This is the best post !!! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video because I was so lost with the mechanics of how this system worked. Mine just got stuck and I was at a loss. Now I have somewhere to start
it's funny. the first time I watched this video (about 2 months ago, after we first got our 2nd hand Smart Cabrio) I thought it was ridiculous. and useless NOW though having had to play with a number of soft top problems (some of my own doing) over the last month and Now having a better sense of how these soft tops work, this Video is BRILLIANT. in one video this guy has address most of my most perplexing Smart Roof problems. Until you are really In a soft top jam the pieces don't make any sense. and then.... they do. THank You
Thank you, you seem to be the only one on the internet with a helpful video about this common cabrio problem. The link for the latches was also a god sent as my local benz stealership wanted 520$ for those and smart-stuff sells them for 250$!
I would’ve had even more videos, but the head gasket spontaneously combusted, and I sold it so that I could break even. I might torture myself again, one of these days if I find a good deal. Thanks for watching ;)
though I will add for anyone watching this video, in having had to dissemble my roof and deal with front hook problems, in general you should NOT have to remove all the trim around the sun visors to deal with front hooks. to release latched hooks, pull back from the cable in the upper motor (unless you like me had a detached cable head, in which case you have to reach around the back of the upper part of the front slider, stick the hook in the hole and pull back) to LATCH the front sliders manually, disengage the upper motor, move the roof to almost close and push the slider forward with a screw driver) UNLESS of course your front hook is ziptied shut (as this one is) in which case you have no choice but to remove the cover and cut the zip tie.
Did you figure out where the springs go? I'm re-doing my Cabrio roof. I have fixed the shrunken canvas by sewing on some awning canvas and everything was working great until I broke the front slider latches. I have the replacements, and can't for the life of me figure out where those springs go. I'm sure they do something useful, but I don't know what.
@@RealityUniverse I just wanted to post the comment in case anyone else might find themselves wondering where the springs go. The only other thing worth mentioning is the way that the roof sliders "nest" inside the rear cassette which, again, might be obvious by the way they fit into the tracks with enough lateral clearance to actually move. Lastly, it is worth also mentioning that the tracks might need some alignment, and there is another youtube video on that.
Great video I own a 2008 smart fortwo cabrio ,I had the top down today and I noticed a tension strap flopping around in the wind on the drivers side, Can you tell me where I can buy just the straps? This looks like a nightmare job to do. Any help is appreciated. By the way whats happens if I dont replace it? will the top not work anymore?
I think you’re gonna have to keep your eyes on eBay, unless you order from the dealer. I got parts from a company in England, but their websites not working right now for some reason.
I know this video is older but can you please tell me where you found the slider latch? I’m looking for a replacement one online but can’t find it anywhere. And I’m based in the UK, seeing as you had yours sent from here I’m hopeful. Thanks. Also this video was a massive help
Hi friend. The top works in 2 phases. 1st from front to back. 2nd phase is dropping back. Mine refuses to go back anymore. Even more confusing, is that when getting into the car, upon accelerating, the top will start phase 1 and slide back without me pressing the button. What do you think?
That’s interesting, I would guess that the lock is not engaging and it is just pushing back the top from the wind. I don’t remember what it looks like in there. Does the switch work? When you push the button what does it do to hear noise?
Sorry, super busy with a bunch of projects. Possibly… if your in South Florida and not in a rush 😉. Once you take it apart a few times you will understand it better.
@@RealityUniverse its almoust exact the same but im also not sure, i mean the roof top, mine wont even open, the little roof sliders are working ,but roof doesnt come off, i need to figure it out by myself hot to fix it, because service is to expensive
@@RealityUniverse Sorry to hear about the head gasket. My impression here is that your passenger side latch was somehow broken or detached from the drive cable, but your drive cables were still intact. Recently, out of the blue, there was a gap, as if my top wasn't fully closed, in the middle of winter. In my case the passenger side drive cable somehow forced a loop of itself out of the gap between the pillar track and the removeable roof rail track. Once jammed there, the motor wasn't strong enough to retrieve it. The drive cable is incredibly strong. So I've had to sever the drive cable in the gap, which freed the cable portion back to the motor. The remaining loop of drive cable is still jammed in that gap, mostly out of sight. When finally freed, I'll manually slide the top forward to latch both leading edges & secure the latches with pull-ties as you originally found the passenger side latch, until Spring, when it's warm enough to try to thread-in new drive cables. Your video is invaluable in showing how some of the parts of the drive mechanism works. Thanks for your efforts. Hope you'll do another cabrio top video if you tinker with it again.
This is the best post !!! Thank you so much for taking the time to make this video because I was so lost with the mechanics of how this system worked. Mine just got stuck and I was at a loss. Now I have somewhere to start
Glad it helped! Thanks for watching
it's funny. the first time I watched this video (about 2 months ago, after we first got our 2nd hand Smart Cabrio) I thought it was ridiculous. and useless
NOW though having had to play with a number of soft top problems (some of my own doing) over the last month and Now having a better sense of how these soft tops work, this Video is BRILLIANT.
in one video this guy has address most of my most perplexing Smart Roof problems.
Until you are really In a soft top jam the pieces don't make any sense. and then.... they do.
THank You
Thanks for watching!
Awesome video!! It is the first time I have seen how the cables and gears works!! Thank you!!
Thank you, you seem to be the only one on the internet with a helpful video about this common cabrio problem. The link for the latches was also a god sent as my local benz stealership wanted 520$ for those and smart-stuff sells them for 250$!
I would’ve had even more videos, but the head gasket spontaneously combusted, and I sold it so that I could break even. I might torture myself again, one of these days if I find a good deal. Thanks for watching ;)
@@RealityUniversewhat mileage were you at when the head gasket failed?
It was less than 100. I think it was probably like 75,000 miles. I have a video of it somewhere maybe I’ll put it up.
@@RealityUniverse oh wow that sounds super early. I feel like usually I don’t see these cars really kick the bucket until 155,000+ mileage wise.
Excellent video on this fix !!
Thanks for watching 👍
though I will add for anyone watching this video, in having had to dissemble my roof and deal with front hook problems, in general you should NOT have to remove all the trim around the sun visors to deal with front hooks.
to release latched hooks, pull back from the cable in the upper motor (unless you like me had a detached cable head, in which case you have to reach around the back of the upper part of the front slider, stick the hook in the hole and pull back)
to LATCH the front sliders manually, disengage the upper motor, move the roof to almost close and push the slider forward with a screw driver)
UNLESS of course your front hook is ziptied shut (as this one is) in which case you have no choice but to remove the cover and cut the zip tie.
@@pjstock135 Good to know!
@@RealityUniverse But it is still a VERY important video that reveals all kinds of Smart roof secrets.
Thank you for this vid. It really helped me fix my roof!
Your welcome;)
Did you figure out where the springs go? I'm re-doing my Cabrio roof. I have fixed the shrunken canvas by sewing on some awning canvas and everything was working great until I broke the front slider latches. I have the replacements, and can't for the life of me figure out where those springs go. I'm sure they do something useful, but I don't know what.
I FIGURED IT OUT! They go INSIDE the large pin on the slider to maintain outward tension against the cable. It's the only place they CAN go.
I was just trying to picture it. Sorry I didn’t get back to you quickly!
@@RealityUniverse I just wanted to post the comment in case anyone else might find themselves wondering where the springs go. The only other thing worth mentioning is the way that the roof sliders "nest" inside the rear cassette which, again, might be obvious by the way they fit into the tracks with enough lateral clearance to actually move. Lastly, it is worth also mentioning that the tracks might need some alignment, and there is another youtube video on that.
Great video I own a 2008 smart fortwo cabrio ,I had the top down today and I noticed a tension strap flopping around in the wind on the drivers side, Can you tell me where I can buy just the straps? This looks like a nightmare job to do. Any help is appreciated. By the way whats happens if I dont replace it? will the top not work anymore?
I think you’re gonna have to keep your eyes on eBay, unless you order from the dealer. I got parts from a company in England, but their websites not working right now for some reason.
Great video!! Could you share the link where I can buy the slider latch? Please
www.smart-stuff.parts/451-fortwo/451-exterior/451-roof/roof-451-fortwo/451-soft-top-sliding-roof-front-fasteners-to-a-pillar
This seems to be down does anyone know where I can order the slider latches from. I’m from North Carolina, thanks….
I know this video is older but can you please tell me where you found the slider latch? I’m looking for a replacement one online but can’t find it anywhere. And I’m based in the UK, seeing as you had yours sent from here I’m hopeful. Thanks. Also this video was a massive help
Let me look 👀
I can see at 10:00 you mentioned continuing the stitching, had you? Thank you
Yes, I went with canvas thread through all those holes, it worked great!👍
Hi friend. The top works in 2 phases. 1st from front to back. 2nd phase is dropping back. Mine refuses to go back anymore. Even more confusing, is that when getting into the car, upon accelerating, the top will start phase 1 and slide back without me pressing the button. What do you think?
That’s interesting, I would guess that the lock is not engaging and it is just pushing back the top from the wind. I don’t remember what it looks like in there. Does the switch work? When you push the button what does it do to hear noise?
i assume you figured out where the springs went (inside the pin in the bag, both sides)
Hours of enjoyment ;)
can you share the page where you bought the pieces please
www.smart-stuff.parts/451-fortwo/451-exterior/451-roof/roof-451-fortwo/451-soft-top-sliding-roof-front-fasteners-to-a-pillar
is it the same for 2008 and 2009?
If yours is a model 451 which would be from 2007 to 2015 then it should work.
I really don't know what model it is, I just know it's 2009, I just bought it last week.
@@christiancano9710 I would assume it’s the correct part
6:37 had you sewn the sunroof, and did it work? as I'm having the same issue with mine :s
Yes, I used matching canvas thread and hand stitched it tight. It really wasn’t noticeable because I did a constant pattern across the front.
2:32 my roof is broken want go up and down bought a use Convertible top but it still won’t work what do you think you’ll be the problem
First I would check power to the switch then to the motor
@@RealityUniverse I bought a new one of those I could be wrong but is there a modem for the roof top
I have the same issue can I pay you to fix mine?
Sorry, super busy with a bunch of projects. Possibly… if your in South Florida and not in a rush 😉. Once you take it apart a few times you will understand it better.
Did you end up keeping the car or are you parting it out?
I sold it for $2k :( I should have fixed it, people like the smart car videos!
Is it the same machenism like the 2002 model or not
Not sure, haven’t seen an earlier one
@@RealityUniverse its almoust exact the same but im also not sure, i mean the roof top, mine wont even open, the little roof sliders are working ,but roof doesnt come off, i need to figure it out by myself hot to fix it, because service is to expensive
Nice video. Did you make the next video on final fix to the sliding top mechanism? If so, I'm not sure how to find it, thanks.
Not yet, I blew it he head gasket somehow, trying to decide if I should fix it.
@@RealityUniverse Sorry to hear about the head gasket. My impression here is that your passenger side latch was somehow broken or detached from the drive cable, but your drive cables were still intact. Recently, out of the blue, there was a gap, as if my top wasn't fully closed, in the middle of winter. In my case the passenger side drive cable somehow forced a loop of itself out of the gap between the pillar track and the removeable roof rail track. Once jammed there, the motor wasn't strong enough to retrieve it. The drive cable is incredibly strong. So I've had to sever the drive cable in the gap, which freed the cable portion back to the motor. The remaining loop of drive cable is still jammed in that gap, mostly out of sight. When finally freed, I'll manually slide the top forward to latch both leading edges & secure the latches with pull-ties as you originally found the passenger side latch, until Spring, when it's warm enough to try to thread-in new drive cables. Your video is invaluable in showing how some of the parts of the drive mechanism works. Thanks for your efforts. Hope you'll do another cabrio top video if you tinker with it again.
The rails on the back side look 👀 tore up 🥴
Yea, that’s how I got it!
I especially like the part of the video where you’re 2 inches away and just keep shaking the video around so I can’t tell at all what I’m looking at
That was my favorite part too! 😁