09 Nightmare

[redbluff]

Took the new 09 in for service at 7:30am this morning for what was suppose to be a quick software upgrade to fix the well know gas gauge not registering full all the time after fill up. The smart tech hooks up the OBD scanner to the port to do the work. Turns the car on and nothing. Instrument panel will not light up. Car also wont start. OBD scanner says error "link error".

So they swap the instrument cluster with another 09 from the lot. Still nothing. They swap the SAM unit from the 09 from the lot still nothing. Disconnected the battery for a while to shutdown everything. Connected it back up, same thing. Cant reload the SAM as OBD port wont let access. The OBD port does activate the scanner but cant read the computer SAM unit. Tried another OBD scanner, same thing. Car is bricked. Checked immobilizer, no issue. They had the best Smart Tec on the phone from Smart and he also does not know what is wrong. Called another tech at another dealer for help and he also ran through the problem but feels everything was done.

11 hours later I left and called Smart. Supervisor says they should have offered me a new vehicle. They did not. They must have fried something but without OBD you cant tell anything and cant load software ffrom scratch. I will call and ask for a new Smart as I dont want back a car that has electrical gremlins.

[forestacademy]

Give them Kudos over other Dealers for swaping parts out with other cars. THere is a little thread here that started because the dealer would not swap a battery with another Smart.

[redbluff]

I will once it is fixed

[Quagmire]

How would you like to be the one to purchase a "NEW" car, only to find that parts had been borrowed from it while still on the showroom floor?

I question the integrity of this stealership.

These defective cars should be returned to the factory and the purchaser should be given another new vehicle or a full refund.

[NJREDZ06]

I haven't heard of this issue, but good luck.

Almost 1000 miles on my 09 Smart and my fuel gauge registers full at each fill up.

How many miles does your 09 Smart have?

[msjohnson1974]

Originally Posted by forestacademy

Give them Kudos over other Dealers for swaping parts out with other cars. THere is a little thread here that started because the dealer would not swap a battery with another Smart.

Yeah, but you know I wouldn't want my car to be one they raided for parts to fix yours or anyone else's... who's to say they fix mine back to factory new after they get the parts. There's always a bolt that gets missed or something not put on quite as tight as it should, especially if they swapped out an instrument cluster. Sounds like the mechanic was just grasping at straws hoping to replace the part he fried.

To quote a retired aircraft mechanic (20 years in USAF + 30 years at Northwest as a supervisor), "You don't take parts from a working aircraft to fix a broken one."

They should have offered a new car as soon as they fried the computer or called Smart themselves to get advise.

[jetfuel]

Originally Posted by msjohnson1974

"You don't take parts from a working aircraft to fix a broken one."

...are you trying to put me out of business.....lol
...to quote another tech.....you don't put good parts in a faulty system...
...care to bet that the electronics they borrowed are fried now too...

jetfuel

[Duckhunter]

I hated pulling a part out from stock with a repair tag already on it. And really if it has the same symptom that you are working on.

[Turbo42]

They gave my mom a new smart after her hard time with hers

[smark]

Originally Posted by redbluff

Took the new 09 in for service at 7:30am this morning for what was suppose to be a quick software upgrade to fix the well know gas gauge not registering full all the time after fill up. The smart tech hooks up the OBD scanner to the port to do the work. Turns the car on and nothing. Instrument panel will not light up. Car also wont start. OBD scanner says error "link error".

So they swap the instrument cluster with another 09 from the lot. Still nothing. They swap the SAM unit from the 09 from the lot still nothing. Disconnected the battery for a while to shutdown everything. Connected it back up, same thing. Cant reload the SAM as OBD port wont let access. The OBD port does activate the scanner but cant read the computer SAM unit. Tried another OBD scanner, same thing. Car is bricked. Checked immobilizer, no issue. They had the best Smart Tec on the phone from Smart and he also does not know what is wrong. Called another tech at another dealer for help and he also ran through the problem but feels everything was done.

11 hours later I left and called Smart. Supervisor says they should have offered me a new vehicle. They did not. They must have fried something but without OBD you cant tell anything and cant load software ffrom scratch. I will call and ask for a new Smart as I dont want back a car that has electrical gremlins.

Have them give you a loaner car, till your car is fixed right. Be very firm go to the general manager of the dealership. The tech there needs to find a himself a new job.
Oh by the way there is no fix for the gas gauge!!!! Been there. I called Smart, about the same gas gauge issue. They said it's normal to read 1/4 off.