When I took delivery of my Smart I let my Sales person go through her entire walk through and this was part of it.
They should have showed you how to check the oil, and in the process they should have showed you how to open the engine compartment. Included in that deomonstration they should have covered the Hook, and properly reseating the engine cover so you don't strip out the little latch. If they didn't, Demand they walk you through it next time you are in.
They owe you that much.
Did you just force the fabric of the tab to turn over (Like rolling a seat belt buckle over) ? A2Jack.
No, you have to take the hook off the fabric "ear," turn the hook over, and re-insert it in the fabric. 'Tain't easy as the hook is pretty robust and the slot is quite narrow. I had to open the slot up with a sharp blade.
The difference in operation is such that I think it is an error in the original carpet design or assembly that continues to exist.
This was a surprise. I got the engine opened up and everthing held back in place but found that the engine sound deadening material over the engine, towards the seats, had dropped down and the alternator/generator? tried to eat it up. I had to clean up some shredded material.
Hadn't seen the hook, until this thread, but when I changed the oil, and any subsequent time I need to be in the engine compartment, I have a broom handle sawed off to the proper length to sit in the "trunk cover" slots. I lift the carpet up to the back of the seats, put in the rod, and have all the room (relatively speaking, of course) that I need.
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