My 2001 Vauxhall Astra won't start - any idea why?

I've got a problem with my 2001 Vauxhall Astra 1.8 SXI, which won't start in the mornings but will go with a push. Once started, if I turn it off will start again, but it takes time - the longer I leave...

My Vauxhall Astra's horn doesn't work when the headlights are on - is there a recall for this?

I have an 07 Vauxhall Astra 1.6SXI. When I have my headlights on, my horn doesn't work. I have just been made aware of this fault. Apparently, according to the Watchdog site, Vauxhall are sending out letters...

When should I have my Volvo C30 serviced?

I have been in France for the past six months and return to the UK in November. My Volvo C30, diesel, will have travelled 12,500 miles since its last service in about one month's time. It was last serviced...

Which large six-cylinder diesel automatic should replace our Saab Vector Sport?

My wife and I do a combined 30,000 miles a year; 25,000 myself, mainly medium to long distance motorway work and my wife around 5000 of more local mileage. We try to split the milage 50/50 between a Freelander...

Which family car features three rows of seats and has enough boot space for a dog?

We are a family of five with three children aged seven, six and four. We are also about to add a medium-sized dog into our family. We currently drive a 2002 Skoda Octavia Estate (1.8 turbo 4x4) which has...

Which tyres would give a softer ride on my Volvo V70?

I drive a Volvo V70 on Pirelli 6000 tyres (original spec). Can you recommend a tyre that would provide a softer ride?

Where can I get a replacement CPU for my Citroen Berlingo?

I have a very well maintained Citroen Berlingo - 10 years old, 100,000 miles. The dealers tell me that the idling sensor has burnt out the engine management CPU so that it cuts out at idle sometimes. They...

I bought a Smart car two months ago which has an electrical problem - should the warranty cover this?

I bought a Smart car on a 55 plate with 52,000 miles two months ago. It appears that the wiring loom has shorted out, affecting a number of systems. I don't know the full outcome yet but this will be expensive....

Do you know of any problems with the Alfa Romeo 159?

I have decided to buy a used Alfa Romeo 159 2.4 JTDm. I have read your review of the 159 and you list a number of faults that affect the 1.9 JTDm, but nothing on the 2.4. Now that this car has been around...

How can I trace my Ford Mondeo's service history?

I have bought an 08/58 Ford Mondeo but the service book is missing. I've been unable to trace the service history to confirm anything. It was sold via Ford Direct in August 09 with 9000 miles, and has...

Do I have any rights after being given the wrong information about my Vauxhall Astra's cam belt?

I bought a car from a Vauxhall dealer in February 2010. Before I bought it I asked on more than one occasion about when the cam belt should be done, and he said 100,000 miles. The car is an 06 Astra 1.7...

Which car offers a wide opening door, comfortable seating and space for a wheelchair?

I am in the process of buying a new car. Three years ago you recommended in the Telegraph the Ford C-Max and Honda Jazz. What's on the market now? Because of back and leg problems I need a car with a wide...

Can you recommend a rust-resistant car for use on an Atlantic island?

My daughter is going to work on a small island in the Atlantic. It has a subtropical climate and cars there have a tendency to rust due to the saline environment. Please could you recommend a small car...

When should my Nissan Almera Tino have a new timing belt?

Can you tell me when a timing belt should be changed on a 2001 Nissan Almera Tino 1.8-litre? It's done 63,000 miles with a full dealer history.

I've bought a Vauxhall Corsa which I've found to have been repaired and resprayed. What can I do?

I'm an idiot. I bought a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 SXI from a dealer on a personal loan. I've overpaid for it, handed my part-ex in and ended up with a car which has had all the right-hand side resprayed badly....

Should my partner have been fined for not SORNing his vehicle?

My partner has received an £80 fine for having no tax. He hadn't SORNed the vehicle. The car hasn't run for years and hasn't been driven since before the tax ran out in 2006. The vehicle has since been...

My warranty company won't repair my car because the recovery service was late - what can I do?

I bought a secondhand 1999 Audi A4 Avant at the end of July for £1800. It had done approx 97,000km in 11 yrs. I drove it the following week to France, where it broke down (problem as yet undiagnosed)....

My Kia Carens missed a service - is the warranty void?

I've bought a Kia Carens and it has missed it first service at 10,000 but has now had two - one at 20,000 miles and one at 24,000. The car currently has 25,000 miles. Is my Kia warranty valid? I've heard...

My BMW X5 has been seized by the police who say it has been stolen - what can I do?

Last week the police turned up at my door and seized my car. They say that there is another vehicle on the roads with the same number plate (they have seized that car also). I bought the car from a private...

My Peugeot 3008's number plate light lenses have fallen off.

A minor problem to report. Both 'lenses' covering the number plate lights have fallen off and been lost. Otherwise it's a fabulous car in every respect. I have the 16-inch tyres, giving a really comfortable...

Does our 2006 Volkswagen Golf need a new cam belt?

I am having a service and MOT next week. The car has done 33,000 miles and has been excellent with no problems. It's economic and great to get in and out of, as we are both pensioners. I have spoken to...

Recommend a 4x4 with enough power for hills and plenty of boot space?

I've just moved to the middle of the North York Moors and want to buy a secondhand 4x4. I have three kids so boot space and rear seat space is important. I am not a confident driver so it would need to...

What is a Cat G insurance write-off?

I am looking to buy a used car and I really like one, but in the details it says that it is Category G insurance loss. Does anyone know what this could mean?

Should I buy my daughter a small car to learn in, and which one?

I currently have an 06 Audi A8 automatic, but my daughter is now learning to drive. Should I sell the Audi and buy a nice car for both of us, or buy her a small car? I bought my car in May for £21,000,...

Why won't Mercedes-Benz honour its rust warranty on my 2003 E-Class?

My Mercedes-Benz E-Class is nearly eight years old (79,000 miles on clock) and with the numerous areas of rust appearing (top of all doors, three wheel arches, off-side front door and around the boot lock)...

When is the new small Land Rover due to be announced?

Is there any sign of the new small Land Rover (smaller than the Freelander)? It seems to have been rumoured for a couple of years, but our local dealer in Suffolk has no info yet.

Where can I sell my Honda Lagreat, which is a Japanese import?

I'm trying to sell a 2003 Honda Lagreat Exclusive 3.5 VTEC but can't get a valuation, even from Honda, on a trade-in. What is the best way to get my car valued and sold? This vehicle is known in the States...

Is a driving ban imposed in the UK recognised in Ireland as well?

My ex-boyfriend was taken to police station and his car confiscated. He had no tax, insurance or MOT, the car had large crack on windscreen and possibly illegal tyres, and when breath tested his reading...

Can I dispute a fixed penalty notice issued for using a mobile phone whilst driving?

I was issued a Fixed Penalty Notice by a police officer which details code 302, with the handwritten explanation of "using a handheld mobile phone whilst driving". The time stated is 0940. I have checked...

My son bought a Ford Mondeo privately which has a starter motor fault - does he have any claim on the vendor?

My son has recently purchased privately a 2002 Ford Mondeo that was advertised as being a "very clean original genuine example of this ever popular car". He inspected it and was shown a large number of...

My 52-plate Ford Mondeo takes a while to start when cold and misfires - what's wrong?

I have a Ford Mondeo Ghia TDCI 2-litre diesel. When it's cold it takes a while to start, it starts smoking and I can feel some misfiring. When it's hot it starts first time with no smoking at all. It's...

Can someone help with my Vauxhall Vectra which has problems starting?

My Vauxhall Vectra is failing to start first time in the morning. It has to be turned for around 30-40 seconds before it will fire up. After that it will start first time at any time of day. The glow...

Does my Range Rover P38 have a high pressure pump fault?

I have a Range Rover P38 diesel. The injector light keeps coming on when the vehicle is revved, and when you set of it will accelerate ok and then, when you go to change gear, the engine cuts out. I have...

I changed my Ford Focus's fuel injector pump but does it need calibrating?

The fuel injector pump went on my X-reg Ford Focus TDI 1.8-litre with the Endura engine. I've replaced it with a secondhand one but still no joy! Does it need reprogramming to match it up with the car?

I've been stopped for having no insurance whilst test driving a car. Will I lose my licence?

I am 18 years and 9 months old. I am the named driver on my uncle's TPFT insurance policy for a 2001 1.4-litre Honda Civic four-door saloon. I was recently test driving a Renault Clio, accompanied by the...

Does my Peugeot Expert diesel van need a new fuel pump?

I have a Peugeot Expert diesel, 2005 model. I've just had the key programmed by Peugeot. They said the key wasn't programmed, but I think differently. There are no faults codes. I can get the van to run...

I sold a car which turned out to have been clocked - where do I stand legally?

I bought a car from a trader with no warranty - sold as seen. After six months I sold the car on with a 'sold as seen' invoice stating the following on the invoice. The odometer said 84,000 miles when...

Is dual mass flywheel failure a common fault on Peugeot diesels like my 307 GLX?

I've recently noticed a metallic rattle on starting up my 2003 Peugeot 307 GLX 110 HDO with 68,500 miles. This was diagnosed as spring rattle on the flywheel so a new flywheel was fitted under warranty....

Is it common for the MINI Cooper S's power steering to fail?

I have a 2003 MINI Cooper S with 42,000 miles on the clock and today the power steering has just stopped working. I have looked on a couple of MINI web sites and this appears to be a serious problem with...

How do I reset my Peugeot Bipper's service indicator light?

How do I reset my Peugeot Bipper's service indicator light?

How much will it cost to repair my 1998 Ford Fiesta's gearbox oil leak?

My 1998 Ford Fiesta 1.3's gearbox is leaking oil and there's a slight whining noise on pull-off in first gear. Very occasionally it cuts out when pulling up to a junction. What gearbox oil do I need, where...

If I fit 17-inch wheels to my Hyundai i30 will I make the ride more harsh?

I am currently looking to upgrade my Hyundai i30's 16-inch wheels to 17-inch. Will this make the ride really harsh?

Why is my Citroen C5's anti-pollution warning light coming on?

My Citroen C5 1.8 LX petrol has developed a fault. As I was driving along the motorway the little orange engine symbol lit up. The car drives and functions normally and the light makes no difference. Has...

Is it common for Citroen Xsaras to snap cam belts at 56,000 miles?

I've just had a cam belt snap on my Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 HDI 110 bhp at 56,000 miles and under six years old. Has anybody else experience of a similar problem? The servicing schedule says 150,000...

The police withheld my vehicle following an accident and I am now in financial trouble. Can you help?

I was involved in a fatal accident with a pedestrian in 2008. I was not at fault and no prosecution was brought against me, however, my car was taken for examination and rightly so. I was self-employed...

How long should BMW take to fix an engine management fault on my 320?

I recently booked my car for a service and the engine management light was on. It is a 320 petrol coupe and the three-year warranty expires at the end of this month. They did the oil service and corrected...

We are being fined by the DVLA over a car that was scrapped - where do we stand?

My husband sold a car for £50 scrap on 30/12/09. The tax was due to be up on 31/12/09. We informed the DVLA by sending them the slip from the logbook confirming it had been sold for scrap. We moved home...

Why is my dealer taking so long to repair my Nissan X-Trail's turbocharger?

I bought a May 2004 X-Trail 2.2 Sport DCI (136) back in 2005 from a fleet company with 16,000 on the clock. In 2006, just out of warranty, the fuel pump "split" and after a week of vague communication...

Where can I get an engine for my 2004 Vauxhall Astravan?

How hard is it to get hold of a 1.7CDTI engine for a 2004 Vauxhall Astravan, and what sort of money will it cost? Also, how hard is it to replace?

I'm having a fuel system problem with my Peugeot 306 - can you help?

I am having a few problems with my 306. The car will not idle. The ECU is reading: 'Permanent fault low pressure pump supply.' 'Intermittent fault: Cylinder reference sensor. Consistency when stopped.'...