Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

[esme]

Hi there

Have just picked up a new forfour (06 plate, 38000miles) from a dealer, but it's already back in the shop. I'm really panicking now - someone reassure me that I've not made a huge mistake and bought a duff!

The brakes are a bit squeaky, so they are going to look at that for me, the fanbelt appears to be a bit noisy so they are going to look at that too, but most worryingly, the electric windows won't go up, leaving me to take two children home in a freezing cold and very windy car!!

It's a 1.1 coolstyle - are these cars generally reliable and will it do me for another 2 years of motoring at about 10k a year? In addition to these niggly issues is there anything else I should be looking out for?

Thanks guys

[miami gulf]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

No offence - I know how sensitive ForFour owners can be - but these Mitsubishi units are pretty solid and yourproblems as you describe them seem relatively easy fixes. So, don't worry and enjoy the car.

[Ferrina]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

Hi there, firstly, the Forfour is a very very good car. Not a lot goes wrong with them, so it must be something silly.

If you can, register with www.forfour.co.uk and www.forfourowner.com From there, we can put you in touch with the Forfour boffins!

ps. welcome!

pps. I drive a cdi Forfour Passion.

[miami gulf]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

I want a brabus verion.

[esme]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

oh thanks you guys - this is what i need to hear! i've just traded my big, solid, safe volvo for the forfour and it's just such an adjustment - think i'm being silly. traded it so i don't have to go back to work after the recent birth of baby number 2, so only need a run around now. all i need yto know is that it is going to be safe and reliable - i feel much better now. sorry for typos - feeding baby x

[miami gulf]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

Better fuel figures than a Vovlo and these go rounds corners too!

[Ferrina]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

Quite a safe car and solid Mitsubishi quality underneath.

[esme]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

Yes - true! I justr love the way they look, I sad to my husband that I couldn't live with a punto or a fiesta - I need something with a bit of wow. At this kind of milage is there anything I should be looking out for?

[lalli_d1]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

The brakes are a bit squeaky, so they are going to look at that for me, the fanbelt appears to be a bit noisy so they are going to look at that too, but most worryingly, the electric windows won't go up, leaving me to take two children home in a freezing cold and very windy car!!

brakes squeeking, could be that the pads are worn out and are touching the discs.
the auxilary belt (not fan belt) may either need retentioning or replacing.
the rear windows, it could be a few things. duff switches, duff window regulator or broken wires to the window regulators. personally i thing its the switch that might be either faulty or something might have jammed under the 'up' side of the switch. it happened with my drivers window switch, it wouldnt go down after i replaced it as the old one was broken (some one had pulled the switch in such a way that the top had come off), and i found that a small nail had become trapped under the down side of the switch.

iv now had my forfour 3/4 months now and have to say not much has gone wrong. all iv replaced is a rear wheel bearing (which wasnt faulty) 2 tyres, the window switch, altenator belt and front discs. basically small things.

[esme]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

Ooh blimey - sounds quite complicated for someone who knows nothing about cars! Saying that, the dealer has it back now, so I'm hopeful that if anything needs doing, they'll just do it - if only to shut me up!! Is it true that smarts are 'notorious' for electrical faults?

[lalli_d1]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

the roadster yes. the forfour i dont think so. my city coupe, now that had a damp issue (not now though. its now a small cube or puddle of metal). to be honest its a very reliable car. 1 recall i the 2 year it was on for sale, now thats not bad!

[Ferrina]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

Ooh blimey - sounds quite complicated for someone who knows nothing about cars! Saying that, the dealer has it back now, so I'm hopeful that if anything needs doing, they'll just do it - if only to shut me up!! Is it true that smarts are 'notorious' for electrical faults?

What colour combo is it? Any pix?

[esme]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

Oh, it's blue and silver. Looks fab! I think it needs a bit of tlc inside, so as soon as I get it back, I'm going to get my cleaning bits and bobs out and give it a good old scrub. I'm a bit sad like that! It has very light coloured seats, which someone hasn't been especially careful with, so if any of you have any tips/products for bringing them back to life, do tell. I'll scour the forums too.

[Mitchturbo FFO Timelord]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

Hello Esme And Welcome To smartManiacs And forfour Ownership!!

I too drive a forfour, Can say it's very reliable and fun to drive

I've Replaced the electric window switches before due to the plastic bearings snapping off due to clumsiness,
Got in contact with the local dealership via phone, quoted the serrial code on the back of the switches... (To get access to the electric window switches to pull then out is really simple,
The Grey plastic lid that surrounds the handle bar and switches just pulls off easily with a bit of care fiddleing around the edges... Then the switches are exposed, attached to a plug sort of thing attached to wires... Makesure the forfour is switched off and carefully pull the switches from the plug thingys, try not to damage or strain the wires...)
Then quote the code to smart, Depending if they have them in stock, They cost under £8.00 each for brand new ones. Reconnect them... Attach to the Grey Plastic lid and then carefully place the lid back down, easing it back into place around the handle bar. Turn power on, Check they work. Simples. If they don't, it will be due to faulty wires.

Ofcouse Hopefully while the Gararge is looking over your smart forfour, they will have already sorted the problems...

About your breaks, Could be down to dust... They will stop squeeking after a long while. Every car suffers from squeeky breaks once in a while... Also could be down to new breaks, mixed with weather elimements...

If you hear a squeel coming from your belt... Perfectly safe, just down to it being damp aka a little water has gone on it... Can be quite an alarming sound, But i think of it as your forfour talking to you, Like Baby talk. Forfours have a lot of personality and seem to surprice me constently. The Aux belt squeeking/squeeling when i switch on Ignition is one of those things that will shock you, but once in the mind that your forfour is just chatting to you... Well it's cute

As you can tell, I'm quite Bonkers... But good luck.

Have you got Manual Transmision or Auto Softouch Transmision?

All the best from The forfour Timelord

P.s Join Both forfour forums if you can, both offer different things and are both excellent for all the forfour know how!

[esme]

Re: Panicking about newly purchased forfour - help!

Oh thanks for the tips! I'm looking forward to getting the car back - hopefully today. I'm going to join the other forums too, so I might see you all in there. Thanks again