[smartypants5417]

Greetings, I am trying to assist my senior mother on a fixed income, the car is showing abs indicator and oil indicator on the dash. The abs with break warning came on when I was test driving it and really laid on the breaks, as did the oil. The oil is up and I am wondering how to reset these systems seeing nothing in the operating manual on trouble shooting please??

 

[jwight]

Welcome to SCoA! Have you posted on Club Smart Car also? There's a lot of knowledge on the diesel 450s on that site.

 

[Huronlad]

Have the fault lights remained on, after a restart?

If so, there is either a real problem with both the ABS and the oil pressure or a wiring problem creating false codes. What was your process for checking the oil, was it done correctly? If there is no money to properly maintain the vehicle, maybe best to sell it to someone who can properly maintain it.

 

[smartypants5417]

thanks

I used the dipstick on the right side of the motor to check the oil. I am in discussions with her to give the car a new home despite the personal attachment, however, to do so the problems mentioned must be fixed. With 132000 km what would this very well maintained non pet / smoker vehicle be realistically worth in Ontario with a set of spare rims having brand new snow tires mounted on them fetch?

 

[Huronlad]

Who has been maintaining the car to this point?

Service options
Service Options - Club smart Car

Checking oil, after the engine being off for several minutes if you did the following,

With the engine off, open the car's hood and find the dipstick. Pull the dipstick out from the engine and wipe any oil off from its end. Then insert the dipstick back into its tube and push it all the way back in. Pull it back out, and this time look at both sides of the dipstick to see where the oil is on the end.

Oil level should be about 3/4 up between add and full on the dipstick.

If you sell, compare online asking prices, Autotrader, Kijiji.

 

[Mike T]

Oil indicator on the dash, if the sump is full, could be a terminal oil pump failure, a well-known problem that crops up in some cars. First, someone would need to trace the oil pressure sending unit wiring to make sure it's not shorted on something. Second, listen closely to the engine when it's running, if there are any slapping sounds other than the usual diesel rattle, the oil pump chain is not turning the oil pump sprocket. Next step would be to remove and cut apart the oil filter looking for metal particles inside. If there are any, the car needs a new engine.

ABS light could be a cracked reluctor (toothed) ring on the rear axle. Not hard to get a replacement but installing it is not for the novice as the axle has to be removed.

As for value, if it actually has both of those problems, well under $1000.

 

[smartypants5417]

Thanks Mike

I have been working on things for about 40 years and have a fair skill set; however, this little car has me out smarted lol. I am a member of many forums and have always found the answers I seek at them. All was fine with it until I took it for a test drive where I stomped on the breaks to see how it would do to ensure it was safe for mother. After that is when the dummy lights came on and I do not believe there is any validity to the nature of the warnings. As mentioned I am at least capable of checking the oil, and can offer that she is making normal running noise, and given this coincides with my aggressive test drive I remain of the mind this smarty liked the little old ladies foot more than mine and some things have just been jarred (sticky from gentle use) requiring resetting.

 

[Huronlad]

I have never had an emergency stop trigger warning lights in any of my smarts, or any other car I have ever driven. If there truly are no issues, both warning lights should go out.