Can I replace a 1997 Renault Clio front wing with a socket set?

My son's 1997 Renault Clio offside front wing is badly dented and must be replaced. Is this something I could do with just a socket set, or is welding required? The value of the car does not warrant taking...

A garage damaged my friend's head gasket whilst removing spark plugs during a service - is the garage liable?

A friend took her car for an MoT and service earlier today. The car passed its MoT fine. When they were doing the service, apparently they were removing the spark plugs (which were apparently rusty and...

What is causing an intermittent squealing noise from my 1998 Vauxhall Corsa?

My 1998 Vauxhall Corsa 1.6 petrol has started making an intermittent squealing noise. If I switch the air conditioning on then the noise goes away completely, but when I switch it off the noise comes back...

Should I repair my Rover 414's faulty clutch and gearbox?

I have a Rover 414 but recently it's started to make a horrible chugging sound when accelerating. It's fine while stationary and the gears are also sticking a little. I have just taken it to the garage...

Is the Citroen Xsara Picasso's coolant temperature warning light blue?

In the dash of my 2001 Citroen Xsara Picasso, is the coolant temperature light blue? It is showing amber/orange. I've also noticed that the airbag light is not going out.

Do you know how I can get the rear seat out of a wheelchair-converted Vauxhall Zafira?

I have a 2002 Vauxhall Zafira which was converted to take a wheelchair which my wife uses for her mother. The rear passenger seat comes out, and it has a sort of turn and lift mechanism on the base of...

How might I get further discount on a new BMW 5 Series?

I have just made a deal with BMW dealer for a 520d automatic due out in July, but I will be having it in September with a new registration. As these are sought-after, no dealer would discount it but I...

How can we remove black paint from our 2008 Alfa Romeo 147's bodywork?

Our car 2008 Alfa Romeo 147 has been splashed with what appears to be black paint. I've tried tar remover, white spirits and elbow grease, but nothing seems to shift it. Do you have any ideas, please?...

Does my 1998 Volkswagen Golf GTI have an electrical fault?

I have an R-reg 1998 Volkswagen Golf GTI. For a while now it has been cutting out a few times a week whilst stationary or going at speed, whether the car is hot or cold. Then it won't start for a few minutes,...

Why is my rev counter moving when the engine's not running?

My car's rev counter moved up and down once quickly whilst the ignition was on but the engine was not running. It then played up while starting but started after a few minutes. What could this be?

You should point out that aftermarket wheels can invalidate insurance policies.

Is it worthwhile pointing out that fitting any non-manufacturer approved aftermarket wheels, even if to the same dimensions as factory fit, (not to mention fat exhausts, body kit, etc.) if not declared...

I want to buy a Land Rover Discovery 3 which has been recorded as a cat D write-off - will this affect resale value?

I am considering buying a Land Rover Discovery 3 that has been stolen and recovered with keys. Is this something that will affect the value if and when I come to sell the vehicle in a few years?

Is there a trade body governing air conditioning servicing?

You once recommended a trade body for the servicing of car air conditioning systems. Could you kindly remind me what it was, please?

Why doesn't my warranty cover condenser repairs to my 2002 Mercedes-Benz E320?

I recently bought a policy with a leading warranty company. I have paid about £800 over the last two years to them for an 'extra care' policy (with franchised dealer repairs) for my 2002 Mercedes-Benz...

Convertible to cash

Redundancy and a change of lifestyle are forcing me to part with my BMW 330Ci Sport coupe. I purchased the car, new and to my own loaded spec, in March 2002, since when it has clocked 35,000 miles first...

Holesome ingredients

I would like to keep you updated on the matter of potholes through reports in local and national newspapers. There have been many accounts that local councils in some areas have been forced into temporary...

Automatic fearbox?

We have driven automatics for the last 30 years. 25 years with Toyota and no real problems other than disappointment in my wife's Yaris multimode "automatic" gearbox. I am about to change my first generation...

DSG of Thornhill writes…

I have been driving a Skoda Octavia 2.0 Litre Diesel with a DSG box that I like. Is this box available outside the Audi/Volkswagen Group

Offside rules

I'm 73 and hadn't driven on the right for 30 years. I solved the problem of lack of practice of driving on the right and the worry of starting on the left hand side of the road through habit. I bought...

Royce Rolls

I want to buy a seventies or eighties Rolls Royce Shadow or Rolls Wraith. I have not yet won the lottery, but I have always loved these cars. British to the core, engineering excellence. I have about £15,000...

Green line bus

Having just been sent a VED renewal reminder for my 2001 Renault Espace Expression 2.0, I have been thinking about a suitable replacement. With three small children, two dependent parents and a wife who...

Rescue me

My wife and I plan to spend a couple of weeks in France this summer with my 2006 Mercedes C180. My insurance broker says my UK insurer covers me fully comp for up to 30 days. Is there any other insurance...

Outlook changeable?

I live in a small town in Northern Ireland and have a 5-year-old Nissan Primera CVT 2-litre car with just 40,000 miles on the clock. My query is that my local independent dealer tells me that this model...

Flatbattery gets you nowhere

A friend has had a Renault Clio Expression 1.2 16 valve 3-door since its first registration on 15th November 2001. It has done 18,000 miles. Since the warranty expired, the battery has been going flat...

Coupe de grace

I feel in need of a new car and I seek your advice please. Since 2002 I have greatly enjoyed my Peugeot 406 Coupe, particularly the Pininfarina design. Sadly, this model is out of production. I am nearing...

Slightly vogue

I am faced with a dilemma that I hope you may be able to help me resolve. I am the proud owner of a 2004 Range Rover Vogue automatic that I have owned since new. It has done 53,000 trouble free miles....

Speed cushioned

Why do so many modern cars have a hard ride? I have, over fifty years, owned, driven and enjoyed Citroen's torsion bar and hydraulic suspension cars. When my 130,000-mile 2CV needed too much work I replaced...

With some hesitation

I have a 6 year old Audi TT 3.2DSG, that I have had since new and still very much enjoy, except for one big problem. It stops without warning. At anytime, any place anywhere, the power goes. Also it will...

Family plan

With sons of 7 and 4 and twins arriving in 6 weeks we need to replace our trusty old SAAB 900, within a budget of £15k. We live in London but most mileage (to about 10k pa) will be on Motorways in the...

Dualogical?

I have a friend interested in buying a FIAT 500 Automatic, but they have seen some reports saying there are problems with this transmission. Have you had any feedback regarding this?

Photo finishing

I will be collecting a pre-booked Europcar hire-car from a French airport this Summer. My current UK paper driving licence does not expire for a few years yet (I am in my early sixties). Please would you...

Access car

I currently run a Mitsubishi Colt 1.5 diesel. Due to a muscular problem that affects my quad muscles I have to rely on my wife pulling me out of the car, which is not fair on her. I am hoping that you...

VAT chance

I should be grateful for your advice regarding the following. On the 29th of November 2009 I paid the full price for my new car, which was to be delivered in March 2010. The dealer gave me a receipt for...

Johnny debt

I was wondering if you could help me please. I have a court order in my favour for loss of earnings as a result of a car accident but the summons has been returned marked, "Not known at this address"....

Unintended incrimination syndrome

On 11 February 2010 I was driving my nine-month-old automatic Yaris on the A65 between Skipton and Ilkley in Yorkshire. As I approached some temporary traffic lights that were at red - with a queue of...

Lapse

I have 7 years no claims bonus on a Hastings Direct policy that lapsed on 16th March 2008. Since then I have been a named driver on another policy. During this time there have been no claims on this policy...

Thirst among equals

I bought a Hyundai i10 on HJ's recommendation but am unhappy about the fuel consumption. It is not used for many long runs but we live in a rural location so not much time spent in slow traffic. I started...

Intermittence

My friend's 1990H Toyota MR 2 with 50,000 miles starts OK hot or cold. It runs perfectly. Now and then it stalls at junctions at working temperature. The throttle then has to be held to the floor, the...

Make sensor this

Thank you, thank you, thank you. My email to you of 20th April complained about a parking sensor fault on my XJ. My Jaguar dealer offered to fit two new sensors (one front bumper and one back) and paint...

Value of the dolled

I have purchased a new XC90 via Drive the Deal at an excellent discount. The car is due to arrive June / July. I currently have a 2005/55 BMW 740iL with many options, full history and 49k miles. It is...

Crashing in

I had an accident and the other driver was drink driving, I went to my insurance company who told me to get a quote from 2 garages, the first garage I went to said that due to the value of my car it would...

Cops and rodders

I note, in your response to PA of Leeds that you again make the point that headlights should only be flashed as a warning. In this regard, a couple of days ago, I passed a collection of policemen and...

Legend in its own lurchtime

I bought my Yaris 1.3 MMT last September and within days I complained to the dealership about the jerking gear changes and the fierceness of the brakes. After a few calls the dealership said they would...

Buyersed opinion?

Further to recent correspondence regarding webuyanycar.com I can only add that I was very pleased with its service at Plymouth. If you follow their guidelines on the website and complete the questionnaire...

The old ’un rule

I am 16 years-old and I am currently trying to help my mum buy a new car. Sadly, our trusty Vauxhall Vectra 2.0 GLS requires major engine repairs or possibly even a new engine. We were looking at used...

Lowest of the low

I saw Telegraph Motoring’s recent feature on kit cars and thought you might like to see my car. It wasn't built from a kit. It all came from my imagination. Built over 18 months on my front drive with...

Crushed he, the clown

I was with 1st Central car insurance last year only to discover that they had cancelled the policy without informing me. I only found out when the police stopped me in an ANPR check. I now face a court...

Unfair cop

Thanks for the photo of the speed cushion with a pot-hole actually in it. The location looks like Thames Ditton, or Cobham, in Surrey. You may be interested to know that my nephew was pulled up by the...

Black holes

Further to my last email I wanted to warn you about some very nasty potholes in certain Surrey back lanes. Please be very careful if you use the popular shortcuts across country, from Ockley to Ewhurst,...

Footsure

I could not disagree more with HJ’s opinion that autos should be driven two-footed. I and my wife have driven autos since converting from gears sixteen years ago. We drive home and abroad. Driving a geared...