More transmission problems

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on January 24, 2009 at 4:40am

i've heard of it once before, a while ago. i've had my shifter physically lock up twice in the last 6 weeks, each time when the temp was -4F, second time with a new shifter assembly 10 days ago, i'm thinking of carrying a can of spray lube or buy a different knob assembly (they sell them on e-bay, billets and something, tom with a number seller)

my smart has issues, since i installed the Scan Gauge 2, now and then the ESP light will stay on, but nothing that cripples the car.

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Permalink Reply by Tom on January 24, 2009 at 7:20pm

Thanks for the reply. We picked our car up this morning and everythings seems to be fine again. I still haven't been able to talk to the right people yet, but it was explained that the shifter module was replaced. They restated that the shifter module was not making a connection with the engine so it would not start (sort of like a netural start switch). The car only had 3700 miles, so I hope this is not a problem that shows up very often.

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Permalink Reply by Jim Mottin on January 28, 2009 at 10:18am

Not positive, but I think I suffered the same problem on a cold day last week. Drove downtown to store, got in after shopping and car would turn over but not engage. Tried a number of times, went back to store for awhile, came out and tried again with same problem. Walked home and later called for tow. Went back to car to await tow truck. While waiting car started. No problem again for a week, without a repair. Will await for it to happen again when parked out in the woods somewhere miles from anything. I had run through gears while car was off in attempt to get something to work, but I did that both before attempts that did not work and final attempt that did.

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Permalink Reply by Tom on January 28, 2009 at 11:00am

Jim
I'm not sure whether this is the same or not, but it could involve replacement of the same part. My car would not even turn over. It was as if the battery was completely dead except everything else worked fine. My gearshift would also move, but after going thru the reset routine with "roadside assistance" several times and then later getting a jump start that also didn't work, they hauled the car to the dealer. Good luck with yours and I hope that maybe it was only the cold weather.

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on January 30, 2009 at 2:36am

i just talked to Dave Schembri yesterday (president of smart USA), i had a conference call with him and a master technician, seems my shifter was locked by a faulty brake circuit that lets the tranny think the brake pedal isn't depressed so it stays in park. i told them i can press the button on the shifter, but it won't go into reverse. so my smart goes back into the shop again, but i'll be getting a loaner this time :)

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Permalink Reply by Tom on January 30, 2009 at 11:21pm

I hope you finally get your problem solved. It never hurts to go to the top. Our car is now working perfect again. It seems that this shifter module can cause a whole lot of things to go wrong. Lets hope that the replacements are better than the originals.

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Permalink Reply by Not so smart on January 30, 2009 at 11:59pm

Hi Mr.B, I can't believe you could talk to the boss. Thats great. How many people have you ever herd of that could say they talked to the president of GM about a car problem. This say's allot about smart. They must be very dedicated to customer satisfaction. I mean one customer with a problem can talk to Dave Schembri, the president of smart USA. I am blown away ! I don't know how you did it, but it should be a shoe in now that your car will be fixed. At least I hope it is.
I mean you can now say to them "you better get this fixed or I am calling my budy Dave back, and he and I are on a first name base's. Talk about leverage. Good Luck, keep us posted.

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Permalink Reply by Enizete Lane on January 31, 2009 at 11:12pm

Sorry to discover problems you have mentioned, but above all, its appears as though the true issues of the problems are not really addressed to not occur maybe next time, is that correct?
You get the car towed,part is replaced without addressing the true problem to resolution?
Considering all aspects to your problems, all works well today. What occurs with same event for another person, today or next year and so on.
Am considering buying a car,but this concern is as well getting addressed at the car factory to not occur again?
Would be better to obtain proactive approach to know, yes we at Smart know about problem and have addressed the problem as well. This problem has been addressed and this is what has occurred to not have problem repeat itself.
Smart cars have been sold within Europe at no better winter conditions before, so how has this problem occurred for your car, when if anything were to have occured equal to your problems, would have been addressed to have been eliminated while having had smart cars sold in europe for years?
How is your problem unique to smart cars from last few years,or how has your problems maybe not been addressed by Smart as well.
I want to feel compelled to believe that even Smart cars concerns are addressed to your satisfaction,but why has it occured from the beginning when cars have been used for years elsewhere. Is your problems confronted something new, that Smart cars have never needed addressed before?
maybe that posting about contacting the big whigs can respond to these perceptions, cause to date, it sounds like this problem was fixed for you, but tell me what happens to your Smart car a year from now, or two?
The electronic shifting module problem occurs how often within one thousand cars sold in one year located in winter prone states? How is this module problem unique for smart cars sold in usa, versus having been sold in far colder and or equal winter climate regions in europe before?
how are problems totally solved after having learned that part is in error?
how are problems confronted after having learned this problem has occurred maybe a hundred times, what next?
Figure some responses may answer themselves based upon some tech savvy folks, but would like to know, how problems are addressed to not occur again even with replaced part, say next time it screws up, why would it screw up.
Problems are unique or considered common for this module?
mainly curious cause i would think some guy residing in colder climates of europe would know by now whether this is something new needed addressed to ensure some car that were to not operate does not miss that persons day heading to work for same problems not addressed by past problems needing fixed/

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Permalink Reply by Not so smart on February 1, 2009 at 12:40am

Hi Enizete, I see your point. This thing seems to be getting more serious. There now seems to be two causes for the same apparent problem. And they both completely dissable the car. We had a -22 below zero night here in Minnesota a couple of weeks ago,and if someone were to park there smart car in some remote area, and forgot there cell phone, and I think you see where I'm going with this. This problem could become more then just an inconvenience, this problem could cause a permanant injury or death ! The car is nothing if it can't prove itself reliable. At least not dead unreliable.

Your right, they better get to the bottom of this problem, and fast ! They better be very proactive with this and maybe issue a recall and make the fix a permanant solution before someone gets hurt or killed over this. Could be two people !

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Permalink Reply by Not very SMART on February 8, 2009 at 3:02pm

I owned a diesel smart which I had to give up as it would simply stop working at cold temps. Loved the car and had no other problems. The new Smart 08 has been a real headache since 5000 km with it getting stuck and not moving with numerous ( 6) replacements of shifter knob, shifter assembly and clutch. Most recently, the car started flashing the hazard and ABS light while driving and then without warning the car wouldn't shift out of park. I am actually afraid to drive this car anymore. The problems seem to be occurring more and more frequently. The dealership has been super kind but I am still a consumer that is stuck with a very cute lemon!! HELP.. Any suggestions??

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Permalink Reply by Not so smart on February 8, 2009 at 8:33pm

I hope they have this fixed on the 2009 models. I have a Brabus on the boat and my wife allredy hates the idea of getting a smart car. If she has any trouble with this car I will never hear the end of it. She wanted the Honda Fit. There may be a Brabus for sale in my future.

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