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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 othersizeable 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 designa-
ted 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
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X
Remove the jumper cables from negative terminals =and ?first.
X Remove the jumper cables from positive terminals :and ;.
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 Nwarning 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:
- þ Drive diagnostics (red)
- # 12‑Volt battery
D 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
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A tow bar is necessary to adequately control
the towed vehicle.
Prior to towing the vehicle with all wheelson the ground, make sure the gear selector
lever is in neutral position Nand the igni-
tion is switched on. G
WARNING
With the drive system inactive, there is no power assistance for the brake and steering
systems. In this case, it is important to
keep in mind that a considerably higher
degree of effort is necessary to brake and
steer the vehicle. Adapt your driving
accordingly.
! The vehicle may be towed only for dis-
tances up to 30 miles (50 km) and at a
speed not to exceed 30 mph (50 km/h).
Otherwise, the electric drive or the
high-voltage system could be damaged.
! Do not tow other vehicles.
Otherwise, the drive system or compo-
nents of the high-voltage system could be damaged.
! Do not tow the vehicle with the front
axle raised. Doing so may cause serious
damage to the brake system which is not
covered by the smart Limited Warranty.
! Before towing the vehicle observe the
following instructions:
R Do not tow with sling-type equipment
attached to suspension parts. This may cause damage to the supports if towing on a bumpy road.
R Towing the vehicle should only be done
using the properly installed towing
eye bolt. Never attach a tow cable, tow
rope, or tow rod to the vehicle chassis, frame, or suspension parts.
! Make sure the gear selector lever is in
neutral position Nwhile towing the
vehicle. Doing otherwise may result in
significant drive train damage. !
Towing the vehicle with a luggage rack*
mounted is not permissible. The vehicle
must not be towed by the luggage rack*.
i If the 12-volt battery is disconnected
or discharged, the gear selector lever
will remain locked in park position P.
Contact an authorized electric drive
smart center for assistance or call Road-
side Assistance.
Towing eye bolt The towing eye bolt is located in the
passenger footwell under the carpet.
X Unscrew the carpet holder in the
passenger footwell (Y page 160).
X Lift the carpet. X
Take out towing eye bolt :.
Installing towing eye bolt
The towing eye bolt can be screwed into
threaded holes which are located behind
covers on the front and rear bumper. Front cover204
Towing>> Practical hints.
* optional