Diesel Particulate Faulter

While driving in town quite normally, my 2005 Citroen C4 2L HDI 40k miles, suddenly over-revved, revved up and down a few times, revved incredibly highly and then promptly stopped and wouldn't restart....

Appealing behaviour

Councils either make it too time consuming and difficult to appeal a parking ticket, so that it is easier just to pay up, or frighten you into thinking the penalty will get much larger if you don't pay....

Snail trail

Something weird is happening to my 1993K Volvo 940 2.3 turbo estate. I'd be grateful for your help in identifying what has gone wrong and how to put it right - if that's possible and economically worth...

Closed door policy

How can I reduce the cost of recalibrating my keyfob, which locks the car but will not open it? The battery is new. The main Mazda dealer, who is 30 miles away wants around £90 to fix it.

Warranty Mis-Direct

I recently purchased a warranty through Warranty Direct following a recommendation in one of your articles. Sadly, my experience with them is not good. I purchased a 46,000 mile 2004 VW Polo from a dealer...

ML from hell

Are you able to help me with an ongoing problem that my daughter has with her ML 320CDI. She purchased the car new from Mercedes Salisbury in July 2006 and since then the car has been back in the Mercedes...

Slick Jagger

I have a 1994L Jaguar 4.O S, which is basically an XJ6 4.0 litre. Everything works and it does about 30mpg on a run. I was told by a Jaguar garage where I was having it serviced that it is one of only...

X factor

I have £10,000 max to spend on a second hand car. I have a new baby and want something that is safe and reliable but not as boring as a Volvo. I was looking at BMW estates but they are too expensive. I...

Peugalist

After reading your glowing review of the Peugeot 205 GTi we bought ourselves a Phase 1 205 CTi - a 1986, C plate car and we're really pleased with it; so thank you for the excellent recommendation. It's...

Per turboed

I now own my third BMW, a 525TD 2002 E39. Lovely car, the nicest I have owned and bought nine months ago at 38,000 miles, I am the second owner. I initially had a Full BMW service carried out and have...

Expat opinion

I've written you in the past, when we lived in the UK, but we’re now in Maryland. I'm considering selling my two aging vehicles - a 1994 Honda Civic with 200k miles and a 1999 Nissan Sentra - for a 2010...

Rank Vectra

I run a 2005 Vauxhall Vectra 1.9CDTI 120 as a taxi, purchased new. The dual mass flywheel was replaced under warranty at 42,000 miles, and has just been replaced at 102,000 miles, at £1,000 it is an expensive...

Prize booker

I have just bought a 1996 E320 Cabriolet Mercedes Benz. The car does not have a user manual with it. Please can you advise me if you know how and where I can source a user manual to go with my nice new...

Climate change

In April 09 I ordered a Mercedes A180 CDI Elegance SE 5door with the optional Luxury Package. I took delivery on 19th June and the car has only the standard air conditioning, not climate control. In the...

Disco chancer?

I currently own a 2001 Land Rover Discovery Series 2 automatic, which had been trouble free until 105,000 miles, when I have had to replace suspension sensors, a known fault documented on your web site....

Taking the bully by the horns

I thought you might be interested in my David v Goliath victory. Last January I inadvertently overstayed my welcome at the Forster Square Retail Park, Bradford, a complex of big-name retail stores, managed...

Emborising moment

In your reply to JS of Stroud on June 24th you allude to London Mayor Boris Johnson's recent near-miss caused by a lorry's back doors opening after cresting a speed bump. I actually live on the street...

It’s a steal

I had been looking for a car for sometime when I saw one advertised in the Auto Trader. I phoned the mobile number and asked the guy who was selling it if I could arrange to view the car. He told me that...

One cloner car

Both number plates have been stolen from my car. I have reported the crime to the police. I am concerned that these plates may be attached to another car that is involved in a crime, incurs parking charges,...

Disturbing thoughts

Does you know why the car alarm keeps going off when the car is parked and locked.

Worser Gummage

I have an Alfa Romeo 159 Sportback 1.9 JTDm 16v. Recently a warning message appeared stating "Pollution Filter Clogged". The garage tells me this happens if the car has been driven at low revs in traffic...

Estately roam

What would you recommend as the best/most reliable estate car? I currently own a 2005 Mondeo Ghia X diesel automatic that has so far provided excellent service. It is used mainly for fairly frequent trips...

Scrappage value

I am taking advantage of the scrappage scheme to trade in my N reg Peugeot 106 to buy a Hyundai i20 on 1 September. My insurer refuses to amend the value of my Peugeot 106 and says it would (in the event...

Scratching a living

Thought I'd bring to your attention the following events that have recently transpired. My PCP contract with VW finance has recently ended on my Polo 1.4S auto and I was informed that a BCA agent would...

Swirl guides

My son has a 37-month-old SAAB 9-3 1.9 diesel that has done 30k+ miles. He bought it at 12 months old from Gordon Lamb Saab in Sheffield, which as since gone out of SAAB dealership. He has had it serviced...

Twoing and throwing

We are currently a two car couple and have just paid over £700 to have both cars serviced. This has made us realize that as pensioners it is time for us to become a one-car couple. Our problem is how best...

Sport star

I have some money to spend on a new car and like the Nissan 370Z and the BMW Z4, both have great looks and initially it was the Z4 I fancied but your two star rating put me off. I have been on today and...

Legal A’d

I have a 5-year-old Mercedes A140 with only 37,000 miles on it. I bought it at less than a year old from the Mercedes dealer. I have now been told that I need a new gearbox at £4,000. I feel I should sue...

Vendre day

I have returned to the UK after living in France for several years with a French registered car. Is there an alternative to taking it back to France to sell it? It would be useful to trade it in for a...

Snap decision

My recently acquired son-in-law, a 28-year-old VAG mechanic, is seriously considering leaving his VAG Main Dealer employer to take over a Snap-on Tools franchise. It is seemingly an established round:...

K sera sera

I have recently been widowed and my husband always used to check our car's "vital signs" as he termed it. My simple query is how often should I check the oil, brake fluid, etc. and also how often should...

Mobile moan

My sister and brother-in-law bought an M-reg VW T4 transporter about three months ago, in order to take a road trip around Western and Eastern Europe. It was originally a minibus, but the (private) seller...

Feistier Fiesta

Is there such thing as a Fiesta Club? I have a 1990 Fiesta XR2i and it occurs to me that that a certain problem I have with it (erratic slow running at times) may have happened to other owners and I might...

Party lines

My car is insured comprehensively for me and spouse only. My daughter visits occasionally and says she can drive on her own insurance, and if my car is damaged whilst she is driving, as long as she is...

Taking the Pisa?

I read your letter from P.V., Trowbridge with renewed hope. We were sent a ticket by the Pisa Municipale well after a year had passed since we were there. A friend's daughter helped us write a letter to...