# My Engine is Crinkling **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** smart, fortwo\ **Created:** [May 24, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275 "2017-05-24T01:24:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mcmullen.robert](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcmullen.robert/32/7485_2.png) [@mcmullen.robert](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcmullen.robert)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 1:24am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/1 "2017-05-24T01:24:40Z")
Dear Anyone…, I have a smart Car issue. I was hit by a car last December. I had all the repairs done to it, but I noticed a “crinkly” sound coming from the engine. It only happens when I accelerate. Now, this only happens after I leave it sit for a day or two or more. However, this sound goes away after I have driven it above 35 MPH (70 KMPH). I really need some help to tell the smart Dealer what is wrong with my car, because I had it looked at two times by a local Chevy dealership and one time by the smart Dealership, and they both couldn’t replicate the noise. HELP! Thanks for you time reading this, and I wish you the best of luck trying to figure it out!!! Sincerely, Robert Mc. ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 1:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/2 "2017-05-24T01:37:09Z")
I don’t know what a “crinkling” noise sounds like. I can only suggest to track and write down each time it occurs and under what circumstances. Warm, cold, only at startup or for lengthy periods of time, while driving or not driving…etc, etc. Go back to the dealer with that list and ask them to check again. Offer to leave your car for several days if needed to duplicate and resolve the noise issue. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 1:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/3 "2017-05-24T01:39:51Z")
I think you are going to have problems getting a good answer. Crinkly sound ?? While it might be harmless but clicking on your icon shows what may be your full name and what town you live in. I would remove the town if it was me. ---
**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/4 "2017-05-24T01:40:46Z")
I also have no Idea what a crinkly noise is but am curious about why you took your Smart car to a Chevy dealer? ---
**Author:** ![mcmullen.robert](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcmullen.robert/32/7485_2.png) [@mcmullen.robert](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcmullen.robert)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 2:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/5 "2017-05-24T02:11:51Z")
Because the smart Dealer is two hours away… That’s why. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![mcmullen.robert](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcmullen.robert/32/7485_2.png) [@mcmullen.robert](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcmullen.robert)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/6 "2017-05-24T02:12:57Z")
It is like when you take a piece of paper and squish it into a ball that is what crinkly sound sounds like. I will take your advice. Thanks!!! ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/7 "2017-05-24T03:27:55Z")
I have heard some people describe mild pinging as “crinkly.” Does the noise come back after you slow below 35 and then accelerate again? ---
**Author:** ![mcmullen.robert](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mcmullen.robert/32/7485_2.png) [@mcmullen.robert](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mcmullen.robert)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 9:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/8 "2017-05-24T21:28:33Z")
> [@shadowfax](#): > > 35 and then accelerate again? YES!!! And it lasts for about 5-10 mins. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 9:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/9 "2017-05-24T21:50:55Z")
> [@shadowfax](#): > > I have heard some people describe mild pinging as “crinkly.” Does the noise come back after you slow below 35 and then accelerate again? > [@mcmullen.robert](#): > > YES!!! Are you using premium/high-octane gas, as is **required** with Smart cars? If not, that would be an obvious source of the problem. Like others, I am mystified by somebody taking a Smart car to a Chevy dealership. If the authorized Smart dealer is very far away, I would suggest using a Mercedes dealer, or an independent foreign car specialist. ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/10 "2017-05-24T21:53:49Z")
Personally I’m having trouble imagining a collision scenario on a Smart that would _not_ cause massive damage beyond the point of reasonable repair. Heck, the _wheels_ on those things are frangible to be part of the crumple zone. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/11 "2017-05-24T22:06:10Z")
> [@shadowfax](#): > > I’m having trouble imagining a collision scenario on a Smart that would not cause massive damage beyond the point of reasonable repair I’m also having a hard time understanding the purchase of a new car whose closest authorized repair facility is two hours away. In view of the likelihood of even minor warranty-related repairs, why would somebody put himself/herself in the situation of having to travel a _minimum_ of 4 hours roundtrip to a dealership, over and above the time that the car will spend in the shop? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![shadowfax](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/shadowfax/32/13026_2.png) [@shadowfax](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shadowfax)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 1:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/12 "2017-05-25T13:44:31Z")
I know someone who lives in South Dakota who did that. Every time it needed service she’d have to drive 4 hours to Minneapolis and get a hotel room. I wouldn’t even do that for a Lamborghini, much less a Smart, but she thought it was “cute,” and that’s all that mattered. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 1:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/13 "2017-05-25T13:50:20Z")
Because there was no response to my earlier question, I will post it again: > [@VDCdriver](#): > > Are you using premium/high-octane gas, as is required with Smart cars? > If not, that would be an obvious source of the problem. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2017, 12:53am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-engine-is-crinkling/104275/14 "2017-05-27T00:53:20Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > I’m also having a hard time understanding the purchase of a new car whose closest authorized repair facility is two hours away. OP may have purchased the car when living elsewhere. In the more remote parts of the western USA it isn’t unusual at all to drive 2-3 hours to get to the nearest dealership. On highway 50 through Nevada for example. If your car breaks down on that road you have it towed to the nearest town, which might be 45 miles away. Rest assured there will be no dealership in that town. But there will be the local shop who fixes everything, including lawnmowers. They’ll diagnose the problem, but almost certainly won’t have the parts. They’ll have to phone up the auto parts store or dealership in Reno, 300 miles away, and have them mail the parts to them on the next UPS truck. Which might well take most of that day and the next to get there. Whether that is the right part and whether it fixes the problem, only time will tell Nobody who lives there complains, it is just part of the territory.