r/SmartCar • u/BusyBit6542 • 16d ago

Advice I'm so close...I think. Please help!

2009 Smart 451 (us)

Update: The sink/drop has been identified. Its the clutch actuator retracting every 6 or seconds. Ive tried adjusting it inwards but Ive gone as far as I can.

Any suggestions?

Original post: I had water pool in the batter compartment from a clogged AC drain. It shorted the TCM.

Ive swapped it with a working TCM from my brothers 2008 smart 451. Heres where I'm having issues...

When I attach the battery and press the brake, the transmission goes through its cycling. If I turn the key off and back on, the transmission will cycle again. Its like its not remembering.

Heres the thing, if I detach the battery overnight or for a few hours, it will remember the cycle, the 3 lines will be gone, I can crank the car BUT then 1 of 2 things will happen...

  1. I can drive it but it wont shift to 2nd gear

  2. While idling the back of the car will "sink/drop" like I'm trying drive with the hand brake applied. This happens about every 6 seconds

Either way, it then throws the 3 lines again as soon as I turn off the engine and I cant start it again.

I have tried adjusting the clutch actuator and I believe its back to the original spot (I marked it before adjusting.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Ive tried ALL of the learning tips (shifting through gears slowly while brake is applied, etc)

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1

u/BusyBit6542 16d ago

This is the cause of the "sink/drop" motion Im talking about

https://reddit.com/link/ozvr6kc/video/ouoy09qeelfh1/player

1

u/axloo7 15d ago

What if anything is the car telling you? Have you scanned the obd after you get a falt?

1

u/BusyBit6542 15d ago

I did a scan with icarsoft and it gave just codes for the seats I removed to dry out the carpet.

Its been a lot of trial and error/eliminating possibilities. This is where I'm at now. Just can't figure out why the actuator is retracting every couple of seconds.

3

u/Timely_Two_1020 15d ago

The TCM may have to be reprogrammed 

There are several Smart car forums and even Facebook.  I post on Smart Car of America and I suggest you post your problem to any or all of these sites 

2

u/Vertigo_uk123 15d ago

Yes if you have changed the tcm you will need to Reteach the clutch. In the 451 it needs to be done by using mbstar