?
Fuel type label
A Holder
X Turn off the engine.
X Remove the key from the starter switch.
X Open the fuel filler flap by pulling at the
point indicated by arrow :.
X Turn fuel filler cap = counterclockwise
and hold on to it until possible pressure
is released.
X Take off fuel filler cap =.
! The fuel filler cap is tethered to the
fuel filler flap. Do not drop the fuel
filler cap. It could damage the vehicle
paint finish.
X Insert fuel filler cap = in direction of
arrow ; into holder A on the inside of
the fuel filler flap.
X Fully insert filler nozzle unit and
refuel.
X Only fill your tank until the filler nozzle
unit
cuts out — do not top off or overfill .G
WARNING
Overfilling of the fuel tank may create
pressure in the system which could cause a
gas discharge. This could cause the gas to
spray
back out when removing the fuel pump
nozzle, which could cause personal injury.
X Replace fuel filler cap =.
X Turn fuel filler cap = clockwise until
the handle grip overturns.
i Make sure to close the fuel filler flap
before locking the vehicle as the fuel
filler flap locking pin prevents closing
after you have locked the vehicle.
X Close the fuel filler flap.
You should hear the latch close shut.
i Only use premium unleaded gasoline
with a minimum Posted Octane Rating of
91 (average of 96 RON/86 MON).
Information on gasoline quality can
normally be found on the fuel pump. Please contact gas station personnel in
case
labels on the pump cannot be found.
For more information on gasoline, see
“Premium unleaded gasoline”
(Y page 221) and “Fuel requirements”
(Y page 222), or contact an authorized
smart center. Check regularly and before a long trip
For information on quantities and
requirements of operating agents, see
“Service fluids and capacities”
(Y page 218).
Check the following:
R Engine oil level ( Y page 118)
R Tire inflation pressure ( Y page 126)
R Coolant level ( Y page 122)
R Vehicle lighting ( Y page 178)
R Windshield washer system (Y page 122)
R Brake fluid (Y page 123) Engine compartment
Engine compartment cover
Open the engine compartment cover to
check
the engine oil level and if necessary,
to add engine oil. 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 engine
compartment cover and parts in the area
around the engine compartment cover may
be hot. Parts of the engine can become very
hot. To prevent burns, let the engine cool
off completely before touching the engine
compartment cover, parts in the area
around the engine compartment cover, and
parts of the engine. Engine compartment
117
>> 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.
The brake fluid level is correct when it
is between the minimum mark and the
maximum mark.
R
If the brake fluid level has fallen
slightly below the minimum mark,
drive to an authorized smart center.
R If the brake fluid level has fallen
significantly below the minimum
mark, call Roadside Assistance or an
authorized smart center.
X Remount the service flap and close it
(Y page 120). Tires and wheels
Safety notes
Contact an authorized smart center for
information on tested and recommended
rims and tires for summer and winter
operation. They can also offer advice
concerning tire service and purchase. G
WARNING
Replace rims or tires with the same
designation, manufacturer and type as
shown on the original part. For further
information contact an authorized smart
center.
If incorrectly sized rims and tires
are mounted, the wheel brakes or
suspension components can be damaged.
Also, the operating clearance of the wheels
and the tires may no longer be correct. G
WARNING
Worn, old tires can cause accidents. If the
tire
tread is worn to minimum tread depth,
or if the tires have sustained damage,
replace them.
When replacing rims, only use genuine
smart wheel bolts specified for the
particular rim type. Failure to do so can
result in the bolts loosening and possibly
an accident.
Retreaded tires are not tested or
recommended by smart, since previous damage cannot always be recognized on
retreads. The operating safety of the
vehicle cannot be assured when such tires
are used.
G
WARNING
If you feel a sudden significant vibration
or ride disturbance, or you suspect that
possible damage to your vehicle has
occurred, you should turn on the hazard
warning flashers, carefully slow down, and
drive
with caution to an area which is a safe
distance from the road.
Inspect the tires and the vehicle underbody
for possible damage. If the vehicle or tires
appear unsafe, have the vehicle towed to the
nearest authorized smart center or tire
dealer for repairs. G
WARNING
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire
affects the ability to steer or brake the
vehicle. You could lose control of the
vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire
or driving at high speed with a flat tire
will cause excessive heat build-up and
possibly a fire.
Modifications to the brake system and
wheels and the use of brake dust rings are
not permissible. Important guidelines
R Only
use sets of tires and rims of the same
type and make.
R Tires must be of the correct size for the
rim.
R Break in new tires for approximately
60 miles (100 km) at moderate speeds.
R Regularly check the tires and rims for
damage. Dented or bent rims can cause
tire pressure loss and damage to the tire
beads.124
Tires and wheels
>> Operation.
Treadwear indicator
: appears as a solid
band across the tread.
Storing tires !
Keep unmounted tires in a cool, dry
place with as little exposure to light as
possible.
Protect tires from contact with
oil, grease and fuels.
Cleaning tires !
Never use a round nozzle to power wash
tires.
The intense jet of water can result
in damage to the tire.
Always replace a damaged tire. Uniform Tire Quality Grading
Standards
The Uniform Tire Quality Grading is a U.S.
Government requirement designed to give
drivers consistent and reliable
information regarding tire performance.
Tire manufacturers are required to grade
tires based on three performance factors: treadwear
:,
traction ;, and temperature
resistance =. Although not a Government
of Canada requirement, all tires made for
sale in North America have these grades
branded on the sidewall.
i For illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehicle
and may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
Quality grades can be found, where
applicable, on the tire sidewall between
tread shoulder and maximum section width.
For example: Treadwear Traction Temperature
200 AA A
All passenger car tires must conform to
federal
safety requirements in addition to
these grades.
Treadwear The treadwear grade is a comparative
rating based on the wear rate of the tire
when
tested under controlled conditions on
a specified U.S. government test course.
For example, a tire graded 150 would wear
one and one-half (1 1
/ 2 ) times as well on the
government course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends
upon the actual conditions of their use,
however, and may depart significantly from
the norm due to variations in driving
habits, service practices and differences
in road characteristics and climate.
Traction G
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is
based on straight-ahead braking traction
tests, and does not include acceleration,
cornering, hydroplaning, or peak traction
characteristics. 134
Tires and wheels
>> Operation.
A
Manufacturer
B Tire ply material ( Y page 139)
C Tire size designation, load and speed
rating (Y page 136)
D Load identification (Y page 138)
E Tire name
i For illustration purposes only. Actual
data
on tires are specific to each vehicle
and may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
For more information, see “Rims and
tires” ( Y page 217).
Tire size designation, load and speed
rating :
Tire width
; Aspect ratio in %
= Radial tire code
? Rim diameter
A Tire load rating
B Tire speed rating
i For information purposes only. Actual
data
on tires are specific to each vehicle
and may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
General:
Depending on the design standards used,
the tire size molded into the sidewall may
have no letter or a letter preceding the tire
size designation. No letter preceding the size designation
(as illustrated above): Passenger car tire
based on European design standards.
Letter
“P” preceding the size designation:
Passenger car tire based on U.S. design
standards.
Letter “LT” preceding the size
designation: Light Truck tire based on U.S.
design standards.
Letter “T” preceding the size designation:
Temporary spare tires which are high
pressure compact spares designed for
temporary emergency use only.
Tire width
Tire width : indicates the nominal tire
width in mm.
Aspect ratio
Aspect ratio ; is the dimensional
relationship between tire section height
and section width and is expressed as a
percentage. The aspect ratio is arrived at
by dividing section height by section
width.
Tire code
Tire code = indicates the tire
construction type. The “R” stands for radial
tire type. Letter “D” means diagonal or
bias ply construction; letter “B” means
belted-bias ply construction.
At the tire manufacturer’s option, any tire
with a speed capability above 149 mph
(240 km/h) can include a “ZR” in the size
designation (for example: 245/40 ZR 18).
For additional information, see “Tire
speed rating” (Y page 137).
Rim diameter
Rim diameter ? is the diameter of the
bead seat, not the diameter of the rim edge.
Rim diameter is indicated in inches (in). 136
Tires and wheels
>> Operation.
symbol in the service description.
Example: 245/40 ZR18 97Y.
In this example, “97Y” is the service
description. The letter “Y” designates
the speed rating and the speed
capability of the tire is limited to
186 mph (300 km/h).
R Any tire with a speed capability above
186
mph (300 km/h) must include a “ZR” in
the size designation AND the service
description must be placed in
parenthesis. Example:
275/40 ZR 18 (99Y). The “(Y)” speed rating
in parenthesis designates the maximum
speed capability of the tire as being
above 186 mph (300 km/h). Consult the tire
manufacturer for the actual maximum
permissible speed of the tire.
All-season and winter tires Index Speed rating
Q M+S
15 up to 100 mph (160 km/h)
T M+S
15 up to 118 mph (190 km/h)
H M+S
15 up to 130 mph (210 km/h)
V M+S
15 up to 149 mph (240 km/h)
i
Not
all M+S rated tires provide special
winter performance. Make sure the tires
you use show M+S and 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. Load identification
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual
data
on tires are specific to each vehicle
and may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
In addition to the tire load rating, special
load identification : may be molded into
the tire sidewall following the letter
designating the tire speed rating B
(Y page 137).
No specification given: absence of any text
(like in above example) indicates a
standard load (SL) tire.
XL or Extra Load: designates an extra load
(or reinforced) tire.
Light Load: designates a light load tire.
C, D, E: designates load range associated
with the maximum load a tire can carry at a
specified pressure. DOT, Tire Identification Number (TIN)
U.S.
tire regulations require each new tire
manufacturer or tire retreader to mold a
TIN into or onto a sidewall of each tire
produced.
15 or M+S i for winter tires.138
Tires and wheels
>> Operation.
(Y page 217), for example when purchasing
new tires.
For
information on how to identify the tire
speed rating on a tire’s sidewall, see “Tire
size designation, load and speed rating”
(Y page 136).
If you are uncertain about the correct
reading of the information given on a
tire’s sidewall, any authorized smart
center will be glad to assist you.
i For information on speed ratings for
winter tires, see “All-season and winter
tires” ( Y page 137). Winter driving instructions
The
most important rule for slippery or icy
roads is to drive sensibly and to avoid
abrupt acceleration, braking and steering
maneuvers.
When the vehicle is in danger of skidding,
move gear selector lever to neutral
position N. Try to keep the vehicle under
control by corrective steering action.
For information on driving with snow
chains*, see “Snow chains*” (Y page 142). G
WARNING
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.
Road salts and chemicals can adversely
affect braking efficiency. Increased pedal
force may become necessary to produce the
normal braking effect.
Depressing the brake pedal periodically
when traveling at length on salt-strewn
roads can bring road-salt-impaired
braking efficiency back to normal.
If the vehicle is parked after being driven
on salt-treated roads, the braking
efficiency should be tested as soon as
possible after driving is resumed. G
WARNING
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers. G
WARNING
If the vehicle becomes stuck in snow, make
sure
snow is kept clear of the exhaust pipe
and from around the vehicle with the engine
running. Otherwise, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) gases may enter vehicle
interior resulting in unconsciousness and
death.
To assure sufficient fresh air ventilation,
open a window slightly on the side of the
vehicle not facing the wind. G
WARNING
The outside temperature display is not
designed
to serve 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.
For more information, see “Winter driving”
(Y page 142). Standing water
! Do not drive through flooded areas or
water of unknown depth. Before driving
through water, determine its depth.
Never accelerate before driving into
water. The bow wave could force water
into the engine and auxiliary
equipment, thus damaging them.
If you must drive through standing water,
drive
slowly to prevent water from entering
R the front compartment
R the engine compartment
R the passenger compartment
Water in these areas could cause damage to
electrical components or wiring of the
engine or transmission, or could result in 148
Driving instructions
>> Operation.
* optional
Such damage is caused not only by extreme
and varying climatic conditions, but also
by:
R
Air pollution
R Road salt
R Tar
R Gravel and stone chipping
To avoid paint damage, you should
immediately remove:
R Insects
R Bird droppings
R Tree sap, etc.
R Grease and oil
R Brake fluid
R Coolant
R Fuel
R Tar spots
! Failure to remove such dirt
immediately can cause damage to the
paint or the soft top fabric*
.
Environmental influences are not
covered by the smart Limited Warranty.
Frequent washing reduces and/or
eliminates the aggressiveness and potency
of the above adverse influences.
More frequent washings are necessary to
deal with unfavorable conditions:
R near the ocean
R in industrial areas (smoke, exhaust
emissions)
R during winter operation
You should check your vehicle from time to
time for stone chipping or other damage.
Any damage should be repaired as soon as
possible to prevent corrosion.
In doing so, do not neglect the underbody
of the vehicle. A prerequisite for a
thorough check is a washing of the
underbody followed by a thorough
inspection. Damaged areas need to be re-
undercoated.
Your vehicle has been treated at the factory
with a wax-base rustproofing in the body cavities which will last for the lifetime of
the vehicle. Post-production treatment is
neither necessary nor recommended by
smart because of the possibility of
incompatibility
between materials used in
the production process and others applied
later.
We have selected vehicle-care products
and compiled recommendations which are
specially matched to our vehicles and
which always reflect the latest technology.
You can obtain smart approved vehicle-
care products at an authorized smart
center.
Scratches, corrosive deposits, corrosion
or damage due to negligent or incorrect
care cannot always be removed or repaired
with the vehicle-care products
recommended here. In such cases it is best
to seek aid at an authorized smart center.
The following topics deal with the cleaning
and care of your vehicle and give important
“how-to” information as well as references
to smart approved vehicle-care products. Vehicle care
Contact an authorized smart center for
recommended and approved care products.
i Advice on caring for the soft top
system, see (Y page 154). G
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, the brakes may
still be wet and thus their functionality
impaired. Therefore, when you start off,
brake lightly several times without
endangering traffic. Vehicle care
151
>> Operation.
* optional Z