HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

[arniearnsdale]

Can anyone help me???
My car started making a strange noise like a ticking sound and then when i stopped it and went to start it agian- i out it into drive and it made a pumping noise like it was trying to go itno gear but then three bars appear on the display- it is the same for reverse too.

I have looked it up on fq101.co.uk and for the three bars it advised to leave in reverse and rock back and forth and it should fall into gear- but this idnt work.

I also tried disconnecting the battery for 10 seconds and reconnecting- but this never worked either.

Sorry about the essay!!!!
I hope someone can help! Any ideas???

Thanks guys...

Laura :-(

[putzie]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

sounds like its the clutch aculator playing up , more than a loose conection under the geer stick

[Mr T]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

Hi Laura,
will your car go into gear without the engine running?
Turn the ignition on but don't start the engine. Try putting it into gear or reverse. If you get a 1 or R, your clutch has gone. If it still goes to 3 bars there is a fault with the gear selector motor or gearbox.:goodlk:

[arniearnsdale]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

Hi Mr T-
it is going into 0 when the engine is not on! Do you know what this means?
:-)

[arniearnsdale]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

do you think this sounds like an expensive job?:-)

[bob445522]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

hi, if you type in the search box, [ROADSTER WONT START] and go to the post [ 3 BARS AND A TOW TRUCK,] i think that might have been the same problem as yours, sorry dont know how to do the link-up.


also i think you should try disconnecting the battery again for longer than 10 seconds, [ maybe 10mnts ]

[RacingSnake]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

disconnecting hte battery for a gearbox issue is clutching at straws a bit! always worth a go, but don't expect miracles... or infact results
it might be that the gear selector is stuck, ir the position sensor it knackered (the usual suspects). they're the other pages on the FQ101 guides

[arniearnsdale]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

Thanks guys- will keep you posted- disconnecting the battery for 10mins didn;t help either. :-)

[arniearnsdale]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

aaaahh... i cant get any mechanic to even look at it? does anyone know any good recommendations in north west/ cheshire?? I called smart mercedes and they want £95 just to look at it on the fault diagnostic machine!!!!
:-)

[bob445522]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

try foot on the brake when slowly moving gear stick, could be faulty gearbox sensor, [ as per other posts] good luck.

[Mr T]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

Wasn't Big Performance opening a branch up Cheshire way?
Try sending him a PM.

Is the car stuck in gear? If it is have you tried rocking the car back & forth to see if it will release? Clutching at straws now!:redface:

I think every option has been offered in advice, a mechanic is the only way forward with this I fear. Good luck with your search.:goodlk:

[nimze]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

i had the same problem, took it down to my local smart specialist, they thought it was the actuator at first then after checking that over via the diagnosis system they discovered the ecu had gone due to the previous owner fitting a shitty dump valve squirting oil over the ecu causing it to malfunction etc (dont ask me how they discoverd this as i have no idea) now im having a new ecu fitted costing me around £650 in total due to the part costing more than a standard fortwo as mine is the older citycoupe ! luckily my private warranty via warranty direct covers this, problem being is when do i get some cash back as they operate by you paying the garage and them giving you a cheque back

[purplebargeken]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

I had the 3 bars come up last week. My ForTwo juddered when in reverse and then didn't want to go anywhere. Next day it was ok. Took it to MB/Smart in Loughton (Essex) and they initially couldn't find a fault, then the 're-installed' some software. The car ran ok for them but played up for me in their carpark. I was getting a bit para as almost every time they 'fixed' the car it would run ok for them but not me, then it started to play up after their fixes. They then said the gearbox might need replacing, then they changed their mind and re-installed some more 'software'. This didn't cure the problem (really?) and they had their Super Smart Master Technician have a look. He said that the clutch actuator was faulty and changed it. Then the car wouldn't start due to a knackered starter motor. So they changed that too. Thank God I had the extended warranty as everything came to about £600!!!!

This has shaken my faith in the car as it's a standard 2004 Passion model with just 29,700 miles on the clock!! Am I being over gloomy or do I see more big bills on the horizon :0(

Ken

[arniearnsdale]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

HI ken,
so was it the clutch actuator in the end? I have just heard back from mercedes and they said i need a new gearbox and this will be all in £1800!!! can you believe that? ???? So this has definately shaken my faith in the smart! Mine is a 51 plate and 30000 miles on the clock so NOT covered under warranty!!!
aaaahhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!

[RacingSnake]

Re: HELP-my smartie won't go into gear!!!

just heard back from mercedes and they said i need a new gearbox and this will be all in £1800!!!

I don't believe this at all.
the gearboxes are bullet proof... it's the bolt on bits that fail.
gear actuator, gear position sensor, or gear selector motor.
At the very least change these first.

And before getting merc to pull your pants down, speak to an inde see if there are any second hand bits around. Fudge at csc has a few bits and Chequered flag at strood have loads of bits too... including complete gearboxes if required.