How can I stop my Honda HR-V's alarm going off?

I own a 2000 Honda HR-V three-door hatchback which I purchased in 2002 from our local dealer. At the beginning of this year the alarm started going off randomly when I used the key fob or when I started...

Why can foreign bank transfers be recalled months or years later?

I know you're not necessarily a banking/finance expert, but how or why is it that a payment made from a foreign bank can be recalled months or even years later? That doesn't make any sense!

Can I use Castrol Magnatec 10w-40 A3/B3 in my Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

I own a W-reg Mercedes-Benz 320 E-Class diesel. I have some oil, Castrol Magnatec 10w-40 A3/B3 MB 229.1, but it does not say diesel on the can. Can I use this oil?

Should my Renault Megane Coupe have snapped a second cam belt so soon?

I have an 02 Renault Megane Coupe and had the mis-pleasure of the cam belt snapping on me two years ago. The car had done 75,000 miles. This, I understand, was very good going for the first belt. But two...

Can anyone help with what I think is an immobiliser fault on my Chrysler Voyager?

I posted a question last Monday 9 Aug 2010 but as yet has had no response. My Chrysler Voyager is completely immobilised at the moment. The red light is permanently on and there is no ticking over of the...

I've bought a used Vauxhall Corsa which is wearing tyres unevenly - could it be out of alignment?

I have recently purchased a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXI three-door on an 03 plate. I put two new tyres on the front of the car in May and the front passenger tyre has worn illegal already! I haven't done more...

Should I buy a diesel Nissan Qashqai for 13,000 miles a year?

I am looking to buy a new Nissan Qashqai and I wondered if it's better to buy a diesel or petrol version. My average mileage is 13,000 per year.

Why won't my Mitsubishi Grandis start when warm?

My 2006 Mitsubishi Grandis 2.0 diesel (Volkswagen engine) starts fine in the mornings and when cold. However, when I drive a few miles then stop, wait a few minutes and then try to start again the engine...

I bought a Mercedes-Benz A-Class 10 months ago and it's failed its MoT - can I go back to the dealer?

I purchased a secondhand 51-plate Mercedes-Benz A-Class from a main dealer 10 months ago. I have only done 1300 miles in it since then. I have taken it for an MoT today and they have informed me the car's...

Can I reject my Subaru Outback which has a wobbling steering wheel?

I bought a brand new Subaru Outback Boxer diesel in June this year. I have returned the car on two occasions for niggly problems and the steering wheel wobbles at 70 to 75mph. The dealer has balanced the...

Where can I sell my Volkswagen Jetta?

I will, in the very near future, be getting a job with a company car, which leaves me with the issue of selling my current car and not being able to part-ex. I have a Volkswagen Jetta, 56 reg with 57,000...

How much will it cost to replace my Ford Mondeo ST24's rear suspension arm?

My 2000 ST24 Ford Mondeo estate ST24 has just failed its MOT. It requires a lower rear suspension arm. How much should this part cost and how much should i expect to pay to have it fitted?

Is your table regarding tax bands for the Porsche Cayenne still accurate?

Is this table still accurate? www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tax/porsche/cayenne-2003 According to the DVLA website below, band K includes cars that have a CO2 figure over 225g/km but were registered before...

Which diesel engine is best in the Citroen Picasso?

I'm thinking of buying a Citroen Picasso diesel. I would like the version that has the most powerful and reliable engine out of the 1.6HDI and 2.0HDI. The 1.6HDI has a 16v engine, and the 2.0HDI is 8v....

Might Renault contribute to repairing my Megane CC's turbocharger?

I recently had a turbo failure (as assessed by Renault mechanics) which has caused the potential for a replacement engine on my Megane CC. I have made some investigations on the web and have found that...

Will Toyota contribute to repairing my 2009 Land Cruiser's failed clutch and dual mass flywheel?

I have a 2009 Toyota Land Cruiser LC5 3.0 diesel manual D4D with 29,000 miles. This week it suffered what appears to be clutch failure. I recovered the car to my local independent garage (the nearest Toyata...

Who would you recommend for repairing a large scratch on my Toyota Avensis' bonnet?

I have a nine-inch scratch on the bumper of my Metallic Silver Toyota Avensis. Can you advise what the best way to repair this will be? I plan to sell the car in the next 6-12 months and wonder if it is...

Will Citroen contribute to repairing corroded fuel injectors on our C3?

My wife has an 05 Citroen C3 which we are very pleased with. However, it has just been diagnosed with 'corroded fuel injectors' due to leaking from the windscreen washer jets! This will cost us £500 to...

Why won't my Vauxhall Zafira's fog lamps or air conditioning work?

I have a 2002 Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 petrol and it has three faults. The front fog lamps don't work. They are fitted and plugged in. Also, the rear fog lamps don't work - I have checked and replaced the bulbs....

Does the Volkswagen Jetta have a known oil pump defect?

I'm buying a 2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.0 TDI sport and have read your review of it. I am a little concerned about the oil pump failure you mention. I have asked the dealer to check it, as the car has done...

I bought a Vauxhall Astra six weeks ago that has broken down - is the dealer liable?

I bought a 2005 Vauxhall Astra 1.7CDTI from a dealer on 3 June 2010. About two weeks ago I was driving home and had a temporary loss of power at 60 mph, but this rectified itself after about one second....

Why doesn't my car have fifth gear?

I have no drive in fifth gear. It goes in but the engine just revs. There are no other problems with any other gear and it drives well.

What is the difference between Mazda 6 models?

What is the difference between Mazda 6 models eg. TS, TS2 and Sport?

Should my new Audi be petrol or diesel?

I'm looking at buying an Audi soon but I don't know what engine to get. I only do approximately 50 miles during the week and, on some weekends, 100 or more. I'm thinking of the 1.9 TDI or 2.0TDI, but which...

I've bought a car with missing MOT certificates - is this important?

I have just purchased a car and found that there are three MOT certificates missing. Is this important?

Can I disconnect the immobiliser in my Rover 216?

I have just purchaced a Rover 216 SLI left-hand drive to go to Italy next year. It has the Honda engine and it will stand in Italy for a few months of the year, but we are concerned about the immobiliser...

Could faulty brakes have caused an accident in a Mazda MX-5 I just bought?

I bought a Mazda-approved MX-5 in January from a dealership, and in June I had an accident which I thought was my fault. The insurance paid for the repair at a cost of £600 plus excess. When the car came...

I bought a stolen car - are the police within their rights to confiscate it?

I have bought a stolen car and the police have taken the car from me. However, I have not got any proof from the police that the car is stolen. The logbook came from the DVLA originally and my name is...

A dealer cracked my windscreen whilst MOTing my car - should they replace the screen?

I took my car to a garage I've been using for many years for a standard MOT. On the whole, I'm happy with the service they provide and have not had any complaints. Today, I went to collect my car and paid...

Can I reject my problematic BMW 320 even though it's on finance?

I bought my BMW convertible 320 CI on a 56 plate a few months ago. There was a noise coming from the car within the first month and the windows seemed to have a mind of their own. The garage where the...

I've bought a used Fiat Punto with a number of faults - where do I stand?

I bought a secondhand 2001 Fiat Punto from a local small independent car dealer. The car came with a one-month warranty covering mechanical problems. Soon after buying the car, I started having issues...

Must I go through an insurance claim after damaging another car, or can I pay for the damage myself?

I bumped a girl's Volkswagen Polo in an the work car park on the near-side wing. I have stated that I would pay for the damage I had caused rather than go through the insurance. She stated that it would...

Can I switch to an Irish driving licence to avoid a speeding fine?

I was caught doing 105mph in a 60mp limit two days ago. I have a clean licence but have just passed my test four weeks ago. Can I quickly exchange my licence for a irish one and avoid a ban? I'm a lorry...

My car was damaged in an airport car park - is the car park operator responsible?

I recently returned from a holiday and had left my vehicle in an airport car park. The procedure was to park the car in a bay and hand in the keys to reception for them to take the car and park it in a...

How do I access my Mazda 6's idle control valve?

I have a 2007 Mazda 6 2-litre TS with 44,000 on the clock, which has developed an erratic idle speed when first coming onto idle from higher revs. This then smooths out to a constant level and stays level...

My Fiat Punto won't start after a head gasket replacement. Is the timing out?

I have a 2002 Fiat Punto on which I have replaced the head gasket and timing belt. I aligned the belt to the specified marks in the book but the engine won't fire. It's just popping through the carb. Is...

What size are the front brake calliper bolts on my 2006 Toyota Yaris?

Can you tell me the size of the brake calliper bolts on the front brakes of a 2006 Toyota Yaris 1.0L T3? I have tried an 11mm and 12mm socket but the bolt does not appear to be moving out of the thread....

Why doesn't my Nissan Terrano alarm make any sound?

I have a Nissan Terrano TDI. The alarm system, when activated, will only set off the lights. There is no sound. Is there a fuse for the sounder?

What are the intervals for cam belt changes on the Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner?

I would be really grateful if you could confirm the interval to change the cam belt for both the old style (pre-2008) Citroen Berlingo and Peugeot Partner, giving mileage and years, whichever is the earliest....

How do I start off as a car trader?

I just lost my job and decided to try and work for myself. I've bought numerous cars over the years on a casual basis from various auctions and never had any bother. I try and buy nice clean cars and am...

Why are my Citroen Saxo VTR's brakes weak on one side?

My Citroen Saxo VTR recently failed an MOT due to the offside rear brake producing little or no effort. I had to replace the calliper, discs and pads on the rear of the car anyway, but this has not resolved...

My car needs a new clutch but the warranty doesn't cover it. What can I do?

i bought a car in April 2010 and last week either the clutch or slave/master cylinder has gone. The car has three months' original Peugeot warranty left, and then the dealer's warranty starts. Both are...

Which comfortable small car for long and short trips?

I would like a small car, maybe new or newish. I cover two main journeys - to London (about 80 miles round trip) and to Dorset (about 180 miles round trip) - and short local journeys. I enjoy comfort and...

My Ford Mondeo screeches under acceleration - why?

I have a Ford Mondeo 2-litre TDCi. I put some V-Power fuel in it last week and it started belching out black smoke and misfiring more than usual. On further investigation i noticed the large pipe near...

Why is my Ford Puma overheating?

I’ve had my Ford Puma now for a month and the car overheats. I changed the water pump but it's still doing it, and my fan is not working. Can you help please?

Why won't Volkswagen replace my Golf's oxidised alloy wheels?

I bought in November 2009 (privately) a Volkswagen Golf GTI (January 2008) with 9300 miles and a full Volkswagen dealer service history. I noticed, only a month after major servicing at my local Volkswagen...

I'm looking at a 2003 Ford Focus - are they prone to problems?

i am currently looking for a new car and came across a 2003 Ford Focus 1.8 TDDI Zetec three-door with 92,000 miles. The asking price is around £2800. Is this a reasonable price and are there any problems...

Can marshals for a motorcycle demonstration fit amber LEDs to aid safety?

I'm a Marshal for a group of demonstrating motorcyclists in a well-known London group. We are planning a ride around the North Circular and then a ride around the M25. The ride involves hundreds of motorcycles...

How should I approach Volkswagen about an ESP light fault in my Jetta?

The ESP light has come on in my 2007 Volkswagen Jetta. How should I approach Volkswagen with this problem? I have 26,000 miles on the clock and my three-year warranty ran out in May. From your website...

Should I change the oil in my new BMW 520d after 1200 miles?

Hi, I have the new F10 520d BMW. The first service is only after 20,000 miles. Would you recommend an oil change at least after the first 1200 miles? I was planning to get this done by an independent BMW...