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Honest John Ask Honest John » July 2010
Trending topics in July 2010
automatics buying diesels dpf driving electrical faults engine problem fuel economy insurance model changes new cars owning reliability repairs small cars specification starting problem technical issues warranties wheels and tyres
Questions from July 2010
I am in the process of replacing a central locking solenoid on the front door of my 2003 Vauxhall Omega. Having removed all of the obvious retaining screws I still cannot get the door trim to come off....
I wish to buy a secondhand left-hand drive diesel MPV such as a Renault Kangoo or Peugeot Partner but with a cam chain drive, as I live in France. What would you suggest?
I have tyre wear on both tyres, on the near side on the outside of the tyres.
I own a 10-year-old Volkswagen Golf which has done over 176,000 miles and whose MOT is coming up in August. At the time of its last MOT my local mechanic told me that during the following 12 months it...
I recently had an accident with an ambulance and my insurance company has written off my car under category C. Today I found out they have given my car to salvage without even telling me. They didn't even...
I have a problem with engaging gears in my 2002 Ford Mondeo TDCI. When the engine is off, gears shift well but when I start the car I can't put a gear in. If I turn the engine off and start it again (sometimes...
My Nissan Navara's engine is turning over, but not starting. The alarm light on the dashboard does not go out and the central locking isn't working on the key fob. I've replaced the lock set key, ECU,...
I have owned my Rover 216 from new in 1998. It's serviced regularly once a year, but only driven in the summer months doing approximately 2000 miles. Is it still worth servicing considering the age of...
I have an 03-plate 2.2-litre Vauxhall Omega with central locking problems. The back doors lock with the fob but not the front, and the front passenger door doesn't lock when using the key. Also, both front...
I've got a 2004 Volkswagen Sharan TDI diesel, with a Tiptronic gearbox. When I start the engine the car doesn't move. I have to wait approximately 15 minutes and then, when it moves, it lacks power at...
You have given advice previously about the benefits of using runflat tyres. You mentioned some difficulty in travelling abroad and necessarily finding the appropriate tyre, and, I think, recommended taking...
I have a V-reg Peugeot 406 HDI 110bhp with 176,000 on the clock which is well maintained. At random times it loses engine power when running and the speedo drops to '0'. After a mile or so there is a surge...
I've just been into my local Ford dealer with a view to buying a new showroom-displayed and unregistered Ford Galaxy Titanium X 163 2.0 diesel with quite a lot of extras installed from the factory. The...
I am looking to buy a used (57/08) BMW X3 or X5. A slight complication is that I am trying to do this from abroad so I can pick the car up shortly after my return to the UK. This mitigates in favour of...
My Toyota Corolla Verso's rear screen washer isn't working. I've checked the nozzle and that is clear. I am only getting small amounts of foam and no water when operating the stalk switches. It has worked...
The alarm on my SEAT Alhambra keeps going off. I have disconnected the battery to hopefully reset the system, but to no avail. Help is needed urgently, as my neighbours are getting fed up with it in the...
My Volkswagen Polo 1.4SE automatic hesitates when pulling away from stationary. It feels like the electronics are confused. This also happened on my Audi TT with the DSG gearbox. My garage is unable to...
I currently have a licence entitlement of C1 for up to 7.5 tonne lorries, but would like to upgrade to heavier vehicles, say up to 20 tonnes. Nobody can tell me how to do it and how much it will cost....
I am interested in buying either a new or nearly new BMW X1 1.8 diesel or Land Rover Freelander 2 2.2 diesel. I am looking for a 4-wheel drive, 5-door car. Which one do you think would be better value...
Always with an eye for a bargain, I noticed a 2007, 56 reg Daihatsu Sirion 1.3SX with 18,000 miles on the clock, advertised for £4,295. Is this too good to be true? Are there any major potential problems...
We took delivery of a new Mercedes E350CDI Coupe Sport 2 months ago and have completed 2,000 miles. We choose it in comparison with the equivalent BMW and Audi Coupes based on an overall mix of ride, performance,...
My new KIA Venga 2 (1.6 petrol Automatic) is averaging 25mpg over the first 1,500 miles. Is it normal for a new car to drink juice? Average consumption is quoted at 42.6mpg. It has a 7 yr warranty but...
I am writing to seek your advice about the purchase of a new Volvo S80 DRIVe and would appreciate your views about the current quality of Volvo cars. I am taking one out for a test drive tomorrow and from...
This isn't a wind up. I just have no mechanical knowledge. I recently bought a used Lexus RX400h and I cannot hear the engine when pulling away. I was wondering if this is normal as I want to reject the...
I currently run a 2007 VW Touran diesel with 42,000 on the clock, which had some problems with the electronics, eventually sorted by the dealer under guarantee. I no longer need such a large car as it...
My Lexus GS300 is now in its 3rd year, with 14,000 miles on the clock. I am not really impressed with my local Lexus dealer, and am considering a service elsewhere. Are there any pitfalls or considerations...
I’ve just seen your comments in Sunday's paper about 2 year service intervals and related engine failures. I bought my Polo new in July 2006 and when it was a year old (following your advice of course)...
Your Telegraph column of 1st May prompted me to e-mail BMW to question whether the swirls flaps on my 2003 BMW530D engine was a known weakness as reported by you. BMW admits it has modified the inlet manifold...
I have recently been caught for speeding at an alleged 35 mph in a 30mph zone despite having my Tom-Tom set to alert me when exceeding 30mph. To avoid getting any more points for speeding I am keen to...
I own a BMW 320D, just coming up to 4 years old and due for a new set of tyres. I loathe and detest the runflat tyres my car came on. In all the cars I have had I have never experienced such a hard ride,...
I'm looking at buying a 1970 ex-military Land Rover Series IIa 2.25 litre petrol Ambulance. It was used by the army from 1975-1995, covering only 32,500 miles, and has since been sitting on an inland...
My wife and I still have the old style green paper driving licences, of which mine expires when I am 70 in January 2014, and my wife's in 2018. I have been told by several people that we will have to renew...
We are looking to change our Discovery 3 for a new or nearly new convertible and I wonder if you have any suitable suggestions. The car must have some fun factor. The car has to be big enough to accommodate...
I am having real difficulty in getting Volkswagen to honour its corrosion warranty on a second-hand Polo. They have passed me round various different departments, and I have had a number of telephone calls....
For fun, we have just bought an 03 Alfa Romeo 147 that has done 28,000 miles, which is, of course, rather low. It has yearly service stamps but no other maintenance documentation. What checks and maintenance...
My son’s 2006 LandRover Freelander diesel seems to be getting diesel into the engine oil. We changed the oil 2 weeks ago, and the dipstick shows more oil now than after we changed it. I drained the oil...
I have had my 2.0 litre petrol Focus Estate for over 10 years now and done about 107,000 miles on the original clutch with only one change of exhaust and battery so think it is time to change. I have been...
Having persuaded my 93 yr old father to give up driving, his 14 yr old car has been parked up in the garage for 10 months (still seems to run well and in good nick) but is not insured, MoT'd or taxed (SORN)....
I am in dispute with Nissan in Basingstoke because they sold my wife a Micra on the basis of no model changes inside a year from the date of purchase, and she signed the purchase order 4 days after the...
Many thanks for your advice on the quotation I obtained from Mercedes Watford of £ 2,700 odd to replace a pair of front suspension struts and provide a new pump to the system on my 2004 E class Mercedes....
I have been offered a Freelander turbo diesel 5 door sport spec – 2004 reg with 19,000 miles on the clock at a cost of £7,000. Are you aware of any inherent repetitive faults on this model, or could you...
Your answer to a reader with a whining manual transmission on his 6 month old Honda Jazz stated, “Honda is now very wisely asking you to bring the car back to have the transmission oil drained (together...
I own a Ford Focus 1.6 Automatic Reg 2009 on mobility. I have done approximately 2,000 miles but get only 33.3 mpg. This feels low to me. Dealer said that it would improve over time. I don't feel this...
I have had a 2007 Volvo V50 2litre diesel since new (company car) and have covered over 80,000 miles in it. I note that you do not normally recommend this car in the Telegraph but for what its worth I...
My wife bought a new Polo in January. Whenever the TP button (traffic information) is in operation, there is frequent interruption by other stations, some of which are no more than a quick interruption...
Ever since seeing a picture of some 14,000 "scrappage" cars parked on a disused airfield, I have been appalled at the shocking waste of a useful resource this represents, and wondered what, if anything,...
I purchased a 2006 Vauxhall Zafira from a dealer, in March 2010. Mileage 59,000, current mileage 61,000. 1600cc. A flashing engine management light was rectified by a garage recommended by dealer, and...
My partner recently moved to the UK from the US and is insured on my car under her US licence. I understand that driving on a foreign licence is permissible for a period of up to 1 year from the date of...
My sister lives in the once Liberal borough of Richmond. She spoke on the doorstep to Susan Kramer, prospective Liberal parliamentary candidate for that borough. Ms Kramer told her that one of the main...
The MoT on my 2003 Jaguar X-Type 3.0l Sport Manual expired on Wednesday. Last week I booked it into an MoT centre in Bath and took it there on Monday. I was very confident that it would sail through -...
 

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