Mystery Switch

[Old smart]

Originally Posted by mdfortwoguy

Apparently I am odd.

I am intrigued by the fact that the part number is actually for a 450.

And the smart oil filter tool (cup-type) was originally for the W454 (forfour).

[Evilution]

The battery layout is the same as the 450 and the engine is a cut down version of the forfour so it makes sense that the tools can be used.

There aren't many new tools for the 451. One exception is the shock absorber removal clamp which was actually available before the 451 was even though the part number started 451.

The Euro 451s have gear shift units with Roadster part numbers on.

[The Silver Pellet]

I dropped it off with the dealer, and while I was there, I asked Paul in the parts dept to check the price. It was under $40. If someone is really hankering for one, get the PN from the photos and call the smart center Round Rock (classicsmarts) parts department:

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...classicsmarts/

Be forewarned -- as someone else pointed out on this thread, it isn't a kill switch. It's just a "no power from battery" switch. For a kill switch, you also need to do something about the power from the alternator.

[rollingtones]

That is a battery disconnect cable installed in Europe and supposed to be removed by the US dealer. It is designed to cut off all power to the car during ocean shipments for safety.
I have about 18 of them a BMW dealer let me have.

[The Silver Pellet]

Originally Posted by rollingtones

That is a battery disconnect cable installed in Europe and supposed to be removed by the US dealer. It is designed to cut off all power to the car during ocean shipments for safety.
I have about 18 of them a BMW dealer let me have.

So much for the service tool theory. I should have kept it.

[Old smart]

It is a service tool. In the age of PCTCs (Pure Car Truck Carriers) the vehicles are loaded and lashed as-is. There is no time to be throwing isolation switches in the few seconds that these vehicles are parked and/or broken out, especially when you have to pull up the passenger flooring in a smart. It is true that in the days of break-bulk ships, batteries were disconnected and fuel tanks were drained and sometimes inerted, but they were hoisted aboard and ashore not driven. Such is not the vehicle shipping business these days. Been there; done that.

[Old Goat]

This set up can be made for about $12 using parts from any NAPA.
We place them under the drivers side seat so as to not draw attention when activating it. Wiring is done between the starter and the ignition switch so that power is still able to get to the ECU without a "retraining".
The ECU holds basic memory RAM whenever the battery is disconnected and that is never lost, but the ROM which is created and recreated on every drive has to be recreated for the "first time" again when the battery is reattached.

[John_H]

Picky information from an Electrical Engineer - RAM is volatile meaning it will lose its contents when power is absent. ROM - or Read Only Memory - isn't volatile and will keep its contents on power cycle. That's why iPods with FlashROM memory can keep your songs without draining their batteries.