Word of advice....as per Rob at S2...
Turn off the MHD as it doesn't honestly make much difference to mpg !
The real and more pressing reason to do so is that
the belt that goes
around the 'starter squib' (combined starter and alternator) and the water
pump is currently the 7th generation ! They all fail due to the tremendous
load placed on them when starting....and they need to be replaced every
year when serviced. (Rob refuses to service any MHD unless the customer
agrees to a new belt being fitted.)
Anyway, that belt does not snap, it just 'shreds'.
Now as I said, it works the water pump, so you won't know if the belt does
shred and snap as there is no temperature gauge on the late ForTwo's !
And also, when it does 'let go' it usually 'demolishes' the oil pressure
sensor that sits right at the bottom of the engine next to the belt, so
you don't get any warning from anything that the oil is being cooked
and the water is being boiled away untill the car starts to sort of jerk
when driving. The usual thing is that owners turn it off, get out and look
around, see nothing untoward and then try to start it again. It won't
as the belt is gone, the cylinder head warped, and the engine is seized
solid !
And the cost of a replacement BARE engine block from MB is £6k !
So, for a once a year £35-£40 belt...ensure you get your one changed.
