2005 - Start Issue Options

[9812713]

Hi Guys / Gals.

I have an '05 smart car pure that has developed some symtoms that I believe that is just the starter sticking. This is the first occurance and of course happened during some cold weather. Here are the following symptoms.

Insert key to position 1, I wait until glow plug light goes off, and I initiate the start (position 2). The car will attempt to roll over, it makes a quick attempt, then displays the three lines indicating a transmittion error, then it immobilizes the car.

I have tried to put the darn thing in gear (forward and reverse), to shake the darn thing loose, but no success (This didn't work because of the electronic trans, i assume). Reading on the forums here that it could be a battery, I connected via booster cables, to my more then capable BMW.. No change.

Attempting to use a hammer to beat the starter to a pulp... aka a few love taps, I have no success. Can someone tell me, where the starter is, as I couldn't find it ? There are reports in between the back of the motor, towards the cockpit .. Which side ?

At the moment, the car is resting nice in my cold carport, so working in the environment is a bit of a pain.

Thank you for looking.

Cheers.

W.

[PrairieBoy]

Have you got your foot firmly on the brake peddle when you try to start the car?

Is gear lever in correct position while attempting start?

READ OWNER'S MANUAL CARFULLY FIRST.

If a 'KEY' symbol shows up in the dash display, your electronic engine-imobilizer is activated,and engine will NOT start.

To disable engine-imobilizer,turn key to 'Off' position.Remove key from ignition.
Push 'UNLOCK' button on key twice. Put key in igniton,foot on brake pedal, turn key to 'Start' position,and try again.

I hope your starter motor is NOT the problem.
If it is faulty,and needs to be replaced,it will cost more than $1000.00,as the engine has to be removed by the dealer,in order to replace the starter motor!!.

Good luck.

[bilgladstone]

If you have not done so yet, disconnect your battery - wait about 30 seconds to let the electronics reset - and reconnect the battery.

In the seat, with foot on brake, doors closed and seatbelt on, turn key to position 1 and use the stick to run through the gears a couple of times: forward and reverse, up and down. Finally, change to R and shut down.

Now switch off, count to ten, and try starting the car again. Good luck. No guarantees, mate; it's just what I would do.

HTH,
Bil

[Fred J]

To disable engine-imobilizer,turn key to 'Off' position.Remove key from ignition.
Push 'UNLOCK' button on key twice. Put key in igniton,foot on brake pedal, turn key to 'Start' position,and try again.

Curious - - Where did you get this massive sequence of instructions to simply unlock the imobilizer?

[BJSmart]

I have never had to have foot on brake to start the car. Foot is required on brake only to shift out of neutral into gear. I have often started our car simply by reaching in and turning the key. Also no need to remove key to unlock imobilizer...just return to position 0 and press unlock on fob.

[DJW]

BJ

On my 03 Euro Gaser If I don't put my foot on the break pedal the car will not even think about starting.

Dennis

[Fred J]

BJ

On my 03 Euro Gaser If I don't put my foot on the break pedal the car will not even think about starting.

Dennis

Was that an interlock mandated in the G&K or ZAP conversion to meet U.S. D.O.T. Regs.?

[Leadwing]

Curious - - Where did you get this massive sequence of instructions to simply unlock the imobilizer?

Here is a direct quote from the owner's manual (page 7-6....2005 smart manual):

How to deactivate the electronic immobiliser:
- Turn the ignition key back to position 0
- Press unlock on the ignition key (remote)
>A single beeper tone indicates that the electronic immobiliser is deactivated.
- Turn the ignition key back to position 1.
> 1,N or R is shown on the gear inticator.

While I'm at it, BJSmart has a point. There should be no need to have your foot on the brake, but the car DOES need to be in neutral. Since your vehicle is a 2005, it should not have the interlock that requires 'foot on brake pedal to start'.

You may already know all about this and your starting problem could be found elsewhere, but if this helps..great!

You are what you drive

Ron

'05 smart pulse, '95 Jeep winter-beater, '89 Civic and a gaggle of motorcycles

This post has been edited by Leadwing: Feb 9 2010 - 12:12 PM

[Fred J]

Precisely.

The Manual instructions bear no resemblance to the ones quoted.

"To disable engine-imobilizer,turn key to 'Off' position. Remove key from ignition.
Push 'UNLOCK' button on key twice. Put key in igniton,foot on brake pedal, turn key to 'Start' position,and try again."

If this is someone's add lib version circulating, then there are a lot of mis-informed members going through an unnessesary ritual to unlock the immobilizer.

An even simpler way is to just push the unlock button once as you approach the car and it is ready to go as soon as you open the door.


On a second quote "I have never had to have foot on brake to start the car. Foot is required on brake only to shift out of neutral into gear"

Actually it is not nessesary to put your foot on the brake at all. When the car is in neutral (N) after starting, just move the gear shifter to the left and tap it forward. Gear box is now in First (1) gear ready to drive. No brake pedal required.

[pinhead19]

Actually it is not nessesary to put your foot on the brake at all. When the car is in neutral (N) after starting, just move the gear shifter to the left and tap it forward. Gear box is now in First (1) gear ready to drive. No brake pedal required.

If you park in R, brake is required to get into N.

[Leadwing]

Actually it is not nessesary to put your foot on the brake at all. When the car is in neutral (N) after starting, just move the gear shifter to the left and tap it forward. Gear box is now in First (1) gear ready to drive. No brake pedal required.

On my particular smart, if the car is running and in N, attempting to put it into 1 or R without using the brake will result in the gear indicator showing a 0 and you get to go nowhere. Make the same attempt with your foot on the brake and it goes into 1 or R without a problem. Maybe our cars were originally destined for different places, but that's how mine works.

You are what you drive

'05 smart pulse, '95 Jeep winter-beater, '89 Civic and a gaggle of motorcycles

This post has been edited by Leadwing: Feb 9 2010 - 12:11 PM

[Fred J]

If you park in R, brake is required to get into N.

Let me zero in on the original quote. "Foot is required on brake only to shift out of neutral into gear"

We weren't really referring to getting from 'R' to 'N' prior to starting the car.

The portion of BJS quote referred to read "Foot is required on brake only to shift out of neutral into gear"
and hence my clarification reading -

Fred J "When the car is in neutral (N) after starting, just move the gear shifter to the left and tap it forward. Gear box is now in First (1) gear ready to drive. No brake pedal required."

It was assumed that the engine had been started and the next move was to put the car into 1st gear and commence driving. Such a situation has also been addressed in previous posts where members expressed concern about commencing rolling slowly at a traffic light with the car in neutral (N) and having to hit the brakes in order to shift to first gear. (1)

In order to reduce the chance of being rear ended, this simple little "Tap & Go" trick was offered.

[9812713]

So after a week and a bit .. I managed to find the solution to my problem. It turned out to be something to do with the brake switch. After some googling about the problem, I came to this post..

http://www.smartmania.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=6797

while the symptoms weren't exactly the same as mine, i proceeded to boost my smart car with my bmw, and while in the driver seat of the smart, vibrating my foot on the brake, the car started ...

at first i wanted to drive away .. but decided to wait about 10 minutes to charge some of drained battery. I had to input my radio code, then all was good.

THANK YOU to all who suggested advice.

cheers.
W