Smart car owners gearbox help

[Paddymcc]

Just picked up a 2009 smart fortwo and I haven't got a clue how the automatic mode on gearbox works.

It will change down the gears itself and if I rev it out it will change up, but doesn't seem to want to change gear like a normal automatic at sensible revs meaning I have to push the gear stick up to change up.

Is there a button somewhere I'm missing or is this how the box works on the pure model?

[Mr2Mike]

Paddymcc said:

Just picked up a 2009 smart fortwo and I haven't got a clue how the automatic mode on gearbox works.

It will change down the gears itself and if I rev it out it will change up, but doesn't seem to want to change gear like a normal automatic at sensible revs meaning I have to push the gear stick up to change up.

Is there a button somewhere I'm missing or is this how the box works on the pure model?

What you're missing is

1) It's not a lazy slushbox style automatic with a torque converter. It's a tiny engine with a robotised manual box and clutch so having it slide into top at minimal RPM isn't going to happen. That said...
2) Auto mode is pretty rubbish (at least in my bosses ForTwo Brabus it is). It hangs on quite late even under fairly small engine loads.

Since the gearshifts are so slow you are better off using the manual change anyway.

[Justayellowbadge]

Mine was a passion, but the box was by no means the best bit.

I never used it in full auto.

[General Zod]

Sounds broken. Gearboxes are pish, but not that pish

[slinky]

Justayellowbadge said:

Mine was a passion, but the box was by no means the best bit.

I never used it in full auto.

I had a Pulse and a BRC, tried auto twice, once in each car.
Don't..

[Pdelamare]

Have you actually put it into automatic mode by pushing the button on the side of the gearknob?

There should be an A in the middle of the dashboard, in manual mode you'll get a gear position number.

I only ever use manual mode as the auto mode is st.

[Paddymcc]

Pdelamare said:

Have you actually put it into automatic mode by pushing the button on the side of the gearknob?

There should be an A in the middle of the dashboard, in manual mode you'll get a gear position number.

I only ever use manual mode as the auto mode is st.

No buttons on the side of the gearknob or in front of it, or anywhere around it to signify auto.

By any chance do these base line Pure models not have the usual automode?

[Nigel Worc's]

We've had three, and all have been as described by others on this thread.

Try asking on these sites :

https://forum.onsmart.co.uk/?option=com_content&am...

http://www.smartz.co.uk/album.php

Sorry I can't be of further help.

[Mr2Mike]

Pdelamare said:

Have you actually put it into automatic mode by pushing the button on the side of the gearknob?

There should be an A in the middle of the dashboard, in manual mode you'll get a gear position number.

I only ever use manual mode as the auto mode is st.

I thought you just had to move the gearlever over to the left when it's in 'D' to switch it to manual?

[Paddymcc]

After a bit of digging around on the smart car website ive found out the gear box is:

softip: manual gear shifting.

Change gears comfortably without any clutchwork by lightly tapping the shift lever. softip comes as standard with all equipment lines.

[Nigel Worc's]

Mr2Mike said:

Pdelamare said:

Have you actually put it into automatic mode by pushing the button on the side of the gearknob?

There should be an A in the middle of the dashboard, in manual mode you'll get a gear position number.

I only ever use manual mode as the auto mode is st.

I thought you just had to move the gearlever over to the left when it's in 'D' to switch it to manual?

Not on the three we've owned, move the lever left to select forward motion, or back to select reverse, once in forward, use the button to select semi auto (a gear number will appear on the display, you increase/decrease that by moving the lever forwards and backwards), or a A in the display for full automatic.

[rallycross]

Most pure models don't have the button for soft tip auto so you have to change up with the lever.

[cwis]

All you need is the lever with the button on it and a software update. The sites linked to above will have all the details.

But as others have said, auto mode is fairly pants. I used to have to switch to manual for A road cruising and then change to 6th otherwise mine would stay in 5th.

Paddymcc said:

After a bit of digging around on the smart car website ive found out the gear box is:

softip: manual gear shifting.

Change gears comfortably without any clutchwork by lightly tapping the shift lever. softip comes as standard with all equipment lines.

[Pdelamare]

You've got 6 gears? In a Smart? Are you sure?

I never knew some Pure models didn't get the auto mode. No loss though.

[Basil Brush]

I had my Roadster serviced at MB recently and as part of it they did a software update, albeit without asking me. The downside was that they replaced the remap I had done but the latest software has made auto mode actually usable. It no longer changes to second 4 feet after pulling out on a roundabout. I still tend to stick it straight into manual shift though.

[Kolbenkopp]

Paddymcc said:

After a bit of digging around on the smart car website ive found out the gear box is: softip: manual gear shifting.

Yup, that's the manual only configuration. The auto mode on the 451s (such as you have) isn't bad at all with the latest software. Can be retrofitted. The hardware is pretty cheap, but programming needs to be done at MB. They charge about 100 GBP for it here.

http://www.mercedes-benz-parts.co.uk/browse-parts/...

IMO worth it if driven a lot in heavy traffic.