new 451 passion cab shifter locked up??

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Permalink Reply by mark vuko on May 4, 2008 at 10:16am

There has been some problems on one of the other Smart Car forums like yours . Here was a temp fix that they have posted.

Here's the "Field Fix" to get you home.

1. Remove shift knob

2. Depress the white button on top of the shifter shaft and wiggle the shifter while pulling the shifter back down. Do not apply excessive pressure or you will break the very weak plastic parts below.

3. If step two fails to release shifter, slide a flat screw driver, or as the road-service guy did, use the handle of the pliers to slide under the rear of the console box and lift a yellow tab that will release the shifter while someone wiggles and GENTLY pulls the shifter back.. ???

When my button was stuck, my service advisor (on the phone) just had me yank off the knob by hand; simply pulling it straight up.. There was nothing gentle about this action, it took a lot of mite. With the shifter knob off, I was able to press the white linkage with my thumb to get it into and out of park or reverse (just to get to the dealer).
At the dealer, they simply sanded down the edges of the linkage and put the knob back on (while waiting for the replacement).. This temp fix works fine and silky smooth, it's been over 10,000 kms now

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Permalink Reply by Mactier on May 4, 2008 at 11:10am

hey mark - thanks very much for the tips

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on May 4, 2008 at 11:36am

i wonder if there'll be a recall for this problem? i'd hate to be stuck in another state with a "dead" car! hello mercedes!

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Permalink Reply by Mactier on May 4, 2008 at 12:22pm

In the end - the dealer fixed the problem within 1 work day.
My smart was back on the road by next evening - shifting fine and has remained that way.
I was told it was a problem that originated @ the smart factory - a miss aligned shifter cable that got loose and therefore allowed a pin to drop and lock up the shifting mechanism (sorry - i am not a mechanic so this is my interpretation of the explanation given to me - so do not rely on it accuracy lol)
The dealer had never seen this problem before - and has sent a bulletin to the smart head offices alerting them to this problem. The trouble should not occur again.
Was treated well by the dealership and they were very fast on their response to and correction of the problem
mactier

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Permalink Reply by Greg on May 16, 2008 at 12:58pm

I had the sme thing happen at my house. I live on a hill and the trans bound. It gave me a triple bar error code. I was able to turn the key on ,and place it in nuetrel witch released the binding. After that I was able to reteach the transmission as it shows in the manual. Neadless to say, I was a little desturbed too. I have a passion with just under 3k miles on it.

Greg

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Permalink Reply by Smart Mike on June 3, 2008 at 3:47pm

I had that problem too, but here's the latest: Several times this week..I put the car in reverse and it doesn't reverse, then put it in Drive and still nothing...Turn off the car, wait a minute, then it all works again. Not very convenient when you're in a strange traffic situation, etc.

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Permalink Reply by Smart Smitty on June 8, 2008 at 6:55pm

Hi Mactier,

I took delivery on my Smart in April and I have had that same problem twice. The button on the shifter would not depress and it was either stuck in Park of Drive. I talked to the service manager where I purchased the car (Incredible service - Picked my car up from my condo and left me with a courtesy vehicle, replaced the knob, and returned my vehicle cleaned and vacuumed, and picked up the courtesy car) and he mentioned that he has only seen this problem 3 times - twice with my car, but he searched the internet and fond out that in the US (I am in Toronto, Canada) it is a much bigger problem. We both think it is due to the design of the shifter and hopefully they will resolve the problem with the next release in 09 - and when that happens I will demand the new shifter be installed in my car. Other than that, I also love the car.

I hope your problem was resolved and that it doesn't happen again - I am hoping for the same result with my car.

Smitty

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Permalink Reply by Mactier on June 9, 2008 at 8:49am

Hi Smitty
My dealer (in Burlington) said that smart canada had not seen this problem before ?? and that it was a error in the manufacturing line - the problem was related to the alignment of the shifter cable not sitting properly ?- getting loose - dropping a pin? - and locking up the shifting. I'm not a mechanic so I got kinda got lost in the translation.
The dealer said they had reported this to the smart corporate headquarters.
so not sure what is the reason for this??
in the end - the dealer was prompt - friendly - went out of their way to take care of me and my smart and I was back on the road in about 6hrs.
my smart has been running fine ever since.
lets follow the shifter re-design and see what is up.

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Permalink Reply by Michael on June 15, 2008 at 2:02pm

Yeah, something similar happened to me this morning. My wife came home in the the smart, handed me the keys and I went to go right back out again, but the car wouldn't start, and the scary 3 bars were displayed.

I RTFM, did the "re-train" steps, and nothing... Called smart who sent out a guy, who could do nothing. Eventually they sent a flatbed to pick it up. When the Manhattan shop opens up monday, they'll send it in.

Mind you, the ACTUAL symptom I got was just the 3 bars on the dash, the shift lever did actually move....

Watch this space....

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Permalink Reply by Michael on June 17, 2008 at 9:32pm

ok, This is what happened. Monday Late in the day, smart Center Manhattan told me "we need to replace the shift lever assembly, We have to have the part FedEx'd in.", they didn't say from where :-). Tuesday, the part came in, but they said they had to "test" it, and weren't sure I'd get it back that day. Finally, late in the day they told me to come get the car. My Wife's job is closer, so she went to pick it up. [ by the way, NO loaner service, and no pickup or return delivery., we'll tow it in if it breaks, but then YOU have to pay to get there to pick it back up again.. Consider yourselves warned] the car was working,. and they promised no repeats....

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Permalink Reply by mr bad example on June 21, 2008 at 8:37pm

what was the manufacture date of your car? i'm curious, mine is 12/07 and have driven it 5 months and almost 4000 miles without a problem. (knock on plastic!)

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Permalink Reply by slojason on June 21, 2008 at 7:50pm

Our dealer in Santa Barbara, California says this is a warranty item as is the moonroof shade. We were in for a broken windshield ($800!) and they attended to both items while "The Doodle" was there. the shade still has a problem and I think it's just poor engineering. We are, however, very pleased with the dealership.

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