[gigimedrano]

hi guys so i ordered a new actuator for my 2009 smart. after i install it do i need to go to thw dealer to get it programmed.or relearn o anything like that?

 

[jwight]

The official answer is yes. However, several owners have not done that and the car seems to operate fine. Your call.

 

[gigimedrano]

The official answer is yes. However, several owners have not done that and the car seems to operate fine. Your call. <img src="http://smartcarofamerica.com/forums/images/SmartCarOfAmerica/smilies/tango_face_smile.png" border="0" alt="" title="Smile" class="inlineimg" />

oh really?? i dont see how it can hurt anything so ill give it shot thanx!

 

[Bluestone]

hi guys so i ordered a new actuator for my 2009 smart. after i install it do i need to go to thw dealer to get it programmed.or relearn o anything like that?

Hello, Please provide an update on how you resolved this. Mercedes dealer near Asked me to pay $1900. I tried to avoid going to the dealership in the first place. I had a local mechanic did the repair on the Actuator, but we got stuck with the coding.

 

[wahi]

Hello, Please provide an update on how you resolved this. Mercedes dealer near Asked me to pay $1900. I tried to avoid going to the dealership in the first place. I had a local mechanic did the repair on the Actuator, but we got stuck with the coding.

Bluestone, in the very early days of arising actuator problems, one of the first advice given was always to disconnect the battery before taking off the actuator or "very bad things could happen." Never found out what could, because I follow this advice.
Now, when an actuator is "repaired", what was done to it? I had 2 instances of actuator problems back in those days. In 2010, I didn't know any better and had MB of Pittsburgh do the work for a healthy near $700.00 after a $200.00 labor discount. They actually replaced the broken one with a new oem. I learnt later that it was very much a walk in the park (un/screw 3 bolts, duh!!) to remove and instal actuators.
The second time was when I'd acquired Chewawa. Unicycle the owner was given a raw deal when his MB dealer had quoted in the $3K that he'd needed to "replace the tranny". When winter had thawed out, I took Chewawa's actuator apart. I found a few bits of broken, white plastic and thought maybe that was the problem. Cleaned and lubed the insides, and put it back in. Chewawa worked for a block and then started bucking like crazy, so I took it back to park. Got a used actuator from a forummer in Canada for $100, and when it came, I lubed the insides, put it back in, and all went well until today.
So I am curious to know what exactly is the problem that needed $1900 to fix.

 

[Bluestone]

Bluestone, in the very early days of arising actuator problems, one of the first advice given was always to disconnect the battery before taking off the actuator or "very bad things could happen." Never found out what could, because I follow this advice.
Now, when an actuator is "repaired", what was done to it? I had 2 instances of actuator problems back in those days. In 2010, I didn't know any better and had MB of Pittsburgh do the work for a healthy near $700.00 after a $200.00 labor discount. They actually replaced the broken one with a new oem. I learnt later that it was very much a walk in the park (un/screw 3 bolts, duh!!) to remove and instal actuators.
The second time was when I'd acquired Chewawa. Unicycle the owner was given a raw deal when his MB dealer had quoted in the $3K that he'd needed to "replace the tranny". When winter had thawed out, I took Chewawa's actuator apart. I found a few bits of broken, white plastic and thought maybe that was the problem. Cleaned and lubed the insides, and put it back in. Chewawa worked for a block and then started bucking like crazy, so I took it back to park. Got a used actuator from a forummer in Canada for $100, and when it came, I lubed the insides, put it back in, and all went well until today.
So I am curious to know what exactly is the problem that needed $1900 to fix.

The actuator was actually repainted by a mechanic, but unfortunate when the car was put back together, there was a coding issue. Mercedes won’t release the necessary coding, but instead requested that the car be towed to them. They called me few hrs later stating that additionally they found other “issues”. In total, they are asking for $1900.

 

[Bluestone]

The actuator was actually repainted by a mechanic, but unfortunate when the car was put back together, there was a coding issue. Mercedes won’t release the necessary coding, but instead requested that the car be towed to them. They called me few hrs later stating that additionally they found other “issues”. In total, they are asking for $1900.

Pardon the typo, it was replaced, not repainted.

 

[wahi]

Oh, so the car is with them.

Those "other issues" are related to the actuator problem, I am guessing. There was an advisory in 2009 or thereabouts for a tranny 2.0 update for the car. I think the charge for the update was $90 or so. I got mine done on my Pure during one of the two services I did with MBUSA. The $1900 charge you are being quoted sounds like more than just a reprogramming. Did they itemize the issues with costs on an estimate form?

 

[jwight]

FWIW, smart owners having been replacing clutch actuators on their own for years, with no "coding issues." Yes, the Mercedes procedure calls using a STAR machine to "adjust" the actuator, but not using one hasn't seemed to cause any issues. I'm with wahi, the dealer needs to itemize exactly what they claim is needed to justify that $1,900 estimate.