Got my smart. A few questions...

[akiranakayama]

Just got my brand smart this past Friday. Awesome little car. A few questions that I couldn't find the answers to in the owner's manual:

1) What exactly does the light sensing portion of the rain/light sensor do? Automatic headlights or something?

2) Does the rear windshield wiper operate automatically like the front ones do after you've turned them on?

3) Are the heated side mirrors automatic? I'm assuming they are since there aren't any controls for them mounted anywhere inside the car.

Anyone?

[kinschan]

1) When you leave the light control and wiper control at the auto postion. The light will come on when it is dark out and the rain comes down.
2) rear wiper operate automatically when you shift in reverse in rain.
3) Mirrors heat comes on when the defrost switch is activated.
4) To unlock rear hatch from the inside, you have to push the unlock button and then squeeze the the button under the handle bar on the bottom rear door to pop the hatch from the outside.

[akiranakayama]

Holy crap there's an auto position for the headlights? I'll need to double check that.

[burtandnancy]

I think #2 above is an April Fools joke. To work the rear wiper, pull the right hand stalk toward you...

[BeSmart]

;) Every new smart has to deal with a new owner. The new owner break-in period I'm sure is a topic of discussion among smarts waiting for delivery on the ships, in the ports, and at the dealerships. They don't get owner's manuals like we do. They can only squeek, tweet, beep, refuse to run, shift uneasily, flash their lights, until.... until their new owner finally catchs on to smartie's intellect. After a period of raggedness, they finally get their owner educated and trained. Then blissful happiness for both. Do you suppose they have forums as well to discuss their difficulties with new owners. Just a thought...

akiranakayama, this is not said to be insulting to you. Just a yoke.

Burt and Nancy, #2 is not AF joke, the rear wipers do wipe when the wipers are on and you put the smart in reserve as well as activating it with the stalk. Like I say, smartie is far more intelligent than we can imagine.

[dbwill]

I thought you pushed the right stalk to get a single wipe and push it all the way to get continuing wiping

[spdickey]

Originally Posted by dbwill

I thought you pushed the right stalk to get a single wipe and push it all the way to get continuing wiping

Best to read the owner's manual before driving in the rain. You don't want to forget how to turn on the auto wipers (hint, auto is in the auto position).

Remember to turn it off before going into a car wash. Leaving them in auto will play havoc when your car gets wet.

[Rubik]

Originally Posted by burtandnancy

I think #2 above is an April Fools joke. To work the rear wiper, pull the right hand stalk toward you...

Nope, it's true. If your front wipers are on and you shift into reverse, the rear wiper will come on (in its intermittent mode).

[Alan_Hepburn]

Also, if you have the wipers on continuous and come to a stop the wipers go into intermittent mode while you're not moving...

[burtandnancy]

How would I know anything about windshield wipers, I live on SoCal...