Questions from July 2010
My Suzuki dealer has sent me an 'exclusive invitation' as a valued customer, as they must sell 40 new cars to reach their target (assumedly before the new registration) within the next 10 days. They are...
The ECU light is on the dash (engine symbol) of my 2000 Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v and it runs pretty badly. I have read all the information I can find, and I believe it's fitted with a Siemens Simtec 56.5...
I live in France and I'm in the process of gathering quotes to have a tow hitch fitted to my 1997 Volvo 940 estate, which is a late 2.3 T version. So far, one French garage has told me that pre-1997 and...
I have a Jaguar X-Type diesel 2L SE (2008). I bought it about nine months back from an authorised dealer and now the clutch has gone, and the dealership is saying it's driving style and wear and tear,...
I have changed the coil pack and plugs but my Vauxhall Corsa still has a misfire. It will start ok but it's got some sort of knocking noise coming from the engine. Can you advise on the next checks that...
I wish to flush the water out the cooling system in my 2001 Volkswagen Passat, but I don't know where the radiator drain plug is. Can you help?
I have a Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.5 diesel 2002. It was standing for about three months and will need some work doing to it for the MOT, but once a week I started it and let it run and turned on the air...
My 1995 Nissan Micra's rear indicators do not work but the front ones do! Why?
In recent years the explosion in asthma cases has been blamed on the fact that all our homes are cleaner and therefore children do not build up an immunity to beat the disease. Has anyone made the link...
I bought a Ford Kuga 20 months ago and really enjoy it. I drive 40,000 to 50,000 miles a year, mostly on the motorway, and I need space for materials, power for safe overtaking, decent economy, good handling...
I think it is bad advice to suggest drivers use their left foot for braking. While using your left foot may be result in shorter stoppage distances in the rare case of an emergency (assuming the driver...
For the past 10 years I have driven diesels and never needed to top up the oil in between services. I now have a BMW 3 Series petrol from new (Sept 2009) and it required one litre of oil after 9000 miles....
The engine of my Alfa Romeo blew up and I'm looking for a good Alfa engine repair specialist. Any ideas?
Can I use BP Ultimate diesel in my Yeti? The DPF rules say no biodiesel. I understand that BP Ultimate is also biofuel-based?
As the 73-year-old owner of a 54-plate Honda Jazz automatic which is coming up to its MoT and annual service, is there anything in particular I should be looking out for? The car has been serviced annually...
My 2001 Mercedes-Benz Vito 2.1-litre diesel is suffering with very bad smoke from the exhaust. The engine seems to be misfiring with a possible chuffing sound from one or more injectors. It's suffered...
My 2000 Volkswagen Golf IV 2.0-litre automatic runs fine from cold, but when it warms up it starts to misfire, then has no power and then cuts out. I have replaced the coolant temperature sensor, crank...
I am in the process of buying a Suzuki Splash 1.2 GLS and have found out it has a cable clutch. Is there any history of problems with this on this car and is this old technology or do other cars have them?
The parking brake on my Honda Jazz (58 plate, 9000 miles) does not hold the car on anything more than a modest uphill slope. The dealer has "adjusted" it twice and checked it on the 'roller'. He says it...
I have a Volkswagen Polo which is now giving me bad backache on my left-hand side after only a short time driving, which I guess is due to having a curvature of the spine, and now also osteoporoses has...
My wife's Renault Scenic (nine years old and 69,000 miles) has just had a new cam belt fitted. When I picked it up it seemed to be misfiring badly. The garage fitted new plugs - no change. They suggested...
I have a Peugeot 406 and sometimes the indicators work fine, and sometimes they do not work at all. Is this the flasher unit? In my experience, when they pack up they either flash slower or stay on.
I have a Peugeot 307 1.6 110bhp HDI. I had no problems prior to having a full service at a well-known garage, but after I picked it up I noticed that there was a serious lack of power and it can barely...
My car's shredded its fan belt. I've just been told by the AA not to drive the car, and that it's unusual for a fan belt to shred. Do you know what would have caused this?
I have owned my Nissan Almera 2.2 Di S for about eight weeks now, and it's run with no problems. After returning from a week's holiday I am having real problems getting the car started. I wait for the...
A case reported in our local press has left me confused and wondering what the motorist's rights are. A motorist broke down on a hill on a dual carriageway. They contacted their motoring organisation and...
I have a Vauxhall Vectra CDTI 150 2005 model. I have a problem with the power steering pump, which works intermittently. On start up it either works or it doesn't, and when it doesn't work the pump (electric...
There is water in the passenger footwell in our 54-reg Vauxhall Vectra estate. At the same time the motor to the air conditioning and heating system has failed. Do you think the two are linked? I am getting...
I took delivery of a new Skoda Fabia TSI / DSG 77kw a month or so ago, and have driven around 450 miles since. Then, yesterday, the car stopped suddenly for no reason and the display showed 'Engine fault:...
I am now retired and in the fortunate position of being able to afford one last new decent car. Our priorities are comfort and driving enjoyment. The car must be diesel (for economy) and estate with an...
I wrote previously when I needed a vehicle to suit my incapacity, which was easy to get into and out of, automatic and would take two Labradors and my wife. Behold, on your say so I became the proud owner...
I am in the process of buying a 2007 Honda CR-V 2.2I -CDTI ES and am being offered GardX Protection for £299 for 8 years and Honda Gap Insurance for £299 for three years. On the face of it, both appear...
I don't know if you know much about this, but I'll ask anyway. We got a Motability car in January 2008, and we like this model a lot. Now I am a Ford man, so would prefer that make. But according to information...
I purchased my Mercedes-Benz when 18 months old from a Mercedes dealership in August 2007. Despite repeated attempts they have not, to date, been able to fix a problem under terms of warranty. Can I legally...
My Honda CR-V 2.2 CDTi's driver's side mirror fully folds out when the engine starts and does not return to its normal position unless physically pushed back. Any suggestions gratefully received.
As a weekly reader of your column I often see you advise people to change wheel sizes to avoid a certain problem. Would this not affect the speedometer reading, thus making it illegal unless the gearing...
I bought a nine-month old Vauxhall Vectra 2.2 litre automatic (mileage 10,000) in September 2004 from main Vauxhall dealer. In January of this year, still at only 37,000 miles, the car broke down. The...
I must report to you an alarming trend that I have noticed over the last two years. When we have a police incident, they shut the road down for anything up to two days. Last week I was going home to Shere,...
I have recently been quoted £230 by BMW, to change the oil on my 123d M Sport Coupe. This is the first service as indicated by the on board computer. A colleague put me in touch with a BMW trained specialist...
I have a 1999 Mercedes SLK 230 Kompressor with a genuine mileage of 26,000. As I know very little about car engines could you advise me whether this car has a cam belt which will need replacing in due...
Family members are the victim of the diesel particle filter fiasco.
They have a '56 registered Vauxhall Zafira 1.9CDtI SRI150 with 40,000 miles on the clock. They drive regularly from Lancashire to Norfolk,...
My wife has reluctantly decided to give up driving and even more reluctantly to sell her old Clio, which has served her well for many years. It is an 1994L 1.4 RT 5-door hatchback automatic, has been serviced...
I am looking for advice on motor insurance. Last week I made a claim on my motor insurance policy with RIAS. The claim was made over the phone, and during the conversation I obviously mentioned that I...
A friend is thinking of changing her 3-year-old Ford Focus Diesel manual for another car. Could you advise what types of similar mid range cars are available (including the Focus) but with an automatic...
My current car is a 2006 Volvo S40 1.6D. It has 17' wheels with 205 x 50 x R17 93w tyres fitted. I have no complaints except that the ride is a little hard. Would it improve if I fitted 16" wheels and,...
I have a 2006 VW Polo Sport 1.9TDI so it is now 4 years old and has done 18,000 miles. It is about to go in for its annual service and MOT and the garage is recommending changing the cambelt. Is this really...
I have a 2002 Mercedes E430 Avantgarde auto Estate, mileage now 175,000. I have owned the car since new and do not have any finance outstanding. I have always serviced the car with Mercedes. My car is...
I own a 2003 Ford Mondeo Ghia Estate 2.0 TDCi (130). The car has run very well since I acquired it when 12 months old. Last year I hit a pothole that resulted in the front offside spring fracturing. I...
I refer to you an item in Sundays lifestyle regarding VAG`s 2.0 litre
Diesel engines. For the benefit of someone who is non technical could you explain the benefits of the PD engine against the similarly...
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