Do you think my wife's 2003 Ford Focus with 17,000 miles needs a new cam belt?

My wife has a 53 Ford Focus with only 17,000 miles on the clock. The service schedule recommends 100,000 miles or 10 years to replace the cam belt, but many suggest seven years - any comments?

How will a dealership know whether my Honda's clutch failure is due to user error or not?

Please can you advise me of what steps to take if the dealership tries to charge me for a replacement clutch? I purchased a used Honda 10 weeks ago, they are checking tomorrow if it is due to mechanical...

Are UK-model Mazda 3s not included in a recent power steering recall?

My 2007 Mazda 3 lost power steering at the weekend, losing all fluid. Is the UK not part of the recall mentioned in the press on 12 Aug or do they source different parts than they use in USA/Japan etc?...

Does my year-old Skoda Octavia need any lubricants changing other than engine oil?

I own a Skoda Octavia 1.4 TSI Elegance which is now one year old and due for it's first service. I would like to know if I should get any other lubricants changed, apart from the standard oil and filter....

Does my Audi A2's water pump really need replacing as well as its timing belt?

We have a five-year-old Audi A2 with 28,000 miles, owned from new and serviced on variable servicing by an Audi main dealer. We recently received a reminder from the dealer stating that the timing belt...

Does the Volkswagen Fox have the same engine as the Skoda Fabia?

My daughter is buying a Volkswagen Urban Fox 1.2 but unfortunately Haynes do not produce a workshop manual for the car. My other daughter has a 2006 1.2 Skoda Fabia for which I have a workshop manual....

What's making my Citroen Xsara's CD player / radio pop when going over bumps?

When I turn my Citroen Xsara to the left, the speakers make a loud "pop" noise and the CD player/radio cuts out. It has now got even worse, as when I go over a bump in the road it also happens.

How should I get bird faeces off my paintwork?

What is the best method of removing bird pooh from the paint work?

Can you clarify whether the Nissan Tiida is an import, and whether it is a worthwhile purchase?

We have been to a car supermarket and seen a lovely Nissan Tiida. We were tempted to buy this (unregistered, with 37 miles on the clock) car. However, before parting with hard-saved cash, we dropped in...

My 2009 Ford Fiesta's 17-inch alloy wheels have all buckled - why won't Ford help with repairs?

I own a 2009 Ford Fiesta Zetec S with the optional extra 17-inch alloy wheels. I bought it in May this year and it was registered last May. When I bought the car it had a wobble on the wheels, so I took...

If I replace my Audi A4's coolant sensor myself, how do I then reset the engine warning light?

I have an Audi S4 (the 2004 B6 version). The cause of the engine warning light coming on has been diagnosed by my local Audi dealership as a failure of the coolant sensor. They have asked for £310 to effect...

Which car offers better ride comfort than my Kia Cee'd SW?

I have read a lot of the threads on suggested comfortable rides. However, they are all rather dated. Do you have any particular recommendations for family cars with a better ride than my 57-reg Kia Cee'd...

What size tyre should I fit to my Ford S-Max's 16-inch spare wheel, to ensure the same diameter as its other 17-inch wheels?

I have a Ford S-Max with 235/45 tyres on 18-inch rims. The S-Max does not come with a spare wheel, but I have been offered a compatible 16-inch steel rim for free. Can you by chance tell me where to find...

Is it worth replacing my 1992 Renault Clio's timing belt?

The timing has belt has broken on my 1992 Renault Clio RL which has over 117,000 miles on it. Without this problem what life was left in the engine? If it were to be repaired what other problems might...

Following a motorway crash in my partner's car, are we being targeted by accident management companies?

I am the named driver on my partner's fully comprehensive policy. I was driving her car yesterday and was involved in a motorway crash. My partner's insurance company rang her and insisted she make a claim...

Why has my son's Ford Focus showed erroneous fault codes when diagnostically checked?

The engine warning light on my sons' 2002 Ford Focus 1.6 LX Estate illuminated about four months ago. He had it checked by a main dealer and was told the code indicated the Catalytic Convertor was defective....

Why is the gear change in my Citroen Xsara Picasso getting stiffer?

I have a Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 HDI 54 reg with 10,600 miles. The gearchange is becoming increasingly stiff. There's no crunching or grinding, it just feels like the gear lever is moving in a thick...

Why is there oil in my Vauxhall Omega's spark plug pot?

Why is there oil in my Vauxhall Omega's spark plug pot?

Why is insurance so expensive when I add my daughter as a named driver?

I have just tried to get insurance on a car, with my daughter as a named driver. The premium is £390.60 with just me on the policy, but jumps, no, rockets, to £1336.65 to include my daughter. What on earth...

Why is my BMW 3 Series' engine ticking?

I have a BMW 318i SE E46 year 2000 with 74,000 miles. When I start my car there is a annoying ticking noise from the engine, but once the engine heats up it stops. It is really loud and makes the car sound...

What are the quietest tyres for my Ford Focus?

Can you tell me what are the quietest tyres for my Ford Focus Zetec?

When was production of the Mitsubishi Grandis discontinued?

I purchased a Mitsubishi Grandis in April 2009 from a Mitsubishi dealer as a part-exchange for my 2007 Volvo XC90. After a short period, we were not happy that we had done the right thing. We had also...

Should the supplying dealer pay for a new tyre after unusual wear was found on my BMW 3 Series?

I bought a 58-plate BMW 3 Series convertible in December 2010. I took it into a BMW dealer for an oil and brake service, where they told me there was wear on the offside tyre on the inside edge and it...

Can I add a sunroof to a Toyota Prius?

I'm thinking of buying a 3-4 old Toyota Prius for its economy and general good reliability, but I'd like a sunroof. Can this be added? I cannot afford the latest model, which I believe can be ordered with...

Why won't my warranty cover a burned-out clutch in my Vauxhall Zafira?

Without any warning at all, my ‘57 plate, 1.8 SRi, petrol, 29,000-mile Vauxhall Zafira’s clutch failed quite dramatically. The car went from working fine to a revving monster, barely able to move, all...

Should I buy a Volkswagen Golf which has had a head gasket repair?

I've seen a 1998 Volkswagen Golf that I'm interested in buying and the advert says that £705 was recently spent on it. This is what was done (reading from the garage receipt): Remove cylinder head. Pressure...

How can I check that my daughter's Ford Ka's engine cooling fan is working?

My daughter's Ford Ka overheated in a shopping centre yesterday. The AA turned out for her and decided the engine cooling fan was not cutting in. The car got home fine since it wasn't standing in traffic....

Can we have our BMW X5's headlights adjusted for use on the continent?

We are HM Forces stationed in Germany. We have just bought a right-hand drive BMW X5 and were assured by the seller that we did not need to buy continental headlights as the lights could be adjusted. We...

Is there a high performance GT-style car supplied with a full-size spare wheel?

Is there such a thing as a GT car (e.g Jag XK, BMW 6 Series) with a full-sized spare wheel sold today? I do not feel comfortable with runflat tyres and spacesavers.

When should I put my new car through an automatic car wash?

Should I wait for a certain time after I have taken delivery of the car before I put it through an automatic car wash?

Did the garage cause our Ford Galaxy's engine to blow following a service?

We bought a 2005 Ford Galaxy secondhand with about 18,000 miles on the clock in 2007 and now, three years on, the car has about 50,000miles on it. Just before I took the car in for a service, my husband...

Does my Opel Zafira have a cam chain?

Does my 2003 Opel Zafira 2.2 turbodiesel have a cam belt or a chain?

I had my Vauxhall Zafira's brakes changed but still have no handbrake. Any ideas?

I have a 1999 1.8 Vauxhall Zafira. I recently had new brake pads, discs, callipers and finally a complete set of cables. I still have no handbrake, any ideas?

Recommend a small, fun replacement for my Renault Megane Elise?

I want to replace my much-enjoyed Renault Megane Elise as it's now over 10 years old, but I don't know what to buy. I think all the medium cars are bigger than this now (wider and longer) so I'm considering...

I've bought a Toyota Yaris which has turned out to be an ex-rental car. Do I have any recourse?

I bought a nearly-new Toyota Yaris from a Toyota dealer. When the logbook came through I found it was ex-rental. I wouldn't have paid so much had we known. Does the dealer have a duty to disclose or have...

How much to fix my Vauxhall Astra's noisy cams?

I can hear a ticking noise from the cams on my 2004 Vauxhall Astra Club. I've recently had a service and checked the oil level. If I have to go to the garage, how much should I be paying?

Is there a small, automatic car with high seats?

My daughter has had four major operations on her back. She is wanting to buy a small automatic car but one which has high seats which you climb up to, rather than low ones which she finds impossible for...

My Ford Focus' battery warning light keeps coming on - what's the fault?

I have a problem with the battery warning light on the dash of my 2006 Ford Focus. I drove from Devon to Scotland with the damn thing on. I called out the breakdown services when I first noticed the problem...

Would adding used cooking oil to my Skoda's diesel tank damage my engine?

I'm keen to recycle as much as possible, but my local council provides no cooking oil recycling facility, and it seems crazy to me to put large bottles of oil in the bin for landfill. Would adding used...

Any ideas why my Ford Mondeo is losing power?

I have a Ford Mondeo Zetec TDCi 2-litre. The glow plug light is flashing and it is losing power. Any ideas?

A tip for anyone having problems with Pierburg 2E carburettors.

For people having hassles with Pierburg 2E carburettors, I discovered a little secret that is causing the 2E to get a bums rap. www.edgebiz.net/pierburg2ecarb.htm

I've been sold a car that has no service history - do I have any recourse?

I part-exchanged a car at my local Toyota dealer. They sold me a Toyota and said it had a full service history and that the documents would be sent in post. I waited and waited, and it transpires that...

I'm thinking of buying a Mazda 3 - is this a good idea?

I am thinking of buying a Mazda 3, as it seems to be a good car and offers better value for money and is less common than a Volkswagen Golf. Do you think this is a good idea? Also, I am not sure about...

Is there something wrong with my Fiat 500's Dualogic gearbox?

I have just purchased a used 2009 Fiat 500 Pop with a Dualogic gearbox. It has 4000 miles on the clock. When I change gears from 2-3 and 4-5 there is a loud clicking noise. Is this correct? I did not hear...