Smoking tobacco, I mean...)

Given the law re mobile phones (see current thread), will smoking go the same way? IMO lighting p and 'managing' your ciggie while driving has to be distracting, especially in demanding driving conditions. It's also interesting to consider that self-administering a drug (actually a whole variety of chemical compounds) on the move is legal. (Is swigging lager from a bottle OK, even if you remain within the legal blood-alcohol limit)?

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hi i have a fiat brava 100 1.6 16v the speedo does not work at start up but eventually kicks in,but this can take a while, I have checked all connections etc seem ok ,the rev counter also dances about like a mad thing while the speedo is not on,and the odo also flashes as if its getting some kind of power surge but the mileage does not go up until the speedo kicks in.next up the temp reads 0 and does not get warm unless the car is left to idle,and finally when starting up the rev's fly up to 4000 and stay therefore a while which is annoying ,can anyone help please.

regards slack.
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After owning a Honda crv which is a very reliable car, i am getting sick of weekly trips to the petrol station to fill it up, so i am looking at a Mondeo 2004 diesel auto with 87k miles and a full fsh ( ex fleet ). Having read quite a few threads now it has left me stumped, some love em some hate em, is it a good motor, or is it to be avoided.
Some say its good for 200 to 300 thousand miles if serviced correctly, i myself only cover 6500 miles per year. I previously owned a 2.0 petrol auto on a 02 plate, i found that ok.
So the question is, it it a good buy or not, or just but it and hope for the best. Any feedback would be great, thanks. Read more

Me again! Mondeo cooling systems, why do they drive me mad?!

My 2.5 V6 Auto is not overheating at the moment! Yay!

However, when in traffic recently (a long jam!), there was a puff of steam (and a spurt of hot water) from the front of the bonnet, as the engine temp had warmed to the middle of the temp gauge and the fans had cut in.

I first thought it would be the rad or a hose, but since topping up the water (just over 1 litre, the entire system takes nearly 9 litres!) it hasn't happened again - until this morning! (although just a puff of steam, no hot water spurting over the bonnet!)

I have been trying to get it to repeat, by idling it on the drive after getting home from work. Nothing.

This morning, I was not in traffic, but had just come back to the car after having parked it for about 20 mins! The engine was hot, but not overheating.

Does anyone have any ideas what it may be?

It seems like what I would call a "pressure release valve", but does the Mondeo have this?

Does the Auto gearbox have a seperate cooling rad to the engine? Could it be when the auto gearbox is hot and requires cooling?

The water marks inside the engine bay are all at the front right side, clearly some splashing from the front has gone across the side of the battery, the water pump drive belt and other items in that area.

The marks make it look like it has come from very low down and has blown up into thr bay. There is a small rad in behind the front of the lower bumper, in front of the main rad.

Any thoughts would be very welcome!

The coolant level is still fine. Read more

Recently bought a nearly six year old Forester auto (non turbo) with only 6,600 miles on the clock.

The car has been serviced by Subaru every year (having covered around 1,000 miles / year)

Now, looking at the service book, the cam belt should be done at five years or 60K miles. It was last serviced Nov 2006 with 5,684 miles on the clock.

The mileage is now 7,700 miles and I was wondering if I really needed to get the belt done.

Don't want it breaking due to perishing, but would prefer not to spend the cash if I don't need to

Any thoughts ? Read more