Accident averted

[Da and Linda]

Accident averted, I had a close call when traveling back roads in up state NY, coming around a corner right in the middle of the road stood three dear. I slammed on the brakes to avoid them. I must have pulled back both shifting paddles at the same time when I hit the brakes because something happen to the transmission.
The warning light with the tiny little wrench came on and we were in “limp mode” so we could drive the 78 miles back home. We stopped, turned off the car, waited maybe three or four minutes, called Smart USA, we talked and when I re-started the car the computer re-set and the problem was solved.
It was great to have Smart USA there to speak with, It was a little scary not knowing what damage I had done to the transmission, but when it goes in for it’s 10K check-up, I think our little Bee will come out with a clean bill of health.
Man it sure is great to drive a “smart car”

[BigWarpGuy]

Both shifting paddles? My little car only has one.

It showed that the brakes work well. I am glad no one was hurt and the car problem was reset by turning it off then on again.

[xrisnothing]

the pure only has one paddle???

[jediknight36]

I thought the pure didnt have any.

[PerryA]

As I recall, the Pure doesn't have the shift paddles on the steering column. That's a Passion and Cabriolet feature.

[JPaul]

Couldn't a sudden and harsh stop affect that ECU and it's way of managing gears? That'll explain why it showed it was confused by posting the little flashing wrench, and then it sort of reset itself after being calmed down... You know that a sudden stop would and should trigger the hazard lights, so there must be a sensor of some sort. Pulling on both paddles at the same time shouldn't trigger such a reaction.
But, the bottom line is that all involved, beside the momentary panic, are safe and sound.
Thanks for the report.

[BigWarpGuy]

Originally Posted by PerryA

As I recall, the Pure doesn't have the shift paddles on the steering column. That's a Passion and Cabriolet feature.

I have the Pure model and the only things on the steering column is the turn signal / head ligh switch lever on the left and the wiper lever on the right. I can move the shifter to the left to shift manually and it shows plus and minus on that side. I did not realize there was a shifter/paddle on the steering column. I learn something new every day.

[Kermit]

First week I had my car I avoided an accident because of the car's small size. I was driving out in the country when a tractor was pulling up to the road to get to the other side. He had a bushhog on the back as he'd been cutting the grass along the roadside. There were cars coming from the other direction too. As I neared him I saw him stand up from the seat, a single I'm all familiar with - he didn't disengage the PTO so he was trying to step on the brakes hard as he was being pushed across the road. We were doing about 55-60 and the cars coming from the other direction had reached the point where I couldn't completely swerve into the other lane. Luckily they all scooted over to their far right and I was able swerve in-between the small space of the front of the tractor and the oncoming cars.

The tractor driver definitely #2'ed his pants from the look on face. We missed an accident by mere inches and any other car would not have made that small gap we made it through. At that moment, I was proud to have my Smart.

Hopefully next time he remembers to disengage his PTO.

[SuperGeek]

Yes, the Passion has paddle shifters on the steering column... they're really fun to use. Pulling both at the same time doesn't cause my car any trouble... I've done it. But then, I wasn't braking hard and swerving... that might have been enough priority inputs to confuse the ECU, as JPaul said. That's a rare situation I can see being missed in the design QA process.