Trending topics in September 2010
Questions from September 2010
If I treat myself to a new or nearly-new Jaguar XF 3.0 diesel and only drive it at weekends and maybe some evenings, will the DPF be ok as long as those journeys are not short stop-start and the revs are...
I drive an 09 SEAT Altea XL. Does this car have a diesel particulate filter?
I've seen a BMW 316i for sale on a 95 reg, asking price £1000. It has a long MOT with a full service history and 122,000 miles on the clock. It looks ok, it's just the miles are a bit high. I've been told...
When is it possible to buy or reserve ##11 ### plates directly from DVLA, and why do I see them advertised for sale already?
My car is a Ford Mondeo 2.0-litre petrol Duratec, mileage 200,000. Problem is like a misfire but intermittent. Most noticeable under load. Any ideas?
Does my 2002 Volvo S60 D5 have a particulate diesel filter?
i have just bought an 06-plate Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI GT, and when the engine gets warm there is a loud ticking/tapping noise which gets louder when I press the clutch in. Should the engine be this noisy?
Which cars up to eight years old are fitted with chains instead of cam belts please?
My Ford Ka is making a droning noise when it turns left or right. Someone has said it might be the steering rack. If it is, how much will it cost me?
We were debating the true value of Vauxhall's lifetime warranty, given the exclusion of wear and tear. From experience I remember being told a leaking water pump at 25,000 miles might be considered wear...
I have a 52-plate 1.8 petrol Ford Mondeo and have had the front and back wheels balanced due to a wheel wobble. It's recently done 70,000 miles. This has not sorted the wheel wobble, and now under heavy...
i am thinking of buying a used new shape Ford Galaxy but I have heard that there is a problem with one of the diesel engines. I think it is the 1.8 TDCI which has a timing belt instead of a chain. I am...
I live in the centre of Dublin and drive a 2003 CL. For the last few months there has been a spate of wing mirror robberies off Mercedes-Benz cars (six on my road alone). Mine have been stolen twice so...
I recall that you gave advice some time ago regarding 'fumigating' the air conditioning and ventilation system to get rid of noxious smells. I've tried to locate this in your FAQ's and forums with only...
I'm on the lookout for a Ford Focus 2.0 automatic. My partner has a baby on the way and is restricted to driving automatics. We have decided that the hatchback and saloons are not big enough for prams...
Have had my Renault Scenic II since May this year. It's a 2004 1.5 DCI 80, and had 72,000 miles on it when I bought it and has 74,500 miles on it now. For most of that time, its been throwing white/blue...
My Ford Fiesta recently got a flat tyre, and as the puncture was in the side wall, my uncle decided to put on the spare. However, he was unhappy with me driving the 80 miles back home on it on my own as...
Where can I get a list of new 4x4 diesels that do not have a DPF fitted?
I have a 2007 Audi A6 1.9TDi saloon. My son sits in the back seat behind the driver and has complained of headaches after having been in the car for prolonged periods. He has not done this in any other...
Our Citroen C1 was three years old at the end of May so it's outside warranty. Prior to this I gathered that some C1s/107s/Aygos had suffered loose exhaust baffles and were being remedied by dealers. ...
I frequently see you recommend the Ford S-Max, but always the reference to the 1.8 TDCi 2006-09 is negative. This week it was "avoid at all costs". Can you point me to somewhere on your site where you've...
I have a 2004 (53 plate) Mondeo Ghia X 130, and recently I have noticed a smell of diesel at the end of a long run on A-roads and motorways when I get to a standstill, which then disappears once I move...
My wife has just received a demand for £70 from a car parking enforcement company for being in Morrison's car park for more than two hours. The letter gives the arrival and departure times (three hours)...
Can you recommend a decent car for a family with a three-year-old who like camping? Not too expensive to run and under £10,000.
When should I change my Ford Mondeo 1.8LX's cam chain? It's covered 106,000 miles.
I put my Suzuki Swift 1.3 petrol (2008) for its two-year, 9000-mile service at a Suzuki dealer, and was informed that the head gasket had to be replaced as this was a normal part of the service for this...
The front tyres on my Volvo XC90 were down to 2-3mm whilst the backs were at 4-5mm. I therefore changed the front tyres and had the front tracking done. Since then, I've done about 300 miles and the vibration...
I bought a secondhand 2007 Mazda 6 estate with 62000 miles clocked, so it's out of warranty but under three years old, from a very small dealer - they seemed to sell one car at a time from home but traded...
On a couple of occasions recently you have said that the design life of today's cars is 7 years. I find this a bit depressing having run a Mercedes 190D for a dozen years after buying it at 35,000 miles,...
I have been a FIAT owner for a number of years now, but it has come to my attention that my 2006 Panda with 70,000 miles on the clock now needs work for a power assisted steering failure which my dealer...
You have highlighted a problem with Teves ABS/ESP modules, especially in VAG cars many times. Are you able to confirm that this warning does not apply to brand new production of the Golf or Polo as I am...
I have owned a Jaguar S Type from new since October 2003 and am now considering changing to a new XF Premium Luxury 3.0 diesel. I have never thought Diesel before but a salesman tells me that 9 out of...
Just to add to the previous advice you gave about notifying the DVLA when you sell/part-ex a vehicle. I recently did a part-ex and the dealer kindly offered to send my Part 9 of the V5C registration document...
My wife is nagging me about the mpg of our 2009 Qashqai 2.0dci. I told Nissan we were disappointed compared with our 2001 Scenic 1.9dci, but got a non-committal response. The computer is indicating 36.7,...
Time after time I read you comments about problems with DPFs and todays' copy of the Telegraph was no exception. I personally had my first problem after approximately one year with my new Nissan X-Trail...
I have a 2008 model Volvo V70 D5 SE, and I recently received a recall notice from Volvo regarding diesel fuel getting into the sump oil during a DPF regeneration event, and possibly causing the engine...
You probably think I'm paranoid but based on the DVLA's propensity to fine everyone for everything whenever possible I thought I'd better check with you to see if can offer any advice (other than to get...
My 2005 Audi A3 Sportback 1.6FSI was fitted with Michelin XSE 225/45R17 91Y tyres when I bought it new. At 29,000 miles it was re-shod with Michelin Pilot Sport SP2. Now at 42,000 miles I am advised that...
My son has recently purchased a SAAB 1.9 diesel. When taking a journey shortly afterwards he noticed a sound from the rear, which he thought was a bearing fault. I advised him to return to the dealer but...
I read the emails about Credit Hire and would broadly agree with you and the insurance expert: better deal with insurers yourself and the good ones sort it out quicker and more easily than ‘Accident Management’...
I bought a used 2001 Nissan X-Trail from a sales centre. It was fitted with a 45Ah, 12v battery but the battery supplier says it should have a 65Ah, 12v battery. Some say 70Ah. What's the best?
I write with reference to an incident that occurred whilst driving a brand new MINI. I was driving on the M1 and whilst changing lanes the car lost stability. It felt as if somebody had grabbed hold of...
Lots of arrogant persistent lawbreakers (speeders) often complain that speed cameras are a revenue stream for the government. With our huge deficit needing paying back somehow, I'd far rather see these...
I have got an eight-year-old Smart Passion convertible, semi automatic that has done approx 45,000 miles. So far so good. But it is beginning to cost me money. I have just spent nearly £1,000 on having...
I recently ordered a new Audi A3 from an Audi dealer. I added several options and negotiated a reasonable discount, bringing the purchase price to £23,000. I waited 10 weeks for the car; it arrived at...
I was wondering whether there is anything I need to do if leaving a car unused (garaged) for about 4 weeks? Or anything to do when back before starting up? It's a petrol engine and starts first time thanks...
I am considering buying a used car, first a 2004 Suzuki Wagon R + GL, 41,000 miles at £3,400; second a 2003 Fiat Punto Active 1,242cc manual, 71,000 miles at £ 2,700. Which is best? What do you think?
The...
I have a 4-year-old VW Touran TDI that I bought new. Recently, after 62,000 carefully driven miles and no rough motoring, the car fractured a rear coil spring, about one wind up from the base. The engineer...
On July 25th last year you published a letter from PM of Kineton regarding his experience at a branch of McDonalds, where he was sent a penalty charge for overstaying his visit - while he was giving them...
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