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What do the three bars on the Smart Fortwo dashboard indicate?

Model: Smart Smart 451 - Years: 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Part: Dashboard

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When we see the three horizontal bars on the dashboard of our Smart, they indicate a fault or malfunction of the automatic transmission; in fact, it is the warning light for a problem in the transmission system. Sometimes simply stopping, waiting a few minutes and then restarting is enough; the bars disappear.

If the bars reappear after the restart, the reason may be a defect in the clutch actuator motor, which wears out over time. The problem could also be the clutch sensor, which does not correctly read the position; even a low level of transmission oil can generate this error.

But also a faulty wiring, an oxidized connector or a malfunction of the control unit itself can generate this error. When the three bars appear, the car enters emergency mode, so the performance becomes limited, the gears no longer engage correctly, until they become impossible.

It is necessary to take the car to a workshop and have the error codes read from the control unit.


Posted on 15 October 2025 by ScegliAuto


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