smart Car

More transmission problems

This may have been discussed and I just missed it, but yesterday morning I went out to start and nothing! I had all electrical, but no click of a solenoid, just silence when I turned the key. The three bars came up on the dash just as what has been discussed before about a stuck shifter, but my shifter was not stuck, so a call was made to Penske. We went thru the turn key on and shift thru the gear routine and still nothing. They called for roadside assistance and in about 45 minutes someone came and went thru a jump start because Penske told them to try that first. Nothing happened. I was then told that it had to be hauled back to the dealer (approx. 150 miles away) for service. The dealer called be when it arrived and said that they would get right on it. They called this morning to say that it was repaired and that it was the electronic shifting module and what it had done was to quit communicating with the engine. I am going to try to get more info on this when I pick up the car, but according to the dealer, they haven't seen many of these problems, but when it goes, it just happens without warning. He did say everything is paid for, except I have to drive 150 miles up and back to get it home. Anyone heard of this problem?

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Permalink Reply by MoonTrout on November 13, 2009 at 4:47pm

I'm having major problems with my Smart. I had the dreaded "three bars" earlier this year. had the new transmission "upgrade". Now I am turning on the car but it will not shift into R or D. Cannot get the letters to show. Only N. Turning the car off does not solve the problem. The problem is growing. Happens nearly every day. The car is now officially unreliable.I have had it back to the San Francisco dealership over 3 times and the last time the service manager suggested I trade it in for a new one. WTF?!!!! Anyone else experiencing this? Do I have a lemon?

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Permalink Reply by OnikazeKenmushi on April 30, 2010 at 2:36pm

I'm having the exact same issue as you MoonTrout. My car won't shift into R or D and I will have to wait a while before the transmission engages into those drive modes. What sucks more is that when I took my car to the dealer, they told me that "nothing seems wrong with the codes and we don't see anything wrong with your car, except that you're due for service soon." The service people aren't being too helpful and will not be clear with me when I ask them about the details of the transmission.

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Permalink Reply by rob spencer on April 12, 2011 at 1:11am

sure sounds like it according to your service manager

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Permalink Reply by Brabus007 on November 14, 2009 at 8:31pm

People that Drive (BUY) Smarts have "Experimenter Personalities"...!!! Sounds like your Experiment went Sour...<:-(( Get into your Dealer, and get the "NEW" clutch... You know the "FIX" for the Bad Old Designed Clutch...

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Permalink Reply by Steven on March 26, 2011 at 1:05pm

Yep.......this happened to me yesterday......Exactly as you discribed.

I ran down to the Post Office to mail a package and coming out.....the car was dead, except all the electrical (lights, horn, etc., etc.,) seemed to work fine......just the 3 bars on the dash.

Called SMART and no help......refered me to dealer.....out of warranty. (57,157 miles on my 2008 Cabriolet) Called the dealer.......refered me to SMART. (smile)

Finally got the service advisor on the phone......he would have to check with the technicians and call me right back. An hour later I called him back....but technicicians had just left for lunch.....be back in another hour......said, he'd call me back. Another hour and 15 minutes went by.....I called him back........he was busy helping customers.......got his voice mail.......he'd call me back.

Several minutes later he returned call and sent tow truck. Geezzzzzz.......Not the first time I've had problem with this dealership. They're actually a pretty good dealership.........IF......... you drive a Mercedes. I'd go somewhere else if it wasn't so far to drive. I wish my Mercedes dealer in Carlsbad handled the SMART cars......THAT, I would do. (smile)

Obviously the dealership problem is not SMART's problem....but just added to a frustrating day. Of course it's now the weekend and I'm out the car.....but hope to have it back running next week. On the bright side........ I was only a mile from the house and just happened to be on vacation to catch up on some household chores etc.

I just miss my little car. (smile)

Cheers,

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Permalink Reply by MoonTrout on March 26, 2011 at 2:18pm

When the "three bars" happened, my husband went on the net and found a guerilla solution to get her going and it never happened again. The transmission problem, I am thrilled to say, was FINALLY solved a few months ago after having it worked on FOUR separate times. They seem to have gotten that computer glitch fixed. I was pissed as hell though that they charged me for the upgrade? Excuse me?! Not my fault and my car is still under warranty. I continue to say that Smarts are not for beginners, (just wait until you have a flat) however, since I live in San Fran. where the parking is a nightmare, my little Smarty does indeed make my life so much easier. I pity the fools that buy the first generation Smart Electric. Can you imagine those bozos at the Mercedes dealerships? Oy vey!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Herb Bell on March 27, 2011 at 4:42am

Sorry to hear about the problems with your Smart. Hope all is well by now.

Had just 3 problems with my 2008 Smart after I got it, including the shifter issue. The final time was the worst because the shifter locked up and I was stuck at one of the busiest intersections in the area. I had the three bars on the dash. Tried all kinds of things frantically, so I can't say what allowed the shifter to unlock, but I even got out and moved the car forward a few inches. After that it was suddenly normal!

Yes, I got the 2009 transmission reflash, the new battery, the shifter lube and new manual at the first service (Mercedes). The second service was for behavior that was erratic (I forgot what) and the third I described above.

Took car to Mercedes, they did whatever they do, and it's worked flawlessly ever since.

A month ago, I took the Smart to the Ford dealer where I bought it second-hand, handed him a filter and some Mobil 1 (5w-50) and asked them to do the 20,000 mile oil and filter change. They were done 1/2 hour later and I paid $10! Did I get lucky, or what?

Now for some good news: I'd been getting about 34-36 mpg around town before the oil/filter change. Since the service, I'm getting close to 40 mpg around town. In addition, my Smartie has lots more pep, seems to shift better, and is generally more fun because it's become really even-tempered.

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Permalink Reply by H Lee Boulanger on July 11, 2011 at 9:13pm

I, and a neighbor, are both experiencing transmission problems with our 2008's, however my Cabriolet has a problem not touched in these forums:

When in reverse, if I hit a bump (such as the curb while backing into the drive), I have no gear. No reverse, drive, nothing. Only park. If I turn off the ignition and count to 20, then start the car - VOILA, the computer has reset and I have a transmission again.