2015 SMART FORTWO COUPE brakes

X
Push cap :onto the windshield washer
reservoir.
X Remount the service flap and close it
(Y page 123). Brake fluid
G
WARNING
During vehicle operation, the boiling
point of the brake fluid is continuously
reduced through the absorption of moisture from the atmosphere. Under extremely
strenuous operating conditions, this mois-
ture content can lead to the formation of
bubbles in the system, thus reducing the
system’s efficiency.
Therefore, the brake fluid must be replaced regularly. Refer to your vehicle’s Mainte-
nance Booklet for replacement interval.
The brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir may be too low if the brake warn- ing lamp in the instrument cluster comes on(Y page 23) although the parking brake is
released.
! 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 electric drive smart center
immediately. Do not add brake fluid as
this will not solve the problem.
X Remove the service flap and insert it on
the front of the vehicle (Y page 123).
The brake fluid reservoir is located in the
front compartment on the passenger side. Checking brake fluid level
X
Perform a visual check of the brake fluid
reservoir :.
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 electric drive
smart center.
R If the brake fluid level has fallen sig-
nificantly below the minimum mark,
call Roadside Assistance or an author- ized electric drive smart center.
X Remount the service flap and close it
(Y page 123). Tires and wheels
Safety notes
Contact an authorized electric drive smart
center for information on tested and rec-
ommended rims and tires for summer and
winter operation. They can also offer
advice concerning tire service and pur-
chase. G
WARNING
Replace rims or tires with the same desig- nation, manufacturer and type as shown on
the original part. For further information
contact an authorized electric drive smart
center. If incorrectly sized rims and tires are mounted, the wheel brakes or suspen- Tires and wheels
127>> Operation.
Z

It monitors the tire inflation pressure in
all four tires. A warning is issued to alert
you to a decrease in pressure in one or more of the tires.
The Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS) is equipped with a combination low
tire pressure/TPMS malfunction telltale in the instrument cluster. Depending on how
the telltale illuminates, it indicates a low
tire pressure condition or a malfunction in
the TPMS system itself:
R If the telltale illuminates continuously,
one or more of your tires is significantly
underinflated. There is no malfunction
in the TPMS.
R If the telltale flashes for 60 seconds and
then stays illuminated, the TPMS system
itself is not operating properly.
The TPMS only functions on wheels that are
equipped with the proper electronic sen-
sors. G
WARNING
The TPMS does not indicate a warning for
wrongly selected inflation pressures.
Always adjust tire inflation pressure
according to the Tire and Loading Infor-
mation placard on the driver’s door B‑pil- lar.
The TPMS is not able to issue a warning due to a sudden dramatic loss of pressure (e.g.
tire blowout caused by a foreign object). In
this case bring the vehicle to a halt by
carefully applying the brakes and avoiding abrupt steering maneuvers. 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 plac-
ard. If your vehicle has tires of a differentsize than the size indicated on the Tire and
Loading Information placard, you should
determine the proper tire inflation pres-
sure for those tires. As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure moni-
toring 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. Driv-
ing on a significantly underinflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure.
Underinflation also increases energy con-
sumption, reduces 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.
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 com-
bined 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 subse-
quent vehicle start-ups as long as the mal-
function 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 Tires and wheels
131>> Operation.
Z

The TIN is a unique identifier which facil-
itates efforts by tire manufactures to
notify purchasers in recall situations or
other safety matters concerning tires and
gives purchasers the means to easily iden- tify such tires.
The TIN is comprised of “Manufacturer’s
identification mark” ;, “Tire size”=,
“Tire type code” ?, and “Date of manufac-
ture” A.
i For illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
DOT (Department of Transportation) Tire branding symbol
:which denotes the
tire meets requirements of the U.S. Depart- ment of Transportation.
Manufacturer’s identification mark Manufacturer’s identification mark
;
denotes the tire manufacturer.
New tires have a mark with two symbols.
Retreaded tires have a mark with four sym-
bols. For more information on retreaded
tires (Y page 127).
Tire size Code
=indicates the tire size. Tire type code Tire type code
?may, at the option of the
manufacturer, be used as a descriptive
code for identifying significant charac-
teristics of the tire.
Date of manufacture Date of manufacture
Aidentifies the week
and year of manufacture.
The first two figures identify the week,
starting with “01” to represent the first
full week of the calendar year. The second
two figures represent the year.
For example, “3202” represents the 32nd
week of 2002. Tire ply material
i
For illustration purposes only. Actual
data on tires are specific to each vehicle and may vary from data shown in above
illustration.
This marking tells you about the type of
cord and number of plies in the sidewall :
and under the tread ;. Tire and loading terminology
Accessory weight The combined weight (in excess of those
standard items which may be replaced) of
transmission, power steering, power
brakes, power windows, power seats, radio, Tires and wheels
143>> Operation. Z

Normal occupant weight
The number of occupants the vehicle is
designed to seat, multiplied by 68 kilo-
grams (150 lbs).
Occupant distribution The distribution of occupants in a vehicle
at their designated seating positions.
Production options weight The combined weight of those installed
regular production options weighing over
5 lbs (2.3 kilograms) in excess of those
standard items which they replace, not
previously considered in curb weight or
accessory weight, including heavy duty
brakes, ride levelers, roof rack, heavy duty
battery, and special trim.
PSI (Pounds per square inch) A standard unit of measure for air pres-
sure.
Recommended tire inflation pressure The recommended tire inflation pressure
for normal driving conditions is listed on
the Tire and Loading Information placard
located on driver’s door B‑pillar and pro-
vides best handling, tread life and riding
comfort.
Rim A metal support for a tire or a tire and tube
assembly upon which the tire beads are
seated.
Sidewall The portion of a tire between the tread and
the bead. TIN (Tire Identification Number) Unique identifier which facilitates
efforts by tire manufacturers to notify
purchasers in recall situations or other
safety matters concerning tires and gives
purchasers the means to easily identify
such tires. The TIN is comprised of “Man-
ufacturer’s identification mark”, “Tire
size”, “Tire type code” and “Date of manu-
facture”.
Tire load rating Numerical code associated with the maxi-
mum load a tire can support.
Tire ply composition and material used This indicates the number of plies or the
number of layers of rubber-coated fabric
in the tire tread and sidewall. Tire manu-
facturers also must indicate the ply mate-
rials in the tire and sidewall, which
include steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
Tire speed rating Part of tire designation; indicates the
speed range for which a tire is approved.
Total load limit Rated cargo and luggage load plus 68 kilo-
grams (150 lbs) times the vehicle’s desig-
nated seating capacity.
Traction Force exerted by the vehicle on the road via
the tires. The amount of grip provided.
Tread The portion of a tire that comes into con-
tact with the road. Tires and wheels
145>> Operation. Z

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 maneu-
vers.
Refer to the description of the hydraulic
brake assistant (Y page 47).
! Because the ESP ®
operates automati-
cally, the ignition must be switched off
when the parking brake is being tested
on a brake test dynamometer. Active
braking action through the ESP ®
may oth-
erwise seriously damage the brake sys-
tem 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 warn- ing lamp in the instrument cluster comes on
(Y page 23) although the parking brake is
released.
Have the brake system inspected immedi-
ately. Contact an authorized electric drive
smart center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
electric drive smart center.
Only install brake pads and use brake fluid
recommended by smart. Inclines 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 overheat-
ing, thereby significantly reducing their
effectiveness and your ability to stop the
vehicle in sufficient time to avoid an acci- dent.
Please observe the following guidelines to
avoid that the permitted maximum speed is
exceeded when driving on downhill grades:
R Do not move the gear selector lever to N.
R Recuperation is limited, if:
- the high-voltage battery is fully
charged or too cold
- the power electronics or the electric
motor is overheated.
When driving down long and steep grades, do not depress the brake pedal perma-
nently. Depress it in intervals instead to
reduce the vehicle speed.
High and low stresses 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 sub-
jected to moderate loads, you should occa- sionally 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. 148
Driving instructions>> Operation.

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
effect. Maintain a safe distance from vehi-
cles in front.
To help prevent brake disc corrosion after
driving on wet road surfaces (particularly salted roads), it is advisable to brake the
vehicle with considerable force prior to
parking. The heat generated serves to dry
the brakes. G
WARNING
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out these braking
maneuvers.
Limited braking effect on salted roads Remember that the effect of the brakes can
be limited on salted road surfaces. A layer of salt can form on brake discs and brake
pads, considerably reducing the friction
between the brake disc and the brake pad.
The effect is most noticeable after long
trips without braking, e.g. on the highway, and after the vehicle has been parked for
several hours. G
WARNING
The accumulation of salt on brake discs and brake pads reduces braking effectiveness
and increases the distance necessary to
come to a complete standstill. This could
potentially cause an accident and/or per-
sonal injury.
To avoid this risk, you should
R brake carefully every now and then on
salted roads in order to remove any layer
of salt on the brake disc and brake pad, but do so without endangering any other
road users
R keep a good safe distance from the vehi-
cle in front and drive carefully
R press the brake carefully at the end of the
trip and again when beginning the next
trip in order to remove any salt residues
from the brake disc
New brake pads Only install brake pads recommended by
smart. G
WARNING
If other than recommended brake pads are
installed, or other than recommended brake fluid is used, the braking properties of the
vehicle can be degraded to an extent that
safe braking is substantially impaired.
This could result in an accident. G
WARNING
New brake pads will not achieve their opti- mal braking effect until after several hun- dred miles (kilometers). This means that
you must compensate for the reduced brak-
ing effect by pressing harder on the brake
pedal and adapt your driving style accord-
ingly. The same applies after brake pads or
brake discs have been changed. Drive sensibly - save energy
Energy consumption, to a great extent,
depends on driving habits and operating
conditions.
To save energy you should: R Drive carefully and maintain a suitable
distance from the vehicle in front.
R Avoid frequent acceleration and decel-
eration.
R Keep tires at the recommended inflation
pressures.
R Remove carriers* when not in use. Driving instructions
149>> Operation.
* optional Z

R
Remove unnecessary loads.
R Have all maintenance work performed at
the intervals specified in the Mainte-
nance Booklet and as required by the
Maintenance System. Contact an author-
ized electric drive smart center.
Energy consumption is also increased by
driving in stop-and-go traffic, on short
trips, and in hilly areas. Tires
G
WARNING
If you feel a sudden significant vibration
or ride disturbance, or you suspect that
possible damage to your vehicle has occur- red, you should turn on the hazard warning
flashers, carefully slow down, and drive
with caution to an area which is a safe dis-
tance 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 smart center or tire dealer for
repairs.
Treadwear indicators (TWI) are required by law. These indicators are located in six
places on the tread circumference and
become visible at a tread depth of approx-
imately 1
/ 16 in (1.6 mm), at which point the
tire is considered worn and should be
replaced.
The treadwear indicator appears as a solid
band across the tread. G
WARNING
Although the applicable federal motor
vehicle safety laws consider a tire to be
worn when the treadwear indicators (TWI)
become visible at approximately 1
/ 16 in
(1.6 mm), we recommend that you do not allow your tires to wear down to that level. As
tread depth approaches 1
/ 8 in (3 mm), the
adhesion properties on a wet road are
sharply reduced. Depending upon the weather and/or road
surface (conditions), the tire traction var- ies widely.
Specified tire inflation pressures must be maintained. This applies particularly if
the tires are subject to high loads (e.g.
high speeds, heavy loads, high ambient
temperatures). G
WARNING
Do not drive with a flat tire. A flat tire will affect your ability to steer or brake and maycause you to lose control of the vehicle.
Continued driving with a flat tire or driv-
ing at high speed with a flat tire will cause
excessive heat build-up and possibly a
fire.
For more information, see “Tires and
wheels” (Y page 127). Hydroplaning
Depending on the depth of the water layer
on the road, hydroplaning may occur
resulting in a loss of control, even at low
speeds and with new tires. Reduce vehicle
speed, avoid track grooves in the road and
apply brakes cautiously when it is raining. Tire traction
The safe speed on a wet, snow covered or icy
road is always lower than on a dry road.
You should pay particular attention to the
condition of the road whenever the outside temperatures are close to the freezing
point. G
WARNING
If ice has formed on the road, tire traction will be substantially reduced. Under such
weather conditions, drive, steer and brake
with extreme caution.
smart recommends winter tires (Y page 146)
with a minimum tread depth of approx- 150
Driving instructions>> Operation.

soft top fabric*. Environmental influen-
ces are not covered by the smart Limited
Warranty.
Frequent washing reduces and/or elimi-
nates 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 fol-
lowed 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 incom-
patibility 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 electric
drive 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 recommen-
ded here. In such cases it is best to seek aid
at an authorized electric drive smart cen- ter. 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 electric drive smart
center for recommended and approved care
products.
i Advice on caring for the soft top sys-
tem, see (Y page 157). 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 endan- gering traffic. 154
Vehicle care>> Operation.
* optional