Water leak

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Permalink Reply by Ian Pellant on April 28, 2010 at 6:47pm

The smart is water cooled. Look in the front "hood" / "bonnet" compartment for the radiator and expansion reservoir. The air con unit is also there.

I have a turbo model... there is an additional radiator in the engine compartment.

Coloured water implies a coolant leak. Get under the rear of the car and trace where it is coming from. It may be nothing more than a loose hose connection.

Pop the front hood off and check the coolant level in the reservoir... ignoring it could lead to overheating and expensive repairs.

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Permalink Reply by Jon Blomfield on April 28, 2010 at 6:55pm

thanks for the info, i will have a look again tomorrow. any ideas how i can take the front panel off the car to expose the tanks because the only access i have otherwise is to go in through the air grills below the windscreen wipers. I know when i had to change a lightbulb that this was near enough impossible with my big hands!!!!

Thanks also for the clarification on radiators. I had always assumed that the radiator in the engine bay was the only one!!!! guess thats the intercooler for the turbo?

Thanks once again for your help.

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Permalink Reply by Ian Pellant on April 28, 2010 at 11:38pm

There are a couple of tabs; one each side of the grill - swing them out and the panel pulls out.

See: http://www.evilution.co.uk/index.php?id=303

Didn't your smart come with an owners' manual? It dwells in a recess under the passenger seat (too big for the glove box).

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Permalink Reply by Jon Blomfield on April 29, 2010 at 3:55am

my smart was 2nd hand when i bought it and no owners manual to be found! Glove box? not got one of those lol! my smart is the 2003 model pre face lift? Cheers

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Permalink Reply by Daniel on April 29, 2010 at 10:13am

Jon,
If your smart is an '03 you might be on the wrong website, most people here drive the 451 (2008+) model, hence the site name 451s.com Please check for more information on

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/

there is a better mix of older smarts ..... good luck ... daniel

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Permalink Reply by Jon Blomfield on April 29, 2010 at 11:44am

cheers daniel.

Found a really good website this morning that helped me rectify the problem. Have since taken it to the garage and had it checked over and no fault has been found although I was told to keep a close eye on it as they think it could be the water pump on its way out.

Thanks everyone for help and advice

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