Standing water
Do not drive through flooded areas or water of unknown depth. Before driving through
water, determine its depth. Never acceler-
ate before driving into water.
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 dam-
age to
R electrical components
R electrical wiring
R the drive system
R the high-voltage battery
Any such damage is not covered by the
smart Limited Warranty. Passenger compartment
G
WARNING
Always fasten items being carried as
securely as possible.
In an accident, during hard braking or sud- den maneuvers, loose items thrown around
inside the vehicle may injure vehicle
occupants.
The cargo compartment is the preferred
place to carry objects. Control and operation of radio trans-
mitters
Radio and telephone G
WARNING
Please do not forget that your primary
responsibility is to drive the vehicle
safely. Only operate the radio or tele- phone
8
if road, weather and traffic condi-
tions permit.
Bear in mind that at a speed of just 30 mph
(approximately 50 km/h), your vehicle is
covering a distance of 44 feet (approx-
imately 14 m) every second.
Telephones and two-way radios G
WARNING
Never operate radio transmitters equipped with a built-in or attached antenna (i.e.
without being connected to an external
antenna) from inside the vehicle while the
drive system is switched on. Doing so couldlead to a malfunction of the vehicle’s elec-
tronic system, possibly resulting in an
accident and/or serious personal injury.
Radio transmitters, such as a mobile phone
or a citizens band unit should only be used inside the vehicle if they are connected to an antenna that is installed on the outside
of the vehicle.
Refer to the radio transmitter operation
instructions regarding use of an external
antenna. Coolant temperature
During severe operating conditions and
stop-and-go city traffic, the coolant tem-
perature may rise. ! Excessive coolant temperature causes
the red coolant temperature warning
lamp ? in the instrument cluster to
come on.
The drive system should not be operated
with the red coolant temperature warn-
ing lamp ?illuminated. Doing so may
cause serious damage to the drive system
and the high-voltage battery, which is
not covered by the smart Limited War-
ranty.
8 Observe all legal requirements. 152
Driving instructions>> Operation.
For more information on coolant tempera-
ture warning lamp (Y page 172).Driving abroad
Abroad, there is an extensive smart service network at your disposal. If you plan to
drive into areas which are not listed in the
index of your smart center directory, you
should request pertinent information from an authorized electric drive smart center.
Keep in mind, however, that due to the tech-
nical requirements of the smart fortwo
electric drive and its high-voltage power
systems, the vehicle should be serviced
only at an authorized electric drive smart
center.
If you plan to operate your vehicle in for-
eign countries, please be aware that:
R Service facilities or replacement parts
may not be readily available.
R The AC power sockets in some countries,
especially overseas, require different
plugs on the charging cable.
R Charging stations may not be available. Symmetrical low beams
i If you drive in countries where vehi-
cles drive on the other side of the road
than the country in which the vehicle is
registered, you must have the headlamps
modified for symmetrical low beams.
Relevant information can be obtained at
any authorized electric drive smart cen- ter. Vehicle care
Care tips
Regular and proper care will help to main-
tain the value of your vehicle. The best way to protect your vehicle from harmful envi- ronmental influences is to wash it and use
protective treatments regularly.
smart recommends that you care for the
paintwork at least twice a year (e.g. in the
spring and autumn). G
WARNING
Many cleaning products can be hazardous.
Some are poisonous, others are flammable.
Always follow the instructions on the par-
ticular container. Always open your vehi-
cle’s doors or windows when cleaning the
inside.
Never use fluids or solvents that are not
designed for cleaning your vehicle.
Always lock away cleaning products and
keep them out of reach of children.
! Follow the care tips. Wash your vehicle
preferably by hand.
While in operation or even while parked,
your vehicle is subjected to varying exter-
nal influences, which left unchecked can
attack the paint as well as the vehicle
underbody and lead to permanent damage.
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 imme-
diately 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 immedi-
ately can cause damage to the paint or the Vehicle care
153>> Operation. Z
Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions è
Charge Cable Con‐ Charge Cable Con‐
nected nected The charging cable is inserted in the vehicle power socket. The
vehicle cannot be moved.
In addition, a warning signal sounds.
X To drive off, remove the charging cable from the vehicle
power socket and stow the cable in the vehicle. Ready to Charge Ready to Charge
The vehicle is prepared for the high‑voltage battery to be
charged. It may take 30 seconds for the charging process to
begin.
Malfunction Malfunction
Despite the charging cable being correctly inserted in the
vehicle power socket, the high‑voltage battery does not
charge. There is a malfunction in the on-board charger.
X Contact an authorized electric drive smart center. No Charge No Charge
The voltage on the vehicle power socket is too low.
X Check whether the charging cable is inserted correctly in
the power sockets of both the vehicle and the power source. If necessary, unplug the charging cable from both sockets and
reinsert it.
If, afterwards, the message is still displayed:
X Contact an authorized electric drive smart center. Display messages Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions h
Check Check
Tire
TirePressure
Pressure The tire inflation pressure in at least one tire is signifi-
cantly below the reference value.
X Carefully bring the vehicle to a halt, avoiding abrupt steer-
ing and braking maneuvers.
X Check and adjust tire inflation pressure as required
(Y page 130).
X If necessary, change the wheel (Y page 195).G
WARNING
Each tire should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to the inflation pressure rec-
ommended 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 Infor- mation 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. 164
Display messages>> Practical hints.
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.
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 incom-
patible 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 MSolutions Ò
Danger: Ice 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.
X Confirming message: Press the OK button on the control lever
briefly (Y page 83). G
WARNING
The display message Danger: Danger:Ice
Iceis 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. Display messages
165>> Practical hints. Z
What to do if ...
Warning and indicator lamps in the
instrument cluster
General information If any of the following lamps in the instru-
ment cluster fails to come on during the
bulb self-check when switching on igni-
tion (Y page 57), have the respective bulb
checked and replaced if necessary. 166
What to do if ...>> Practical hints.
Brake
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ò
(USA only)
! (Canada only)
The ABS indicator
lamp illuminates
while the drive system is running. There is a malfunction in the ABS system.
X Have the ABS system checked at an authorized electric drive
smart center immediately. ò
(USA only)
! (Canada only)
The ABS indicator
lamp illuminates
together with the
brake warning lamp
$ (USA only) or
J (Canada only)
while the drive system is running. The ABS system fails.
X Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.
X Do not continue to drive.
X Switch off the drive system.
X Engage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.
X Contact Roadside Assistance or an authorized electric drive
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. Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions $
(USA only)
J (Canada only)
The brake warning
lamp illuminates
while the drive system 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 Switch off the drive system.
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 electric drive
smart center. What to do if ...
167>> Practical hints. Z
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions ÷
The ESP ®
warn-
ing lamp
flashes while
driving. The ESP
®
has engaged because of detected traction loss in at
least one tire.
X When driving off, apply as little throttle as possible.
X While driving, ease up on the accelerator pedal.
X Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road and
weather conditions. ÷
The ESP ®
warn-
ing lamp illu-
minates con-
tinuously while
the drive sys-
tem is running. The ESP
®
is not operational due to a system failure.
X Have the system checked at an authorized electric drive
smart center. The ESP
®
is not available.
X Have the system checked at an authorized electric drive
smart center. G
WARNING
When the ESP ®
warning lamp is illuminated continuously, the ESP ®
is not available or not
operational due to a system failure.
Adapt your speed and driving to the prevailing road conditions and the non-operating status
of the ESP ®
.
i It may be possible to clear a system failure by restarting the drive system.
X Restart the drive system.
If the warning lamp still does not go out, have the system checked at an authorized
electric drive smart center immediately.
i More information on the ESP ®
can be found in the “Safety” section (Y page 47).Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions D
The yellow EPS
warning lamp
illuminates
while the drive
system is run-
ning. The Electronic Power Steering (EPS)* is not available.
X Have the EPS checked at an authorized smart electric drive
center immediately. G
WARNING
When the EPS is not available a higher degree of effort is necessary to steer the vehicle. Have the system checked at an authorized electric drive smart center. 170
What to do if ...>> Practical hints.
* optional
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M
MSolutions #!
The turn signal indi-
cator lamp(s) do(es)
not illuminate when
the ignition is
switched on and the
corresponding turn
signal is switched on
or the hazard warning
flasher is switched
on. The turn signal indicator lamp(s) has (have) failed.
X Have the turn signal indicator lamp(s) checked at an author-
ized electric drive smart center. #!
The turn signal indi-
cator lamp(s) flashes
at double frequency. One of the turn signals is malfunctioning.
X Replace the bulb as soon as possible (Y page 180).
or
X Have the turn signal checked at an authorized electric drive
smart center as soon as possible. Drive system
Problem Possible causes/consequences and
M MSolutions ?
The red coolant
temperature
warning lamp
illuminates. The coolant is too hot. The high-voltage battery and/or the
drive system are not cooled sufficiently.
X Stop the vehicle immediately in a safe location.
X Switch off the drive system.
X Engage the parking brake when leaving the vehicle.
X Contact Roadside Assistance or an authorized electric drive
smart center. 172
What to do if ...>> Practical hints.