Is anyone having problems with their Smart going into reverse? Now and then mine just sits in neutral when shift into reverse. This is a has become dangerous problem that the dealer can't seem to find a repair for.
Comment by Sam Chidester on January 10, 2010 at 12:24pm
As I understand it, the reverse gear is not syncronized. Most stick shift cars do not have a syncronizer for the reverse gear. The effect of this is that occasionally the two gear teeth that are supposed to "mesh", instead "butt heads" and don't mesh. When reverse won'ty engage, try going to "D" (Drive) for a few seconds, and then selecting "R" (Reverse) - this may allow the gears to move enough that the gears will mesh in reverse.
I had a similar problem. This isn't the stuck shifter problem the early 08's had. It acts like it's an electronic problem. It seemed like we were asking the computer to do something to soon anfter starting up. The problem usualy would fix itself if we just turned off the car and then back on again. I mentioned it to my service tech in passing and he ordered me a new clutch. It turns out the clutch plate has been upgraded from the 08's to the 09's. The center Hub is made out of a new material and they have some new grease they slather all over it to make it move better.
I never would have thought it was the clutch and it took smart a while to figure out this problem. Plenty of other folks that came before be went through quite a few service visits and were never able to duplicate the problem at the dealer before they got to the clutch as an issue. But a new clutch plate is the answer
Comment by Alan Breward on August 29, 2009 at 4:13am
4 weeks ago i had "similar" experience/fault, following a "good" cleaning the ABS light came on (intermittently!) but eventually permanently illuminated, then after park up for 2 weeks (on holiday) could not select reverse. Service center diagnosed fault to break light switch that they changed (bit of BS from manager though, do wish they would stick to something they know about rather than flower it up!) BUT light off and reverse selection worked so parted with £145 and left (happy!). BUT Thursday light came back on so its going back Tuesday for further diagnostics! Will keep you abreast of situation.
Comment by Brabus007 on August 28, 2009 at 12:02am
No thats NOT normal~Get back to the Dealer...
Comment by Robert Mosher on August 27, 2009 at 10:16pm
Only on the first start-up of the day .. cant get the handle to budge for about 40 seconds to 1 min. is this normal?? have only had my passion for 1 week
smart USA Has a new President who has been on the job for all of a week,
She used to be the head of Saturn and made her relationship with Penskie during the failed Saturn negotiations
We should start to see some changes soon
AS to the closing de…
Julie,
I agree, they need to step up their advertising. I know the dealer here in San Antonio has about 2 dozen cars on the lot and I haven't noticed too many of them moving.
Also, they seem to lose a lot of repeat customers because of the cost of…
I"ve been hearing a lot about dealerships closing all across the USA, and I have to say I'm quite concerned. Sales are WAY down, to the point where dealers can't cover their overhead.
Why hasn't Smart USA launched an advertising campaign? Don't the…
I agree with you, Herb. At first I was gentle on my smartie and my mpg was mid-30's. After I got used to driving it, I started having fun and was hard on the gas pedal doing 70-80 mph, quick starts getting on to the freeway, flooring it to downshift…
L. R., See my comment to Walter. Also, start pushing the car a lot harder. Your engine needs to be worked hard to loosen up and give you better mileage. Never mind the "soft-pedal" approach in "D". Go for the gusto in Manual mode. Works great in the…
I bought my 2008 SMART used with 14,000 miles on the clock. At first, I got about 25 mpg, so I took it to Mercedes for a check-up. The results came back as 36.9 mpg! I have no idea if they did anything to the car or not, but I too suddenly got city…
Above 65 mph mpg goes down, wind and it goes down, allowing your foot to get heavy, goes down. I drive in semi urban and get 38-40 all the time. But in the city stop and go, I accelerate very slowly and as the clutch disengages , I lift slightly so…
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