451 – Reset The Service Indicator

For ALL 451 Fortwo Models

Please do not contact me saying they don’t work because they do if you do it right. Just doing everything in the right order isn’t enough, timing is very important.

Distance Or Time?

A service is due either after a certain distance or over a year, whichever comes first.

So, if you drive more than 10,000 miles a year, you’ll get the mileage/KM countdown. If you do less miles over the year, you’ll get a day countdown.

If you just see a number, the service is due in that amount of time/distance. However, if there is a – before the number, your service is overdue. However, there seems to be a confusion over which type is being shown.

Distance

If it’s a mileage or kilometre countdown, it will be shown in increments of 100. Also, when the number is shown there is a miles or KM logo next to it. (bit of a give away).

Days

If it’s a day countdown it will be shown in increments of 1 with no logo next to it.

On the 451 with the trip computer, it’s even more obvious.

Resetting The Service Indicator

Switch on the ignition to position 1.
Select maintenance indicator within 4 sec by double tapping the instrument cluster button.
Switch of the ignition to position 0 (off) within 10 sec.
Push and hold in the instrument cluster button and switch ignition on.
Hold the instrument cluster button for another 10sec.
In that time, the spanner symbol on the LCD will flash and eventually reset.

Make Sure

In some instances, people have found that double tapping the button doesn’t bring up the spanner icon(s).
If yours is one of the rare few that doesn’t, try 3 or even 4 presses to see if the spanner icon(s) appear.

Does It Work On….

Stop right there, the video states
“works on all smarts, button placement varies between models”. (except 453).
So if it’s a smart it will work. I really don’t need to make a video for each model do I? When the only difference is the position of 1 button!

It Doesn’t Work

Yes it does.

I Found It Worked If…

A few times a year I’ll get an email stating that they tried to reset their service indicator a hundred times and it didn’t work ….but…. when they did something slightly different, it worked 1st time.

I tried loads of times but it didn’t work but when I:

“Started the car’s engine instead of just switching to position 1, it worked”
“Walked clockwise around the car 3 times first, it worked”
“Prayed to the sun God Ra as I held down the button, it worked”
“Played Toto’s Africa on a kazoo, it worked”
“It didn’t reset unless I performed the steps whilst sporting a full erection”.

Seriously though, don’t email me with your variations. Your car isn’t unique. This method works.

Ok, Where Is The Button On My Smart?

Right, that’s a more sensible question.

451 Fortwo

Service Reset Myths

Every now and then I get someone tell me some new bit of info about reseting the service light.
It’s usually because they tried the method incorrectly a few times and couldn’t get it to work. Then they read it properly, tried something different during or before resetting the counter and it worked, they now believe that is the “secret sauce” for making the service counter reset. The actual reason is that the practice they had before helped them finally do it properly or the previous failures made them read the instructions again.

Myth 1 – The doors must be closed to reset the service counter.
Proved wrong

Myth 2 – You can reset a “1 spanner” service but not “2 spanners”. You’ll need MB Star for that.
Proved wrong

Myth 3 – The car has to be in reverse to reset the service counter.
Proved wrong

Myth 4 – You can only reset the service indicator after doing 2000 miles from the last reset. Not sure on this one, why would you want to?

Smart 451 ED

Yes, it still works, even on the electric drive ED 451. Thanks to Darren W for the confirmation.

Important Info

Please remember to get your car serviced properly, resetting the light doesn’t mean your car has been serviced and you won’t fool anybody when you come to sell it. I have only posted it here because there are a few unscrupulous rip off merchants attempting to sell this info on EBay. Don’t fund these cretins.

I Have Lost My Button

452 – Not available separately

Credits

Jacqui J for the “days countdown” photo
Ben C for the “miles countdown” photo