[nolaboy]

Hey y'all,
I recently bought a used 2010 smart for two with 50, 000 miles. After a few weeks the CEL came on. Not knowing the maintenance history I performed the basic plugs, cabin filter, oil change and air filter changes.
I brought the smart to the dealer to read the codes (I have an extended warranty).
I installed the Denso Iridium plugs that were recommended by a lot of folks on this forum.(from smart madness).
The dealer says I have a #2 cly misfire. They then say that I have the "wrong" plugs. They wanted to change to the stock plugs and test the car. I said sure. Of course no change. Has anyone had a dealer say that the Denso's are the "wrong" plug?
I'm hoping its an injector or a coil and not a compression issue.
They're also troubleshooting an air bag code.(not under warranty) They can't find the problem. I hope I don't have an inept mechanic!
Thanks for a wonderful forum!

 

[pack smart]

Hi, yes I just had my car in for a P0-301 cylinder #1 misfire last week. I will send the technician resolution later tonight when I am home. I have Denso Iridium's also which I put in at 15k. Smartie ran fine until 19K, then threw the P0-301 code. Scared the heck out of me because I was thinking it was a coil or exhaust valve issue. Good news, it was not!

He wrote about the "wrong aftermarket plug" in the invoice synopsis. I decided to keep the Denso Iridiums and per his recommendation to please gap them to .7mm. My misfire was a result of me not gapping them correctly when I DIY'd the replacement. Cylinder #1 was at 1mm at his inspection. After the regap, it runs perfect now with no issues. Denso Iridiums are just fine as long as they are gapped correctly. I am thinking that I trusted the out of the box gap to be correct. Evidently, I was incorrect. My compression and cylinder leak down test was spot on at 190 PSI.

 

[sunnyokanagan]

Never trust from-the-box gaps - always check and regap.

Bil :sunshine:

 

[wahi]

Hmm.. interesting!

 

[WhiteNBlack08]

Just another excuse the dealer uses to get your money. I'm sure they got you for $15 a plug as well. I've had the Denso Iridiums in my smart for over 60K with no issues. I've not even pulled them out since I installed them. Probably should at some point, but the car runs perfectly.

 

[nolaboy]

Thanks!

I have no intention of paying for the plugs or the labor as they were "troubleshooting". I want my iridiums back in. I checked the gap before I installed them.
Remember the CEL was on before I did the plugs.
They have already pulled the bumper and check the sensor wiring. I guess I have to pay for that failed attempt as the air bag light is still on.
I forgot to mention in my earlier post that the CEL flashed and went into safe mode when I was a mile from the dealer.
Thanks guys!

 

[pack smart]

Hi, below is the invoice note. Sorry I did not have the opportunity to scan it, so I am typing it with spelling corrections for easier reading.

"CUST STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE BEGAN TO STUMBLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DISPLAYED CODE P0301/NOTE CUST CLEARED CODE. SEE KN. SPARK PLUG GAP. PERFORMED SHORT TEST FOUND NO CODES IN SYSTEM. PERFORMED COMPRESSION TEST FOUND CYL#1 190 PSI, CYL#2 190 PSI, CYL#3 188 PSI SPEC GREATER THAN 160 PSI PERFORMED CYLINDER LEAK DOWN FOUND 1 TO 2% LEAK DOWN ON ALL CYLINDERS, INSPECTED PLUGS FOUND AFTERMARKET PLUGS INSTALLED WITH INCORRECT GAP. GAPPED PLUGS AS NEEDED AND TEST DROVE 30 MILES WITH NO CONCERNS AT THIS TIME".

P.S I somewhat remember the technician speaking to the gap of .7mm vs. what the manual reads .9mm. Maybe a Technical Service Bulletin?

As a sidenote: I will duplicate post on my original P0-301 error.

 

[nolaboy]

Wow thanks!!

I'll know better tomorrow. It's going on its 2nd day at the dealer. I can't wait to see how much my extended warranty "doesn't" cover
Thanks for all your help. I'll send some updates tomorrow.

 

[BB Benz]

I vaguely remember a different gap specified by DENSO for the Irridiums. Anyone else rememeber that and what that gap was?

 

[chieftmc]

I vaguely remember a different gap specified by DENSO for the Irridiums. Anyone else rememeber that and what that gap was?

opcorn:opcorn:

 

[nolaboy]

Boo

I got crappy news from the dealer this morning. Compression test showed:
#1- 90psi. #2-58psi. #3-150psi.
They're calling the extended warranty company now. I can't imagine that this isn't covered. I'll keep y'all posted.

 

[BB Benz]

I can hear it now! Irridium plugs caused this failure. Warranty won't cover because you went into the engine.
I hope for your sake that I am wrong.
On the other hand, with a little tiny bit of luck, it's just the valve guides, and nothing worse. Those can be handled at a machine shop as we have seen here on other threads.
Best of luck to you.

 

[nolaboy]

Update

Ok..........The dealer called. They talked to the extended warranty company. The dealer needed my permission to tear down the motor for inspection by the warranty rep. Apparently, if it looks as if the maintenance was neglected they can deny the claim.
I was under the impression that the warranty was to protect me from unforeseen problems that may occur when buying a used car.
If the warranty company denies the claim I owe smart $110 per hr for disassembly. Then I have about $800 in to a car that doesn't run coupled with airbag codes!
This Sucks!!!
Just waiting for the call of death!

 

[WhiteNBlack08]

Ok..........The dealer called. They talked to the extended warranty company. The dealer needed my permission to tear down the motor for inspection by the warranty rep. Apparently, if it looks as if the maintenance was neglected they can deny the claim.
I was under the impression that the warranty was to protect me from unforeseen problems that may occur when buying a used car.
If the warranty company denies the claim I owe smart $110 per hr for disassembly. Then I have about $800 in to a car that doesn't run coupled with airbag codes!
This Sucks!!!
Just waiting for the call of death!

And that is why I refuse to buy extended warranties....


Completely sucks. Hoping for the best for you, unfortunately, if your luck is like a few others here, it will come back: DENIED

 

[nolaboy]

Yep!

My Dad always said extended warranties were crap! I've never gotten one before. I was just leery of buying a car that I knew little about.

I've always done my own repairs and maintenance. Chevy s-10, Suzuki Samurai, 80's Suburban, 90's K5 blazer.........etc. All "pre-everything is computerized" vehicles.

If I do get screwed, I'm gonna take the torn down motor to a machine shop and buy a rebuild kit. I've also seen used motors with low miles ranging from $1,500 to $3,500 ish. May be an easier option. I know I'm getting ahead of myself here.

Im just worried that we still don't know the cause of the failure. Lean condition, bad valve, spring, defective head.........
Thanks for all the concern!
Wish me luck!

 

[nolaboy]

Shocked!!

I called the 800 number for smart USA hoping to find some maintenance info on my car.
The extended warranty company is trying to prove the car was neglected.

To my surprise, they cant release any info to anyone that didn't own the car when work was done! I told them I didn't want any personal info on the previous owner, just a record of the work done on that VIN#.

Wow! Why would they do that? I would think they could help prove to the warranty company that it was maintained and help with the claim.

I have called the Nissan dealer where I purchased the car to see if they could find the previous owner. Hopefully he'll have some maintenance records.

I'll keep y'all filled in. Sorry about the useless rant-like post. I'm just so PO'd about the whole thing! Not how I wanted to spend my 2 days off from work!

 

[HGB]

You just let it out! I feel for you, for you are doing everything right.
Here we have a typical case of guilty of neglect until proved innocent.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO SEPARATE YOU FROM YOUR MONEY.

 

[Brabus007]

A Warranty Company's motto is: There Is A Sucker Born Every Minute

 

[nolaboy]

I knew better!!

Duh! I new better.
Well at least theres a chance they'll cover it. Otherwise I'd be out $4k right off the bat.

Now the warranty company wants to do a leakdown test. I don't know why. with my #2 cyl being 58 psi on the compression test I don't see the point.

Oh well

 

[sunnyokanagan]

Inspection to see if they can discover evidence of interference by your "wrong" plugs? Basically, looking for something they can point to so they don't have to pay out.

An insurance adjuster's job is to minimize cost to the company. You are, indeed, considered guilty until proven innocent.