Haynes manual for Smart car - is it worth the money ?

Lao_Tzu

Username03725 said:

A Mk 2 Escort (and Cortina) or a Hillman Avenger were a doddle to work on, and a Haynes manual was very useful in that era. Modern cars are both a lot more reliable and when things do go wrong it's often not a DIY job to resolve it unless your own toolkit contains a lot of specific tools and electronic equipment. From my pov YouTube vids cover most of what's both reasonable and practical to attempt. Much beyond that and these days it's off to my tame mechanic to have it done properly. 

It's also a fact that the days of crawling under cars in the bitter cold are largely beyond me nowadays. The payoff between discomfort, effort and ability to fix a modern car, and the likely cost (and benefit to them) of getting my local independent to do it has swung quite a way in that direction tbh.

Have much good quality electronic equipment.

You Tube video good resource but some post twenty minute + video to show task that take half minute. Life too short at my age.

Our town only one garage. Only work on cars they sold. No want any other work - I ask. Either too lazy,  too rich, front business for illegal operation or simply bandit with enough victim ! Maybe all four !!

Keithy13

Look at  www.evilution.co.uk.
Every thing I needed when my OH had a Smart car. Some free but some require membership.

Lao_Tzu

Thank you.

Other person also suggest 'evilution'.

Looks good with many quality photo.

May risk surplus pension at evilution rather than Mr John Haynes book of secrets.

At evilution able see before spend.

Money hard to gain, even harder to retain.

Again - Thank you.

Norman_Castle

Is there a Smart owners forum? Its likely they can help with specific queries.  Libraries used to have Haynes manual, no idea if they offer digital versions.

Edit. https://www.google.com/search?q=smart+owners+forum

Lao_Tzu

Norman_Castle

Yes there are forums - mostly for post 2005 models as when began to be imported to United States. Mine is 2002. Some similarities with UK models - many differences.

Any information provided is of unknown value. Might be a genuine expert with access to factory data. Might be 'pub expert'. No way to differniate.

Haynes never publish paper copy of manual for Smart.

All manuals now online digital - i.e. paid for internet site. Unlikely public library will supply access to paid / premium online content.

Haynes want £30 before provide access

Customer (me) cannot examine product. No trial period / no money back guarantee period

Could be good or could be useless - i.e. "refer to main dealer" as often the case in past 40+ years experience with Haynes manual.

If Martin Lewis 'Money Saving' forum user has paid and read then perhaps they can advise - good / no good ?

£30 too much for gamble when living on pension.

Would rather risk £5 on horse in 3.20 at Cheltenham tomorrow - more likely to provide value for money.

knightstyle

Opp we have owned several Smart for2 cars and I have done lots of jobs on them, routine service, brake pads and front discs, rear shoes etc. but the engines are very hard to access for working on especially the post 2014 with Renault engines so I leave it to the experts.
By the way servicing plan costs £20 a month and you get annual breakdown recovery thrown in so IMO worth it.

Lao_Tzu

Agree - engine access very difficult. Just replaced crank position sensor this morning (and have sars to prove it !).

Only one garage in this town who refuse to work on car not sold by them.

Next nearest on induStrial estate - how one get home (and back to garage) from there with no car ?

DB1904

Lao_Tzu said:

Agree - engine access very difficult. Just replaced crank position sensor this morning (and have sars to prove it !).

Only one garage in this town who refuse to work on car not sold by them.

Next nearest on induStrial estate - how one get home (and back to garage) from there with no car ?

Bus, taxi, friend or family member giving you a lift.