smart electrics (as in systems and wiring; not electric drive) in the rain
A bit off the wall...
My fortwo should almost be on a ship by now...
Meanwhiles I entertained a cousin and her husband from the UK yesterday. A great day and we talked a lot about all kinda stuff, including smarts. He had (as in had had) a smart roadster in the UK. He loved the car, until it was a month short of the warranty expiring; at which time the electrics started playing up. Bigtime.
The tale of how the transmission started to refuse to shift and the electric door winders went nuts and stripped the gears while the windscreen wipers stopped working in heavy rain, followed by the cabrio roof opening and soaking them was so riotous that he had to stop driving and was doubled up in laughter more than in shock.
Almost like a scene from a Boswell / ET experience movie.
He had done some research the month before and it was "known" that the roadster had a water ingress problem to the ECU that could cause mayhem. He had taken the car to the dealer and asked them to check it out before the warranty expired... (typical dealer no problem found response) but that saved him the full cost of repair a month and a half later. He then sold the car after having it fixed. Despite it's faults (electrics!) he loved it and may check out the new fortwo turbo when he gets home.
So... I'm living in the "wet" (as WET!) Tropics. Here we get over 2 metres (say over 6 feet) of rain per year. The wettest months dump over 16 inches of rain.
Umm... my Subaru has never had any problems in the wet here. I can pressure wash the engine bay and have no worries. The smart is not exactly engine bay washable.
The Question: Has anyone had the smart 451 in really heavy rain and experienced any problems? And by heavy rain I mean well over 6" per hour stuff.
(I hate to think of being in the Gulf regions in a hurricane, but that's the sort of rain we get here occasionally)
Cheers, Ian
My fortwo should almost be on a ship by now...
Meanwhiles I entertained a cousin and her husband from the UK yesterday. A great day and we talked a lot about all kinda stuff, including smarts. He had (as in had had) a smart roadster in the UK. He loved the car, until it was a month short of the warranty expiring; at which time the electrics started playing up. Bigtime.
The tale of how the transmission started to refuse to shift and the electric door winders went nuts and stripped the gears while the windscreen wipers stopped working in heavy rain, followed by the cabrio roof opening and soaking them was so riotous that he had to stop driving and was doubled up in laughter more than in shock.
Almost like a scene from a Boswell / ET experience movie.
He had done some research the month before and it was "known" that the roadster had a water ingress problem to the ECU that could cause mayhem. He had taken the car to the dealer and asked them to check it out before the warranty expired... (typical dealer no problem found response) but that saved him the full cost of repair a month and a half later. He then sold the car after having it fixed. Despite it's faults (electrics!) he loved it and may check out the new fortwo turbo when he gets home.
So... I'm living in the "wet" (as WET!) Tropics. Here we get over 2 metres (say over 6 feet) of rain per year. The wettest months dump over 16 inches of rain.
Umm... my Subaru has never had any problems in the wet here. I can pressure wash the engine bay and have no worries. The smart is not exactly engine bay washable.
The Question: Has anyone had the smart 451 in really heavy rain and experienced any problems? And by heavy rain I mean well over 6" per hour stuff.
(I hate to think of being in the Gulf regions in a hurricane, but that's the sort of rain we get here occasionally)
Cheers, Ian
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Bruce Fromoz on -
Dear AB,
If it doesn't stop raining soon, remember (and tell SATO) that your seat cushions are also a flotation device.........
-
Permalink Reply by Ian Pellant on -
Is that a waterspout? (tornadic action sucking water up to the clouds?)
Tornadoes are very rare in Australia (at least in the inhabited regions). We don't have airstreams like the Jet Stream running into the Gulf Stream air masses to cause the rotational behviors. When I lived near the Tennessee River in north Alabama, the tornadic actions would come through March and November. Thanks to Doppler Radar, they were well tracked... what a way to spend an evening watching weather on TV!
In really bad weather, the winds are extreme (tornadoes, hurricanes and cyclones)... which all means I need to park the smart in the garage in times of severe weather warnings.... hate to see it get blown away! (Or more likely get struck by flying debris.)
A month left till delivery... I'll start counting the days soon!
Cheers, Ian
-
Permalink Reply by AB on -
It was actually a funnel cloud, Ian, which is a tornado that doesn't touch the ground ... THANKFULLY!
Take many pictures as you get your smart car. It is a momentous event.
-
Permalink Reply by Gary on -
Hmmmm...seat cushions as flotation device. I'll make sure my seatback and tray table are in their upright and locked position before removing the seat cushion.
-
Permalink Reply by Tony on -
AB, hasn't Fay been wonderful. With Fay finally leaving the central Florida area. I put my Smart to a variety of tests yesterday. While Fay was dishing a healthy blow to the Orlando area, I was on the road. Traveling the 429 and Florida's Turnpike and Interstate 4 in a steady downpour and cross winds around 35 miles per hour. Anyone that says the Smart is unaffected by external forces like that is simply shading the truth. Did I feel confident that the Smart could handle what it was being hit with, YES. Was it a bit of a challenge maintaining my lane at highway speeds, YES. But, I had my wipers on automatic and they did their job, the headlights illuminated the way and with attention being paid to what was dealt to me, my Smart transported me nearly 100 miles. Yes I had the stereo on and no I was not traveling at the highest posted speed limits. I have to tell you and everyone that reads this that I did see four single car accidents where unfortunate drivers lost control of thier vehicles and spun into the center concrete median divider. I don't know exactly the causes but I'd venture a guess that they simply were traveling too fast. One was a beautiful relativly new Cadillac. I had no desire to 'test' the safety tridion cell in my Smart, so I slowed down and took it easy. As to water water everywhere. I didnt find any negative effects from my trek through the tropical storm's winds and drenching rains. Stay safe, drive Smart.
-
Permalink Reply by 451 Kahn on -
It is encouraging reading about your test of the Smart in the stormy weather. I guess no alligators attacking the Smart?
-
Permalink Reply by Tony on
-
Thankfully no. Just wind and rain and wind and rain and wind and did I mention rain?
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- 3
- Next ›
Welcome to
451 smart fortwo
Latest Activity on 451s
1st Annual SMART Car Nationals-The Place to Be is in KC at Kansas City, KS
June 11, 2010 at 9am to June 13, 2010 at 1pm
1st Annual SMART Car Nationals-The Place to Be is in KC
Kansas City, June 11th, 12th, and 13th of 2010
+ Come get a taste of KC with your fellow smart car owners,
+ Local tours and events
+ Local BBQ
+ SMART car product sales, service, and installs…
Hello everyone, I just picked up my smart passion on Saturday, such a fun car to drive. Would love to organize a smart rally in NJ. Where is everyone from, I am in Hunterdon Cunty.
Tried Pizza Hut?
Yep, and they are taking all of their customers with them. I guess you can have an idea how mad I will be if I am able to get my new fortwo fixed or to even get parts. My blood is going to be BOILING! Why did Penske even bother to bring these cars h…
I have seen a 451 in Florida with a "backpack" on. Like a pizza delivery car. Looks great Does anybody nows where i can get it ??????????
See previous posts in this thread. I've been saying that for a very long time. Daimler and Smart have not supported this brand in the US and they apparently relied on viral marketing and YouTube to do all of their advertising. My Smart dealer didn't…
Why is it that I see TONS of commercials for Honda, Toyota, Hyundai and Nissan but ZERO for smart cars? Why did they even bother to bring these cars to this country in the first place for? If Rick Case spent $2,000,000 on his 5,000 sq. ft. facility,…
I think a one word answer will do for all of the US, and that word is . . . . . . . . . .
ZERO
On NPR our "local" dealer has a SMART commercial, but I have heard or seen nothing else!
Except for Nissan who is advertising their micro/micra.
http:…
smartCar on Facebook/Twitter
