ForFour SAM unit

[jonnyatom5]

Hi
I'm having electrical problems with my ForFour, after reading a number of forum posts I concluded it had to be a SAM problem due to water. I took it to a local garage who said as much, but they cannot replace as it needs a specialist Smart garage to do this due to the equipment needed to recode the new SAM unit. I've heard this may be upwards of £500+VAT (Ouch)

Before I go down this route and because I've read it's possible, I wanted to remove the SAM unit, dry it out, clean and reinstall, to see if I can resurrect it.

My problem is, locating it and removal. I cannot find anywhere that gives a clue, hence this post. Does anyone know where I should begin looking and what it looks like?

Cheers, Garry

[Jimmyrinse]

ForFour SAM unit

Ad far as i was aware the forfour has an ecu and separate fuse box, not a sam......i may be corrected on this.

The ecu is in the engine bay, im not aware if ecu issues due to water on the forfour, they dont really leak

Depending what your issues are check your earth straps as these can corrode and case electrical issues

[lalli_d1]

Re: ForFour SAM unit

the forfour is fairly leak proof, not had many issues other than the drain holes in the doors getting blocked. there has been one owner who had his flood damaged but managed to resurrect it from the dead without issues... yet

here is a link that might help the water leak issue from an other forum http://www.forfour.co.uk/forum/index...;boardseen#new

[problemchild1976]

Re: ForFour SAM unit

defo not a SAM issue..... as there isn't one......

and as lali says.....forfour's do not leak!

if you have a wet footwell your door is full of water and need to unplug the drain holes (unless you can trace leaks down the bulkhead from the windscreen area)

what are your symptoms??

you may just need a new battery or check your earth connections (battery to chassis and engine to chassis)

JJ

[jonnyatom5]

Re: ForFour SAM unit

Arrhhhhh, so ForFour's DON'T have SAMs? Interesting. The auto-electrician I took it to said it was that. Can someone confirm what is true?

The symptoms are very similar to those purported on other Smart cars (though Roadsters and ForTwo's). Electrically not working are; Indicators, lights, quick windscreen wiper (though main wipers work), washer squirter, rear washers & wiper. Also the hazards are stuck on all of the time (had to pull the fuse to stop) and the towing button light is on all of the time.

So some very strange electrical goings on. There was a hell of a lot of condensation in the car after it was left for two weeks unattended over the Xmas period and with the storms I think water was forced in somewhere. There's no water in the footwell, so not through the doors.

Any help will be much appreciated.

[Jimmyrinse]

Re: ForFour SAM unit

If it was left for two weeks maybe the battery was/is low so a good charge may be needed, also with the condensation as mentioned the doors drains may need looking at.

Im sure sam units an ecu's get confused all the time as they are very similar things, it could be the ecu (which is what he probably meant) but unlikely.

I would charge the battery and check the earth straps as its the easiest and cheapest thing you can do first.

Also if you have the engine management light in you should get the code read which should give you a better idea of the fault