speedometer - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

hdg · 02-25-2010, 12:22 PM

I purchased a 2008 cabrio [451] in Canada for export to the U.S. [12/08] The dealer secured a speedo in MPH and I drove it home and licensed it in Florida.
Problem is though the speedo is in mph, THE MULTIFUNCTION DISPLAY IS KILOMETERS AND CELSIUS. Though I could live with that alone; there is another greater problem.
The fuel level display only goes to the fifth segment when the gas tank is completely filled,
AND for some reason begins to dimish from this level as the fuel is used. When it shows empty and the fuel pump level display begins to flash, I still have about three gallons of fuel remaining in the tank.
I have driven on "empty" for another one to two hundren kilometers before refueing to test that there is actually fuel t in the tank. I have gotten it down to filling up around seven plus gallons of fuel with this method. The dealer, who thought there would be a computer fix of software addition has now given up.
Is there anyone out there who knows how I can remedy this error or fix my multifunction display to dispaly correctly, get the fuel bars to completely fill [after gas tank is filled], and get the fuel level display to allow me to see the 'real' correct fule remaning in the tank??
hdg

Huronlad · 02-25-2010, 01:03 PM

It has to either be a mechanical or electrical issue. I would start with the mechanical, uninstall the speedometer and re-install. If that does not work, find a more knowledgeable individual with a Star machine.

hdg · 02-25-2010, 01:57 PM

The speedo was ordered from a US dealer, then installed by my canadian dealer. It registered in mph so I took possion and drove it to Florida. How do I find someone with a Star machine and oh yeah, what is a strar machine?
hdg

Rollerskate · 02-25-2010, 04:07 PM

Hi
You may have two problems here. The odometer and temperature should have been switched from metric to Imperial when the speedo was put in. This is in the computer files in the car.
The fuel issue could be the float in the tank is sticking so the fuel gauge in getting the wrong message.
The star machine is what Mercedes hooks up to the car to read what is wrong.
Roy

hdg · 03-01-2010, 07:32 PM

Thanks for the info everyone. Now if I can just employ a US dealer to let his mechanic work on a "canadian" vin number I can at least point him in the right direction. This entire cross border issue is bizarre, cannot imagine driving Mercedes down, registering it here and have the dealer refuse to work on it?
hdg