Battery shut off switch - Smart Car of America Forums : Smart Car Forum

morscuba · 03-11-2009, 05:14 PM

Just installed the battery shutoff switch the manual calls for in the towing section..$27.00 US from the dealer and 20 min. of my time.. Very easy to install and I believe probably better than any of the aftermarket switches..The blue ox is next week.

bcope01 · 03-11-2009, 06:53 PM

????? I tow my 2008 Smart behind my motorhome without any battery cut-off switch installed.

whalewatcher · 03-12-2009, 12:21 AM

How much time has it been towed ? and have you noticed any decline in the battery power.
I intend to install a battery switch before I head from the Oregon Coast to Virginia next month. Hoping not to find the battery dead after 10 days on the road.
whalewatcher

bcope01 · 03-12-2009, 09:18 AM

No battery problems, but I've never towed it for 10 days straight without driving it.

travelerceb · 03-12-2009, 11:25 AM

We've towed our smart over 2500 miles over a 7 week period last fall. We have no battery switch and have had no indication of a battery problem. Usually tow 4-7 hours per day when traveling and often do not unhook at night.
I just checked my manual and could not find any mention of a battery cutoff switch for my 2008 (got it last March).

smartie yank · 03-12-2009, 01:22 PM

If you disconnect your battery, remember to keep your radio code handy or you will have a quiet trip. You also lose your preset stations.

fortow · 03-12-2009, 11:34 PM

There are errors in both the '08 and the '09 manuals. Apparently there will be revisions.

I also tow my car and do not cut off the battery. There is no need to.
You put the shift in neutral and turn the key to the left as far as it will go. It cannot be removed from this position but all electricals are turned off. There is no unusual discharge from the battery.

whalewatcher · 03-13-2009, 11:33 PM

Today I installed a battery "switch" on our 09 Pure Smart car. Cost $13.59 at NAPA. and took about 30 minutes to install- 10 to get to the battery. It was similar to the photo sent to me by smart car of Portland OR. ie a round knob. Had to remove wire to negative battery post and cut wire. The round knob, a large screw, actually allows the newly installed battery post connector to be disconnected from the newly attached end of the negative wire. As it is "somewhat" inconvienent to get to the battery and disconnect the negative wire, I'm not susre how often I will do this on our trip from OR to VA in April.
As previously mentioned the 09 manual with the 09 Smart Car recommends a battery disconnect swith if 4 on the ground towing. This does not seem to be the case with the 08 manual and car. So some times correspondents are talking about different situations. We will report on our cross country experience.
Whalewatcher.

fortow · 03-14-2009, 11:20 PM

What differences would there be between the '08 and '09 that would require a cutoff switch for the '09 and not for the '08?
This may or may not just be an error in the manuals. Obviously, the '08 doesn't require it. Curious.

Dunerunner · 03-14-2009, 11:30 PM

No battery cut off switch in my '08 either. This is real confusing, as I haven't read or heard of having to disconnect the battery when towing four down behind an RV! I have installed a permanent pigtail for charging with my Battery Minder, which I carry in the RV.

Until someone provides a technical reason to do so, I will not install one!