smart fortwo transmission problem

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Permalink Reply by Veronica on July 8, 2010 at 7:50pm

I live in Tequisquiapan in the state of Queretaro about 3 hrs from Mexico City. I drove here in May with my US bought Smart.

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Permalink Reply by Doug Davalos on July 9, 2010 at 2:05pm

I'm in Guadalajara Sep - Apr. I don't know how Smart works its Warranty but if you continue to have problems, you may be able to have a Handler change-out the shifter to the one fitted to the Smarts in Mexico. I have been told the transmission problems are a North American issue. Our shift pattern is an H with + and - being on the left and 0 & Reverse being on the right. The car can only be started when the shift lever is in 0. When the car is parked, it is to be left in Reverse. I have read gears 1 and 5 are different ratios but that shouldn't make any difference. I'm not certain about programming though.

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Permalink Reply by Dave Stephenson on July 8, 2010 at 6:43pm

It is my understanding that the Shift link is the problem not the transmission. Improper lubrication of the actual shift linkage prevents the shifter from engaging the pin that shifts the car into reverse. Make sure that they lube the actual shifter with proper lube, not the light stuff, real grease. I have a 2008 with 15000 miles with no problems. It was Number 43 in MN.

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Permalink Reply by Veronica on July 8, 2010 at 7:54pm

The shift link lubrication was the first repair job. I don't know if they used real grease, but It didn't work. The second repair replaced the clutch plate. I still occassionally experience the same problem. Sometimes, it won't go into any gear until turning it off and back on.

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Permalink Reply by Brabus007 on July 9, 2010 at 12:48am

Lots of people have had the whole shifter replaced... They made some bad ones... Yours must be one...<:-((

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Permalink Reply by Robert Lyon on October 13, 2010 at 5:54pm

I have a similar problem with 2008 PassionForTwo, which has occurred four times in the 28 months and 13K miles of ownership. I'm happily driving along until I reach my destination, then I need to go into Reverse to park. The shifter works flawlessly and the display clearly shows the correct position of the shifter. But, the transmission does not engage, nor will it engage if I reselect Drive. The first two times that this happened, I eventually turned off the key and restarted the car and all was well. The last two times, that work-around had no effect. I turned off off the car and let it sit for five minutes and one hour, respectively, and then had no problem selecting any gear.

I'm a software guy. This sure reeks of a firmware/software bug...

And here is the last observation that blows my mind. I hope it blows yours too: In ALL four cases, I was low on fuel and little gas-pump in the display was blinking.

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Permalink Reply by Brabus007 on October 13, 2010 at 11:53pm

I just had my car in to the Dealer for the Newest Tranny Update Software $42.00 It was called "soft shift reverse fix combined update"... Downloaded from germany straight into my OBDII port...

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Permalink Reply by MoonTrout on October 14, 2010 at 1:51pm

But let me ask this? Why on earth should you have had to pay $42 for this "update"? This is Smart's fault and Smart should continue to work on it until it is fixed. I have had all of the "fixes" everyone has spoken of (with this last one being the exception) and my Smarty continues to have the transmission glitch. At least 3 times a week I cannot leave my garage without babying the computer.

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Permalink Reply by Brabus007 on October 14, 2010 at 4:12pm

I agree... Any software refinement should be FREE...<:-((
It is Free if you have a (1)Dealer Diagnosed Reverse Problem... If that don't fix it (2) its a NEW CLUTCH...
Note: I was having snatchy Shifting on the 3 & 4 Shift, so they gave me the option to BUY the Update as a Option for $42.00... Yes I felt it was a RIP... (shifting did get a little better)...

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