Questions from July 2010
I wondered if you provide some advice. I plan to replace my 2005 BMW Mini Cooper. It has been back and forth from the garage with various faults and it cost £450 to get it through an MOT last year. I would...
Regarding the email from MU in Saturday's HJ column, what is a "private dealer" please? I thought private car sales are exempt
from consumer rights protection.
Please can you advise? My 1999T Volvo S80, bought new, now with 54,000 miles, developed a faulty lambda sensor. While removing it the Volvo dealer broke the collar in which it was attached to the exhaust...
Several weeks ago, I accidentally put 20 litres of unleaded into my 9 year old, 93,000 mile 1.9D Renault Kangoo. I immediately filled the rest of the tank with diesel (about 35 litres) and ran the car...
I just thought I'd let you know that I've also had a Teves Mk 60 ESP failure. Having read the forum on honestjohn I noted that I met the 'criteria' (i.e, under 5 years old, under 60, 000 and full main...
I own a Mercedes C220CDI and at the last service I was advised that 3 glowplugs need replacing. A price was quoted but I was advised that if the plugs were difficult to remove or broke in the process the...
I am puzzled why you, and other reviewers, are so reluctant to recommend Ford Fusions? I have a 2006/56 Fusion Zetec TDCi 1.6, do about 12k miles a year and, except for one fill up in the hard weather...
As promised, my experience with the IAM Drive Check 55 you recommended me to take. I received a letter within a couple of days of booking, selected a local branch and e-mailed them. It took a few days...
I might buy a car from Car Giant. I believe you have recommended them in the past. What should I be aware of? Will they haggle on price?
I have fallen foul of one of Croydon's many enforcement cameras. It is alleged that I “stopped on a restricted bus stop / stand”. The bus stop has a single wide yellow line. I did stop to set down a passenger...
My local garage last week replaced the thermostat housing unit on my Peugeot 307 1.6 semi-automatic 2007 model, after I woke up one morning to find huge water loss. The car has only done just over 22,000...
Returning on Saturday from shopping in our 55-reg Golf Plus (46,000 miles), I noticed the ESP light was on. Ironically, on returning home, I opened the Telegraph Motoring section and the very first thing...
I am contemplating the purchase of a 2008 Honda Civic 1.8 iVTEC EX fitted with an iShift gearbox. This does not have a torque converter but a clutch, as fitted to the 1.4 manual where the changes are made...
I have been advised by the dealership I bought the car from new, that my 55-plate Mazda 6 Sport 2.3 petrol falls within a VIN range which is covered by a TSB, stating that some vehicles may experience...
I need to replace the two front tyres on my 2007 Lexus GS300. The car has only done 19,000 miles so I am going to get the tracking checked first. Once this has been checked, and realigned if necessary,...
I have a 2009 Citroen Dispatch 1.6-litre turbo diesel van. It's not yet due for a service on its factory oil (less than 500 miles). One of the staff topped up the oil with mineral oil 15/40 grade CC (as...
I have a 2002 Vauxhall Vectra C, 2.2DTi with 111,000 miles on the clock. When I start the car there is a squealing noise, which rises and falls with the revs for the first 10 to 15 seconds of running,...
I have a 2002 Renault Clio II 1.5 diesel. I would like to know why it produces black smoke? We have replaced the turbo, which was faulty. While driving the acceleration decreases and lots of black smoke...
I'm contemplating purchasing a 2001 Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 16v SXI with 110,000 miles for my son and I need some advice. Can these cars can cope with high mileage? Apart from the cam belt change, what else...
We have an Audi A4 3.0 convertible on an 04 plate which has done 55,000 miles. The car now only does approx 5000 miles a year. Audi advises that the cambelt is changed every 80,000 miles, but doesn't give...
I have a Mercedes-Benz C180 which I bought from new in late 2002. It has a full Mercedes-Benz service record. Despite its age, the car only has 17,000 miles on the clock. I had the car serviced recently...
I took delivery of a used Mercedes-Benz C-Class and have only just read your article. The car is a C180 Elegance and is dated 11/08/2000 in the EEC certificate of conformity. Initial registration 16/1/01....
My wife needs to replace her Peugeot 206 automatic. It suits her because, due to arthritis, she is unable to press the button on the gear lever used to unlock the park mode. Instead, the brake pedal has...
My daughter bough a Ford Fiesta Zetec just over a year ago. It's in very good condition and quite fast. She hadn't noticed that the oil was running low. She had a major service about two months ago. They...
I did fancy an Audi A4 diesel or a Volkswagen equivalent but I am finding the used prices very high. Can you recommend an equally reliable and worthy diesel of this size for £2000 - £3000? I assume there...
I have the chance to purchase my company car which is a BMW 2006 5 Series 2.0D SE Tourer. The car has 84,500 miles on the clock and I would like your advice on whether this would be a sensible purchase,...
The other day I found that all three of my brake lights have stopped working. I've done the usual checks - fuse, bulbs. No other lights are affected - the indicators, reverse, fog and side lights all work....
I am considering purchasing a new Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI automatic for my wife. I understand that they will be available in a few months time. Could you please advise me of the technical specification and...
I have a 2010 Volkswagen Touran 2.0 TDI. The rear lights mist up after washing. Volkswagen says this is normal. Turning on the lights will dry them out. The AA says it is a problem. If I wanted the lights...
My Volkswagen Passat Estate (petrol) bought new in March 2006 and now with 37,200 miles on the clock would only start intermittently. The vehicle has a full service history and always serviced by a Volkswagen...
My grandson is in the motor trade (a qualified technician) and is of the opinion that sole use of top grade fuel, eg Shell V-Power diesel, is damaging to the engine. Is there any truth in this?
My daughter is desperate. She has an 06 reg 2.0 TDCI Ford S-Max which intermittently takes several minutes to start from hot or cold. Her dealer has had the car several times, including whilst it was in...
To add to the discussion regarding daytime lights, I used to drive with front foglights on, but recently a Police car drove up beside me at traffic lights and the officer asked why I had my lights on as...
I have just finished reading the article "Green Mean & Clean" by Judith Woods and it occurred to me that the Millbrook Proving Ground could be used to demonstrate the effect that the ubiquitous speed bumps...
I have a 2004 Renault Scenic and am unable to remove one of the front alloy wheels due to the centre being welded to the brake drum. I have tried Plus Gas and hammering the rear of the wheel without success....
My pet hate is indicators flashing in my eyes when waiting at traffic lights, especially on cold, wet British winters nights. Nothing worse. Especially cars or vans with worn out old lamps that are almost...
Having previously enjoyed an Audi A4 2.7TDI (190BHP) Multitronic and returned an average fuel consumption over 25,000 miles of 43.5 MPG, which pretty much matched the manufacturers data, I recently changed...
You recommend running at higher revs to help a DPF to regenerate. I drive a Volvo V70 AWD 2.4d. At 2,000 rpm I travel at 60 mph. At 2,300 rpm I travel at 70 mph. How do you suggest I exceed the speed limit...
I'm looking at purchasing a Volkswagen Golf 1.6 16v SE, 5-door with 46,000 miles on the clock. I am wondering what you think would generally be a good price. I am not really looking to spend more than...
Can you start a car which is in first gear without engaging the clutch?
I require a replacement key for my Vauxhall Corsa. However I have been informed by family and friends that the only place I can obtain one is from a Vauxhall garage and will cost around £140, obviously...
I have recently had a test drive of the new BMW 5 Series saloon and was very impressed. I have few reservations about the car, but one is that runflat tyres come as standard with no other option. For UK...
I have an E46 BMW 330D M Sport Touring auto in metallic black with a full range of extras (sat nav, TV, electric leather memory seats, xenons etc). It is a 2002 model, one previous owner with 108,000 miles...
I have been quoted £450 to have my new BMW 5 Series protected - this seems very expensive and I am doubtful that it is worth the money, as the car will be low mileage and will be kept in a garage. I recall...
Please can you tell me how I calculate the wheel and tyre size for a 2005 Volvo V70? I want to put winter tyres on steel wheels for the coming winter. Clearly, the wheels will be a smaller diameter than...
My 2004 Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 TDCI won't start in the mornings. I've changed the battery twice, changed the alternator and both have been checked, no lights left on during night, but my electric windows...
I have my Volkswagen Jetta insured through a major insurance company. As a man in his mid-50s the premium was only around £290. When I notified the company that I was moving from my rented flat where the...
I have a 2005 Jaguar S-Type 2.7 diesel sports version (lowered, stiffened and with spoilers). I have some well-worn Pirellis on the front and 30,000-mile Goodyears on the rear, all size 245/40/ZR18. I...
We have recently had our car serviced and was told that our pollen filter needed cleaning. My wife has been coughing ever since with hayfever symptoms that disappear when she is outside! Speaking to someone...
Me and my husband have been saving up to replace our old diesel Fiesta and have been offered a three and a half-year-old diesel 2.2-litre Honda Civic for £6000 by a relative. It has 68,000 miles on the...
Elsewhere on 
