Check Engine Light

[jefferios]

I have the light too, for the same reason as the majority. My part is getting shipped in to the Smart Center...but as I have been waiting for the part my light turned off? Problem solved...or the cpu resets after a certain amount of time?

[Drivenorth]

This is really a profound and ominous issue. I have an early import (delivered at the begining of March). I now have over 6500 miles and have experienced none of the problems (shifter or codes) that so many of you have.
Two quick observations:
1. As a retired engineer, it is pretty clear to me what is causing the problems. The factory in France, and its suppliers, are having serious problems "ramping up" to full production.
2. Little, annoying problems like these may result in the death of the product line in this country. VW lost its lead in the market because of seemingly small problems like these.
People want a good warranty, but they will abandon the brand if they have to use it too often. Once, on a brand new automobile, is too often.
I love my Fortwo, but I think Daimler should have (or should in the near future) manufactured them in the US.

[NY Smartie]

thanks for all the replies everybody. this place rOxOrs.

[SkylarkSmart]

Originally Posted by Drivenorth

This is really a profound and ominous issue. I have an early import (delivered at the begining of March). I now have over 6500 miles and have experienced none of the problems (shifter or codes) that so many of you have.
Two quick observations:
1. As a retired engineer, it is pretty clear to me what is causing the problems. The factory in France, and its suppliers, are having serious problems "ramping up" to full production.
2. Little, annoying problems like these may result in the death of the product line in this country. VW lost its lead in the market because of seemingly small problems like these.
People want a good warranty, but they will abandon the brand if they have to use it too often. Once, on a brand new automobile, is too often.
I love my Fortwo, but I think Daimler should have (or should in the near future) manufactured them in the US.

Excellent point Drivenorth. My father purchased his smart car 6 months before me and he hasn't had a single problem. I think they are trying so hard to fill the demand that they are making too many careless mistakes. Although, I asked to be on the orphan list, I would have rather waited to get a car that I can actually drive.

[Karl Roth]

Originally Posted by NY Smartie

thanks for all the replies everybody. this place rOxOrs.

Correct me if I am wrong you did keep driving your car, right?
karl

[SmarTek-TNG]

Greetings folks.. I am new to this forum and this is my second post. For the record, I am the officially trained Smart Car tech at the Germantown, MD Mercedes/Smart dealership. I just wanted to put in my two cents worth about CEL's on Smarts. I would say that by FAR the most common cause of the CEL is a production faulty 'air pump switchover valve'. I estimate about 75% of all Smart CELs are for this problem. This an little electrically actuated vacuum valve that allows the air pump to force air into the exhaust stream during cold starts (or whenever the computer determines it is necessary). It seems that these valves tend to stick or something, and they don't open fully, and this sets the CEL because the oxygen sensor knows that there is not enough air being pumped into the exhaust stream (it can tell because the O2sensor voltage does not drop, or at least does not drop enough).

The other common CEL related problem I see (much less frequently) involves a faulty fuel tank pressure sensor. What if humorous to me is that both these are Mercedes parts.

tootles

[JPaul]

Thanks for the infos, and welcome, SmarTek-TNG! Glad to have you on board.

[jefferios]

Thanks for the insight SmarTek, don't spend too much time on here as you prolly have customers waiting.

Feel free to browse around our community.

[SmarTek-TNG]

thanks for the cordial welcomes! I wanted to edit my post, as there is a mistake in it: the O2 sensor voltage actually increases when the air pump is actuated (spec is that the O2 sensor voltage reaches or exceeds 2.4V when the air pump is actuated)

peace

[eodsgm]

I picked up my Smart on the 12th of July in Jacksonville, FL. Ran great on the 300 mile trip home. the following Friday the CEL came on while driving home. No unusual symptoms so I waited until Monday to call the dealer. The dealer was very good asking about the gas cap, when was the last fill up and so on. They agreed that it was not an issue to drive it back for service so I took it back in yesterday.

Results: CODE P0410 Secondary Air Switchover Valve

It took an hour and half to diagnose, replace the valve, test and wash the car. Great service from a great dealer. Too bad its just over 300 miles to get to them.