Questions from August 2010
I am looking for a used car to replace my own. I spotted a black Ford Fusion that looks like a steal on Autotrader. Unfortunately, that may literally be the case. I called the dealership a few minutes...
I bought a car from an independent car dealer at the start of July, which still had four months' manufacturer's warranty left. The car advert stated warranted miles and a full service history. Two weeks...
Last week I signed up for a 10-plate Ford Mondeo Titanium X hatchback at £17,995 - bargain! I also part-exchanged the wife's Volkswagen Golf 1.6 for £6000. I rang the salesman to arrange a swap the day...
I have just been given a quote of £1500 to replace my BMW 530d's turbo. Is this about right? This is from a main dealer.
I am looking at a Ford S-Max tonight. It's manual, seven-seater, 56 plate and has done 28,710 miles, with only one owner. Any known problems with these vehicles?
Can you tell me if I have been wasting my money putting Shell V-Power petrol into my Toyota Auris?
I had the AA man come and recover my 1998 Mk4 Volkswagen Golf, and he whittled the non-starting problem down to a fuel pump. Would you know where the fuel pump is located?
I have a 2007 Mercedes-Benz E220 CDi Estate, which I love, bought for its boot space to carry a disabled scooter, and also because our immediate families live at opposite ends of the country, so long journeys...
I have a 2001 Vauxhall Corsa three-cylinder with about 70,000 miles on the clock. The emissions light has come on and stayed on. It seems to run OK - no coughing and spluttering. My local garage has done...
In May I bought a 2009 Citroen Berlingo Multispace. On the day I collected the car, I noticed that the owner's handbook was missing. The salesman said he would sort one out for me and be in touch. Despite...
Is it possible for a management warning light to come on and no faults be detected on a diagnostic machine? I have had a recent nightmare with my Citroen C3. The flashing MIL light came on and four unknown...
My son has just graduated and is starting his first job, which will involve driving approximately 15,000 miles pa. He is to be given a car allowance of £400p/m and 0.17p per business mile. I'd like to...
After towing my caravan with my Jeep Commander for a day, the next day I find that the power steering is very stiff and seems to grind for about 200 yards. Then all seems OK. Any ideas why?
I have a Citroen Xsara Picasso (diesel) with 91,000 miles on the clock. A squealing noise, sounding like a slack alternator drive belt, developed when accelerating. The car was booked into the nearest...
The sensor light for my ABS in my car has been coming off and on for the last few weeks. I took it to a local garage and they told me to take it to the Vauxhall Garage 40 miles away to get it replaced...
I have agreed to buy a car from a dealer which is a category C write-off, but has been repaired and has had a VIC check. The car only appears to have had a minor rear end shunt, which broke the bumper...
My 57-reg Saab 9-3 is coming to the end of my lease agreement. It has 33,000 miles on the clock, with no major problems encountered so far. On completion of the lease, I can either give it back, take out...
I'm in negotiations to buy a 1997 Ford Galaxy TDI with all the equipment like air conditioning. I don't understand cars much, so is this a good car? What are the car's good characteristics, and what I...
My wife was driving our 2004 Ford Focus 1.8 petrol model yesterday when the steering became heavy and the brakes hardly worked. The onboard computer displayed the messages "engine system failure" and "braking...
I have a Volvo S80. Sometimes, when I push from second gear to first, it gets brushy or stiff. When I stop the engine and put it in reverse, it clears. Why?
My 2004 Mazda 6 diesel estate's clutch has failed for the third time at 60,000 miles. After some coercion, Mazda paid for replacements one and two (at 9000 and 22,000 miles respectively) but will not contribute...
I have just taken my Vauxhall to the garage as the engine management light is on. The fault reader showed code P113 - 'door inactivation position sensor'. The garage has never heard of this and couldn't...
I'm absolutely hopeless on these matters but I've got a leak somewhere in my radiator. I'm having to top up the coolant every few days. I bought some Radweld, but to me the directions aren't clear as to...
When travelling at approximately 75mph in the fast lane on a motorway, my 2006 Audi A6 Allroad diesel lost power. The engine was still turning over but the car was going slower and slower. Despite trying...
I think I have been mis-sold a warranty, given a false MOT and charged for unnecessary work on a high-end car. Is there anyone I can email or speak to confidentially? The dealer will not speak to me but...
I drive a 2000W BMW 318SE that I really enjoy but it has not been without problems. It has done 90,000 miles. My wife drives an 06 reg Nissan Note 1.4SE that has done 40,000 miles. Its load carrying capability...
We have just bought a second hand car from a dealer and we found we had to immediately replace broken rear springs and shock absorbers. We understand that we can claim against the dealer, especially as...
My wife and I do 400 motorway miles every weekend and carry a lot of kit. An estate is essential. We have a Mercedes E240 2005 petrol model estate at present which has done 95,000 miles and which has always...
I purchased my 406 automatic, petrol engine, new in June 2000 from a main dealer in France. After about 6 months and coming down an incline on a Spanish motorway I had to brake forcefully to avoid someone...
My 5-year-old Rover 75 Connoisseur SE CDTi diesel has covered 29,000 miles and will average 48 miles per gallon on a long run dropping to 43 on short runs. My independent garage has recommended Shell V...
I love my Honda CR-V Auto bought new 2002. I have done 48,000 miles with never a problem, and only just replaced the tyres. However you have troubled me with your comment, "most cars are built to last...
In March I wrote, “My 23-year-old daughter is to return to car ownership after four car-free years as a student. The usual advice from all quarters was steering her towards a 4 or 5-year-old Fiesta, given...
I was recently prosecuted for speeding by the North Wales police and fined for the third time in my 50 years of driving. However, I feel that I must join this technological age and provide myself with...
I bought a new BMW 320iSE in Feb 2010. My wife has experienced severe backache and problems since then. Cushions of varying shapes and of orthopaedic standard have been purchased, but the problem remains....
I have a three-year-old BMW 320D with automatic transmission. Recently I have noted that occasionally the car rocks from side to side, as if being subjected to a strong side wind, when being held stationary...
I have had problems with the A/C on my 2004 Renault Laguna Sport Tourer intermittently not working over a period of time and sometimes emitting an audible whine when the engine revs go high on changing...
With reference to the email from FM printed on May 29th I have a love hate relationship with the Honda Jazz. The 08 Jazz I loved.
The 010 I absolutely hate. 1: The transmissions are dangerous in 1st and...
I unwittingly drove down a dead end in Dalston and used a factory entrance to turn round. I noticed a man in uniform filming me. About a month later I got a bill for £300, for trespassing on private property....
My brother-in-law has an 8-year-old BMW X5 diesel from new (85k miles). It has always been serviced by the same garage he bought it from in Surrey. Four days ago he was told that his A/C was “shot”, and...
I have just acquired a rural property access to which will involve about 2 miles along first a semi gravel road and then an unmade dirt track to the house entrance. The visits I have made already suggest...
What please is the ‘Credit Hire Racket’? What frightened me was that VC had, apparently received a written assurance from his Insurance that all was ‘done and dusted.’
I own an 8-year-old Mercedes CLK Cabriolet. It has become increasingly difficult to keep the soft top clean even though I have tried different options. The problem appears to be a green moss/fungus that...
I have a 2007/57 Vectra estate with the 1800 petrol engine. At low revs in 1st/2nd gear I sometimes get a power loss for a few seconds. It then needs some revs to get going. After reading a few articles...
My son-in-law mentioned that he is considering having a chip installed in his Audi two litre diesel engine. It is a 2007 model. It seems that a chip will increase both horsepower and economy. I read something...
As a result of ill health, my good friend is considering selling his
Jaguar XK120, which he has owned for 56 years. It is in superb roadworthy condition with some racing history and is used on a fairly...
I have recently bought a one owner 1999 Mercedes 230SLK with 40,000 miles on the clock for a bit of summer motoring. It's a lovely car and I paid £7,995 for it from a good dealer but not a specific Mercedes...
Your advice to KS who was speeding to his pregnant wife fortuitously comes after a report in the Daily Telegraph of a police officer caught driving at 68mph in a 30mph zone because his baby was sick. He...
I live Guangxi (South China). Just about all the traffic lights here have countdowns with them. Also they are LED types and very bright. They are positioned above the roads and the other side of the junctions...
Our 18-year-old son is about to take his driving test and needs a car. He has been offered a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2i 16v Design Twinport 3 door with 54 plate for £2,800. The car is from reliable friends so...
I own an Audi A4 2.0 TDI S-Line 09/09. The car has now done 25,500 miles. Last weekend the service indicator warned me that the oil would need changing in a further 1,600 miles. This surprised me somewhat...
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