the engine oil level (Y page 118) and add engine oil as
required (Y page 119). J
Release Parking
Brake You are driving with the parking brake engaged.
X
Release the parking brake. 5
Shift

to N or P to
Start You have attempted to start the engine while the automatic
transmission was in reverse gear
R or drive position D.
Shift the automatic transmission into park position P or
neutral position N.5
Apply Brakes to
Start You have attempted to start the engine without depressing the
brake pedal.
Depress the brake pedal to start the engine.
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions#
Charge Battery The battery is not being charged.
Possible causes:
R
alternator malfunctioning
R broken poly-V-belt
X Stop the vehicle immediately as soon as it is safe to do so.
X Turn off the engine immediately.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Check the poly-V-belt.
X If poly-V-belt is broken: Do not continue to drive. Contact
an authorized smart center.
X If poly-V-belt is intact: Have the vehicle checked at an
authorized smart center immediately. !
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. 160
Display messages
>> Practical hints.

Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions6
Reserve Fuel The fuel level has dropped below the reserve mark.
X
Refuel at the next gas station. Ö
Driver´s Door Ajar The driver’s door is open.
X
Close the driver’s door. Ø
Door Ajar The passenger door is open.
X
Close the passenger door. Õ
Tailgate Open A tailgate or the rear soft top
17
is open.
X Close the tailgates or the rear soft. Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutionsh
Check
Tire Pressure The tire inflation pressure in at least one tire is
significantly below the reference value.
X
Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt
steering and braking maneuvers.
X Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as required
(Y page 126).
X If necessary, change the wheel ( Y page 194).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.
17 cabriolet only. Display messages
161
>> Practical hints.
Z

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
low tire pressure telltale. When the system detects a malfunction, the telltale will flash for
approximately 1 minute and then remain continuously illuminated.
This sequence will continue upon subsequent vehicle start-ups as long as the malfunction
exists. When the malfunction indicator is illuminated, the system may not be able to detect
or signal low tire pressure as intended.
TPMS malfunctions may occur for a variety of reasons, including the installation of
incompatible replacement or alternate tires or wheels on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always check the TPMS malfunction telltale after replacing one
or more tires or wheels on your vehicle to ensure that the replacement or alternate tires
and wheels allow the TPMS to continue to function properly. Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M SolutionsÒ
Danger: Ice
(Canada only) The outside temperature is below 3
¥. The road may be icy.
X Adjust your driving style to the prevailing road and weather
conditions. G
WARNING
The display message Danger:
Ice is not designed as an ice-warning device and is therefore
unsuitable for that purpose.
Indicated temperatures just above the freezing point do not guarantee that the road surface
is free of ice. The road may still be icy, especially in wooded areas or on bridges. Your
vehicle could start to skid if you do not adjust your driving style accordingly.
Therefore, always adjust your driving style to the prevailing road and weather conditions. 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 57), have the respective
bulb checked and replaced if necessary. 162
What to do if ...
>> Practical hints.

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.

Safety systems
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M Solutions7
The seat belt
telltale
illuminates
constantly for a
maximum of
6 seconds after
starting the
engine. Regardless of whether the seat belt is fastened or not, the seat
belt telltale always comes on and remains lit for 6 seconds
after starting the engine.
X
Fasten your seat belts. 7
The seat belt
telltale
illuminates
constantly. An
additional
warning chime
sounds for a
maximum of
6 seconds after
starting the
engine. The driver’s seat belt is unfastened.
X
Fasten your seat belts. 7
The seat belt
telltale flashes
with
increasing
frequency of a
warning chime
for a maximum
of 60 seconds. The vehicle speed once exceeds 15 mph (25 km/h), and both the
driver’s and passenger seat belt are unfastened.
X
Fasten your seat belts.
If the driver’s or the passenger seat belt remains unfastened
after 60 seconds, the warning chime stops sounding. The seat
belt telltale stops flashing but continues to be illuminated.
The seat belt telltale will only go out if both the driver’s and
the
passenger seat belt (with the passenger seat occupied) are
fastened, or the vehicle is standing still and a door is opened. What to do if ...
165
>> Practical hints. Z

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.