Questions from August 2010
I have an Audi A3 which I bought new in 2007 and now has done 19,000 miles. The car has recently developed a noise at the front, so I took it into an Audi dealership for investigative work. They discovered...
How do you set up the lights on a Vauxhall Vectra? I need distance and height to set lights up against a wall.
I have just paid a £200 cash deposit on a used car at a trader's premises. We test drove it and the car appeared ok. At the time I had no internet access, however on return home I carried out a VOSA MOT...
I have a Ford Fiesta 1.2 Finesse 04 plate, petrol engine. When the fuel level goes below 1/4 of a tank, the car starts stuttering, like it's losing power, then suddenly gets it back again. The lower the...
I run my own furnishing business and cover about 50,000 miles per year. I currently have a 2006 Skoda Octavia Mk2 1.9TDI estate which is coming up to 165,000 miles. It has been very good, but the driver's...
We are looking to spend £3500-£4000 on an estate-type car - a runaround used for a daily commute of only three miles and longer journeys at weekends with our dog. We're looking to keep running costs reasonably...
We bought a 2001 Citroen Xsara Picasso HDi on your recommendation in 2006. It's a great car, but now we are looking for something a little bigger to transport two people, two dogs, camping gear and our...
There is an online car broker which is advertising new 2010 1.0-litre Kia Picantos for £6593, representing a £632 discount off the RRP. They state that the colour white is the default colour. However,...
My glow plugs are fully working, but when I try starting my car whilst the glow plugs are connected to the car they don't work.
I have a 2001 Ford Mondeo Ghia x2.0. When I first got the car over a year ago I was averaging 35-40mpg around town and 45-55mpg on the motorway. Recently my fuel economy has dropped to 24mpg around town!...
I'm looking for a reliable diesel for £1000. Which is the best to go for? I need something that does roughly 50mpg and doesn't brake down very often, if not at all, as I travel a lot.
I need to repair some damaged paintwork on my Nissan Micra - a big chunk has fallen off. Do I buy a filler or should I be looking for something else?
After being in storage for two years I am getting my son's 1998 Volkswagen Golf back on the road. The power hood worked perfectly before, but it has now decided not to work. It appears to be interlocked...
I am finally in a position to indulge in a two-seat sports car and would welcome your advise regarding the best Nissan 350Z version to buy. I could get a high mileage (50,000) 2008 GT version for about...
Whilst driving along in my Volkswagen Golf IV automatic I heard a bang, and my car stopped and wouldn't restart. The AA diagnosed a fuel pump failure. With a new one fitted, the car starts easily, but...
On my insurance policy it states that my car is parked in my garage overnight. However, on the day my car was stolen it was parked on the road outside my house. Would this stop insurance company paying...
I had a knocking noise from my P-reg Ford Fiesta's front offside wheel. I was told it was a warped wheel so I changed to a full set of alloys, but now I have a humming noise from the same wheel and the...
How do I get into the bulbs on my Vauxhall Astra 1995 GLS? I think the bulbs have blown behind the dash - I have tried the fuse and dimmer dial with no joy. Also the stereo, a Blaupunkt, isn't working...
I have read in some car workshop manuals that threads of screw should be clean and dry before fixing, but I have read one thread on here about applying copper grease onto the thread of a glow plug. Could...
My old workhorse Ford Mondeo estate failed the MOT on front anti-roll bar bushes. I got her on the ramps this evening to have a look and I noted that the bar will move side to side through a good six inches,...
I sold my 1996 Toyota RAV4 privately. I've owned it since 2007. The buyer contacted me and said he'd done an HPI check and it came up with a CoD against my car, issued in September 2009. The DVLA agrees...
During a business trip to Germany, some minor damage (scuffing of paintwork) occurred to my rental car. The chap at the returns office suggested it would probably polish out. Europcar has now sent me a...
My Citroen C4 Picasso broke down six weeks ago and I had to leave it at an approved Citroen dealer and return to Edinburgh by train. It is out of warranty by six months. Citroen are still unable to give...
I bought a Peugeot 407 HDi from a trader. The third day after buying the car it started to misfire and lose power, and then after a few miles would clear itself. I took it back to the trader who took it...
I recently bought an Audi A4 Avant 1.8SE from a dealer. It was registered in 2002 so I assumed (incorrectly) that it was a B6 model and priced it accordingly. it was priced at £3795. It had completed 71,000...
I have received a parking ticket advising contravention of Code 27. It states that I parked in a special enforcement area adjacent to a dropped footway. Does anyone know what a special enforcement area...
The Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) Warning light recently illuminated on the dashboard of my wife's BMW 1 Series. We consulted the manual which stated the car was still safe to drive. As the car was under...
I need an estate car with good reliability, and I want an automatic with reasonable economy. I have about £10,000 plus my trade-in. I am thinking of a used Passat, Mazda 6 or Volvo V70 and I know from...
I have been living in the Cayman Islands for the last three years and I have a 60 per cent no-claims discount. I am moving back to the UK and have been trying to get insurance, but a lot of the insurance...
Can you explain to me why the motor trade is so keen to promote colour coded bumpers and side rubbing strips, to the extent that it is now very difficult to purchase a car (Peugeot and Citroen being honourable...
We bought a 2007 Honda Jazz in May from a Honda dealer, and so far I am very pleased with it. However, whilst we were on holiday recently, a friend noticed a soot-like deposit on the front wheel hubs,...
I was driving my car today. I went into town and on returning to my car it wouldn't start, but I have full power to the dash, central locking and lights, so I bump-started it and it started first time....
I recently received a renewal insurance premium quote of £375.41. This is 33 per cent increase on last years price of £283.42, despite having made no claims. The quote also included legal protection for...
My 10-month-old Hyundai i10 has been in the local dealer's workshop for a month, waiting for a head gasket to be sent from India. I have made a verbal complaint to the head office and the workshop staff...
I've bought a 1997 Peugeot 306 TD 1.9. After a couple of weeks I noticed that when my turbo started to kick in I would get a lot of smoke coming from the exhaust for four or five seconds, then it would...
My local garage has a brand new MG TF for around £14,500. They say that this is a good buy because there are only 26 of these cars in the UK and they have two of them. They say that production of this...
My 1.9 2003 Renault Kangoo diesel hesitates at idle speed and produces excessive smoke. I removed the EGR plug and its now working fine. Which sensor gives info to EGR and computer?
I purchased front fog lights and a stalk with the foglight setting on it for my Peugeot 406. I've fitted them all but have no power. All the wires were already there, I just plugged them in. I've been...
I'm in the process of choosing my new car. I definitely want a four-wheel drive because I like to drive to the mountains in wintertime. My primary concern is great handling of the car for fast cornering....
Why is the engine killing my Triumph Herald's rotor arm? I'm now on my third in a matter of months.
i recently bought a 98 plate 2.5 Vauxhall Vectra but it runs really rough on idle and I think the idle speed is too low. Can anyone help with a diagnosis?
I have a Peugeot 406 2.0 HDI and an anti-pollution error is causing my car to stall, and then when restarting it goes to limp mode. It has occurred twice, both times when towing and both times when in...
I parked across my own driveway run-up today, and Manchester City Council sent out two men and a pick-up truck and told me that they would fine me 35 pounds there and then, or take my car away. There are...
I bought an '05 Ford Focus ST-2 in May this year from a Ford dealer for £9000 with only 36,000 miles on the clock. It came HPI clear, with a full service history, and three owners. It's a really looked-after...
I have just bought a 18-month-old Mercedes-Benz C-Class estate and have to park under trees. There is a constant problem with bird droppings (pigeons) that may well result in damage to the paintwork. Any...
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...
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!
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?
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...
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...
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