2008 Smart Passion Engine Blown from Coolant Leak HELP!

[designlemon]

I have a 2008 Passion with 28k miles. Driving on the highway for 70 miles, the car stalled out with no warning lights whatsoever. Wouldn't re-start. Had it towed and am now being told by the dealer that it overheated to the point that it literally melted the engine.

How could this happen?? Has anyone else had, or heard of, a similar situation? Shouldn't my temperature gauge have at least come on?

I love my Smart... I was one of the first owners and have always sung their praises to everyone I know. I've never had a problem with this car (other than the sticky transmission we all seem to have). Have babied it with 5k mile oil changes. This just doesn't make sense to me.

I'd appreciate any suggestions, insights, etc. from other Smart owners.

I am so upset...

[forestacademy]

Your not the first. No warning light for low coolant.

Some smarts did have an issue with the coolant hose rubbing to the point where it causes a leak

[smark]

Very strange, a idiot light didn't light up. Sorry about your car. New engine, or donate you car off. Not much you can do.

[Uptown Dog Co]

Originally Posted by designlemon

I have a 2008 Passion with 28k miles. Driving on the highway for 70 miles, the car stalled out with no warning lights whatsoever. Wouldn't re-start. Had it towed and am now being told by the dealer that it overheated to the point that it literally melted the engine.

How could this happen?? Has anyone else had, or heard of, a similar situation? Shouldn't my temperature gauge have at least come on?

I love my Smart... I was one of the first owners and have always sung their praises to everyone I know. I've never had a problem with this car (other than the sticky transmission we all seem to have). Have babied it with 5k mile oil changes. This just doesn't make sense to me.

I'd appreciate any suggestions, insights, etc. from other Smart owners.

I am so upset...

Post your location instead of USA and you might get some helpful suggestions for help in your area. As an example, if you are near Charlotte, NC, I could be pretty specific on how you could save your car without going to a dealer and getting an engine installed for less than half of what a dealer charges.

Uptown Dog Company

[Neonspinnazz]

There's not much you can do really short of buying another engine. Sometimes a part fails, causing undesired effects. Apparently your smart had developed a coolant leak (maybe from the hose forest mentioned) and eventually cooked itself.

A lesson for the future: When you fill up on fuel, check your fluids.

Good luck with your poor smart

[Brabus007]

hmmmmmmmmmmm
451 hose info - radiator hose wear

[designlemon]

Thank you for the well wishes and speedy replies. I think the hose leak is a likely scenario for my Smart.. I was told the rear hose was split and that's where the leak likely began. Keep in mind that only a few days prior to the meltdown, I had driven from Upstate, NY to NYC... about 400 miles, with no problems whatsoever. There was nothing leaking from the car, and I know there was coolant in the reservoir because I did check fluid levels before leaving on my trip, including oil, and all were fine.

I drove the car around NYC the few days I was there, and again, it was fine. And it was fine for that hour or so that I was on the road before it stalled. So the 'fail' had to have occurred within a very short period of time. Call me crazy, but I think it's fair for me to have expected a warning light to come on if my coolant was leaking out all over my engine.

Was there a recall on the hoses rubbing? I can't find anything.

Thank you all again... I appreciate your time.

[designlemon]

wow.

"1000cc fortwo model 451. please watch your water temperatures when driving
because the coolant pipe can rub against the body of the car underneath
where the radiator pipe goes towards the front of the car. In the design,
it was already known to be a problem so some nylon netting was added but
the engine still moves up and down and will cause the pipe to grind and
break. "

[Uptown Dog Co]

Has anyone installed a temp gauge?

[NCC1701]

Ultragauge, scangauge and other OBD devices display coolant temperature. Too bad the smart doesn't have one in the instrument cluster.