The SMART car transmission is unlike any ordinary 5 or 6-speed automatic. It is an automated manual gearbox. Which means the vehicle can be driven as a manual or automatic at the flick of a button. The vehicle does not have a clutch pedal and instead operates on sensors and ECU’s.
The system consists of a clutch actuator assembly, a gear shift actuator assembly, and a gearbox ECU. Each of the actuators will also have position sensors. Which sends signals back to the gearbox ECU to determine which gear the vehicle is in or what position the clutch is in. This information along with vehicle speed and other parameters will be used by the gearbox ECU. To calculate the required gear, when the next gear change should take place and when to engage/disengage the clutch.
As many SMART car owners are already aware, this design has many faults and can render the vehicle completely un-drivable.
Common Clutch + Gear Actuator Problems
When the clutch and gear actuators fail on the Mercedes Smart car. It doesn’t always give the same symptom. Below we’ve listed the most common fault symptoms we are aware of so far:
- 3 Bars / Lines Appearing on Gear Change Box
- Slipping Out of Gears
- Getting Stuck in Neutral
- Failing to Select Gears
If your clutch or gear actuator has failed, then you may already be aware of exactly how much it can cost to replace the unit. Each actuator is coded to the vehicle and can cost upwards of £700+Vat each to replace with coding. Furthermore, the replacement unit will only come with a standard 12-month warranty and being that it is such a common failing part, it doesn’t give much confidence that the problem won’t re-occur.
We receive clutch & gear actuators for repair on a daily basis for the following vehicles:
- Smart City
- Smart ForTwo
- Smart ForFour
- Smart Roadster
We have also compiled a short list of part numbers associated to the failing clutch & gear actuator units. Note: this is not a complete list of part numbers, only the most common part numbers we frequently see in our workshops are listed.
| Partnumbers | Partnumbers |
|---|---|
| 000 3226 V011 | 01 3981 007 101 |
| 000 3226 V012 | 01 3981 000 022 |
| 000 3226 V014 | 01 3981 000 066 |
| 000 3226 V016 | 01 3981 000 070 |
| A 451 250 00 62 | A 454 257 05 79 |
My Mercedes Smart Car Actuator is Faulty – How Can SINSPEED Help Me?
We specialise in the testing and repair of clutch + gear actuator units, not just for Smart cars but for all vehicle makes and models where the vehicles gearbox is controlled by electronic actuators. We’re able to fully bench test and repair the Smart car clutch actuator and gear actuator units. We use new genuine OEM parts when repairing the actuators to ensure each and every repaired clutch/gear actuator meets and exceeds OE specifications.
The repaired actuators will be returned to you with a Lifetime warranty for complete peace of mind and will not require re-coding when fitting back to the vehicle – simply plug & play!
If you have a Mercedes Smart Car with a clutch or gear actuator fault then give us a call today on 0203 815 9441.
Ajaz is a seasoned automotive electronics engineer with deep expertise in remanufacturing vehicle electronics. He has developed skills in all areas of the automotive field, from rebuilding hydraulic steering components, and mechanical gearboxes and reworking intricate vehicle electronics. Ajaz also acquired Bodyteq, a London-based vehicle bodyshop where he has developed extensive knowledge in automotive refinishing.
Alongside his automotive career, Ajaz has built a career in the IT industry, gaining accredited certification as an AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner, Cloud Architect, and Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) specialist.
Hi I need your help to repair my forfour actuator can I talk to you through skype
Hello Modest,
Thank you for your enquiry,
I have just sent over an email now with pricing and further information regarding a clutch actuator for your Forfor.
Kind Regards,
Jason
Sinspeed
Hi, could you get me a price actuator on reg lt58***.
Thanks
Hi Soyeb
Thanks for the enquiry,
We’ve sent you an email with full pricing and information.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
A 451 250 00 62. My mechanic says the worm drive is broken and of course the new part is over the top expensive. In Australia the Consumer laws are very generous and mean a manufacturers warranty does not end. Mine broke at only 52,000 kms so I am going to attempt to have Mercedes replace it under warranty. Can I ask a can I ask a favour please that is can you offer an opinion as to whether this part has failed prematurely thank You.
Hi Andrew
Thanks for the enquiry,
We have seen the worm gear snap on Citroen units but it is quite rare that we see this fault on Smart Car actuators – that’s not to say it doesn’t happen but just that our customers do not generally send them to us when they have a broken worm gear shaft.
We have sent you an email with some further information.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Hi suspect faulty Actuator clutch, is there any test i can do with it in situ to confirm its faulty? I have the dreaded 3 bars on dash showing also please confirm Price for repair?
Hi Wayne
Thanks for the enquiry,
We don’t have any tests available in situ but we do offer bench testing and repair facilities. We’ve sent you an email with full pricing and information about these services.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
dropped my car smart forfour at garage today,wont go into gear,and before hand would jerk uncontrolably? AA gave me these codes p1831 p1862 p1710 p1830 p1941 and p1842 though did say any one could prompt the rest to light up, if you think my actuator is at fault would you please quote me a price. thanks.
Hi Ron
Thanks for the enquiry,
We would recommend getting the actuators tested to rule them out, although I do suspect there will be an actuator fault because it is so common. We’ve sent you an email with full pricing and information for the test and repair of your clutch & gear actuators.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
hello. i have a clutch actuaror foulty on my smart forfour how much it will cost me to changed or repair if is possible? thank you
Hi Sergentu
Thanks for the enquiry,
We’ve sent you an email with full pricing and information to repair the clutch actuator from your Smart ForFour.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Good Day. My son’s 55 plate FourFor has stopped selecting gears, with just a blank display. From what I have read, this is likely to be the acuator. Could you please let me have prices for testing and replacement of said actuator.
Many thanks
Phil Bowman
Hi Phil
Thanks for the enquiry,
This fault could be caused by either of the actuators (clutch actuator or gear actuator) and so we would recommend sending both in, to be tested together. We’ve sent you an email with full pricing and information.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
My 58 smart fortwo will not go into gear. Had the 3 lines show up on dash and now when i try to select a gear the n just flashes do u think it could be an electrical fault or something more serious like the gearbox malfunctioning?
Hi Liam
Thanks for the enquiry, and many apologies for the delay in getting back to you.
We’ve sent you an email with full pricing and information to repair the clutch actuator from your Smart ForTwo.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Hi
Has the 3 line bar and car cut out whilst driving.
Green Flag seem to think gearbox but sounds like actuator.
Could you email me some prices if possible please
Many Thanks
Jay
Hello Jay,
Thank you for your enquiry
This sounds like a common actuator fault, and we have sent over an email now with further information and pricing.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED
Hi
I have a 59 plate smart diesel, car wont select gear get stuck in neutral and judders like mad and selects reverse gear very hash. Help me please. Thanks
Hi Andre,
Thanks for the enquiry, and many apologies for the delay in getting back to you.
We’ve sent over an email now with full pricing and information regarding the repair options we offer.
Kind Regards
Jason
SINSPEED