Retrofitting Auto Wipers To The 453 This is a 2 part retrofit. First you have to fit a new wiper stalk, click here. You can't just use any old wiper stalk, it must have the word "auto" on it. Luckily, all 453 models already have the light/rain sensor installed from...
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453 Battery Removal
On the 453, the battery is under the bonnet (hood), unlike the previous fortwo models. I have attached a Ctek trickle charger lead to my battery. You won't have these cables. On the negative side, you can either remove the 10mm nut and remove the earth cable and then...
453 Belt Change
Post yourself under the car on the right hand side. You'll see a cover that partially covers the crankshaft pulley. This sucker has got to go. Grab yourself a 10mm socket and take out all of the bolts that hold the cover to the engine. Get off the floor (make all of...
453 Bonnet Lock
Despite being in the manual, very few people know that you can lock the bonnet/hood on the 453. Look at the front of the car, over to the nearside, you'll see a hole. Put your key into the hole (it won't go in very far) and use the key to lever this cover out. It can...
453 Bonnet Panel Removal
Look in the front grill and you'll see a lever on each side. Pull the both forwards. You'll notice the bonnet panel move slightly. Pull the panel forwards... ...and lift the panel from the car. It will hang safely from straps on the front of the...
453 Boot Hatch Removal
Official Method Remove the boot panel to reveal the inner gubbins. (that'll confuse non English speakers). Look bottom left and you'll see an electrical connector, disconnect it. Push the rubber conduit grommet through the panel. Remove the straps from either side...
453 Boot Panel Removal
Press the button on the handle and open the glass hatch. Lift the handle to release the lower section of the boot. Remove the boot catch cover by lifting and pulling. These fall off with the slightest touch so you've probably accidentally removed this part before....
453 Brake Disc Change
Want to change your discs? Want to fit better discs? Loosen the wheel bolts, jack the car up and remove the wheel. Look around the back of the caliper... ...and you'll find a pair of 18mm bolts, remove these. (105Nm on refitting). The caliper can now move out of the...
453 Brake Drum Removal
Loosen the wheel nuts, jack up the car and remove the wheel. The drum is held on with 2x Torx40 screws. Remove them both. You may have to pull the handbrake on hard to stop the drum spinning. Chog the front wheels and then release the handbrake. The drum should then...
453 Brake Hose Replacement
Over time, flexible brake hoses relax and and can swell when the brake pedal is pushed. What you need is steel braided brake hoses to replace the standard ones. Some poorly informed people will tell you that braided brake hoses are a waste of time because the...
453 Brake Light Failure
My Brake Lights Don't Work! This is becoming a new common problem on the 453 and it's sometimes not you think it is. The issue is that you rarely notice your brake lights aren't working until you miserably fail your vehicle inspection. Because you don't notice brake...
453 Brake Light Switch Removal
Look up underneath the dashboard at the top of the brake pedal. Twist it a quarter turn anticlockwise and... ...it'll pop up out fo the bracket. Disconnect the electrical connection and that's it. Movie Time x
453 Brake Pad Change
Loosen the wheel bolts, jack the car up and remove the wheel to reveal the calliper. First we need to remove the spring clip. Use a flat blade screwdriver to lever 1 end out of the hole. The clip will ping. Go and find it if it's not embedded in your eye. Reach...
453 Bulkhead Wiring
So, you want to run a cable either from inside the car to the outside or from the outside to the inside? This page covers both the petrol and the EQ models. The main wiring harness goes through the bulkhead near the middle. There's no good access on either side. So we...
453 Buyers Guide
453 Fortwo & Forfour Buyer's Guide Manual Gearbox Or Auto Gearbox? Manual The manual gearbox isn't very nice and the clutch has a shit feel to it. It's very high on mine and there's no adjustment. I found the manual gear change to be a bit notchy and the gear...
453 Cabin Fan Removal
Post yourself under the dashboard in the nearside footwell. Look up and towards the centre console. There's the fan. Disconnect the electrical connector by squeezing the 2 tabs and pulling the plug out. Look at 2'o'clock on the fan housing and you'll see a Torx20...
453 Cabin Pollen Filter
Remove the footwell block that holds the puncture repair kit. Click. You'll notice a little peek-a-boo hole in the carpet behind the centre console. The bottom of the cover flap has a plastic tab. Pull it towards the back of the car slightly to unclip it. Pull the...
453 Coolant Specs
Smart 453 Petrol Pre-Mixed Coolant (MB326.6) Product Name Manufacturer ALLIANCE PRIMECOOL GP P-40 Mercedes-Benz Pty. Ltd. /Australia, Victoria, Mulgrave/AUSTRALIA Antigel YORK 813 MOTOREX AG, Langenthal/Schweiz AVIATICON Finkofreeze F40 RM 50:50 Finke Mineralölwerk...
453 Cornering Lights
Start DDT4All Read the installation and starting guide here. Coding Cornering Lights In the 2nd box down on the left, select EMM_EDISON_DDT2000 In the 3rd box down on the left, scroll down to EMM_Cornering, click the + to expand the option. Click on...
453 Courtesy Light
The front interior courtesy light has 3 bulbs. They are dim and pointless. Jam a flat blade screwdriver in and lever the diffuser down. The clips easily let go and the diffuser with drop down. Look up and you'll see the 3 bulbs. The bulbs just pull straight down to...