Smart car - advice on error, had to be towed.

[Ismysmartdead]

Hi all, not been on here before but need some advice whilst waiting to contact the dealership about our Smart. We have a 2016 smart fortwo. It's never had problems until yesterday. Away from home and we get Auto Start Malfunction error with engine light on.

The engine starts but the gears are locked. We had the AA out who used the override under the gearbox (automatic) to change the car into neutral to roll it into a towing position as it will not override into reverse or park at all. It's as if we have been locked out of the gears.
The error the guys diagnostic thingy found that he could not clear was "auto start stop control unit failure"

My main question is, are we looking at a new Sam? We're going to have to get it towed to smart but want a bit of a heads up on what it might be or cost.
(we broke down at a car dealership having just agreed to part ex the smart car! paperwork all done, date agreed to bring it back and swap over... smart dead as we tried to go home. Severe embarrassment at having to be towed home after sitting in their carpark 3 hours)

 

[LostKiwi]

Sorry can't answer your question on a Smart that age but welcome to the forum.

 

[mioba]

no point in guessing as thats all it would be without bmeaningful diags. Sit tight fella.

 

[Alfie]

I had a similar issue with my For Two. It turned out to be the brake light switch which is underneath the car.

 

[SL63 Mark]

I like your username

 

[Ismysmartdead]

I had a similar issue with my For Two. It turned out to be the brake light switch which is underneath the car.

Thanks. This was the first thing we looked at. All the brake lights are working fine. We tried recharging the battery, and then disconnecting, but no luck. It's being towed to smart next week.

 

[Ismysmartdead]

no point in guessing as thats all it would be without bmeaningful diags. Sit tight fella.

Been called a few things in my time, but never fella!

 

[mattkh]

Thanks. This was the first thing we looked at. All the brake lights are working fine.

Check the number of wires going to the brake light switch.
If more than two wires, then the switch has more than one function and you cannot rule it out by relying on the brake lights working fine.

 

[Ismysmartdead]

Thanks. I think I am out of my depth with wiring. I don't want to do anything that could end up costing even more to fix. Hopefully get it fixed up, if it doesn't cost more than the car is worth and then get it up for sale.

 

[mioba]

Do you have a MB indy nearby to look at it. Good luck and keep us posted

 

[Ismysmartdead]

Do you have a MB indy nearby to look at it. Good luck and keep us posted

No. Didn't want to risk paying for it to be towed and looked at by an indy, just to be told we need Smart to do with their diagnostic bits, and have to pay that all over again. We're only about 12 miles from Smart.