Brakes; Drinking And Driving; Pedals; Power Assistance - SMART fortwo coupe Operator's Manual

Driving instructions
138
motion. This could result in damage to
the rim/tire or vehicle.
Driving instructions

Drinking and driving

G
Warning!
Do not drink alcohol or take drugs and drive
or allow anyone to drive who has been
drinking alcohol or taking drugs. Even a
small amount of alcohol or drugs can affect
your reflexes, perceptions and judgment.
The possibility of a serious or even fatal
accident greatly increased when you drink
or take drugs and drive.

Pedals

G
Warning!
Make sure absolutely no objects are
obstructing the pedals' range of movement.
Keep the driver's footwell clear of all
obstacles. If there are any floormats* or
carpets in the footwell, make sure the
pedals still have sufficient clearance.
During sudden driving or braking
maneuvers, the objects could get caught
between or beneath the pedals and restrict
your ability to brake or accelerate. This
could lead to accidents and injury.

Power assistance

G
Warning!
With the engine not running, there is no
power assistance for the brake and
steering* systems. In this case, it is
important to keep in mind that a
considerably higher degree of effort is
necessary to brake and steer the vehicle.
Adapt your driving accordingly.

Brakes

G
Warning!
Make sure not to endanger any other road
users when carrying out braking
maneuvers.
Refer to the description of the hydraulic
Y
brake assistant ( page 49).
! ®
Because the ESP
automatically, the engine must be turned
off (ignition switched off) when the
parking brake is being tested on a brake
test dynamometer. Active braking action
®
through the ESP may otherwise seriously
damage the brake system which is not
covered by the smart Limited Warranty.
Brake pad wear or a leak in the brake system
may be the reason for low brake fluid level
in the brake fluid reservoir.
The brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir may be too low if the brake
warning lamp in the instrument cluster
Y
comes on ( page 24) although the parking
brake is released.
Have the brake system inspected
immediately. Contact an authorized smart
center.
All checks and service work on the brake
system should be carried out by qualified
technicians only. Contact an authorized
smart center.
Only install brake pads and use brake fluid
recommended by smart.
Inclines
!
When driving down long and steep
grades, relieve the load on the brakes by
shifting into a lower gear to use the
engine's braking power. This helps
prevent overheating of the brakes and
reduces brake pad wear.
When using the engine's braking power, a
drive wheel may not spin for an extended
period of time, e.g. on slippery road
operates
* optional