My 2010 came from your neighborhood. This is what it looked like after a first pass cleaning up the rust.My 2012 has been through 8 Midwestern rust belt winters, 170k miles, and thousands of miles being beat up off-road. Not to mention, the car went three years without getting a car wash. The only real rust to speak of is my tow hitch. I put a rubber coating on it that did just as I mentioned above. My new to me 108k mi 2008 is also a Midwest car, it's clean aside from a cracked spring.
My two are both ICE.Just to be sure, are you guys discussing the electric smart? While all smarts have the same rear suspension, in other respects they are quite different.
Photos please!What really needs rust protection are the two rear tone rings or reluctor rings. [jwight]
I have my 2010 disassembled currently and can easily get images of the reluctor rings and axles both on and off the car. It's trivial right now to get detailed images, so if there's a desire to see rear assembly parts ask for them. If there's interest I can make a new thread.Photos please!
Protectant Spray: Mix 1/3 90w differential oil (used is ok) with 2/3 hydraulic fluid (used is ok) and spray liberally to under-carriage. The 90w tends to creep and stick as anyone with a slightly leaking steering box knows. The hyd oil is a thinner to allow spraying easily. Do this at the start of the winter season and again after spring washing sraydown and complete drying out.
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Whaa??the two rear tone rings or reluctor rings . . . ESP system.
Evilution has a good "how to" on the reluctor rings: Evilution - Smart Car EncyclopaediaWhaa??
Supermoderator need to SuperSplain!!
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The ABS rings (or "reluctor rings") on our cars have an interesting design. The ones up front are for the most part sealed and safe from corrosion but the ones in back are exposed to all of the elements. The rings themselves appear to be untreated steel. Thus, after several hard winters they will rust, crack, and break. The readings from these rings are responsible for the operation of the ESP and ABS system. When they begin failing you may witness strange behaviour like the car activating traction control when it's not necessary or ABS activating when it's not necessary. Some people have even experienced a wheel locking up. "Best" case scenario is like with my two 451s where the rings fail and the ESP and ABS system simply disable themselves (great for off-roading! Ha).Whaa??
Supermoderator need to SuperSplain!!
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