smart's Monopoly on Oil Changes - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

pluto · 06-08-2009, 01:14 PM

I'm sure that this has been discussed before, but I couldn't find it, and I'd like to share my experience for anyone thinking of buying a smart car, particularly if you live in an area like mine with limited access to a smart dealership.

I had my oil changed by my usual local mechanic about 3 months ago, but they couldn't figure out how to reset the maintenance light, so it has been on since then. I've been thinking that I would sit down with my owners manual but haven't gotten around to it.
Then I got my notice in the mail about making an appointment to get the update, and I thought I'd just get them to take care of it then. With the only smart dealership in Georgia being 100 miles away, I don't want to go if I don't have to.
(Side note: on the way to my appointment one of my back tires blew out without warning- still can't tell why since the tires are only 12k old and have great tread and had no evidence of a puncture. I changed to my spare with the help of another smart owner who stopped. I highly recommend having a spare since the tire repair kit is pretty useless when your tire is in two pieces. Of course the smart dealership is happy to replace the tire- not wheel- for the bargain price of $175. I don't usually go to a dealer for service, but I have never had a set of tires with absolutely no warranty whatsoever.
So having that settled, I asked the guy about the maintenance light, and he said that they could only turn it off if I paid for them to change the oil again since my mechanic didn't use a smart filter. To clarify, I said, So I either have to get my oil changed again 7k early or drive around with the check engine light on for the next six months? Yes. And I can't reset it myself? No.
Don't get me wrong. I love my smart car. Sometimes I still visit it in the garage just to see it. But if it's this much trouble to get the oil changed, what happens when my warranty is up and I have to get it towed 100 miles for repair because smart completely monopolizes their cars' service?
My apologies for the rant. I would love to hear other owners' repair stories. I feel like I have made a huge mistake buying a car that I can't have repaired conveniently and for a reasonable price.

Smart Enuf · 06-08-2009, 01:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pluto

I'm sure that this has been discussed before, but I couldn't find it, and I'd like to share my experience for anyone thinking of buying a smart car, particularly if you live in an area like mine with limited access to a smart dealership.

I had my oil changed by my usual local mechanic about 3 months ago, but they couldn't figure out how to reset the maintenance light, so it has been on since then. I've been thinking that I would sit down with my owners manual but haven't gotten around to it.
Then I got my notice in the mail about making an appointment to get the update, and I thought I'd just get them to take care of it then. With the only smart dealership in Georgia being 100 miles away, I don't want to go if I don't have to.
(Side note: on the way to my appointment one of my back tires blew out without warning- still can't tell why since the tires are only 12k old and have great tread and had no evidence of a puncture. I changed to my spare with the help of another smart owner who stopped. I highly recommend having a spare since the tire repair kit is pretty useless when your tire is in two pieces. Of course the smart dealership is happy to replace the tire- not wheel- for the bargain price of $175. I don't usually go to a dealer for service, but I have never had a set of tires with absolutely no warranty whatsoever.
So having that settled, I asked the guy about the maintenance light, and he said that they could only turn it off if I paid for them to change the oil again since my mechanic didn't use a smart filter. To clarify, I said, So I either have to get my oil changed again 7k early or drive around with the check engine light on for the next six months? Yes. And I can't reset it myself? No.
Don't get me wrong. I love my smart car. Sometimes I still visit it in the garage just to see it. But if it's this much trouble to get the oil changed, what happens when my warranty is up and I have to get it towed 100 miles for repair because smart completely monopolizes their cars' service?
My apologies for the rant. I would love to hear other owners' repair stories. I feel like I have made a huge mistake buying a car that I can't have repaired conveniently and for a reasonable price.

See this thread for resetting the maintenance indicator (the wrench symbol): http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/for...h-symbol-2615/

smark · 06-08-2009, 01:55 PM

That won't work to reset the wrench symbol. Even the instructions, in the new owner manual won't work. I need to take it to the dealer.

MPrice2984 · 06-08-2009, 02:04 PM

I've tried every method to reset mine also, with no luck. It's the one thing I hate about my smart, and I consider it a really bad business practice to require
a trip to a dealer to shut it off.

fpage77 · 06-08-2009, 02:05 PM

The new '09 you can't reset your maintenance indicator yourself. IT is a monopoly and it's against the law for them to force you to use smart for oil change. They can say no we don't force anyone but making it so your indicator. The forcing you to look at a annoying indicator drilling a whole in your head cause you can't reset it so force you to come to them is forcing. They specifically took the ability away to reset the indicator on purpose. I have never had a car that I couldn't reset indicator for by doing funny things with the key.

cubefx · 06-08-2009, 02:09 PM

I got '08 and turned off my service light by following the instructions in the link provided above. I took me about 10 times to time everything perfectly, but it worked.

fpage77 · 06-08-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cubefx

I got '08 and turned off my service light by following the instructions in the link provided above. I took me about 10 times to time everything perfectly, but it worked.

That's because the software is different in the '08.

http://www.evilution.co.uk/index.php?id=458

pluto · 06-08-2009, 02:34 PM

Thanks for all of your advice and quick replies. I will try the instructions to do it myself since mine is an 08.

fpage77 · 06-08-2009, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pluto

Thanks for all of your advice and quick replies. I will try the instructions to do it myself since mine is an 08.

Lucky you have one the model years where you have the option to reset it.

**jwight** · 06-08-2009, 03:42 PM

Quote:

So having that settled, I asked the guy about the maintenance light, and he said that they could only turn it off if I paid for them to change the oil again since my mechanic didn't use a smart filter.

Absolute BS IMHO. Their policy may be not to reset the maintenance indicator unless they do the work (questionable at best) but to try and tie it to using non-smart parts is a foul. No requirement to use OEM parts/material for an oil change. Worth a written complaint to the general manager with a copy to smart USA if you want to follow up.