have three smarts , a fortwo which is almost 7 years old and still on its original switch , a cross blade thats 6 years old and was replaced last year due to the button getting stuck and a roadster thats only a few weeks old and so far no problems , so no idea why you have been through so many?
Bump. Has anyone actually changed the brake light switch on a 451? If you have, any hints? Mine went bad yesterday with the shift-lever locked in "Park," the triangle and ABS lit and no brake-lights. I did get it out of park with the yellow lever at the bottom of the shift console.
Don't know if the dealer has one in stock or not until Monday a.m. If he does, am wondering if I should tackle it myself. Saw the instructions on Evilution, but it was for a 450 and I don't know if it's the same as for the 451.
There's a dealer in the UK that has them and his eBay ad suggests that it fits both the 450 and 451. Anyone know for sure? Thanks.
Last edited by kensandyeggo; 10-30-2011 at 02:27 PM.
I replaced mine this past spring.
I checked out this site Evilution - Smart Car Encyclopaedia and it looks to be the same.
A word of caution (as stated in the instructions) be careful with the latch. I did brake mine but used a large zip tie to hold the cover back on.
Biggest thing is getting the car high enough to drop the cover down.
There were instructions in the package with switch how to adjust it.
Good luck
I replaced mine this past spring.
I checked out this site Evilution - Smart Car Encyclopaedia and it looks to be the same.
A word of caution (as stated in the instructions) be careful with the latch. I did brake mine but used a large zip tie to hold the cover back on.
Biggest thing is getting the car high enough to drop the cover down.
There were instructions in the package with switch how to adjust it.
Good luck
I thought a new cover comes with each brake switch, which sounds like a waste to me. The outfit in the UK selling them includes a new cover with the switch. I'll see if the dealer has one in stock in the a.m. One question......do you have to drop the panel that seems to cover the underneath of the car? Looks like a few snaps and screws if you have to. I didn't really crawl under too far to take a look. I do have ramps that I can raise the front with if I tackle it.
I'll see what the dealer wants for the labor. If it's reasonable (bwaaaahaaaaahaaaa....cough.......snort), I'll let them do it. I have a service contract, but it has a $300 deductible. Thanks for the feedback.
Last edited by kensandyeggo; 10-30-2011 at 08:28 PM.
Called the dealer at 7 a.m. this morning. Got a service adviser and advised him that I needed a new brake light switch. He said he had an opening at 8:45 and to get it in. I arrived before 8:30. I decided to ride home with my wife and he said he'd call as soon as it was done.
10 a.m................noon...............2 p.m................I finally call at 3:15 and leave a voice mail............I call again at 3:30, he answers and I hear the classic...."Oh. I was just reaching for the phone to call you." Right. Then the next famous words......"It's on back order from Germany and we won't get it for 5 to 7 days."
Took him 7 hours to discover they don't have the part and let me know!!?? What a crock. This is a huge Mercedes/smart dealer and they don't stock even one brake switch. This crap makes owning a smart harder and harder to justify. I really feel for those of you hundreds of miles from a dealer.
I went and got the car and drove it home, turning on my parking lights for brake lights. I wish that I could find a switch and replace it myself.
The Following User Says Thank You to kensandyeggo For This Useful Post:
Took him 7 hours to discover they don't have the part and let me know!!?? What a crock. This is a huge Mercedes/smart dealer and they don't stock even one brake switch. This crap makes owning a smart harder and harder to justify. I really feel for those of you hundreds of miles from a dealer.
You are being too kind IMHO; why ask you to bring the car in if the part wasn't in stock? A call to the general manager is probably in order, and maybe a post on the "give us a shout" thread on usainsider. What happened to the five parts warehouses M-B USA is supposedly establishing to improve parts availability, and didn't the parts guy even consider calling around to other smart centers?
The Following User Says Thank You to jwight For This Useful Post:
".....didn't the parts guy even consider calling around to other smart centers?"
Said they did. I asked about a loaner if I left my car...."Not for smarts" was the reply. I said I'd take a Mercedes, no problem. He totally ignored me. Excuuuuuuse the crap out of me.
Not all dealers are created equal. The one time I did have to leave my smart due to their tech having forgotten to do a part of a scheduled service, in addition to apologies, smart Center Englewood gave a me a very nice Mercedes loaner.
Called the dealer at 7 a.m. this morning. Got a service adviser and advised him that I needed a new brake light switch. He said he had an opening at 8:45 and to get it in. I arrived before 8:30. I decided to ride home with my wife and he said he'd call as soon as it was done.
10 a.m................noon...............2 p.m................I finally call at 3:15 and leave a voice mail............I call again at 3:30, he answers and I hear the classic...."Oh. I was just reaching for the phone to call you." Right. Then the next famous words......"It's on back order from Germany and we won't get it for 5 to 7 days."
Took him 7 hours to discover they don't have the part and let me know!!?? What a crock. This is a huge Mercedes/smart dealer and they don't stock even one brake switch. This crap makes owning a smart harder and harder to justify. I really feel for those of you hundreds of miles from a dealer.
I went and got the car and drove it home, turning on my parking lights for brake lights. I wish that I could find a switch and replace it myself.
This is, the achillies heel of smart ownership!
Ken, sadly you are not the only owner who has been challenged by parts and service. Odd (and unacceptable) that a critical part with a known failure rate that can strand an owner while rendering the vehicle inoperable is not in stock?
Your experience, as related above should be shared not only with the MB (smart Center) General Manager (please see your PM for contact information) but should also be posted to sUSAi on their "Give us a shout" thread.
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