Smart roadster and smart roadster coupe. Manual - part 10

On the move 7
27

Electronic Stability Program (esp)

Electronic Stability Program (esp)

Your car is equipped with the 

Electronic 

Stability Program (esp) as standard. esp 
monitors the driving stability and 
traction, i.e. the transmission of power 
between the tyres and the road.

esp actively intervenes in the following 
driving situations:

 Evasive action if you suddenly 

encounter an obstruction,

 Excessive cornering speeds,

 Spinning of the driven wheels when 

moving away.

>Note!
The esp indicator light in the speedometer 
flashes while esp is active. 

Depending on the driving situation

 esp will reduce the speed,

 esp selectively brakes individual 

wheels,

 esp equalises the speed of the driven 

wheels.

>Important notes for cars with esp!

 The engine must not be run while

 the handbrake is being tested on a 

dynamometer.

 the car is being towed away with its 

front axle raised.
Active braking intervention by esp 
will otherwise destroy the brake 
system on the rear axle.

 esp will only function properly if you fit 

the recommended tyre sizes on the 
wheels.

Accident risk!
In critical driving situations, 

esp stabilises the car's response 
subject to the laws of physics.
On no account can the system be 
expected to help prevent accidents if 
the car's speed is too high or the driver 
is reckless. Adapt your driving style to 
the road, traffic and weather 
conditions.

Accident risk!
If the esp warning light in the 

speedometer flashes, proceed as 
follows:

 Only depress the accelerator as far 

as necessary when driving off.

 Ease off the accelerator when 

driving.

 Adapt your driving style to the road, 

traffic and weather conditions.

The car could otherwise start to swerve.
esp is unable to reduce the risk of an 
accident if you are driving too fast.

7
28   On the move  

Electronic Stability Program (esp)

When should you switch esp off?

In the following situations it may be better 
to switch esp off:

 when driving with snow chains,

 when driving in deep snow,

 when driving on sand or gravel. 

When esp is switched off here, the 
spinning wheels work like a milling 
machine. 
The esp warning light flashes.

>Notes on driving with esp switched off
esp is unable to stabilise the car while it is 
accelerating or coasting.
All esp functions are available during 
braking manoeuvres.

Switching esp off

쮿

Press the switch (A).
> esp is switched off.
> The esp indicator light in the 

speedometer comes on. 

Switching esp on

쮿

Press switch (A) again.
> esp is switched on.
> The esp indicator light in the 

speedometer goes out. 

Accident risk!
If the esp indicator light in the 

speedometer comes on, esp is switched 
off. The car could then start to skid in 
poor road conditions or if your driving 
style is inappropriate to the 
conditions.
Always adapt your driving style to the 
current road, traffic and weather 
conditions.

On the move 7
29

Airbags

Airbags

Airbags reduce the severity of injuries in 
serious collisions, e.g. in a head
on 
collision or a side impact.

The airbag system consists of

 driver's airbag (A),

 passenger's airbag (B),

 side airbags* (C),

 airbag indicator light (D).

.

Danger of injury!
In conjunction with a correctly 

fastened seat belt, airbags afford 
additional protective potential. 
However, they are no substitute for the 
seat belts.

To reduce the risk of serious or fatal 
injuries in an accident involving 
rapid deceleration, e.g. with an airbag 
inflating, or if the brakes are applied 
abruptly, please note the following:

 All occupants must adopt a seated 

position where they are able to fit 
the seat belt correctly and are seated 
as far as possible from the airbag. 
The driver's seated position must 
nevertheless allow the car to be 
driven safely. The driver's arms 
should be angled slightly when 
holding the steering wheel. The 
driver must maintain sufficient 
distance from the pedals to be able to 
depress them fully.

 Choose a seat position that is as far 

as possible from the front airbag but 
nevertheless allows you to maintain 
control of the car reliably.

 The car's occupants should always be 

wearing a seat belt correctly and 
recline against a backrest that is 
more or less upright. The head 
restraint should support the back of 
the head at approximately eye level.

 Position the front passenger's seat 

as far back as possible, particularly 
if children are secured to it by 
means of a child restraint system*.

 Excluding the smart baby carrier, do 

not secure rearward
facing child 
seats on the passenger's seat, as 
doing so will not disable the 
passenger front airbag. Forward

facing child restraint systems may 
only be fitted to the front 
passenger's seat if it is moved to its 
rearmost position.

 Do not lean forward, e.g. over the 

cushioned pad on the steering wheel, 
particularly while driving.

 Do not place your feet on the 

instrument panel.

7
30   On the move  

Airbags

Airbag operating principle
The airbag is inflated in a matter of 
milliseconds. The airbag indicator light 
comes on. 

>Note!
If the airbags are activated, you will hear 
a loud noise and some dust may be 
generated. The explosion fundamentally 
represents no risk to your hearing, and 
the dust is harmless.
The inflated airbag slows and reduces
the movement of the occupant. When the 
occupant makes contact with the airbag, 
hot gas flows out of the inflated front 
airbags and side airbags. This reduces 
the load on the occupant's head and upper 
body. These airbags are consequently 
deflated after the accident.

 Only grip the steering wheel by its 

outer rim. These precautions ensure 
that the airbag can inflate 
unimpeded. If you hold the inside of 
the steering wheel, you could be 
injured in the event of the airbag 
being triggered off.

 Do not lean or lie against the doors 

while travelling.

 Do not place any objects on the 

airbags or between the airbags and 
the occupants.

 Do not hang any hard objects such as 

coat hangers from the grab handles or 
coat hooks.

In view of the unavoidably high 
inflation speed of the airbag, the 
possibility of injuries when an airbag 
inflates cannot be entirely ruled out.

Danger of injury!
After airbags have been inflated: 

 airbag components will be hot. Do not 

touch them as you otherwise risk 
sustaining burns.

 the airbags must be changed by a 

qualified specialist workshop, 
which will have the necessary 
expertise and tools for performing 
the work involved. smart gmbh 
recommends that you visit a smart 
center for this. It is particularly 
important to have safety
relevant 
work and work on safety
relevant 
systems performed by a qualified 
specialist workshop.

On the move 7
31

Airbags

Driver's airbag/front passenger's airbag
The front airbags are intended to 
increase the prospects of protecting the 
driver and front passenger against 
injuries to the head or thorax. The front 
airbags for the driver and front 
passenger are activated:

 at the start of an accident with high 

vehicle deceleration or acceleration in 
the longitudinal direction,

 if there is the prospect of 

supplementing the protective potential 
of the seat belt,

 if the seat belt is in use,

 independently of other airbags in the 

car being deployed,

 the airbags are not activated in the 

event of a rollover, unless high vehicle 
deceleration in the longitudinal 
direction is detected.

Danger of injury!
A small amount of fine powder is 

released for a short period when an 
airbag is inflated. This fine powder is 
entirely harmless; its smoky 
appearance does not indicate a fire in 
the car. The fine powder could provoke 
temporary breathing difficulties in 
people with asthma or respiratory 
problems. To avoid these breathing 
difficulties, such persons should 
either leave the car provided it is safe 
to do so, or open the windows to let 
fresh air in.

Danger of injury!
In the interests of safety, smart 

gmbh recommends that seat covers that 
have been tested for cars built by smart 
gmbh and have a designated tear seam 
be used on cars with side airbags. A 
side airbag could otherwise fail to 
deploy correctly and achieve its 
intended protective potential in the 
event of an accident.

7
32   On the move  

Airbags

The front passenger's front airbag is only 
activated if

 the front passenger's seat is in use or 

occupied,

 the front passenger's front airbag has 

not been manually disabled.

Side airbags*

Danger of injury!
If the airbag indicator light 

does not come on when a baby carrier is 
fitted to the passenger's seat, the 
passenger's airbag has not been 
deactivated. If the passenger's airbag 
has not been deactivated, a child could 
sustain serious or even fatal injuries 
in the event of the airbag on the 
passenger's side being triggered, 
particularly if the child is in the 
immediate vicinity of the passenger's 
airbag at the time of its activation.
The passenger's airbag is only 
deactivated when you fit an original 
smart baby carrier to the passenger's 
seat.

Danger of injury!
To minimise the risk of injury if 

a side airbag deploys, you should 
ensure that

 there are no other persons, pets or 

objects between each occupant and 
the range protected by a side airbag.

 only lightweight garments are hung 

from the clothes hooks in the car.

 there are no heavy or sharp
edged 

objects in the pockets of such 
garments.

Danger of injury!
Observe the following notes to 

reduce the risk of serious or fatal 
injuries if the side airbag deploys:

 Occupants 
 particularly children 
 

should never rest their head on the 
area around the window from which 
the side airbag could emerge if 
deployed.

 The car's occupants must always be 

wearing a seat belt correctly and 
recline against a backrest that is 
more or less upright. 

 Always secure children under 150 

centimetres tall and under 12 years 
of age with suitable child restraint 
systems.

On the move 7
33

Airbags

The side airbags are integrated into the 
driver's and front passenger's seat 
backrests. If activated, they are intended 
to increase the potential protection for 
the thorax (but not the head, neck and 
arms) of the occupants on the side of the 
car that is struck.
The side airbags are activated:

 on the side of the car that is struck,

 at the start of an accident with high 

vehicle deceleration or acceleration 
acting in a lateral direction, e.g. a side 
impact,

 if there is the prospect of 

supplementing the protective potential 
of the seat belt,

 if the seat belt is in use,

 independently of the front airbags 

being deployed,

 independently of the belt tensioner,

 in situations excluding a rollover, 

unless high vehicle deceleration acting 
in the transverse direction is detected, 
coupled with the prospect of 
supplementing the protective potential.

>Note!
In the event of a side impact, the side 
airbags will only deploy when the airbag 
indicator light does not flash or illuminate. 

Airbag indicator light
The airbag indicator light signals to you 
that there is a fault in one or more of the 
following safety systems:

 airbag,

 belt  tensioners,

 child seat recognition system.

Danger of injury!
If the airbag indicator light 

does not come on when a baby carrier is 
fitted to the passenger's seat, the side 
airbag has not been deactivated. If the 
side airbag has not been deactivated, a 
child could sustain serious or even 
fatal injuries in the event of the side 
airbag being triggered, particularly 
if the child is in the immediate 
vicinity of the side airbag at the time 
of its activation.
The side airbag is only deactivated 
when you fit a special smart baby 
carrier to the passenger's seat.

7
34   On the move  

Airbags

The airbag indicator light comes on after 
switching the ignition on.
The subsequent self
diagnosis of the 
safety systems yields the following 
results:
1.

The airbag indicator light goes out 
after a maximum of four seconds:
> No  fault  detected.
> The airbag system is OK.

2.

The airbag indicator light flashes 
for 15 seconds.
> A smart baby carrier (original 

smart accessory) was identified on 
the passenger's seat.

> The passenger's airbag, 

passenger's belt tensioner and the 
passenger's side airbag are 
deactivated.

3.

The airbag indicator light goes out 
after a maximum of 4 seconds for 
approximately 1 second, then it comes 
on again and stays on.
> A fault was detected (airbag 

warning).

or

The airbag indicator light flashes 
permanently.
> A fault was detected in the child 

seat recognition system (airbag 
warning).

쮿

Do not sit on the front passenger's seat; 
this applies in particular to children.

쮿

Take the car to a qualified specialist 
workshop, e.g. a smart center, without 
delay.

Danger of injury!
If the airbag indicator light 

does not come on when a baby carrier is 
fitted to the passenger's seat, the 
passenger's airbag has not been 
deactivated. If the passenger's airbag 
has not been deactivated, a child could 
sustain serious or even fatal injuries 
in the event of the airbag on the 
passenger's side being triggered, 
particularly if the child is in the 
immediate vicinity of the passenger's 
airbag at the time of its activation.
The passenger's airbag is only 
deactivated when you fit an original 
smart baby carrier to the passenger's 
seat.

On the move 7
35

Airbags

>Important!
If the airbag indicator light comes on 
during a journey, take the car to a 
qualified specialist workshop, e.g. a smart 
center, without delay.
It is possible that the airbag and the belt 
tensioner could be activated 
unintentionally or will not function in the 
event of an accident.

Danger of injury!
For this reason, you should never 

carry a child on the passenger's seat in 
a child restraint system that faces to 
the rear if the passenger's airbag has 
not been deactivated, i.e. if the airbag 
indicator light is not lit.
Also observe the corresponding 
warning sticker on the instrument 
panel.
If you have installed an original smart 
baby carrier on the passenger's seat 
and the airbag indicator light does not 
come on (restraint system not 
identified), have the automatic 
restraint system recognition function 
checked without delay by a qualified 
specialist workshop, such as a smart 
center.
Until this problem has been rectified, 
do not carry children in the car, as they 
could sustain serious or even fatal 
injuries in the event of an accident.

Danger of injury!
If the indicator light does not 

come on when you switch the ignition 
on, or does not go out again after a few 
seconds once the engine is running or 
comes on again, there is a fault. There 
is the possibility of individual 
systems being activated 
unintentionally or not being triggered 
off in an accident involving a high rate 
of deceleration. In this instance, have 
the safety system checked and repaired 
immediately by a qualified specialist 
workshop. smart gmbh recommends that 
you visit a smart center for this. It is 
particularly important to have safety

relevant work and work on safety

relevant systems performed by a 
qualified specialist workshop.

7
36   On the move  

Parking assist*

Parking assist*

The parking assist system is installed in 
your vehicle by a qualified specialist 
workshop, e.g. a smart center.

Parking assist uses two ultrasound 
sensors (A) mounted on the rear licence 
plate holder to monitor the rear section of 
your car when slowly reversing (walking 
pace). Parking assist is automatically 
activated when you start the engine and 
engage the reverse gear. An acoustic 
signal notifies you that the system is 
activated.

An obstacle is recognised from a distance 
of 100 cm behind the vehicle, at which time 
a beeping sound occurs. A continuous 
sound is emitted from a distance of 30 cm.

Danger of injury!
Parking assist is only to be 

viewed as an aid and may not detect all 
obstructions. The system is not 
designed to replace your powers of 
concentration. You still are 
responsible for ensuring safety and 
must continue to pay attention to your 
immediate surroundings when parking 
and manoeuvring. Not doing so 
introduces the risk of you endangering 
yourself and others.

Danger of injury!
Ensure that there are no persons 

or animals behind the vehicle when 
parking and manoeuvring. Otherwise 
they could be injured.

On the move 7
37

Parking assist*

>Important!
When parking, pay special attention to 
obstacles with a height less than 30 cm or 
overhangs over 100 cm, such as flower 
pots or ramps. These obstacles cannot be 
detected and you could damage the 
vehicle or the objects themselves.
Ultrasound sources, such as the air brake 
system of heavy goods vehicles or a 
pneumatic hammer, can interfere with the 
parking assist system.

>Note!
The sensors must not be covered with dirt, 
ice or snow, as this impairs their 
operation. Regularly clean the sensors 
using water and pay special attention not 
to scratch or damage them.

7
38   On the move  

>>Loading up.

Your car is very convenient as well as good
looking! 
The next few pages tell you where and how you can load or stow various items. A truly enjoyable way to handle the week's shopping.

Contents

>Storage compartments and 

trays

>Luggage compartment, 

front and rear 

>Rear bag*

>Multifunction box*

>Luggage compartment 

cover for the roadster

coupé*

>Rear luggage rack*

>Loading guidelines

8
2   Loading up  

Storage compartments and trays

Storage compartments and trays

a Storage compartments in the door trims

b Installation location for drinks holder* 

and CD boxes*

c Switch for opening the tailgate

d Glove box with release lever for front 

luggage compartment

e Luggage net

Loading up  8
3

Storage compartments and trays

Smoker's set with 12
volt power socket
The smoker's set with 12
volt power 
socket is located below the switches 
strip.
The ashtray insert can be removed for 
cleaning purposes. 

The 12
volt power socket serves as a 
power supply for the following when the 
ignition is switched on:

 the cigarette lighter, in conjunction 

with the smoker's set,

 the electric air pump, in conjunction 

with the breakdown set.

 Other consumers that operate on 

12 volts and a max. of 5 amperes 
(60 watts) and have the matching plug 
attached.

>Note!
Do not damage the holder of the 12
volt 
power socket by trying to insert 
unsuitable plugs.

Please note that

 the 12
volt power socket is only rated 

to handle a permanent load of 
5 amperes (60 W).

 the electric air pump can be connected 

to the 12
volt power socket for the time 
it takes to inflate the tyre without any 
problem.

 the car battery will discharge when 

current is drawn.

Fire hazard!
Never use the ashtray as a place 

to deposit paper or other flammable 
material.

8
4   Loading up  

Storage compartments and trays

Drinks holder with CD box*
The drinks holder with CD box is located 
on the centre console, beneath the 
smoker's set.
Below the drinks holder are three CD 
trays.
The drinks holder is used to place bottles 
and other suitable objects.

Danger of injury!
Make sure that any objects placed 

in the drinks holder are always secure 
while the car is moving. Unsecured 
objects in the drinks holder could 
otherwise be thrown around and injure 
you and others if you

 brake  sharply,

 change direction suddenly,

 are involved in an accident.
Insert only suitable, sealed containers 
in the holder. Drinks could otherwise 
spill out. Do not place hot drinks in the 
holder. They could cause scalding if 
spilled.