Soon to be 4-2 Passion owner

[TMACK]

Hi, Folks, just following the moderator's suggestion by making my first post before picking up my Smart this Friday.
Have to admit: As a confirmed DIYer, I am dismayed MB will not offer the factory service manual to owners. Quality service control, I imagine.

Your 40 Mb "technical overview" .pdf, however, was a God-send and reassured me 1. about buying the Smart in the first place, and 2. this site is worth a Smart weight in gold.

Thanks and look forward to further forum fun.

TMACK, NORTH VA

[forestacademy]

If you become a member of scoa you will have access the technical information Library. You might find it quite useful.

Make sure they give you time you deserve to walk you through your car. Have them show you how to do things and then do them yourself as well. Little things like how to hold up the engine cover carpet are things you will want to try and learn for yourself.

[fpage77]

Originally Posted by TMACK

Hi, Folks, just following the moderator's suggestion by making my first post before picking up my Smart this Friday.
Have to admit: As a confirmed DIYer, I am dismayed MB will not offer the factory service manual to owners. Quality service control, I imagine.

Your 40 Mb "technical overview" .pdf, however, was a God-send and reassured me 1. about buying the Smart in the first place, and 2. this site is worth a Smart weight in gold.

Thanks and look forward to further forum fun.

TMACK, NORTH VA

Welcome to the forum and hope you post some pictures of your new smart.

Originally Posted by forestacademy

If you become a member of scoa you will have access the technical information Library. You might find it quite useful.

Make sure they give you time you deserve to walk you through your car. Have them show you how to do things and then do them yourself as well. Little things like how to hold up the engine cover carpet are things you will want to try and learn for yourself.

I hate to ask but how do you hold the carpet up. (pain in the butt two times I've gone under it)

[gbryers]

Originally Posted by fpage77

I hate to ask but how do you hold the carpet up. (pain in the butt two times I've gone under it)

Piece of cake, or rather, broom stick. Actually, I use a sawed-off shower rod (I replaced the cheesy ones that came with the house, and recycled one as a certified engine-carpet-cover-holder-upper. Just long enough to lay in the spots designed for the toneau cover.

[gbryers]

Originally Posted by forestacademy

If you become a member of scoa you will have access the technical information Library. You might find it quite useful.

Make sure they give you time you deserve to walk you through your car. Have them show you how to do things and then do them yourself as well. Little things like how to hold up the engine cover carpet are things you will want to try and learn for yourself.

Just to add to the walk-through things to check for, TMACK, make sure they show you:
1. The gas cap lock
2. All about the tire-inflator/fix-a-flat that is under the passenger floor
3. Where the fuse box is
4. Where the dipsticks (not you, jetfuel) are for oil and transmission
5. Brake fluid/windshield washer fluid, etc. (under the "hood")
6. How to set the clock on the instrument cluster
7. How to shift, both in manual mode, and when you are in "Drive"
8. The 3-blink turn signal feature (push up or down on the turn-signal stalk and release quickly, and it blinks three times - enough that you don't have to hold it while changing lanes, etc.)
9. The engine-off, radio on feature (and how to get the radio to be off or on when you start your car)

I'm sure there are a dozen things I am forgetting, but others may chime in, and you'll find most everything somewhere on this site...

Enjoy!

[gstreetcomic]

If you are picking up your Smart at Tysons Corner Smart, then i know those guys will go over the car with you. Two of the dealers there are present Smart owners. Post some pics in the got my Smart section, and welcome to the forum. It is a great time.

Originally Posted by TMACK

Hi, Folks, just following the moderator's suggestion by making my first post before picking up my Smart this Friday.
Have to admit: As a confirmed DIYer, I am dismayed MB will not offer the factory service manual to owners. Quality service control, I imagine.

Your 40 Mb "technical overview" .pdf, however, was a God-send and reassured me 1. about buying the Smart in the first place, and 2. this site is worth a Smart weight in gold.

Thanks and look forward to further forum fun.

TMACK, NORTH VA

[TMACK]

And, I must say: This is the most fun car I've driven in my 58 years in this time and space. I never thought anything could replace the Wrangler I gave my son in pure driving pleasure. In fact, I plan to get up early and take a nice 100 mile break-in run tomorrow, if I can get to sleep.

And Gabriel and Lance did indeed do a thorough job of introducing the machine to me. Thanks for the reassurance and advice.

TMACK

[fpage77]

Congratulations on your "smart" acquisition. Post some pictures. What model and options did you get?

[padi176715]

Welocme aboard. Let the fun begin

[TMACK]

Originally Posted by fpage77

Congratulations on your "smart" acquisition. Post some pictures. What model and options did you get?

Thanks, got a pretty much vanilla Passion, crystal white, black tridion, and running lights (insurance premium break).

What I'm REALLY looking forward to are the many modifications you all are so up to speed on. I have a great learning curve to overcome!

Will forward pictures when I can, and thanks for the interest.

TMACK