I found your video because my smart broke down coming off the motorway. It would not go into gear at all. I disconnected the battery and tapped the Sam unit, the car eventually started and went into gear and we made it home. It's obvious to me that it is probably a Sam unit problem. When I turned the ignition off, the display remained visible, which is why I disconnected the battery. I'm not looking forward to it, but looks like I will take the unit out and examine it for bad joints. I've done a bit of soldering and repaired a few phones thanks to YT videos. So I've got my fingers crossed.
Very interesting, great job. At first I thought you had the same fault I had, I got stuck away from home with no gears (in neutral), and then not even engine start after a few trys. Needed the RAC to get carried home. My codes were to do with clutch position circuit malfunction and clutch actuator open circuit. Managed to bolt on a new actuator I ordered online and it worked I could drive again. Fault codes would not stay erased and engine/transmission light would come on. I asked a specialist to relearn/calibrate my clutch and clear the codes, and that worked. But I think the position I bolted the actuator on is not perfect the gears are slower and more clunky than before, so even though clutch is learned its not mechanically ideal. I didnt ask for it to be realligned. I'm just happy I can drive. I have the newer instrument panel dash I think I dont get those 3 lines when there is a fault? It just flashed the N for me (and engine fault light). I think the older 451 might give the 3 lines if they have the same fault as mine did perhaps? Do spare SAM swap over or are they custom to the car for security? I don't imagine I would ever do any soldering but I can see me giving one to an electrical person to resolder if I knew I had a possible bad SAM.
These are great videos; very informative! Yes the fortwo really are a technician's car. Working on hillman imps or mini minor for two decades will prepare anyone for the smartcar. My 450 has been great and is now at 220,000km. After three non affective SAM missions I am now comfortable just giving it a tap when the car randomly stops; it instantly springs back to life like a starwars droid... I am of the opinion it is actually a faulty relay in the SAM causing the issue. To protect from water ingress just place a piece of soft clear plastic across the SAM and clip it back in place. The 450 engines are bullet proof once the chain tensioner guide is secured to the backing carrier with rivets. Hillman imps had exactly same problem.
This is basically like Chrysler's TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) . It does the same function. And they both can fail in the same ways. One good thing about the SAM boards, there are no "hot" spots from components that get really warm.
Yanked it, thanks for the steps, and did inspection. It looked great, 0 cold joints. Reflowed the whole thing anyway. I’m an old solder tech from the 90s haha. Will find out if it worked tomorrow. Next step is clutch replacement (known good actuator). Thanks again!
Great video! It's been super helpful. Just a heads up, be aware of potential desync between your key fob and the immobiliser when you reinstall the battery. Hopefully it won't happen to anyone else but me😅 Please keep making such helpful content 😊
Fantastic video, I own a 2005 CDI and that SAM looks very similar to mine...Hmmm..? PLUS, coming from Canada, I've never seen a completely rust free smart floor panels! Wow!! Keep up the great work.
Great Video. As an Ambitious, Smart Car "To-Be" owner, I am quite weary of joining the journey of ownership. Like your channel, there are several other channels where people film the purchase all the way through 20+ more videos on what to repair. I realize that this is not a "set it and forget it" reliable automobile and I can do the basics under the hood. I need to make sure that this purchase is worth while for someone who is not a mechanic, not rich and not located within a community where Smart Mechanics are readily available. I would appreciate insight as I have grown jealous and want to be just like you! (Mostly)
@@ModeratelySpeaking I’m laughing at the ‘(mostly)’ 🤣 Seriously though, they are usually not just a ‘service once a year and drive’ kind of car. Things do happen and we have to consider that the 451 is an old car now. That said, you could learn a lot from attempting your own maintenance, if you have the skill, tools etc. Even those in the trade are sometimes wary of these cars but once you get used to them it’s just like any other car really, once the panels are off and you can see what you are dealing with.
Traffic lamps! Very clever. If you suspected it was the SAM , I wonder if you could have given it a few taps to see if that would have intermittently corrected the problem.
100% agree 👍🏽 I’ve just found you auto knight and what a find 👍🏽 I have a 2014 cabriolet cdi 451 which I’ve had from new & love 🚗 including the “dumper truck” engine noise 😂 and she’s fast…👌🏽. Q are you ex BCAL 🤔.
Hola disculpas por la molestia que puede ser que se disparara la alarma esto sucedió después de descontar la batería por problemas de cable sulfatado gracias Daniel
Thanks for the video, it's great information....I have a 2014 Smart Fortwo 451 ..... keyless system working buy key won't start the car and key sign on in dash ....I did a scan by Autel and found a couple errors ... 1- B11F0 The message from control unit SAM is not available on the CAN BUS ...2- C1312 CAN communication with module 10/10 SAM is faulty...3- C1301 short circuit or open circuit of CAN wire ...4- C1446 communication fault with Yaw Rate Sensor. I checked already CAN ohm and voltage and short to ground all was good. I think I must open SAM model and check soldering spots. Can you please advise
Hi, thanks for the video. I have a question, on my 2003 smart fortwo, the right turn signals don't work, nor on the screen when I activate the commodo but the left one works... the right one only works when I press the distress button. I've changed the switch but nothing's changed... do you think it's coming from this box? If it's coming from the box, what is the relay or circuit for the turn signals, do you know please?
My car is running normally and the gears are shifting smoothly (I lubricated the clutch actuator well) but whenever I press kickdown my car turns on the malfunction light, when I look at the error codes p2128 and 2138 appear, I don't understand what I should do. 2007 451 turbo 84ps
Thanks for doing the 451 videos, I have a 2008 also and your videos have been most helpful. I'm currently having key FOB problems. Not sure if the problem is the SAM or just a bad Key FOB, do you have any information about reprogramming the FOB if I purchase new ones from an after market parts house.
@@stephenjones271 You’d need MB star diagnostic equip or another capable of such coding. I’m always wary of such aftermarket keys and prefer genuine. If it’s the remote locking element of the key at fault, often the new batteries come with a coating that can prevent effective conductivity. I’ve had that and had to clean the surface of the battery carefully first.
None that I know, short of fabricating some kind of shield. Trick is to ensure there is no water ingress to the interior in the first place, then the SAM will remain forever dry but still not immune to poor solder joints!
The three line error can also be a result of fitting the wrong tail light bulbs! I’ve had two of these Smart cars and one was perfectly reliable and the other was a nightmare. My tip for opening the SAM and bending back the flexi circuits is to heat it all up well with a hair dryer, it’s less likely to break if it’s warmed up. The lead free solder used on these was poor quality, and coupled with a lack of good mechanical connection it’s only a matter of time before they fail.. to be fair the Ford Focus from 2007 or so onwards has identical issues in the instrument cluster.
Is just replacing the SAM unit altogether a simple plug & play fix? Or is it more complicated than that? Looking at doing this on a US spec '08, so I'd just make sure it's the same year and what not.
@@Ultravox5600 These are coded to the car and paired with other ECUs so definitely not plug and play. Sometimes you see a whole bunch of parts sold on eBay as matched components for fitting but then technically your vehicle would have the incorrect details if you read the ECU. This seems to not bother some people!
Fantastic video, no nonsense 👍 my wife just bought a 2008 Smart Fortwo and thought it was ok but didn’t check the hazard lights when I did a function test, tested last night and the hazards don’t work!! I’m guessing the SAM solder joints could cause this or is there a quick way to check ?
Would need to carry out electrical checks with a wiring diagram and multimeter first before going for the SAM. Could be something as simple as the switch which would be the best scenario, as that centre switch unit pulls out as one complete unit and would be simple.
I have a smart for two 2004. Lately after i took it for service, the car stops while driving or waiting for too long in traffic. At whiles it switches off then restarts on its own. Lately it shuts off while driving 😢. I've taken it to several mechanics, unfortunately no one seems to fix the issue. Can anyone suggest what could be wrong with it.. The constant ongoing issues and repairs are becoming quite stressful..
@@guitargodbynameofbob The issue with that car turned out to be the gear shifter motor unit. What started as an intermittent fault progressed to total failure. There are videos on my channel detailing this if you are interested!
also side note, now i know why there was a random 45 degree pipe piece kicking around in my battery compartment.. battery vent! i'll have to nosey in there and see whats going on with the vent pipe. its a good job i love projects, what with so many meddling fingers apparently never doing things right 😬
Haha! To be fair, some of my videos are just routine maintenance but all the faults are very common on these cars and are jobs that most of these cars will need at some point. These cars do need quite a lot of attention and from someone who understands them.
I am a mechanic and some of my proudest moments are cheating the manufacturer out of my customer’s money by making repairs instead of replacing expensive parts.
And the moral to the story is!!! Don’t ever buy one of these spine shattering crap cars, if you don’t want to spend your life dealing with its multiple design flaws and build quality issues! It will DEFINITELY spend more time off the road than on it! ‘CRAP’😡
These little cars would have been so great if they were properly designed and given a proper gear box and a little more jam. They would have also been wise to offer a cable activated four wheel drive option. They should have also made little smart trucks. I loved driving my smart car but it was nothing but problems. It's a lawn ornament until one day when I get ambitious enough to give it a engine swap and redesign with some modifications to the suspension and chasis.
![I.N "HALLUCINATION" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/n5B5q1Hwt_U/mqdefault.jpg)
Great video. As usual. Thanks for building the encyclopedia for our 451s. This makes them a durable vehicle we will enjoy longer!
I found your video because my smart broke down coming off the motorway. It would not go into gear at all. I disconnected the battery and tapped the Sam unit, the car eventually started and went into gear and we made it home.
It's obvious to me that it is probably a Sam unit problem.
When I turned the ignition off, the display remained visible, which is why I disconnected the battery.
I'm not looking forward to it, but looks like I will take the unit out and examine it for bad joints.
I've done a bit of soldering and repaired a few phones thanks to YT videos.
So I've got my fingers crossed.
Very interesting, great job.
At first I thought you had the same fault I had, I got stuck away from home with no gears (in neutral), and then not even engine start after a few trys. Needed the RAC to get carried home. My codes were to do with clutch position circuit malfunction and clutch actuator open circuit.
Managed to bolt on a new actuator I ordered online and it worked I could drive again. Fault codes would not stay erased and engine/transmission light would come on. I asked a specialist to relearn/calibrate my clutch and clear the codes, and that worked. But I think the position I bolted the actuator on is not perfect the gears are slower and more clunky than before, so even though clutch is learned its not mechanically ideal. I didnt ask for it to be realligned. I'm just happy I can drive.
I have the newer instrument panel dash I think I dont get those 3 lines when there is a fault? It just flashed the N for me (and engine fault light). I think the older 451 might give the 3 lines if they have the same fault as mine did perhaps?
Do spare SAM swap over or are they custom to the car for security?
I don't imagine I would ever do any soldering but I can see me giving one to an electrical person to resolder if I knew I had a possible bad SAM.
These are great videos; very informative! Yes the fortwo really are a technician's car. Working on hillman imps or mini minor for two decades will prepare anyone for the smartcar.
My 450 has been great and is now at 220,000km. After three non affective SAM missions I am now comfortable just giving it a tap when the car randomly stops; it instantly springs back to life like a starwars droid... I am of the opinion it is actually a faulty relay in the SAM causing the issue.
To protect from water ingress just place a piece of soft clear plastic across the SAM and clip it back in place.
The 450 engines are bullet proof once the chain tensioner guide is secured to the backing carrier with rivets. Hillman imps had exactly same problem.
Nice job! Mine still behaves, but good to know there's a good video documentation about it. Best Regards!
It’s always great watching you go through the problems so clear and knowledgeable. Great video again
I'm really surprised that so many joints had failed/were failing. Excellent walk through and repair. Valuable contribution. 👍
Lead free solder, the heating/cooling and vibrations cause the breaks.
@@bobsoft Yep, if in any doubt re-solder all the joints with real solder
I don't know yet, but it's possible this video has saved my car, all the way in California. Big thanks for making it.
Fingers crossed. I’d definitely be interested in an update after you’ve tested the car!
One of the best instructional videos I have seen. ( you even put it all back again) Thanks
This is basically like Chrysler's TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) . It does the same function. And they both can fail in the same ways. One good thing about the SAM boards, there are no "hot" spots from components that get really warm.
Yanked it, thanks for the steps, and did inspection. It looked great, 0 cold joints. Reflowed the whole thing anyway. I’m an old solder tech from the 90s haha. Will find out if it worked tomorrow. Next step is clutch replacement (known good actuator). Thanks again!
Would you consider posting the wiring diagram you used to check all the connections in the SAM?
Great video! It's been super helpful. Just a heads up, be aware of potential desync between your key fob and the immobiliser when you reinstall the battery. Hopefully it won't happen to anyone else but me😅
Please keep making such helpful content 😊
Fantastic video, I own a 2005 CDI and that SAM looks very similar to mine...Hmmm..? PLUS, coming from Canada, I've never seen a completely rust free smart floor panels! Wow!!
Keep up the great work.
Great Video. As an Ambitious, Smart Car "To-Be" owner, I am quite weary of joining the journey of ownership. Like your channel, there are several other channels where people film the purchase all the way through 20+ more videos on what to repair. I realize that this is not a "set it and forget it" reliable automobile and I can do the basics under the hood. I need to make sure that this purchase is worth while for someone who is not a mechanic, not rich and not located within a community where Smart Mechanics are readily available.
I would appreciate insight as I have grown jealous and want to be just like you! (Mostly)
@@ModeratelySpeaking I’m laughing at the ‘(mostly)’ 🤣
Seriously though, they are usually not just a ‘service once a year and drive’ kind of car. Things do happen and we have to consider that the 451 is an old car now. That said, you could learn a lot from attempting your own maintenance, if you have the skill, tools etc. Even those in the trade are sometimes wary of these cars but once you get used to them it’s just like any other car really, once the panels are off and you can see what you are dealing with.
Finally some smart content again, cheers, mate!
Vielen Dank für dieses interessante und sehr hilfreiche Video!
Beste Grüße, Jürgen
Traffic lamps! Very clever. If you suspected it was the SAM , I wonder if you could have given it a few taps to see if that would have intermittently corrected the problem.
Your channel is pure gold!
Thank you - your feedback is really appreciated!
100% agree 👍🏽 I’ve just found you auto knight and what a find 👍🏽 I have a 2014 cabriolet cdi 451 which I’ve had from new & love 🚗 including the “dumper truck” engine noise 😂 and she’s fast…👌🏽. Q are you ex BCAL 🤔.
Hi I’m in California and I think my car has this problem. Thank you for the video
Excellent video I think you diagnosed my problem in my 2013 smart
Hola disculpas por la molestia que puede ser que se disparara la alarma esto sucedió después de descontar la batería por problemas de cable sulfatado gracias Daniel
Thanks for the video, it's great information....I have a 2014 Smart Fortwo 451 ..... keyless system working buy key won't start the car and key sign on in dash ....I did a scan by Autel and found a couple errors ... 1- B11F0 The message from control unit SAM is not available on the CAN BUS ...2- C1312 CAN communication with module 10/10 SAM is faulty...3- C1301 short circuit or open circuit of CAN wire ...4- C1446 communication fault with Yaw Rate Sensor.
I checked already CAN ohm and voltage and short to ground all was good. I think I must open SAM model and check soldering spots.
Can you please advise
Hi, thanks for the video. I have a question, on my 2003 smart fortwo, the right turn signals don't work, nor on the screen when I activate the commodo but the left one works... the right one only works when I press the distress button. I've changed the switch but nothing's changed... do you think it's coming from this box? If it's coming from the box, what is the relay or circuit for the turn signals, do you know please?
Awesome video, thanks for recording all the details.
Can you make a video about installing a remote start on a 451 with factory alarm 🚨
Fantastic video. Hope I never have to touch the dam in mine but good to have a walk through vid👍👍
really good video thank you so much for the information. greetings from italy
My car is running normally and the gears are shifting smoothly (I lubricated the clutch actuator well) but whenever I press kickdown my car turns on the malfunction light, when I look at the error codes p2128 and 2138 appear, I don't understand what I should do. 2007 451 turbo 84ps
Great Video! Cheers
Very helpful.
Many thanks.
Hi. Can you tell me where or what is responsible for the horn or its absence at the moment?? or which relay is responsible for the horn
Thanks for doing the 451 videos, I have a 2008 also and your videos have been most helpful. I'm currently having key FOB problems. Not sure if the problem is the SAM or just a bad Key FOB, do you have any information about reprogramming the FOB if I purchase new ones from an after market parts house.
@@stephenjones271 You’d need MB star diagnostic equip or another capable of such coding. I’m always wary of such aftermarket keys and prefer genuine.
If it’s the remote locking element of the key at fault, often the new batteries come with a coating that can prevent effective conductivity. I’ve had that and had to clean the surface of the battery carefully first.
Good work my man!👍🏻
You should talk to S2 smart about your 3bar problems, I find them very helpful
Is there any way of protecting the SAM from water ingress ?
None that I know, short of fabricating some kind of shield. Trick is to ensure there is no water ingress to the interior in the first place, then the SAM will remain forever dry but still not immune to poor solder joints!
Hi. Could you write where the path to the horn is?
The three line error can also be a result of fitting the wrong tail light bulbs! I’ve had two of these Smart cars and one was perfectly reliable and the other was a nightmare. My tip for opening the SAM and bending back the flexi circuits is to heat it all up well with a hair dryer, it’s less likely to break if it’s warmed up. The lead free solder used on these was poor quality, and coupled with a lack of good mechanical connection it’s only a matter of time before they fail.. to be fair the Ford Focus from 2007 or so onwards has identical issues in the instrument cluster.
Is just replacing the SAM unit altogether a simple plug & play fix? Or is it more complicated than that? Looking at doing this on a US spec '08, so I'd just make sure it's the same year and what not.
@@Ultravox5600 These are coded to the car and paired with other ECUs so definitely not plug and play.
Sometimes you see a whole bunch of parts sold on eBay as matched components for fitting but then technically your vehicle would have the incorrect details if you read the ECU. This seems to not bother some people!
@@autoknight747 very interesting, thank you!
Fantastic video, no nonsense 👍 my wife just bought a 2008 Smart Fortwo and thought it was ok but didn’t check the hazard lights when I did a function test, tested last night and the hazards don’t work!! I’m guessing the SAM solder joints could cause this or is there a quick way to check ?
Would need to carry out electrical checks with a wiring diagram and multimeter first before going for the SAM. Could be something as simple as the switch which would be the best scenario, as that centre switch unit pulls out as one complete unit and would be simple.
Thank you, great video.
I do like how the European version of the gage cluster has a temperature display,
the North American ones do not.
The temperature gauge was unfortunately removed from later European cars but the earlier 451 models had it!
I have a smart for two 2004. Lately after i took it for service, the car stops while driving or waiting for too long in traffic. At whiles it switches off then restarts on its own. Lately it shuts off while driving 😢. I've taken it to several mechanics, unfortunately no one seems to fix the issue.
Can anyone suggest what could be wrong with it.. The constant ongoing issues and repairs are becoming quite stressful..
I had very similar on a 450 and the wiring loom had worn through on the intercooler scoop.
Thanks. I'll be doing that next week.
So....Did it fix the problem in the long run?
a year on, has this been the remedy? I'm having issues in my new to me 450 Brabus, by all accounts its the SAM unit i need to look at
@@guitargodbynameofbob The issue with that car turned out to be the gear shifter motor unit. What started as an intermittent fault progressed to total failure. There are videos on my channel detailing this if you are interested!
Really useful video. I'm having similar issues with my roadster. Has this cured the 3 line fault?
Sadly not. Update video coming later today, once edited.
wonderful information, great content as always! now im pre armed incase i ever get this error 😂😂
also side note, now i know why there was a random 45 degree pipe piece kicking around in my battery compartment.. battery vent! i'll have to nosey in there and see whats going on with the vent pipe. its a good job i love projects, what with so many meddling fingers apparently never doing things right 😬
useful ....Thank you very much.😀
Thanks really helpful video
Wow - nice job!
Going to possibly buy a smart with low miles today all being well as a shopping trolley instead of relying on the Toyota Vellfire 3.5 V6 petrol.
How did you fit in there with the seat... lol... I have to pull mine out and its not comfortable... lmao
Kneeling on the ground and twisted round with my head under the dashboard. It wasn’t comfortable!
"a zeee unit?' or a zed unit?
Zentrale Einschub Elektrik = ZEE
Yup
While all disconnected I would have bled off charges to clear the codes
How did u buy a smart with so many problems xD
Haha! To be fair, some of my videos are just routine maintenance but all the faults are very common on these cars and are jobs that most of these cars will need at some point. These cars do need quite a lot of attention and from someone who understands them.
Ah . . . As long as you have contact cleaner . . . blades on all the fuses
Some of my proudest moments in my life have been when I cheated a mechanic out of MY money 😊
I am a mechanic and some of my proudest moments are cheating the manufacturer out of my customer’s money by making repairs instead of replacing expensive parts.
And the moral to the story is!!!
Don’t ever buy one of these spine shattering crap cars, if you don’t want to spend your life dealing with its multiple design flaws and build quality issues!
It will DEFINITELY spend more time off the road than on it!
‘CRAP’😡
These little cars would have been so great if they were properly designed and given a proper gear box and a little more jam. They would have also been wise to offer a cable activated four wheel drive option. They should have also made little smart trucks. I loved driving my smart car but it was nothing but problems. It's a lawn ornament until one day when I get ambitious enough to give it a engine swap and redesign with some modifications to the suspension and chasis.