Smart Oddities

[dendrig59]

The alarm error has been covered in other threads. It's happened to me as well. Apparently, the error is caused by opening the door too quickly after shutting off the key. The computer has not yet recognized the shutdown. I found that if I pause just a second or three before I open the door, the problem does not occur.

[SylenThunder]

Good to know on the alarm... that makes sense. still wondering about the wipers. I have had it happed when they were in auto and just attributed it to auto... but it has happened a couple of times with auto off, and when it does, both the front and the rear wipers swipe and the same time. It was just strange

[SuperGeek]

Just on a whim, guys, check something... pull up the carpet under the passenger footwell, pull out the giant foam wedge and get to the battery compartment. Is there water in there?

I ask because a very generous Smart rep here was kind enough to alert us to an issue, and when I dug into it I found my A/C condensate drain hose had a small leak and for some reason the brilliant decision was made to route that hose through the battery well, which has no drain. If you have random electrical issues, I believe the SAM which controls most of the Smart's brainpower resides in that same compartment. Splashing water or vapors can make computer equipment do strange things.

Also make sure the clear plastic straw-like hose is attached at both ends, battery to bottom of well. That drains the trace amount of hydrogen gas generated by the battery.

[SylenThunder]

had been in there recently and did not find any oddities... will have to check again.

[Piccola]

Originally Posted by dendrig59

The alarm error has been covered in other threads. It's happened to me as well. Apparently, the error is caused by opening the door too quickly after shutting off the key. The computer has not yet recognized the shutdown. I found that if I pause just a second or three before I open the door, the problem does not occur.

Hey thanks! That explains the mystery!!

[Alan B]

My dome light switch is in the rear or auto position, and one night the light wouldn't turn off like it usually does when I started the car. I was only repositioning the car in the driveway, so it was no big problem and the light went out when I turned off the ignition and left the car. The next morning the dome light was still remaining on when I started the car with the headlights not on, but it finally went out when I turned on the headlights and moved the light/turn lever from high beam to low beam. This has only happened once.

[headless]

They're heeeeeeere!!!!!!

[foxmajik]

Originally Posted by SylenThunder

And then sometimes, when I start the car, the wipers swipe across the windows. Front and back. Double checked the controls and did not have it in auto or anything.... both were in the off position. Just weird.

When the system is powered on with the wiper switch in the Auto position the auto wiper system activates the wipers for one cycle upon initialization as a self test.

[Westfield 11]

Originally Posted by foxmajik

When the system is powered on with the wiper switch in the Auto position the auto wiper system activates the wipers for one cycle upon initialization as a self test.

No it doesn't, at least not on our two cars. I don't doubt that this is what happens on your car, but whose car is defective? I for one would rather that the wipers only activate when there is water to lubricate the blades otherwise the windscreen will get scratched.

[SylenThunder]

Originally Posted by foxmajik

When the system is powered on with the wiper switch in the Auto position the auto wiper system activates the wipers for one cycle upon initialization as a self test.

I did mention that it was not in auto, and like Westfield stated, even in auto, they don't swipe at startup as part of some test. Never had an auto wiper that did that, and it doesn't do that on either of my smarts.