Volvo S40 D4 Geartronic - a good used buy at a bargain price?

My wife's leased Volvo S40 D4 automatic is coming up for renewal and the lease company have offered to sell it to us at a good price, which is £4000 less than any similar example I can find. However,...

Cambelt failure on Citroen C8 – should dealer pay for repairs?

I own a 2004 Citroen 2.2-litre C8 HDI, which I bought from my local franchised dealer in 2005. The car recently broke down on the motorway and the dealer told me it had suffered a cam belt failure, which...

Should I buy a Kia Sportage?

We are looking for a new and reliable off-roader and have been told the Kia Sportage is a good option. What do you think?

Can I tax my car without insurance?

I have a vehicle that I do not use, but want to tax and sell. What are the insurance requirements for a vehicle that you never drive, but want to tax? Can I insure it for one day, just to be able to tax...

Fender markers and bumper guides - any suggestions?

I’m looking for a modest sized car with four/five seats. The seats must be high, where you can see the front of the bonnet and not have to guess its length. I currently have a Skoda Roomster, an alternative...

BMW clutch failure – dealer will pay for parts but not labour

I have a 2010 BMW 320D, purchased from new and only serviced at the same garage. The car has covered 61,000 miles and is one month out of warranty. Recently the clutch failed on a busy roundabout and the...

Should a dealer warranty cover a faulty DPF?

We recently purchased a 2009 Honda Accord Tourer, with 62,500 miles and dealer warranty. After three weeks, the DPF light came on and the dealership sent the car to a Honda garage. After some tests the...

Can I use a 17-inch wheel as a spare on my Ford Focus?

I Have 2013 Ford Focus Zetec S fitted with 18-inch alloys, inflation kit and no spare wheel. I am looking to buy a spare, but Ford doesn't supply 18-inch alloys. Is it legal to use a 17-inch option instead?...

Can you recommend a Mazda MX5 alternative?

I have a Mazda MX5 that I can no longer drive due to bad knees and hip. Can you recommend a good alternative, with easy access?

What could be causing our Ford Galaxy to cut out?

Our 1999 2.3-litre petrol Ford Galaxy is suffering from an intermittent lean fuel mixture and cuts out on a fairly regular basis. The dealer wants us to scrap the car, saying it is too expensive to repair,...

Car has lost all gears - any idea what the issue could be?

I had the gear linkage changed on my 2004 Renault Scenic recently and have now lost all gears. Do you have any idea what could be wrong?

Excessive oil consumption with Vauxhall Signum

I have recently bought a 2004 Vauxhall Signum petrol, with 72,000 miles on the clock. Do you know of any issues with this car? It is consuming a litre of oil for every 70 miles it covers.

Underside body problems with Toyota Avensis

I bought a four year old Toyota Avensis from a main dealer in April. It has just had its MoT ,which it passed, however they noticed that two holes on the underside, which are normally filled with a rubber...

Will 16-inch wheels give me a more comfortable ride?

If I fit 16-inch wheels and 205/55 R 16 summer tyres to my 2010 Octavia VRS, in your opinion would I get a more comfortable ride than on the 18-inch wheels and 225/40 R18 tyres fitted as standard? I am...

Should you give the V5C to a prospective buyer?

I recently sold a car on eBay. The buyer (prospective at the time) asked me to send him a copy of the log book (V5C) so that he could ascertain the legality of my ownership. I felt uneasy although I am...

What’s causing abnormal tyre wear on Audi A4?

The nearside front tyre on my Audi A4 is wearing on both the inner and outer edges, while the driver side shows no such wear. I check all four tyre pressures every fortnight and don’t believe it is due...

Electrical faults with Mercedes C-Class

The windows on my Mercedes-Benz C-Class have ceased to open or close with the key fob. The driver’s side heated mirror also switch on every time I start up the car. Is this an ECU issue or general malaise...

Sticking handbrake on nearly new car - should the dealer pay to fix it?

The handbrake on my daughter’s Volkswagen Polo has started to stick. The car is only 18 months old and the local dealer has said it’s caused by a build-up of brake dust in the handbrake system. The dealer...

Broken lock - how do I fix it?

The lock has stopped working on my Citroen Picasso; it is jammed in the locked position, which means I cannot open the boot. I can source a new lock, but have no idea how to replace it. Any ideas?

Faulty air con - what's causing the fault?

I have a 2008 Ford Fusion. A year ago I had the pressure tested on the air conditioning and had the unit regassed as it was not blowing cool air. This fixed the problem for a while, but the fault gradually...

Hot weather is triggering car alarm – how do I fix it?

The hot weather is triggering the alarm on my 2009 Ford Mondeo TDCi 140 Estate. It goes off at 10pm and 4am, everything else with the car is fine, and the problem has only started with the heat wave. Do...

Why does my car keep cutting out?

I’m having a lot of issues with my 2003 Volkswagen Polo 1.4 TDI. The car loses power at speed and the glow plug warning light flashes on and off. However, if I turn the engine on and off, the problem clears....

Honda Jazz damaged by faulty handbrake – who should pa for the repairs?

My Honda Jazz has covered less than 7000 miles and has suffering from handbrake problems. Last week the car ran down our driveway and hit the garage, damaging the front bumper. The dealer checked the car...

Why isn't isn't my new car on the insurance database?

After a four month wait, I am picking up my new Ford Tourneo Custom (limited) next week. The only problem is that no insurance company actually knows it exists, even Ford insurance won't cover it! What...

Hyundai Getz shakes under light acceleration

We recently bought a 2005 Hyundai Getz as a first car for my daughter. However, the car has started to develop a fault and shakes violently under light acceleration. The only way to overcome this is to...

Buying a new small car – what would you recommend for winter conditions?

My daughter is looking for a new/nearly-new car for her drive to work. Her budget is £9000 and it must be suitable for winter conditions as she drives through the Berwyn Mountains (Wales), which have narrow,...

Can you recommend a dog friendly car?

A friend of mine is looking for a replacement for his Land Rover Defender. The car must be dog friendly and comfortable. He lives in Jersey, so it must also be suitable for short trips. Ideally, he wants...

Misdiagnosed fault by recovery company – can I claim for my costs?

On 15th May I bought a 2002 Vauxhall Vectra from a car dealer. On 3rd July the vehicle broke down - the engine went into limp home mode - and I needed to be rescued. The recovery firm said the issue was...

Need a new family estate/4x4 - what should I buy?

I’m having trouble choosing a new car; I need room for a child with enough boot space for lots of luggage. I would like something rugged and sporty, as I do short journeys midweek, with a 600 mile round...

What tyres should I fit to my Volvo XC90?

I need a good set of tyres for my 2010 Volvo XC90. The original set lasted 30,000-miles, but my second set of Pirellis only lasted 18,000-miles. I do a little off road driving, mainly on fields to park...

Is left-hand drive or right-hand drive safer?

Which is safer - RHD or LHD?

Can you recommend someone to inspect my Mercedes-Benz A-Class' rust problem?

Following last week’s Mercedes-Benz A-Class rust email and your reply I am now determined to press my claim with Mercedes again. Motor Codes has been unhelpful. I wish to get an expert opinion on my car's...

Where can we sell our SORNed Citroen C3?

Our son's 2007 Citroen C3 has been off the road in our garage for a year. He lives in London and has no need of it and has decided to sell it. He is reluctant to tax, insure and MOT it just to sell it,...

Is there a smaller car than my Saab 9-3 that will fit inside my 7-foot garage?

My garage has a 7-foot entrance which cannot be widened. I have driven Saabs since 1970 and my 9-3 will squeeze in. I am looking for a reasonably-sized but narrower vehicle and feel a higher one would...

Are rear-facing car seats safer in an accident?

The research I have done into car seats demonstrates that rear-facing car seats are four times safer in a frontal collision so it's not a small increase in safety should you have an accident. Rear shunt...

I suggest that people should use dedicated independent specialist garages for repairs and mechanical work.

JB of Alton, the independent garage owner, is quite wrong in his comments. I can prove my point easily and confirm that what you wrote is right. We have local independent garages who serve the local community...

Can I recommend the Peugeot 308 SW for tall families with large load requirements?

You recommended to PC that the best estate for a 6-foot 3-inch family with dogs is the Ford Mondeo estate. I would like to also suggest the Peugeot 308 SW, which as a family of 6-foot 5s, we find has plenty...

How can I get the smell of cigarette smoke out of my Jaguar XJ8?

I have just bought a 10-year old luxurious car (Jaguar XJ8) in very good condition (60,000 on the clock). We have become aware of the smell of stale cigarette smoke. Can you recommend a way of getting...

I am being ruined by an insurance company - is there anything I can do to stop them?

I have been trying to resolve an insurance claim for uninsured losses via a policy with the XXX. Under the terms of the policy they were to recover my losses after a major road accident, involving myself...

What do you think of the Nissan Juke Acenta?

What is your opinion of a Nissan Juke 1.6 DIG-T Acenta 5-door Sport pack, year 2010, for £11,749? This is for my daughter who travels about 20 miles each day to work on rural roads and occasionally down...

Should I idle my Mondeo 1/6 EcoBoost turbo even after short trips?

Thank you for recommending the Mondeo 1.6 EcoBoost. Your review advises "1.6 EcoBoosts need idling from hot before switching off otherwise oil in the turbo bearing and oil feed to the bearing can carbonise....

How can I fix the paint damage caused by bird droppings to my Volvo C70?

I was on holiday last week and after my late return flight into Gatwick I discovered that my 2012 Volvo C70 was plastered across the bonnet and drivers door with thick greasy dirty bird droppings. What...

What has caused my Mercedes-Benz A180 to develop three faulty brake light switches?

Two days after buying a new Mercedes-Benz A180 in 2010, messages came up on the dash saying "ESP & runflat indicator not operative". The Mercedes garage said the brake light switch was faulty and replaced...

How can I adapt my Suzuki Splash's headlights for driving in France?

In November 2012 I purchased a brand new Suzuki Splash 1.2 Automatic. I intend taking it to France later this year but could find no guidance in the handbook about adapting the headlights for driving on...

Why aren't cars supplied with 'get-you-home' spare wheels any more?

I recently purchased a Ford C-Max and was amazed to find that it now seems the norm to supply a "pot of glue and a pump" instead of a get-you-home spare wheel. With a jack and a spare wheel the majority...

Where can I get cheap replacement Lexus tyre valves?

I drive a 2003 Lexus 430SC. Recently I had a flat tyre and the local tyre garage found that the tyre valve was leaking. The only people who sell a direct replacement are Lexus, who want £189. Replacement...

Is the new Ford Ka a good car for my grandson to use as his first vehicle?

My grandson will be 18 next March and I would like to be involved in the purchase of a good secondhand vehicle to help him out in his Uni years. He said he would quite like a Ford Ka which has, I understand...

Is there a less van-like vehicle that will compare with the Peugeot Partner Combi for load carrying?

My wife has a 2003 2.0-litre diesel Peugeot Partner Combi, which has been an excellent multi-purpose workhorse especially as an incredible load-carrier, mainly due to its internal height and huge capacity...

Should we change our 2010 Kia Rio diesel for something more suitable for short journeys?

We have a Kia Rio 1 CRDi, which we bought new in March 2010, and have had no problems at all with it and really like the car. We have now done about 15,000 miles and do not really want to change it. Our...

Which roomy estate car would you suggest to replace my Mondeo Titanium X?

I love my 2007 Mondeo Titanium X estate for leg room, comfort, performance and space and it only has 48,000 on the clock, but the A/C has never been much good, is chronically leaking, and now needs a new...