Questions from August 2010
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...
My BMW 118d is due for new Pirelli runflats soon. How can I tell if the new ones I buy are the latest version with improved ride characteristics?
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...
I have a 2000 Peugeot 406 HDI 90 Rapier. When the engine is warm, the car will not start. Everything works with no warning lights, it's just that it will not catch. After several minutes it catches, or...
My Peugeot 306's cigarette lighter does not work. All the fuses are okay as the dashboard lights and the cigarette light works, and these are all on the same fuse circuit, so I want to purchase a new unit....
I am thinking of buying a Volvo XC70 205 diesel. Are there any potential problems with the turbos I should know about?
I have an 07-plate Skoda Octavia vRS diesel. It has a full Skoda service history with 72,000 miles (the next service is due at 78,000). Recently, the particulate filter warning came on and I followed the...
On saturday I had my catalytic converter cut off while my car was parked in a restaurant car park. I have fully comp insurance with a £250 excess. I reported the incident to the insurer, who sent their...
I shall shortly be taking delivery of a new Golf. The Volkswagen dealership is trying to sell me a paint protection extra at some £300. Is it worth it or would regular polishing do the job just as well?
In your personal opinion, which out of the two manufacturers Ford and Vauxhall do you prefer, and why?
In October 2008 we bought a new Skoda Fabia 2. Recently the electrics all blew and the engine died. I phoned Skoda Assist, the car still being in warranty. They sent the RAC to me and a very nice man arrived...
I have a 1999 Ford Puma 1.7 with a juddering problem and have had two diagnostic checks, but no codes show up. When I take my foot off the accelerator, the car judders. So far I've replaced the catalytic...
When should the cam belt be changed on a Vauxhall Zafira Elegance?
What is the law on 3.5-tonne and 7.5-tonne gross box vehicles in relation to motorway third lane use? The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes must not be used (except in prescribed circumstances)...
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 have run a 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK Cab from new (it's now at 98,000 miles) and I recently had the autobox circuit board replaced by a good specialist garage, as the gear change sometimes stuck in lower...
I looked at a 2009 Vauxhall Insignia Tourer 2.0CDTi Exclusiv yesterday, the dealer's own ex-demonstrator with 7300 miles on the clock and priced at £16,495. I'm part-exchanging my 2004 Vectra Energy 2.0...
The ESP light on my Audi A3 is permanently illuminated. From the fault code I believe it is the much-maligned problem with the ABS pump, which I was completely unaware of until I started doing some research....
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 recently bought a secondhand trailer for my husband which he has completely refurbished. However, when I tried to insure it the insurance company were adamant that they needed the age of the trailer....
There seem to be more and more aftermarket HID headlight conversion kits for sale, being fitted to cars with halogen headlights. I found a statement on the DfT website (link here: http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roadsafety/drs/hidheadlamps...
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?
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 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...
I have a Rover 75 and I'm thinking of getting something smaller and more economical. I'm now retired, living in Dorset and I use the car infrequently for a bit of shopping, but half a dozen times a year...
The outside bolster on my leather seat in my Volvo V50 DSE has a split in it. It's quite narrow at the moment and about four inches long. Is it repairable, and if so do you know of anyone?
I took my Saab 9-3 in for its first service which was completed late and left the car dirty. The garage agreed to collect the car and perform a valet as a gesture of goodwill. However, on returning the...
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've just bought myself a 2001 Ford Focus and I'm fitting some reversing sensors. I need to know which is the colour of the reversing wire that I need to connect the system to.
I am looking for car insurance and I'm totally confused with the different policy offers, particularly with regard to 0 per cent compulsory excess. Help please.
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...
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...
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