Wheel change
Preparing the vehicle
X Park the vehicle on a hard, flat surface
when possible.
X Turn on the hazard warning flasher.
X Turn the steering wheel so that the front
wheels are in a straight-ahead position.
X Engage the parking brake.
X Move the gear selector lever to park
position P.
X Switch off the drive system.
X Have any passenger exit the vehicle at a
safe distance from the roadway. Removing the wheel
G
WARNING
When jacking up the vehicle, only use a
suitable jack. Observe the manufacturer’s
safety instructions.
The jack must be designed for jacking up
this vehicle at the jack take-up brackets
built into both sides of the vehicle.
The jack is intended only for lifting the
vehicle briefly for wheel changes. It is not
suited for performing maintenance work
under the vehicle. To help avoid personal
injury, use the jack only to lift the vehicle
during a wheel change.
Never get beneath the vehicle while it is
supported by the jack. Keep hands and feet
away from the area under the lifted vehicle.
Always lower the vehicle onto sufficient
capacity jackstands before working under
the vehicle.
Always firmly engage the parking brake and
block the wheels with wheel chocks or other
sizeable objects before raising the vehi-
cle with the jack. Do not release the parking
brake while the vehicle is raised.
Make sure the ground on which the vehicle
is standing and where you place the jack is solid, level and not slippery. If necessary,
use a large underlay. On slippery surfaces,
such as tiled floors, you should use a non-
slip underlay, for example a rubber mat.
Do not use wooden blocks or similar objects
to support the jack. Otherwise the jack may
not be able to achieve its load-bearing
capacity if it is not at its full height.
The jack must always be vertical when in
use. Always try to use the jack on level sur-
face. If you do not position the jack cor-
rectly, the vehicle can fall off the jack and
seriously or fatally injure you or others.
Never switch on the drive system when the
vehicle is raised.
Also observe the notes on the jack.
X Make sure to have a suitable jack 10
, wheel
wrench 10
and wheel chock 10
.
Contact an authorized electric drive
smart center for information on which
jack and wheel wrench are required.
X Prepare the vehicle as described
(Y page 195).
X Make sure the surface is level.
Prevent the vehicle from rolling away by
blocking wheels with wheel chocks or other
sizeable objects:
X Place one wheel chock or other sizeable
object in front of and another wheel
chock or other sizeable object behind
the wheel that is diagonally opposite to
the wheel being changed.
X On wheel to be changed, loosen but do not
yet remove the wheel bolts (approx-
imately one full turn with wheel wrench).
! Only position the jack on the desig-
nated take-up brackets.
You must not position the jack under the
high-voltage battery. Otherwise, the
high-voltage battery could be damaged.
10 Not included and not available as factory equipment. Wheel change
195>> Practical hints. Z
G
WARNING
Have the tightening torque checked after
changing a wheel. The wheels could come
loose if they are not tightened to a torque
of 80 lb-ft (110 Nm).
i The Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS)* only functions on wheels that are
equipped with the proper electronic
sensors (Y page 131). Batteries
Notes on the vehicle’s electrical sys-
tem
The vehicle’s electrical system provides
power for the electric drive and all elec-
trical consumers or components of the
vehicle.
Power is supplied to the vehicle via two
batteries:
R 12-volt battery
R High-voltage battery Notes on the 12‑volt battery
Your vehicle’s 12‑volt battery is located in
the passenger footwell below the footrest
(Y page 199).
The 12 volt battery should always be suffi-
ciently charged in order to achieve its
rated service life. Refer to the Scheduled
Maintenance Guide (USA only) or the
Service booklet (Canada only) for battery
maintenance intervals.
If you use your vehicle mostly for short-
distance trips, you will need to have the
12 volt battery charge checked more fre-
quently.
When replacing the battery, always use bat-
teries approved by smart. For information,
contact an authorized electric drive smart
center. If you do not intend to operate your vehicle
for an extended period of time, consult an
authorized electric drive smart center
about steps you need to observe. G
WARNING
Observe all safety instructions and pre-
cautions when handling automotive batter-
ies. Risk of explosion.
Fire, open flames and
smoking are prohibited
when handling batteries.
Avoid creating sparks. Battery acid is caustic.
Do not allow it to come
into contact with skin,
eyes or clothing.
Wear suitable protective
clothing, especially
gloves, apron and face-
guard. Wear eye protection.
Rinse any acid spills
immediately with clear
water. Contact a physician
if necessary. Keep children away.
Follow the instructions in
this Operator’s Manual. G
WARNING
Failure to follow these instructions can
result in severe injury or death.
Observe all safety instructions and pre-
cautions when handling automotive batter-
ies.
Never lean over batteries while connect-
ing, you might get injured. Batteries
197>> Practical hints.
* optional Z
Battery fluid contains sulfuric acid. Do not
allow this fluid to come in contact with
eyes, skin or clothing. In case it does,
immediately flush affected area with water
and seek medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and explosive. Keep
flames or sparks away from battery, avoid
improper connection of jumper cables,
smoking, etc. G
WARNING
Do not place any metal objects on a battery.
You could otherwise cause a short circuit
and the battery’s highly flammable chemi-
cals could ignite.
Never allow any metal object to contact both
battery terminals or the positive terminal
and the vehicle body at the same time. This
might short circuit the battery and ignite
the highly flammable and explosive hydro-
gen gas generated by the battery, causing
serious personal injury. G
WARNING
Keep flames or sparks away from battery,
avoid improper connection of jumper
cables, smoking, etc.
R When disconnecting the battery, always
disconnect the negative terminal first,
followed by positive terminal.
R When connecting the battery, always con-
nect the positive terminal first, fol-
lowed by the negative terminal.
R Do not loosen or disconnect the battery
terminal clips while the drive system is
running or the key is in the starter
switch.
! Never loosen or detach battery terminal
clamps while the drive system is running
or the key is in the starter switch. Oth-
erwise, electronic components could be
severely damaged.
Have the battery checked regularly at an
authorized electric drive smart center. Refer to Maintenance Booklet for main-
tenance intervals or contact an author-
ized electric drive smart center for fur-
ther information.
! Never invert the terminal connections! Notes on the high‑voltage battery
Have work on the high-voltage battery per-
formed by an authorized electric drive
smart center only. Observe the safety notes
on (Y page 16) as well as the notes on the 12-
volt battery (Y page 197). G
WARNING
The electrolyte of the high-voltage bat-
tery, i.e. the battery fluid, is toxic and
caustic. Do not allow this fluid to come in
contact with eyes, skin or clothing, for
example in case of an accident.
In case it does, immediately flush affected
area with water and seek medical help
immediately.
The high-voltage battery is located in the
vehicle underbody. Keep this in mind when
jacking up the vehicle. The vehicle has
designated take-up brackets for the jack.
For more information, see (Y page 196).
! Only position the jack on the desig-
nated take-up brackets.
You must not position the jack under the
high-voltage battery. Otherwise, the
high-voltage battery could be damaged. 198
Batteries>> Practical hints.
Disconnecting, removing, charging,
reinstalling and reconnecting 12‑volt
battery
Disconnecting the 12-volt battery i
If the 12-volt battery is disconnected
or discharged
R turning the key in the starter switch
will have no effect
R the transmission will remain in park
position P
For more information see “Jump start-
ing” (Y page 200).
X Engage the parking brake.
X Move the gear selector lever to park
position P.
X Turn off all electrical accessories.
X Switch off the drive system.
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 160).
X Lift the carpet. X
Unscrew fastening screw 0044counter-
clockwise.
X Pull footrest 0043sideways out of the vehi-
cle.
X Read and observe safety instructions and
precautions (Y page 197). !
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 0087.
Make sure the negative lead does not
come into contact with the positive lead.
X Remove cover 0085from the positive ter-
minal.
X Disconnect the battery positive lead.
Removing the 12-volt battery X
Unscrew battery mount 0083.
X Remove the battery support and bracket.
X Pull out the ventilation hose from the
battery.
Depending on battery 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 12-volt 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 fur- Batteries
199>> Practical hints.
Z
ther gas is being discharged by the bat-
teries.
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 per-
sonal injury.
X Charge battery in accordance with the
instructions of the battery charger man-
ufacturer.
! Only use chargers of a correct and suit-
able voltage.
! Never attempt to recharge a frozen bat-
tery. Have the battery checked at a smart
center. The battery housing could be
damaged.
Reinstalling the 12-volt battery X
Reinstall the charged battery. Follow the
previously described steps in reverse
order.
! The battery, its filler caps and the ven-
tilation hose must always be securely
installed when the vehicle is in opera-
tion.
Reconnecting the 12-volt battery !
Always connect the battery in the order
described below. Otherwise the vehi-
cle’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 0085(Ypage 199).
X Connect battery negative lead 0087
(Y page 199).
i After battery power (e.g. due to recon-
nection) was interrupted, you will have
to set the clock (Y page 94).
i Have the battery’s charge status and
acid level checked at the start of the cold
season at a an authorized electric drive
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,
immediately flush affected area with
water, and seek medical help if necessary.
A battery will also produce hydrogen gas,
which is flammable and very explosive.
Keep flames or sparks away from battery,
avoid improper connection of jumper
cables, smoking, etc.
Attempting to jump start a frozen battery
can result in it exploding, causing per-
sonal injury.
Read all instructions before proceeding.
! Do not tow‑start vehicle. It is not pos-
sible to tow-start the vehicle. Attempt-
ing to do so may seriously damage the
drivetrain which would not be covered by
the smart Limited Warranty.
If the 12-volt battery is discharged, the
drive system cannot be started, regardless 200
Jump starting>> Practical hints.
of whether the high-voltage battery is
charged or not. Jump starting will not help
to start the drive system if the high-volt-
age battery is drained. The high-voltage
battery must then be charged.
The drive system can be started with jumper
cables and the fully charged battery of
another vehicle or an equivalent starter
pack.
Observe the following:
R Do not start the drive system if the bat-
tery is frozen. Let the battery thaw out
first.
R Only jump start from batteries with the
same voltage rating (12 V). Jump starting
with a more powerful battery could dam-
age the vehicle’s electrical system. Such
damage will not be covered by the smart
Limited Warranty.
R Only use jumper cables with sufficient
cross-section and insulated terminal
clamps.
R Should the battery be drained com-
pletely, let the donating power source
charge the vehicle for several minutes
before reattempting the starting proc-
ess. G
WARNING
Keep flames or sparks away from battery. Do
not smoke.
Observe all safety instructions and pre-
cautions when handling automotive batter-
ies. Jump starting
201>> Practical hints. Z
Jump start assistance
Your vehicle’s 12-volt battery is located in the passenger footwell below the footrest
(Y page 199).
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 Switch off the drive system.
X Get access to the battery in the passenger footwell (Y page 199).
X Remove the positive terminal cover. Position
0083represents the charged battery of another vehicle or an equivalent starter
pack.
! Never invert the terminal connections!
X Connect positive terminal 0043of charged battery 0083with positive terminal 0044of your
vehicle’s battery 0084with a jumper cable. Clamp the jumper cable to positive termi-
nal 0043of charged battery 0083first.
X Start the engine of the vehicle with charged battery 0083.
X Connect negative terminal 0087of charged battery 0083with negative terminal 0085of your
vehicle’s battery 0084with a jumper cable. Clamp the jumper cable to negative terminal
0087 of charged battery 0083first.
X Start the drive system of your vehicle. You can now switch on minimal consumers. Do
not switch on large consumers such as the rear window defroster or headlamps. 202
Jump starting>> Practical hints.
X
Remove the jumper cables from negative terminals 0087and 0085first.
X Remove the jumper cables from positive terminals 0043and 0044.
You can now switch on the headlamps.
X Remount the positive terminal cover.
X Have the 12-volt battery checked at the nearest authorized electric drive smart center.
i Please keep in mind that it will take quite some time to charge the 12-volt battery.
When you switch off the drive system after driving a short distance, you may not be able
to start it again.
Charge the 12-volt battery completely as soon as possible. Towing
About towing
This section offers information on towing
methods for breakdown situations and
emergency towing. Recommended towing method - Break-
down situation
! 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.
smart recommends that the vehicle be
transported with all wheels off the ground
using a flatbed carrier truck or appropri-
ate wheel lift/dolly equipment.
Always have your vehicle transported:
R when the 0075warning lamp for the high-
voltage system lights up in the instru-
ment cluster
R when the Do not tow (away)
Do not tow (away) message
appears in the instrument cluster
R when the multifunction display is inop-
erative R
when one or several of the following
warning lamps light up:
-00ED Drive diagnostics (red)
- 003D 12‑Volt battery
0052 Power steering
R if the brake pedal already starts to pul-
sate just after towing begins
R if you have to transport the vehicle over
long distances
X Switch off the tow‑away protection* and
interior motion sensor* (Y page 50). Emergency towing
When circumstances do not permit the rec-
ommended 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 tow-
ing method can be employed. G
WARNING
If circumstances require towing the vehi-
cle with all wheels on the ground, always tow
with a tow bar if:
R the drive system will not run
R there is a malfunction in the brake sys-
tem
R there is a malfunction in the power sup-
ply or in the vehicle’s electrical system Towing
203>> Practical hints.
* optional Z