Hi all. I am fixing my ka, so far changed oil + coolant + air filter + 4x spark plugs + ICV

Spark plugs were the biggest b!tch, rusted to hell in the endura engine and wouldn't budge, took days of vinegar + some brake fluid to get them free without snapping, phew! Car is really smooth now, no noises, APART FROM...

Oil is leaking fast, internally i suspect as no external oil leak is viewable or pool collects. When the engine runs it is white smoke at idle which gets worse with revving. Also drips out the exhaust are constant. What I want to know is how likely is it the head gasket that is blown and not the cylinder head, really don't want to get a new cylinder head. Anyway to prove this?

Also am I right in saying the head gasket can be replaced without removing the engine (endura)?

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Hija anyone out there got any images of a Toyota Previa/Lucida/Estima Dashboard 1997 model.

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I'd like to ask what everybody thinks about this idea of raising speed limits on motorways to 80mph? From what ive read there are many interesting points to it. There will always be road safety organisations like Brake (who are essentially a propaganda organisation) who will obviously say this is wrong and more people will die, fact. But of course lower speed limits are in their interest so they cannot be relied upon for a balanced argument and will only provide selective facts. Others will say it'll cut traffic and ease congestion.

I'll start off with what makes me think its a bad idea. Such as encouraging people who already far exceed the speed limit to drive faster is a bad idea. Faster speeds can lead to more accidents although research still shows that the UK's roads are among the safest in Europe. However it also shows our speed limits are among the lowest in Europe too, now obviously other factor's come into accident rates but smart money says the correlation between lowest speed limits in europe and safest roads in europe is not a coincidence or an accident. To have everybody drive faster and expect the safety levels to remain the same is a flawed policy.... Read more

I have owned my Prius for 12 months now, and appreciate that it does not have the economy advertised - but no car has. Your review points out that some deisels perform better - but the Prius does not suffer the problems associated with diesels when used for shorter journeys. In the May 14 column (Grapes of wrath) you mention about being overcharged for oil. After my first service, I found a can of oil in the car - when I asked why, I was told this was complimentary, and to ensure the correct oil was used between services if needed. I am very happy with my Prius. Read more

The car was bought from new, has done 20000 miles and serviced by audi at 19000. At the weekend whilst attempting a hill start, I couldnt select a gear, and the car started slipping backwards. I somehow managed to get enough purchase on it to get to the brow of the hlll where I had to coast down to the bottom and call audi assist. They ended up towing me home and Audi collected the next day. The car was drivable again by then, but tthe clutch didnt feel right. Audi have inspected it and said the clutch has burned out through overheating and therefore will not be replaced under warranty. I am at a loss to understand how this has happened to a relatively new, recently serviced car, that I believe I drive very carefully. I was sat in traffic on the hill but only a few minutes. Could it be that the gearbox failed due to mechanical failure and the effort of trying to selectting a gear to prevent sliding back caused the burnout? Why did the clutch/gearbox work the next day if it was burned out? Any advice gratefully appreciated.! Read more