Smart car Convertible Roof will not work

[John77]

Hi there is a cheap Smart car local to me, so I thought that I may buy it to tinker with. It's a Convertible, but the Roof will not work. I know that without seeing the car it is difficult to diagnose, but is there something that often happens to these that may be an easy fix? What do I look for?

 

[Blobcat]

Which version of smart is it ?

 

[John77]

Good question. I have not looked at it at the moment. i think that it is a pulse.

 

[Blobcat]

Good question. I have not looked at it at the moment. i think that it is a pulse.

is it R450, R451, R452 or R453?

Pulse or Passion are just trim levels

 

[EmilysDad]

The Roadster (452) has a switch on each of the roof bars ie the roof bars need to fitted for the roof to operate and another in the rear load area so that the roof can't be lowered onto stuff in the back. It could be as simple as one of these switches failing (my Roadster's load area switch is shorted out). I'd assume the Fortwo is similar ..... ??? Obviously the motor itself could be at fault.

 

[Blobcat]

The Roadster (452) has a switch on each of the roof bars ie the roof bars need to fitted for the roof to operate and another in the rear load area so that the roof can't be lowered onto stuff in the back. It could be as simple as one of these switches failing (my Roadster's load area switch is shorted out). I'd assume the Fortwo is similar ..... ??? Obviously the motor itself could be at fault.

R451 is very similar, although no switches in the load area as there's not a space issue. It just needs to know that the side roof bars are in place for it to close

 

[John77]

is it R450, R451, R452 or R453?

Pulse or Passion are just trim levels

It's a 2002 if that helps, but I have not physically seen the car.

 

[LostKiwi]

That'll be a 450 then I'd imagine.
As above then.

 

[John77]

thank you

 

[John77]

Just looked at the car and the rods have come off the rail, so I think worse than I thought. Next question. On the boot it says powered by Brabus, but it seems to have a normal engine. Is there a way of knowing or should it say Brabus on the top of the engine. Not really that important, just wondered.

 

[LostKiwi]

Brabus cars have revised trim and usually have different alloys and lowered suspension.
It's possibly had a remap but it just as easily could have had a sticker...

 

[John77]

Brabus cars have revised trim and usually have different alloys and lowered suspension.
It's possibly had a remap but it just as easily could have had a sticker...

Thank you