Good luck trying to explain the odometer to a potential buyer. If I heard something like "it's got less miles on it than the odometer shows." That's my cue to run.
I genuinely don't know how your videos can hold my attention for so long. I usually get bored with a lot of videos after only a few minutes, but yours always hold my attention for the full duration. You're an excellent storyteller, man.
Had exactly the same problem on my Smart Roadster a few months back (uses the same SAM body controller as the ForTwo), it caused random interesting light displays on the dash and the engine would cut out. I removed all the lead free solder from the joints of both connectors and re-soldered with regular tin/lead solder and the problem was fixed.
Same problem with cold/broken solder is common on pinball machines too. This knowledge is how I fixed the circuit board which controls the boiler in my house. Also cold/broken solder joints. Reflow and wham bam all up and going again. Good fix man!
You are fantastic! Your presentation and personality make every video enjoyable even for a car I don’t particularly feel interested in - but I also admire your investigation and troubleshooting and that you are more capable than those dealership people who didn’t seem to care about you or your vehicle. Maybe that’s unfairly harsh given I didn’t experience their attitudes myself. Nice work fixing the car!
A bent PCB, well done Smart. What engineer thought it was a good idea to put a circuit board in a panini press because I have questions for them? Worked for years in a PCB fabrication unit and I've seen my fair share of bad solder joints. That one looks machine done and I can almost promise the preheating on the PCB either wasn't done or wasn't done hot enough. It's also possible they just used garbage quality solder, or it could be from the stress of, you know,
All these electrical issues remind me of a 1990 Mercury Topaz my dad had for about a year. The electrical system would literally shut off and we would have to pull over, shut it off, and wait for a "click" from the dashboard. Then we could start it up again. We never found out the issue and my dad traded it in for a Lincoln Continental (his preferred car at the time--we went through at least three of them in the late 80s-early 90s).
Reminds me of my 77 Rabbit's fuse box. It was under the steering wheel in about the same place but some moisture would get there mysteriously and you always were replacing fuses. All of the connections were crappy too.
Good luck trying to explain the odometer to a potential buyer. If I heard something like "it's got less miles on it than the odometer shows." That's my cue to run.
I genuinely don't know how your videos can hold my attention for so long. I usually get bored with a lot of videos after only a few minutes, but yours always hold my attention for the full duration. You're an excellent storyteller, man.
Free is my favorite kind of fix.
Had exactly the same problem on my Smart Roadster a few months back (uses the same SAM body controller as the ForTwo), it caused random interesting light displays on the dash and the engine would cut out. I removed all the lead free solder from the joints of both connectors and re-soldered with regular tin/lead solder and the problem was fixed.
Wow, that SAM unit is the worst ECU design I've ever seen. Seriously wtf? A bent circuit board??
Same problem with cold/broken solder is common on pinball machines too. This knowledge is how I fixed the circuit board which controls the boiler in my house. Also cold/broken solder joints. Reflow and wham bam all up and going again. Good fix man!
my smart car has just started to suffer the same symptoms, thankfully i remembered this video, i will have a crack at this over the weekend
I'm always happy to see a new AW in my notifications!
You are fantastic! Your presentation and personality make every video enjoyable even for a car I don’t particularly feel interested in - but I also admire your investigation and troubleshooting and that you are more capable than those dealership people who didn’t seem to care about you or your vehicle. Maybe that’s unfairly harsh given I didn’t experience their attitudes myself. Nice work fixing the car!
you should have put the wheego drivetrain in the smart, and made a "high quality wheego"
A bent PCB, well done Smart. What engineer thought it was a good idea to put a circuit board in a panini press because I have questions for them? Worked for years in a PCB fabrication unit and I've seen my fair share of bad solder joints. That one looks machine done and I can almost promise the preheating on the PCB either wasn't done or wasn't done hot enough. It's also possible they just used garbage quality solder, or it could be from the stress of, you know,
Good job american mr.bean lookalike, keep fixing those econoboxes and one day you'll be regarded the most famous wheego driver ever.
Had 2 Smart cars now and love them over 4 years, nothing wrong with either of them
All these electrical issues remind me of a 1990 Mercury Topaz my dad had for about a year. The electrical system would literally shut off and we would have to pull over, shut it off, and wait for a "click" from the dashboard. Then we could start it up again. We never found out the issue and my dad traded it in for a Lincoln Continental (his preferred car at the time--we went through at least three of them in the late 80s-early 90s).
for the person that said "make it electric"...maybe you should direct him to the Wheego videos ;)
Hondas have a similar issue on the main fuel pump relay. Dang lead free solder is not very flexible and likes to crack.
Thanks Aging Wheels
for your interesting videos. I'm glad you got this one figured out.
Thank you SO much for this!! I managed to repair my Smart displaying the dreaded three bars on the speedo
Good video. Honest and up front. You are a humorous person
Reminds me of my 77 Rabbit's fuse box. It was under the steering wheel in about the same place but some moisture would get there mysteriously and you always were replacing fuses. All of the connections were crappy too.