how to start the 450 - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

cfreidma · 09-07-2009, 10:27 AM

I'm having the 450 shipped. Unfortunately, there is a small chance I'll be out of the country if the shipment is delayed. So I've asked a friend of mine to be plan b for the delivery. She has graciously accepted.

I'd like to provide her with instructions on how to start the car. This may seem silly but I have not found these instructions yet. And when I went to test drive a 450 at the Denver smart center, I found that the dealer was not familiar with the car. (It was kind of funny - as it took 3 people to figure out how to start it.)

Old smart · 09-07-2009, 10:46 AM

https://www.thesmartclub.co.uk/membe...pdf/fortwo.pdf

Need to go to www.thesmartclub.co.uk and request a free membership.

HerrZ · 09-07-2009, 10:51 AM

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briansmart · 09-07-2009, 11:00 AM

cfreidma i sent you a PM explaining how to start the car.

Its surprising to me that no one at Smart Center Denver knew how to start it. Did you talk to the services manager, Paul Myers? Mention to him you "met" me in the SCoA forums. I took both of my 450s there to be serviced by him. He can even install a drain plug in the oil pan so you more easily perform oil changes.

Old smart · 09-07-2009, 11:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerrZ

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OK, just go to the site and request a free membership. Takes about 24 hours to get cleared-in.

cfreidma · 09-07-2009, 03:39 PM

Thanks old smart. I registered.

cfreidma · 09-07-2009, 03:43 PM

Hey Briansmart - it looks like the car is coming with only 1 key so
I'll be contacting Paul Myers regarding getting another key made. I'll ask him about the oil drain plug. Thanks for your help.

Mike T · 09-07-2009, 10:27 PM

There is no magic to starting a 450.....just unlock the car (even if it is unlocked already, the immobilizer engages after five minutes, giving rise to the weird symbol in the LCD display).

Once unlocked, put it in neutral with your foot on the brake pedal (the car should ALWAYS and I mean always) be parked in Reverse, or it will eventually roll away when the handbrake fails to hold it. This car will not shift from R to N to forward gears unless the footbrake is on during the shifting maneuver. Doing it without the brake on gives a nice "0" in the LCD.

Also, the ignition interlock (the equivalent of the steering lock on a conventional car, on the smart it locks the shifter in "R") will not work unless the shifter is left in "R" when the car is locked.

Once in N, press the footbrake and start the car. On the diesel at least, all you need to do is flick the key to start and release it immediately; the car decides how long the starter is needed.

briansmart · 09-08-2009, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cfreidma

Hey Briansmart - it looks like the car is coming with only 1 key so
I'll be contacting Paul Myers regarding getting another key made. I'll ask him about the oil drain plug. Thanks for your help.

cfreidma, there is thread in this forum about extra keys. Finally, an answer for extra keys (I hope)!