transmission/shifter probems/failure

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Permalink Reply by Joe Lucas on December 25, 2008 at 12:55pm

Here is a link to the easy fix. I had the same problem. I just sprayed some lubricant into the sifter knob and all is well.
http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f25/diy-gear-shift-removal-...

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on December 25, 2008 at 4:06pm

i know how to do it, there's a video on youtube. i just prefer a permanent fix, smart replaced the entire shifter with a new unit. who knows how long lubing it will last? a year, 2 years? then you're still stuck somewhere. better off getting it fixed right and not stuck god knows where...

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Permalink Reply by 451 Kahn on December 25, 2008 at 4:10pm

I lubed my shifter and has been working good so far. Is it the lube or bad part who knows.

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on December 25, 2008 at 4:53pm

you should keep the lube in the car until you get a new shifter mechanism. the north american shifter is different than the rest of the world. the "original" design was a bit flawed and allegedly was not lubricated properly at the factory. i'm not sure when smart "fixed" this problem with a new shifter, but all early shifters WILL fail sooner or later. i've seen other smarts fail with as little as 220 miles on the odometer, mine failed at 11 months after delivery with just over 7,000 miles on the clock.

you should check with smart and see when they figured out something was wrong. i would assume you have an early smart. when it's convenient for you, get it replaced with the new design parts. it would really suck to be on a trip a few hundred miles away from a smart center and have your tranny lock up.

also, when calling smart, be prepared to wait. i was on hold for 40 minutes. first i called the smart center, they told me to call 1-800-SMART US, they have 70's music done with strings on hold, i thought it was pleasant, depends on your taste in music.

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Permalink Reply by midnight_crossing on December 27, 2008 at 9:22pm

So I guess I'm one those people who were almost FORD (but in a parking lot). When I called the dealership, they seemed well aware of this problem which had me even more furious!!! I mean, WTF?!?! I'm a female, its evening on the weekend for christsake and I'm miles from home -- and its freaking cold!!! I can't remove my key from the ignition or put the car in P or R -- but I can start it up in N so rather than having it towed, I am going to call my dealer again and see whether it is safe to drive the car to the dealership or have them come to my house and tow it away. BOOHOOO!

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Permalink Reply by midnight_crossing on December 27, 2008 at 9:22pm

PS. Where would I find the manufacture date?

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Permalink Reply by Gilbert's on December 27, 2008 at 9:32pm

Oh well..... If you are a woman therefor maybe you are not mechanically inclined... there you should call your dealer, if it is still warranty then tell them that they better fix this or get a junk lawyer sure will win the case..... "under safety law" i'm sure they will fix it.

The manufacture date are in placed at the side of the door driver side....

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Permalink Reply by midnight_crossing on December 27, 2008 at 9:37pm

Hey, I may be female, but I was able to change my own horn.... so I do have some mechanical skills. Is this problem due to certain manufacture dates? They better damn fix the problem, heck, I only just bought my car in May and there's only 11,000KMs on it right now.

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Permalink Reply by 451 Kahn on December 27, 2008 at 11:41pm

You are one Smart Female.

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Permalink Reply by Gilbert's on December 28, 2008 at 10:22pm

11k kilometers... still under warranty just put your self on the safe side let them do it.....

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Permalink Reply by Ian Pellant on December 27, 2008 at 10:39pm

Unless the USA cars have moved it... the build date should be seen on a label when you open the drivers door as in pic.

The transmission shifter problem seems to occur across the US year model; there doesn't seem to be a pattern in when it will fail. Some claim that lubricating the shifter may fix it... but it is a known problem that smart USA should fix at the first service... if the darn thing don't break before then. It can be argued that it is not a safety issue (try swallowing that when you are stuck!) so they have not issued a general recall notice to all cars. It is a USA specific problem... the rest of the world gets a simpler shifter stick.

Have a Happy New Year.

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on December 28, 2008 at 2:31am

i was lucky, the shifter locked while parked overnight, i could start the car, but was stuck in P. i think they removed my seats to fix it, when i picked up the car the airbag light stays on, i looked under the driver's seat and saw a wire hanging that had a pin to keep it from dangling. so i think they had to disconnect the air bag wires to remove the seat.

and "bingo" mine locked up just after 7,000 miles, which is just over 11,000KM.

manufacture date is on the plaque in the driver's doorframe as XX/XX month/year.

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