How should I drive my Citroen C5 diesel in order to avoid potential DPF problems?

A couple of months ago, I bought a secondhand 2007 Citroen C5 2.0 HDi auto. This is obviously a rep's car, given the 72,000 miles on the clock. Again, no problem, as this is good, honest mileage and the...

Will a Jaguar XF diesel be ok used for weekend and evening journeys?

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...

Does my SEAT Altea XL have a DPF?

I drive an 09 SEAT Altea XL. Does this car have a diesel particulate filter?

Is this 1995 BMW 3 Series a good purchase for £1000?

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 are personalised number plates made available from the DVLA?

When is it possible to buy or reserve ##11 ### plates directly from DVLA, and why do I see them advertised for sale already?

Is the 1995 BMW 316i cam belt or chain driven?

Is the 1995 BMW 316i cam belt or chain driven?

What might be causing my Ford Mondeo to misfire intermittently?

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?

Does my 2002 Volvo S60 D5 have a particulate diesel filter?

Why is my Volkswagen Golf making a tapping noise when I press the clutch pedal?

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 2002-onwards cars are fitted with cam chains?

Which cars up to eight years old are fitted with chains instead of cam belts please?

Is my Ford Ka's steering rack broken?

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?

Is the small print in Vauxhall's lifetime warranty definitive enough?

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...

My Ford Mondeo's steering is pulling to the right under acceleration - any ideas?

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...

Are people fitting older engines to the Ford Galaxy to avoid timing belt problems?

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...

Where can I get pattern replacement wing mirrors for my Mercedes-Benz CL?

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...

How do I clean my car's air conditioning system?

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 need an automatic family car - Ford Focus Estate or Ford C-Max?

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...

Which 4x4s don't have a DPF?

Where can I get a list of new 4x4 diesels that do not have a DPF fitted?

Is it possible that the battery in the boot of my Audi A6 is causing my son to suffer headaches?

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...

Is Citroen likely to contribute to repairing our C1's exhaust?

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've fitted a new turbo to my 2004 Renault Scenic II 1.5 DCi but it's still smoking. Help!

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...

Why don't you recommend the 1.8 TDCI engine in the Ford S-Max?

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...

Is a blocked DPF causing my 2004 Ford Mondeo to smell of diesel?

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's been penalised for overstaying in a supermarket car park - can this be enforced?

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)...

Which family car for camping trips for under £10,000?

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's cam chain?

When should I change my Ford Mondeo 1.8LX's cam chain? It's covered 106,000 miles.

Should my 9000-mile Suzuki Swift need a new head gasket at service time?

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...

Should I replace all four tyres at once on my Volvo XC90?

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...

The DPF in my Mazda 6 has failed - should the dealer replace it?

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...

My Renault Laguna cuts out when I come to a stop. What's the problem?

I bought a Renault Laguna Privilege about two months ago. It drives like a dream, although it keeps cutting out when I come to a stop. Also I have noticed a slight ticking or light rattling between 0 and...

What battery should I fit to my 2001 Nissan X-Trail?

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?

Any tips to help me replace my Renault Scenic's rear brake discs?

I am about to replace the rear brake discs on my Renault Scenic. It looks pretty straightforward, but has anyone done it before and have they learnt anything that would be useful to me? I bought a Haynes...

Please help me with a major warranty problem following repairs to my Skoda Fabia.

I bought a 2006-registered Skoda Fabia in December 2008. The car had 47,000 miles and was in good condition. At the time of purchase, I was given 12 months' Skoda warranty and was asked if I wish to extend...

I've found a solution to the Renault Clio II coil light fault associated with a stalling engine.

I think I have cracked the problem related to the Renault Clio coil light coming on, followed by fluctuating revs and cutting out at junctions and when driving off. I have the 1.2 (1149cc) 16v Clio II...

Could my Vauxhall Zafira's suspension be failing gradually?

My seven-year-old Vauxhall Zafira has been faultless, but lately it seems to make heavy weather of speed bumps. Can the suspension fail gradually or is it always sudden?

Is there a database which compares the widths of cars?

Is there a document which lists vehicles in order of width and compares this year's model with previous versions? My wife needs a narrow car to fit in our garage. Previously a Fiesta was fine but we suspect,...

Police seized my friend's car, which I was driving, despite my friend being there at the time. Can they do this?

I was recently stopped by the police while I was driving my mate's car and he was in front driving mine. I thought my insurance would cover me but it didn't, and the car was seized. Can police seize the...

Should I renew my warranty which covers my Audi's DSG gearbox?

I need to know about the long term reliability of the Volkswagen Audi DSG automatic gearbox. My car is an 06 plate with 50,000 miles and I bought it from Audi with a year's warranty. The warranty will...

What are these strange noises coming from my Peugeot 407?

There are two different noises on my recently-bought 2006 Peugeot 407 SE diesel. The first is a squeaking noise occasionally from the clutch. The garage thought this was a worn ball joint and put some...

My partner needs a new car for her commute - what about the MINI?

We are looking at purchasing a replacement car for my better half. Annual mileage circa 12,000, consisting of four daily 30-mile commutes on dual carriageways and very little long distance motorway driving....

When will the new Citroen C3 Picasso be available to buy?

Partially based on your review, we would like to buy a new Citroen C3 Picasso, but it has to be an automatic. All our local dealer can tell us is that it will be available sometime in 2011. Do you have...

Where can I get a cheap replacement fuel pump for my 10-year-old Ford Focus?

I have a 10-year-old Ford Focus 1.8 LX TDDI. It lost power while driving earlier this week and wouldn't start again. The local Ford dealer in Northern Ireland is quoting £660 to have a new pump fitted,...

How do I change the mileage on my 2000 Volkswagen Golf?

Does anyone know if the odometer is on the ECU or on the dash of a 2000 Volkswagen Golf 1.4? The mileage on mine is very high and the guy told me I can get it changed to what I want. If I change the gauge...

What's happened to my Citroen C2's digital speedometer and odometer?

I have a Citroen C2 1.4 diesel (2006) which has done 32,000 miles. The digital speedo has stopped working, the odometer isn't recording miles and the info display is telling me a variety of things all...

How do I read the VIN number for my Ford Focus which I purchased here in Thailand?

I live in Thailand and this week purchased a new Ford Focus TDCi 5Dr 2.0L Sport. The car is great but firstly I cannot find a metal VIN plate. There is a plastic sticker on the door pillar and the number...

Are you aware of a transmission fault recall for the 2002 BMW X5?

I have a 2002 BMW X5 which has got transmission problems, has displayed a transmission error ('Trans. Fail-Safe Prog') on the dash but is not now showing. My dad said that he had read an article where...

How can I open the side door of my Citroen Synergie?

I have a Citroen Synergie on which the rear nearside door will not open or unlock

Do you know of any problems with the Skoda Superb 1.8-litre petrol engine?

I have ordered a new Skoda Superb Elegance. As I do mostly short trips I have gone for the 1.8 petrol engine. Do you know of any problems with this engine? Also, I asked for 17-inch instead of 18-inch...

Why is the 'Stop' warning light coming on when I start my Peugeot 306?

Sometimes when I start my T-reg Peugeot 306, my fans come on straight away and the stop light comes on as well. If I wait the light goes out and the fans go off, everything runs fine. The temperature is...

Does my Land Rover Freelander have a DPF?

I keep hearing about the problems you get with diesel particulate filters if you make lots of short car journeys from cold. Can you tell me if the Land Rover Freelander TD4 ES 2002/2003 models have these...