Questions from October 2010
Are Alfa and Fiat still rot boxes with dodgy electrics?
I'm an international student and a big car enthusiast. I have saved up about £30k from my childhood till now. I want to buy a car, if you were in my position what sort of a car would you go with keeping...
I saw the above car yesterday. There were a few things that the buyer had not advertised when the car was on various websites. The indicator light was broken and there were scratches here and there. We...
My wife has decided that after 25 years of driving cabriolets she needs something easier to get in/out of. The budget is around £11,000 and the requirements are 5 doors, auto preferably, easy to park,...
My brother wants to buy a Honda estate with 80,000 miles on the clock - it is a 2008 plate selling at £8,000. Can you advise?
Brief story about Renault Kangoo 1.5 dci. Glow plug light comes on when driving, power reduces, sometimes slightly and then it gets worse - until 5mph is about all it will do! Not good for busy roads or...
I've just taken delivery of a 1.6 Golf Bluemotion automatic as a company car. As I've driven countless automatics over the last 30 years I didn't anticipate the problems I'd encounter with the stop start...
Can anyone tell me where the addittive tank is for the Enlyos fluid on a Peugeot 307 2.0 110 hdi - I just had a "diesel additive at minimum level" show up on the dashboard?
I am considering a small 4 wheel drive diesel, such as Golf 4 Motion TDI. As a day to day car that is economical and will enable me to navigate tricky weather conditions similar to last winter. Choice...
I recently bought a Vauxhall Combo van with the airbag light constantly on, checked the seat belt pretensioners and they're plugged in and seem fine - any ideas?
I have just purchased a brand new Mini from BMW. I opted out of BMW seal&protect and took it to my reputable detailing company for a seal&protect. This was when the flaws appeared, in preparing the vehicle...
I've recently been told that my car's spare key is going to cost me up to £200 or more due to Fiat code system which has something to do with a chip inside the key. Please could you help solve this problem...
My A6 seems to have developed gremlims in the driver information system. It started with the AIRBAG warning light going on/off. Then the multitronic display would show a negative display and this would...
I have a long commute to work: 53 miles each way, mostly on combination of country lanes and twisty windy A roads. My children are very keen for me to choose a 7 seater as company car. After trying many,...
I have just recieved an £80 parking fine for overnight parking at the Moto Services at M5 Services Exeter. I parked from 02.54am to 06.48am. I am a Courier working out of Southampton, Hampshire. My first...
Pourriez vous me dire si ce model comprend un système bluetooth et si oui comment le rendre opérationnelle?
I own a 2 year old BMW 320d which I purchased 8 months ago with 21k on the clock from a BMW dealer. I have been extremely happy with the car except that over the past few months it has developed a judder...
We recently put the childlock on the rear door for obvious reasons but now the door will not open from outside or inside, obviously because of childlock. I'm a bit stuck. Can't take the door panel off...
I purchased a Sept 09 reg BMW 320i in March this year with only 1800 miles on the clock which would suggest that it had done mostly short journeys. It is now 12 months old and showing 7,500mls which have...
I own a 2004 Toyota Avensis automatic with 127,000 miles on the clock. When idling the revs are down to about 400rpm, the car will sometimes stall. My mechanic (an independent) tells me that he cannot...
I have a Vauxhall Zafira 56 Reg car Automatic which I only bought in December 2009. But it broke down the other day and apparently the gearbox has gone on the car - the dealer has quoted me £2,500 which...
What is the best way to buy a left hand drive car in fFance and bring it back to the uk and what documents do i need to bring back with me from france to register the car here in the uk?
I know you are a fan of this car and I'd like to take the plunge and buy new, but is the diesel worth the premium over petrol?
I have a 2007 Passat with e-handbrake and yesterday I was pulling my boat from the slipway and the handbrake refused to release. Is there a problem with this handbrake when the car is pulling a heavy load?or...
I have an Hyundai i10, mainly brought on your recommendations, which I purchased in Sept 09 (59 plate) and it has just had its first service. On driving out of the dealership, I started hearing a wind...
I want to buy a small car to tow behind my motorhome. My limit is £3250 and thinking of a Ka, Matiz, Smart. I am prepared to go to auction or private. What are your thoughts, bearing in mind reliability,...
I ordered a BMW 520d SE with BMW Leicester in the first week of August. The estimated delivery was for 30th September. Called the garage and they cannot specify a date now, citing production delay in BMW...
Is the actual fuel tank capacity usually that given in the owners manual or is it fact larger to give one a margin before running out of fuel? This a question I asked myself when running short of diesel...
Does the Renault Sandero has any problem with its automatic gears? Or has it been proved that it has a good performance and reliability in its gearbox?
I recently got all the filters changed and car started to splutter and put out black. I changed air flow meter but no change so I disconnected air flow meter and black smoke stopped but car is now in get...
Our Rover 'V' reg 200 diesel car started to stutter occasionally soon after a new fuel tank was replaced at a local garage. It usually jerked twice within a mile from home then might only do it once on...
My Fiat Panda's ('55 plate) passenger's footwell fills with water only after heavy rain. I think the water must be coming in from underneath the car when I drive over puddles. It doesn't seem to be coming...
My cam belt broke at 56000 miles on my 5 1/2 year old car (servicng schedule advises changing at 150000 miles or 10 years) damaging the valve gear. The garage spoke to citroen about a goodwill contribution...
I watched your road test video of the Skoda Yeti and am encouraged to go for a road test. My wife and I are planning on retiring next year and we need to choose one car for the pair of us. She has a 2005...
my Zafira has been playing up for a while now when its low on fuel in looses power only on a left turn. However it's been in 5 garages now and they haven't got a clue. It's a 1.6 fuel injected Zafira 1999...
You have written on this problem previously - please point me towards the articles regarding this problem.
Please can you give me some advice how to sell a black 2005 05 reg, 3dr seat Ibiza 1.4 Sport. I looked in Glass's guide and got an idea of prices trade and retail. I took car to 2 garages and was offered...
In 1st gear the box whines, however every other gear is great. What's the cause and is it easily remedied?
Recently put this running engine in my Escort van. However it will only run if you keep priming it, changed solenoid to a single, changed fuel housing - still no go. Please help.
I notice in your review of Skoda cars you state that they are owned by VW. This is not true, they are are assisted by VW in their specification, but Skoda remain an independant company.
I have had my Polo 1.4 TDI(80ps) from new (2006) and it has been properly serviced, although not always by a main dealer. The timing chain which drives the oil pump and balancing shaft has now broken resulting...
When I turn ignition without starting engine instrument lights come on and then go off but the engine light glows amber and goes off when the engine is started. Does this mean there is a problem with the...
Articles often talk about cars which have mainly short journeys being less desirable as cars which do mostly motorway mileages - but what is considered a short journey? My daily commute is about 16 miles...
I recently saw that "Drivethedeal" are offering large savings on the Lexus IS220 SE. As these prices are less than say a Mondeo diesel or a Mazda 3 or 6 diesel, the offer seems quite appealing. Can you...
My mother-in-law might swap her diesel Jetta for a Polo. Use: mainly local trips, v rarely 40 mile motorway trip. It must be automatic. Is diesel or petrol better? I worry about a DPF and anyway it might...
Last year I bought an Audi TT roadster, 1781cc, quattro on a 55 registration, (25.1.06), mileage approx 13,000. In July this year the orange warning triangle appeared and the local independent Audi garage...
I have an early Mk4 Golf. I can release the bonnet as far as the safety stop from the cockpit lever. To fully open the bonnet I have to pull on a second lever which emerges from the radiator grill. This...
I'm interested in buying the Abarth 500. I really like the car but I'm having second thoughts about it because of the hard suspension. I currently own a 1.4 Fiat 500 and while I like it, I hate it's ride...
Why does my 53 plate Peugeot 406 throw water out of the expansion tank when its hot or cold, but drives sound?
In response to one of your published letters in today's Telegraph, can I make you aware of our driving courses available for under 17's? We run four 'staircase' driving courses which can be viewed at:...
 

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