Questions from August 2010
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...
How can I replace my 2003 Honda Civic with something just as roomy, quieter and more comfortable, yet still economical? She loves the Mercedes-Benz B-Class, but I say it will be too expensive to run. I...
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'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.
Can a 2006 Ford Mondeo run on 50 per cent diesel and 50 per cent bio diesel?
I just bought a Volkswagen Golf GTI and I have a warranty of either 3000 miles or three months. Trouble is, the garage serviced the car before I bought it and changed the timing belt and pulleys. It is...
On all three occasions I have driven my 2008 diesel Honda CR-V on motorways in the fast lane, and have experienced immediate power loss and have had to cross into the hard shoulder. On every occasion I...
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 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?
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 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)...
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 saw your explanation of indicator etiquette at roundabouts, but felt that it was rather vague and didn’t really answer the question as to which approach lane you should be in. My interest stems from...
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...
For many years I've insured cars (Ford Mondeos) through a leading insurance company. I reached the age of 70 last year and my annual quote increased by some 30 per cent, although it reduced a bit after...
I have been looking at the Alfa GT last special edition. If I kept it for a few years, the costs of buying a soon-to-be-replaced model would lessen and the car is packed with features and remains a thing...
What can I do to make my 2001 BMW 330i model more economical?
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.
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...
I have a Ford Fiesta 1.3 OHV G reg 1989/1990. It starts on the button and runs ok, but will not idle. If you come to a junction and remove your foot from the accelerator, the engine stalls. I have cleaned...
I have a 2002 Peugeot 206 1.4HDI. A couple of weeks ago the engine management light started flickering on and off, and the speedo and the rev counter will read 0 one second them will read 120 miles an...
Can I tow a car back to the dealer? The car in question has been on SORN and it has a current MOT, but I'm insured on the car that would do the towing.
I am trying to find the list of minor traffic offences according to British Law. Is there any legal document or guide available where all minor traffic offences are listed?
I have a 2009 BMW 330d touring with many extras which I bought for £46,000 list new (it now has 16,000 miles). In April of this year it began to run very rough on startup from cold, and didn't go as well...
We have a Ford Mondeo estate. It has always gone pretty well. We went out on Saturday and it drove fine. Stayed at home Sunday and on Monday morning went out to start it up. Nothing. No electrics at all,...
I bought a 55-plate Ford Focus with 51,000 miles on the clock back in February 2009 for £6500. It has now developed an engine fault that my local Ford dealership tell me will cost either £400 plus VAT...
Watching a lady reverse a very large van between my car and the other petrol pump, I was distracted enough to pick up the petrol instead of diesel filler. I only put in two litres of petrol before realising...
I have a 2002 Fiat Stilo Abarth fitted with Selespeed transmission. I have owned the car since 2003. The car has done 36,000 miles. Soon after purchasing the car I noticed that, on starting from cold,...
I recently purchased a 2008 Ford Fiesta Style and, to my amazement, the car came with a key which looks very much like what my grandmother had for her car 15 years ago, a simple plastic thing with no remote...
I bought a 2002 Volkswagen Golf automatic in June 2006 for £6500. Milage was only 16,000. I used it for the last four years and added 20,000 miles on it, so it has 35,000 miles now. During the last few...
My brother has bought a brand new Audi TT and it is using oil - Audi say this is normal. We have a 142,000-mile Volvo V70 diesel and it never uses oil. I believe it indicates a problem with the Audi -...
I recently bought a Ford Focus Powershift diesel and the garage quoted Ford figures of 47-62mpg. It only ever reaches 40mpg. If I had been told this initially I would never have bought it. I feel I have...
My 1998 Chrysler Grand Voyager LE automatic seems to be stuck in a low gear, and won't change up. I was advised to get a new heavy-duty battery, as the original one went flat and wouldn't hold a charge....
I've been looking at the Volkswagen Golf TDi 105PS Bluemotion, but was told today by a fellow Volkswagen fan that I need to beware of their tendency to clog up the diesel particulate filter every 6-800...
I've got a Rover 416 1.6 twin cam. Recently my tappets have got noisy and I was told by the garage that it has self-adjusting tappets. What can I do about this?
Do ANPR cameras automatically pick up drivers with just provisional licence, even thought the car has an MoT, insurance and tax?
My sister has stopped driving due to arthritis, but I feel that she could drive a small automatic. I know that you rate the Hyundai i10, but it seems to have increased in price quite a lot. As I am thinking...
I have a 2007 Volkswagen California camper with 27,000 miles on the clock which went out of warranty on 22 July. An air conditioning hose has split which is going to cost around £700 to replace, because...
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