Questions from May 2014
I took my Jaguar XF Sportbrake 3.0 V6 Portfolio for its first service on 06/12/13 (new in March 2013) having covered 17,802 mainly motorway miles. I was told that all four tyres needed replacement although...
The electric windows have stopped working on the driver's side in my 2003 Vauxhall Corsa. I have checked fuse 20 as per the manual but there is no fuse there. Further research suggests it may be fuse 35...
I want to buy a new seven seater with four-wheel drive.Price rather than emissions is priority. I have heading towards a lower spec Mitisubishi Outlander. What other suggestions do you have in this range?
I've decided that my next vehicle will be a 4x4. I need it for everyday driving with mainly short journeys, therefore, I think it should have a petrol engine, preferably two or three litre. (fuel consumption...
I am 80 years old and own a Volkswagen Up auto, which I want to replace. I really don't like the Up and want a smooth automatic for town driving. Can you recommend a car?
I own a new Volkswagen Golf 2.0 GT Bluemotion diesel. A few weeks ago the air conditioning stopped working. The local Volkswagen dealer diagnosed a damaged condenser, caused by a stone. I have questioned...
My Daihatsu Terios has developed a rotten egg smell, emitting from the exhaust. Is it the catalytic converter? Should Diahatsu replace the vehicle?
I have recently purchased a second hand 2008 BMW Z4 2.0 Sport with 35,000 miles on the clock and a full BMW service history from an independent dealer. After two weeks and doing a weekly trip of 300 miles...
My 11 year old BMW 525 has done 166,000 miles and is regularly serviced, but has now developed an intermittent fault which prevents the car firing up. It seems to have been a waste of time to replace the...
I have £10,000 to spend on a replacement car. It should be an automatic estate with a petrol engine as I only do around 5000 miles per year. I want to keep the car for a long time, maybe 10 years so looking...
I have been offered a 2008 Saab Vector Sport Saloon 2.0t for £7495. Do you think this is a good deal?
I own a 14 year old Ford Galaxy 1.9 TDI with 170,000 miles on the clock. The car has run well, until recently. The glow plug/engine management light has started coming on and now flashes on and off. What...
My Citroen Xsara Picasso will not start. All I get when I turn the key is a clicking noise and the internal lights flash. Can you help?
I am looking to buy a reliable and spacious (the main driver is a six footer) family car for £4000, which is cheap to run and tax. I would refer an estate or MPV, but a hatch with a big enough boot could...
I want to buy a new Skoda Yeti but cannot decide if I should get a petrol or diesel. I do 15,000 miles per year; consisting of one or two monthly trips of 400 miles in a day and the rest largely made up...
In November 2013, my wife was involved in an accident, a fellow driver drove into the rearside of our car and as a result wrote our car off. We were given funds from our insurance company to replace the...
I have £3500 to spend on a diesel estate. I’m not worried about age, but need something reliable and without a DPF. What do you recommend?
I have a 2008 BMW 320M convertible that I have had from new. The car has been faultless (apart from the usual issues with the 19-inch alloys and run flat tyres).
The vehicle has a full BMW service history...
My 1998 Peugeot 206 recently passed it's MOT and on the advisory sheet it said the "rear bump stop plate is corroded with not much left on plate". Where can I find the the rear bump stop plates?
I am finding a pool of water in the rear near side of my SEAT Leon. the problem usually happens after heavy rainfall and fills the floorwell with one-inch of water.
However, I recently sat in the car...
I recently bought a 2002 Rover 75 diesel auto. After filling the car I noticed a ratting noise and the power steering stopped working. The alternator light has also come on. Can you help?
Last week I bought what I believed to be a Chrysler Grand Voyager from a dealer in Newcastle. I live in a remote area of Scotland so had to do my research and shopping online - with the proviso that I...
I am buying a new Audi A3 Sportback Sport which can be specified only with 17-inch wheels and 225/45 R17 tyres. I have de-selected Sports suspension as I value ride quality over the ability to go round...
After recently having work done on my 2005 Ford Focus, I can now smell fumes coming through the air vents. This only happened after car was serviced, and also had a new alternator and battery installed....
My 2005 Peugeot 307 1.6 HDI has started losing power. It starts fine, motors well too but blows grey/black smoke when increasing speed from 30-40 mph. At this point the engine feels sluggish too. Any ideas?...
My Volkswagen Golf Mk5 1.9 TDI turns over but won't start. I called up the local recovery service and they tell me that no fuel is getting through. However, no fault codes have appeared.
A few months...
I am interested in buying a BMW 2008 1 Series M Sport 116i, does the n47 engine chain failure apply to this model or is it mostly diesel engines?
Most information on this subject is technical and I just...
We have a Nissan Qashquai 2.0 petrol auto which is nearly four years old and is due to be replaced. We love the comfort of the car and would have replaced it with the same model; however, the only auto...
A few weeks ago I bought a used Skoda Yeti. We got off to a bad start after the purchase in finding the windscreen was badly scratched by previously defective wipers. We paid £199 for a new windscreen.
After...
I’m thinking of buying a 2013 Ford Focus EcoBoost 125. It looks great in theory, cheap tax, good mileage, decent power, no DPF repairs and nice extras. However, I’ve read about problems with small petrol...
I own a 2009 Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI (W204) with an automatic gearbox. I have recently had a problem where the car is blowing out black smoke and the car has also stalled a few times at low speed, which...
I have a work colleague who is 18 years old and drives a 2001 Vauxhall Corsa automatic. She has already spent £900 on repairs and has now been told she requires another £1600 for a burnt out computer unit....
I bought a 2002 Nissan Almera a few months ago, whilst we had torrential rain and gale force wind for weeks. When the weather got better, I realised the car was making a metal grinding/scraping noise....
My 2006 Jaguar S-Type has started leaking water in the front footwell. Any idea what the cause could be?
I will soon be getting a new Ford B-Max under the motability scheme, I rather fancy one with a 1.4 petrol engine. Do you think that engine will be underpowered?
I have a 2005 Volkswagen Golf Plus, 1.9 TDI. It has been struggling a bit when I start it and has been doing it for a while. However, now it won't start and the engine warning light is on. Any idea what...
I am taking delivery of a new Ford Fiesta ST2 in a couple of days. As you are no doubt aware, it has an engine immobiliser and a Thatcham Cat 1 alarm. Would you recommend any further security measures,...
A few weeks ago, whilst reversing out of a parking space at supermarket, my wheel slowly made light contact with the wheel of the car adjacent to me. There was no damage and a woman, who may have been...
I am considering the purchase of an Audi A4 2.0TDI (143 PS) SE Avant (2011/60). I use my car mostly for short runs of 5-10 miles with a monthly blast up the motorway. Am I likely to have problems with...
I am looking to buy a nearly new car. It will primarily be used for commuting around 16,000 miles/year, mainly on good rural A roads. Ideally, I’d like a diesel that is comfortable, reliable and economical....
We have had two Volkswagen Passat saloons and find that the 2.0-litre TDI combined with the DSG gearbox to be a good combination. In considering a replacement, it again must be automatic and possibly an...
On 16 May, ten minutes after my BMW 320d's 87,000 miles dealership oil service the turbo failed. I top up the oil between services and always use the correct oil. Was this possibly dealer error and,if...
I recently had my BRG 1969 MGB Roadster stolen in the afternoon from out a hotel in Folkestone. What advice would give to classic car owners about electronic or other security measures in older cars with...
I would like to buy a second-hand car for 20 mile commute (busy roads). I also work in town going on short distance drives to and from my base. I have £4500 to spend or thereabouts and want a car with...
I own a 2012 Volkswagen Passat with a stop/start system. Can you tell me if this will this result in rapid starter motor wear?
I am looking for a new car, preferably a larger SUV style vehicle (I don't like the smaller versions) but I am worried about DPF filters as I work for myself and only travel two miles to work (five miles...
I have recently received a parking charge notice from a private car park claiming "payment not made in accordance with terms displayed on signage". We had paid the correct money for the time stated and...
I am looking at a new Toyota Yaris TR pre-registered on a 2013 plate with 100 miles on the clock. Are there any pitfalls from buying a car that has been stood for several months?
I'm looking for a spacious diesel estate car. I need lots of rear leg room and space in the boot. I do about 25,000 miles year, so need a diesel. I also want a car that will cover 0-60mph in less than...
I have a 2008 Saab 9-3 1.9 TDI. For the past year or so a buzzing vibration noise occurs at around 2000rpm. It sounds like its coming from inside the dash or perhaps in the air vents. There are no problems...
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