Reverse gear on a hillside - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

columbus · 08-12-2008, 05:16 PM

Does anyone have information about driving the smart in reverse gear on a hillside. I tried to back into a parking space going uphill and couldn't get the car to back up. I assume this has something to do with the hillside assist? Is it possible to back up the car while going uphill? I can go into reverse on a flat surface with no problem.

johnssc · 08-12-2008, 08:52 PM

Hill assist works in reverse, also. Press harder on the accelerator pedal!

a2jack · 08-13-2008, 08:48 AM

We have to back up hill often. From time to time the car feels like it's binding.

The fix is to go onto a flat road or parking lot. Back up fast and hit the brakes firmly. This will re-adjust the rear shoes. After I do this the car feels much looser and the binding disappears.

A2Jack.

kannonvaggon · 08-13-2008, 11:05 AM

On "camping" trips, we carry our Cabrio in the garage of our motorcoach. We load the Cabrio up the rather tall ramp, backwards. The car has no problem backing up the steep ramp even when it's wet. To have good control backing up a slippery slope, it helps to use the hand brake as needed. If you start and stop and start again you can get the goofy creep thing going, so it helps to use a bit of throttle and control the precision of the backing with the hand brake.

It IS quite possible to get a bit of wheel spin on a real slippery surface, like wet steel for instance. At idle throttle position the ESP will pretty much keep the wheels from wanting to spin hardly at all, but you can "induce" some spin when needed by using a bit of throttle and then you can control it with the hand brake. Sounds goofy, but sometimes a little wheel spin is a good thing and will get ya going just when ya need it.

just a thunk

anthony94114 · 08-13-2008, 09:42 PM

We've got some fierce hills in San Francisco and both my smarts have had no issues with that particular challenge. I'm actually surprised how well they take the steep ones. You've got an issue. Maybe try what a2jack suggested.. or call your dealer.

columbus · 08-14-2008, 07:39 PM

I don't think I phrased my issue properly. I was driving uphill. Tried to parallel park by putting my car in reverse and backing into the parking space meaning I was trying to back downhill in reverse. The car made a loud clunking noise like it was stuck in gear and it didn't want to go in reverse downhill.

columbus · 08-15-2008, 05:31 PM

I e-mailed my question to smartusa customer service who referred me to the dealer. I e-mailed the dealer but he wasn't sure and said he would have to check into it and get back with me. I guess I'm lucky I don't have to back up or down hills too often.

**rfernatt** · 08-15-2008, 07:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OH08

I e-mailed my question to smartusa customer service who referred me to the dealer. I e-mailed the dealer but he wasn't sure and said he would have to check into it and get back with me. I guess I'm lucky I don't have to back up or down hills too often.

It will be interesting to hear what the dealer has to say. One thought - could you use neutral and let it coast backwards (with appropriate brake control, of course) down the hill while turning into the parking spot? Whether this works or not, it might help troubleshoot the problem.

columbus · 08-16-2008, 09:58 AM

even though this has happened 3 times, it might just be a fluke. i went to a parking garage to check it out, reverse uphill no problem, reverse downhill no problem. steep inclines. so, i don't know what happened on the previous occasions.
The dealer concurs.