Questions from July 2010
I am driving to Zurmatt, Switzerland in the New Year and I am trying find out what I need to take. Any advice?
I drive approximately 10-15,000 miles a year and need to buy a car to use for work. Size doesn't matter, and performance is not top of my priorities. However I want something fun, reliable and economical,...
I need to pick up a cheapish diesel. I've stumbled across a Rover Streetwise 2-litre diesel with 31,000 on the clock for £3295. I will need three years out of this at an average of 25,000 miles per year,...
How can I improve the fuel economy of my Hyundai Accent 1.3? Are there any special products like air filters, plugs and leads which can help?
I have been offered two alternatives for speeding at 36 in a 30mph area. I can either pay £60 with three penalty points, or pay £104 and go to a speed management course without any penalty points. Which...
I wonder if I have a case to either reject or get a replacement of my Vauxhall Zafira that I purchased on 8 March this year. It arrived with scratches all over the bodywork and it took the dealer three...
It appears Ford's current preference is to maintain high official list prices and then to rely on dealers to grant large market place discounts in order to bring prices into line with market competitors....
I have a built a 1997 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 8v for stock car racing, but to do so I have to change the coil pack to a distributor (black one). How I do set it for the timing? I have done away with all the...
Approximately three months ago I took out a 3-year PCP contract with Toyota. Out of the blue, a great career move has presented itself which would entail me living in Hong Kong. However, I'm slightly concerned...
We have a 1998 Saab 9-3 convertible 2.3 with 90,000 miles, which required some interior work and some work on possible electrical faults with the windscreen wiper and the soft top. We passed our car to...
I'm having problems with my 2.2-litre Jaguar since the purchase of an ex-demo. If I drive one mile to the next village and stop and restart the car, say within 2-3 mins, then drive back at lower revs,...
Is there a reason why Mazda does not manufacture the 6 in diesel automatic, as many other manufacturers do have diesel autos? This would drop the CO2 level and allow a reduced road tax.
If the car is started from cold and moved a short distance, and then switched off and left for any amount of time, it won't start unless its towed. What's wrong?
My huband is driving his ageing Renault Safrane in France at the moment and wrote "It was 42 degrees when I started the car, and I got a brief puff of smoke and a smell of burning when I started it. It...
I am interested in a vehicle that is being sold by a part-time trader. The vehicle seems to stack up with all the history, HPI check and condition, but for some reason I am slightly wary of the trader....
Owing to a new job, my annual mileage is about to increase significantly. I will do 24,000 miles in commuting alone, so I am expecting a mileage probably in excess of 30,000 miles per annum. Is there a...
I emailed you last year about the 2000 Isuzu Adventure 3.0 Turbo that we were "inheriting" with our house in Thailand. We now live in Khok Kloi (Phang Nga province) and, having driven the beast for a few...
I have a 1994 Toyota Previa 2L Petrol. The nearside electric window failed so I removed the door panel, unplugged the motor and tried to use a 12v battery to wind it up and down, but something was seized...
I'm wondering how you go about rejecting a car, as it has been in and out of the manufacturer's workshop for various faults. The car is only three months old and was bought as new from the dealer.
I'm thinking about getting either a BMW 530d or a Mercedes-Benz E350 CDI coupe. I want an automatic, but the BMW has comes with 8-gear automatic and the Mercedes-Benz comes with a 7-gear automatic gearbox....
I can get traffic information through my Renault Scenic's Tom Tom satellite navigation, but how do I get such information through the RDS radio as on my previous two Scenics?
While my wife can drive she chooses not to, as she is scared by driving as a whole. I have eventually encouraged her to have lessons to build her confidence and I have suggested that, to help, we buy an...
My daughter is leaving the country for a year on 1 September 2010. She has insurance until 12 August, so she contacted her insurer in April asking for the policy to be extended until 31 August. They said...
My wife has restricted movement in her left leg due to an unsuccessful knee operation, so I need to buy her a small (Citroen C3 size) economical automatic, preferably one with a high, off-the-floor seating...
I have a 5-door S-reg Peugeot 306 and cannot get my head around my locking problem. When locking and unlocking my car (with the plipper or using the key) all doors respond but the passenger door does not....
I have had diesel cars for over 20 years and never had a pump failure until recently. In Jan 2009 I bought a 2005 Audi Allroad 2.5 TDI. In Dec 2009, one month before the warranty ran out out, it began...
If a road has a solid white line and a broken white line running together in the centre of the road, is it legal for someone to park on the pavement or road opposite the solid white line?
I've noticed for a while that my girlfriend's 2001 Nissan Micra emits a high pitched noise/squeak when you gently press the accelerator. She has just informed me that it's getting worse - the car recently...
Can you advise what My Jaguar S-Type's 'S' button does in layman's terms?
I'm going to be driving to France and wanted to get breakdown cover - does the fact that I service my car myself affect the cover?
Two weeks ago I bought a relatively cheap (£1190) Ford Focus from a garage that has a fault with the exhaust gas recirculation system. The repair has been quoted at £450. Do I have any recourse with the...
I have a 2006 Volkswagen Caddy TDI and I changed the oil in it last week. I used a semi-synthetic oil in it. Is this the correct oil I should be using?
I have a budget of up to £3000 to buy an economical and reliable hatchback. Can you suggest a couple of models?
I have a Mitsubishi Chariot 1996 2.0 auto and would like to know how I can tell if I have a piston or ring problem. The last thing I want is to take the engine out to check. I am too scared to drive the...
I have recently received info on the above subject and on the face of it they appear just the ticket. Do you have any issues with it regarding legality, effectiveness and use on the continent?
Can you tell me of any single source where I can find out when car manufacturers are launching their new models please?
Can you tell me when the cambelt change should have been done on a Citroen Xsara 1.4 1999? It's done 92,000 miles.
I need to change my old Cavalier and think a diesel Zafira for about £2000 might do my needs. Reading some of the forums they seem to have a few problems. What should I look out for? Would I be better...
I would like to know if my Mitsubishi L200 Triton is belt or chain driven? My husband says chain, but a Mitsubishi mechanic has told me that all L200s are belt driven. It is a 3.2-litre import on a 2007...
My car is a Peugeot 307 2.0 16vi 2004. What should the road tax be on that, because I don't know if DVLA have made a mistake but it seems to have gone up £11 on last year? Its 194gkm.
A friend had an accident in his Land Rover Discovery. It overturned and he found himself locked in. I was told some time ago that, on impact, the locks on the doors would automatically un-lock. Is that...
I am buying a new Hyundai Santa Fe 2010 plate via an online company and the expected delivery is next week. The company seems to be fine but I have to part with the entire amount cleared into their account...
I need to get a diagnostic test done on my wife's old 1997 Citroen Saxo as it is running very badly, but my local garage can't find a computer point. The workshop manual says that it should have one somewhere...
I drive a 2006 Astra 1.8 SRI with 49,000 miles on the clock. A few months ago, the onboard computer indicated a 15-20 per cent drop in economy. I checked and found it was showing I had used more gallons...
My 2003 Citroen Picasso 1997cc with a mileage of 84,000 has just had a tow bar fitted, and will be travelling with a caravan on a 2000-mile round trip. Would this require me to renew the timing belt or...
My car went through a full service at a well known high street garage on 6 April 2010. After this, I noticed the fuel consumption increased significantly and the fan was staying on for longer than normal...
My Ka is nearly six years old, with about 24,000 miles on the clock. It has badly rusted at the bottom of the driver's door, on the inside, above the sill. The sill also has rust spots both inside and...
I commute 160 motorway miles a day to and from work, and currently drive a 2004 Vectra 2.0DTi. It's an ok car, it seems happy enough to do 70mph in a straight line and, in return, gives me 47mpg consistently....
Driving to see a client today and my 1994 Volkswagen Golf CDi juddered and then cleared itself, but the glow plug light flashed on dashboard the whole way home and it seemed to be running a bit flat. When...
My 2007 Subaru Legacy REN automatic petrol is factory-fitted for LPG fuel. It's done 37,500 miles from new, is dealership maintained and in excellent condition. I want to sell it but can't find a site...
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