Questions from August 2010
I am given to believe that the actuating rod on the turbo of our Ford Focus 1800 turbodiesel is sticking with the wastegate held open, causing the engine to run with greatly reduced power. I understand...
Could you tell how to change the air filter on a Peugeot 206 GLX 1.6 1999 please?
I've got a Ford Mondeo Mk3 2.0 TDI. It lost all power and then produced white smoke, then it stalled and would not start again. When it cooled down it started, but was very lumpy and with smoke, then stalled...
The brakes on my 2005 Volkswagen Polo are grabbing on at the front after driving for a short distance. The callipers and pistons are fine, I've changed the master cylinder and its still not making any...
My Peugeot 307 1.6 diesel has just failed the MoT on emissions. There are no warnings on the dash and my mechanic is unsure of where to start to fix the problem. The average smoke reading is 3.28 (pass...
I've got a problem with my 1997 Vauxhall Vectra 2-litre diesel R-reg. I was driving it, then the management light came on and the car cut out. The AA come out and gave me fault codes P1220N , P1535P and...
I have a Rover 220. The wipers get stuck when on intermittent. I have changed the motor and it still happens. Does anyone know were the relays are for it?
How do I access my Mk3 Toyota MR2's fog lamps to change the bulbs?
Can you tell me what the cam belt change interval is for a Volkswagen Touran 1.9 SE TDI?
Hi, I'm looking for good 185-60-14 tyres to get my Sylva kit car back on the road. I have a number of parameters, but progressiveness is about top, followed by wet weather performance. Any ideas of good...
My 2004 Saab 9-5 3.0 TDI's pressure sensor warning light has come on. The warranty company has proposed sending the turbo away to be reconditioned at cost of £500, as opposed buying a new turbo from Saab...
My Y-reg Mercedes-Benz SLK is starting to become very rusty. It started at the boot handle, and is now affecting all sills. Someone told me that this is a fault associated with Y-reg Mercedes-Benz models...
I have recently purchased a 2003 Mercedes-Benz CLK with the 2.6 V6 engine. It does not appear to have had the spark plugs changed since it was manufactured. It has done a genuine 46,000 miles with a full...
My Nissan Almera has a very noisy gearbox. The car shakes when reversing, and to select reverse gear is very difficult. In neutral it doesn't make much noise but when you put it in gear and drive it makes...
Just wondering if you can give me your overall opinion of the 2008 Honda Civic 1800 VTEC?
I purchased a Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI brand new from a dealer in 2007. The car is now out of warranty. After I bought it I later found out that the model in question had an oil pump issue, and with 38,000...
I swapped my running moped for a spares or repair motorcycle. When I swapped we did not fill in the V5s or send them off because he did not have his V5 on him at the time and i forgot to get a receipt....
I'm trying to find out when the Skoda Octavia will be replaced. I know it was facelifted, which suggests a new model is in the pipeline. Can you help? Would you choose the 1.6 or 2.0 diesel? The book suggests...
I have a Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 petrol engine 51 plate. About a month ago the engine management light came on after I travelled about 150 miles, and a trustworthy garage that was recommended to me reset the...
We want to replace our ageing Volkswagen Polo. We've noticed that the Nissan Note seems good value due to poor residuals. We have £5000 to spend and expect to get about six years' service without too many...
Is my Suzuki Grand Vitara supposed to hesitate under acceleration, and can I fit a remapping device?
My one-year-old Suzuki Grand Vitara has just reached 13,000 miles. Full torque on this engine is at 1950rpm, but the RPM pick up is slow. Then it seems like a switch is thrown and the engine develops a...
I am thinking of buying a 1997 Jeep Cherokee but the heater matrix needs replacing or repairing. How difficult is this and what is the approximate cost?
I've been for a test drive in a 2004 Vauxhall Corsa 1.4 SRI with 63,000 miles, and noted a faint whirring noise when I eased off in all gears. When I depress the clutch the noise stops. The car is 100...
Why have the power socket and cigar lighter in the rear of my 2007 Ford Mondeo have stopped working?
For some reason, both the cigar lighter and the auxiliary power socket in the rear passenger area of my 2007 Ford Mondeo are not working. I have checked the fuses and they appear ok. Any ideas please?
I have some information about the long-term reliability of airbags. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) in the US has crash-tested a rusty 1972 Chevrolet Impala, the oldest vehicle that they...
I purchased a Grande Espace 06-plate 2.2DCI for £9999 with a full service history from a well-known internet dealer, plus a three-year AA warranty for £899. I went on holiday three weeks ago and the engine...
In early July my wife decided to buy a new Hyundai i20, partly because of the financial package available. A deposit was placed on the car and delivery given as July 24th. The salesman rang twice a week...
My Honda Accord is ten years old (I've had it for six of those) with 97,000 miles on the clock and it feels like it could do the same again with no problem. But I'm concerned that any car of this age will...
My 1997 Escort GTI keeps losing power. When I start it up it idles fine, but when I press the accelerator it chugs and splutters when it is cold. Took it on a run yesterday and intermittantly it loses...
How much is the 12-month road tax renewal for my 2001 Renault Espace likely to cost me?
I just noticed a leak from the rear of my Peugeot 207 HDI. I've been told its Eolys fluid. Is this serious, and why would it leak?
My Ford Focus 1600 Zetec's engine management light has started to come on, then the speedo goes to zero. Even the little LCD window on the speedo reads nothing. The miles dont register and the engine starts...
On 27 June I ordered a new car over the phone from a main dealer. I used an internet broker to get the deal but am still paying several hundred pounds more. I was happy with this as the dealer is close...
I have a Vauxhall Astra automatic that started to play up. The gearbox and engine management lights have both come on. The car drives and changes gears but I have to change them myself. What could be the...
I just bought a 2003 Ford Fusion 2. I am losing water in the expansion tank. No leaks anywhere, no temperature increases. What can it be?
I have a 2007 (07) 1.2 Volkswagen Urban Fox. I have had the car from new and have recently begun to drive around 25,000 per annum. Given my current mileage and my desire for a slightly higher powered vehicle,...
My wife and daughter both have Vauxhall Corsas. A 2000 X-reg 16v Corsa Club. 1199cc petrol hatchback and a 2003 03-reg Corsa Club 12v 973cc 4-door petrol. A couple of mechanics have said these models...
Twice in the past year you have answered a similar question to 'is it economical to coast in neutral down hill'. Both times your answer is wrong! Of course you are correct that in neutral the engine is...
My son is a photographer who sometimes carries 9-foot backdrop rolls to shoots, as well as lighting poles etc, and needs to replace his ageing Shogun Sport. He would like better fuel economy, and occasional...
My 2005 Citroen C4' VTR's engine management light keeps lighting and telling me the de-pollution system is faulty. Any ideas?
I'm looking to buy a cheap 7-seater as my current Ford Galaxy has just gave up. I between £2000-£3000 to spend. I do a lot of town driving so I am guessing a diesel would be more economical. I'm wanting...
If I am looking for a diesel Transit or Toyota Hiace, which year should I look for to find the latest model without a DPF? Does the Hyundai i800 have a DPF, and out of the three vehicles mentioned which...
I was recently in a car park when another car nearby caught fire. Luckily I was able to move my car away, but if the fire had damaged my car would I have had to claim from my insurance or that of the car...
My wife put our Citroen C4 Grand Picasso in reverse gear on our drive, and as she started to move backwards there was a loud bang and the car shuddered. She checked she had not hit anything, started up...
For my next car I fancy buying something cheap to run with a low or zero tax disc price. I'm thinking about a used Toyota IQ. With such a small engine, would there be a mileage limit above which I shouldn't...
I have 10k max to spend on a car. I need it to be economical but nippy. It has to be roomy and safe, reliable and cheap to service as I commute 16,000 miles per year. I want something that's fun to drive...
I have a new 2010 Vauxhall Meriva and have found a problem with water getting inside the door panels when it rains or when washing the car, which obviously sits inside the bottom of the doors until the...
I have lost the keys to my son's S-reg Ford Fiesta. He is due to take his test in three weeks and I am dreading telling him. I am going to have to replace the driver's door lock and ignition barrel,...
I was driving my 56 plate face lift Mercedes-Benz E280 CDI Avantgarde estate today when the back wheels started to bounce. I pulled over and found the body had almost dropped onto the back wheels, with...
I'm looking to buy a Smart car and am trying to find out which year they started to become right-hand drive. I am desperately trying to find a right-hand drive, group one Smart car. I have been advised...
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