Questions from January 2011
I bought my kia when it was just a year old from a Kia (group) dealer on the Isle of Wight and it had done just 8000 miles.
It was fine at first but soon things started to go wrong including; rust, wheel...
We are about to buy a driver's door for my son's Vauxhall Corsa C - just wondered if fitting it is fairly straightforward or should we leave well alone and have it put on by a garage?
My partner and I are moving in together, she's selling her house. However in her garage is a car owned by her late partner who died four years ago. Frustratingly, he left no will or instructions and after...
After 20 years of reliable service, my beautiful 1991 Volvo 940GL estate is finally reaching the end of the road, and I need to buy a replacement, of similar quality (if possible!).
New cars are horrendously...
I asked a sales executive at a Chevrolet dealership where the Chevrolet Spark was assembled.
To my amazement he replied that he did not think it was important that I knew that point!
When pressed again...
The nearside footwell of my Fiat Croma has severe water ingress - what could be causing it?
In Glass's guide, valuations are based on trade-in: exc. ave. below ave, then retail and private.
Where in the above would you expect auction prices to fit?
Hoping you can help. I have two questions:
1. My car (new 520DSE) is normally very quiet and smooth. However, the engine noise rises and the smoothness is lost on a regular basis (every fortnight or...
Engine management light comes on and goes off with no loss of power. I have had the EGR valve changed, this has not stopped the problem; when having a diagnosis, it shows exhaust gases.
Driver's seat heater switch has accidentally been pushed through the dashboard. How do I gain access to reinstall?
My short list for purchasing a new 4x4 is a Nissan Juke, Hyundai ix35 or Qashqai in that order. Fuel consumption is a factor, the Juke is petrol (37mpg combined) diesel Qashqai & ix35 (40mpg). I have read...
Key with a remote control fell in the water. I dried out the key, changed the battery and it's still not working - I need to open the car manually with key as the remote is not working.
Buying a small family car, automatic, with good fuel economy for under £10k. What would you suggest?
I have up to £10,000 to spend on a used car. My wife, who will do most of the driving, can only use automatics. We will do less than 8000 miles per year, but fuel economy (both urban and motorway) is very...
I have a Ford Focus C-MAX 1.8 TDCi Zetec 48,000 miles with small end failure.
I bought the car from a main dealer as a Ford Demostrator at 10,000 miles so the mileage should be correct. The first two...
Firstly thanks for your Saturday column in the Telegraph. Saturday not the same without it!
After a hard Winter and being a senior senior citizen, I am fed up of the doubts about getting about. So I am...
I have read many times in your Saturday column about left-foot braking with automatics.
As you suggested, I tried it on a quiet road and I'm glad I did. I nearly went through the windscreen.
Unlike...
I would like to sell my left-hand drive Renault Clio. Dealers offer very little as part exchange. My car is registered in England and has a full service history. I am the first owner. Are there any reliable...
I recently bought new front tyres (Dunlop SS Max) for my 09-plate Octiavia vRS (30K Miles).
The existing tyres were not excessively worn (5mm plus remaining), but due to the onset of winter and also increased...
How do you tell who is paying for their own fuel and who is in a company car?
The owner driver is doing 90kph.
The company car is doing 90mph.
The power steering has started to go on me when I'm going round sharp corners, especially in the wet.
Also the battery light has been sometimes flashing up as well as the engine warning light. There...
I need to buy, by HP over 3 years, my first company car.
It's a small family partnership and I've got a budget of approx £21k plus £2k that I can put in. I'll need to cover 20k miles a year, carry a...
I have a Nissan Micra 2003 new-shape which has been OK for at least a year, but is now having starting problems.
It will not start at all. I called the AA out, but they cannot find anything wrong. On...
My Mazda MX-5 is used only at weekends and often even less frequently. It's parked on the street. Over Christmas/New Year, the battery went flat and had to be started with jump leads. I've been told by...
I purchased this vehicle new from a local dealer just over three years ago.
Over the last 18 months I have returned it to the service department on four occasions, because of large quantities of water...
After a recent service I was advised that the official agent recommended a cambelt change at either four years or 40,000 miles - a charge of £324. The current mileage is 18.6k miles. The belt has not been...
I currently have a Renaultsport Clio 200, but unfortunately I will have to sell due to my new company's policy of insisting on cars with a minimum of four doors. I have a bike so a boot is mandatory, but...
I recently took a chance on a high mileage 07-reg Mercedes-Benz E-Class 280 CDI (103k miles at three years), based on your hypothesis that oil degrades less with very high mileage driving. The car has...
What is it with modern car seats and watermarks? They are the bain of my life! My question is, how do I get rid of them? I've tried Autoglym shampoo and other branded cleaners, but I can't seem to get...
My VW Polo 1.4 N-reg has just failed its MOT on emissions test. How can I get it to comply?
My parked car was recently hit and the driver did not stop but a neighbour took the number plate
I phoned the police and reported what had happened.
A couple of days later I received an unsolicited call...
A local dealer is looking for £11,750 for the above. Is this a fair price, please?
What is the most economical used car, big enough to take golf clubs and motorised trolley in the back?
I own a 51-plate 2.0i Accord Auto SE Exec hatchback. Which one-year-old make/model would be a suitable reliable equivalent replacement since Honda discontinued the Accord Hatch and I like the five-door...
Just read your review of BMW 3-Series Coupe (E92) and you list the available 335 engines, both petrol and diesel as having all wheel drive options. Is this option available in the UK as it is not mentioned...
I'm thinking of a 09/59 Kia Cee'd, largely due to the seven-year warranty (or remainder of).
Unsure on 1.6 diesel or 1.6 petrol. We do around 8-10000 miles per year, mostly town driving and school run...
My Mazda headlights (main beam and dipped) stopped working the other day, but I still have sidelights.
I checked the fuse and it had blown. I got a new one and replaced it but the fuse blew straight away...
The original engine in the car has developed a loud knock soon after turbo replacement. Mazda agents have said they cannot determine the cause without stripping down. I cannot afford this! Paid £7000 for...
I have just signed a credit agreement for an 09-plate Hyundai Santa Fe. During the process I noticed on the website that it said remainder manufacturer's warranty.
When I asked about this, just before...
I am thinking about buying a Peugeot 207 HDI 90, but have read many reports regarding problems with clutch judder. How significant and wide spread are these reports?
I do not wish to part with money only...
We on the SEATCupra.net website are finding a lot of "coil pack failures", but the fault appears secondary to oil leakage into the packs. This is on the new 2.0 TSI engines.
Do you have any supportive...
Having replaced the battery in my Ford Focus Zetec car fob, the remote still will not open the car and the alarm sounds as if the key is not put in the ignition in time.
The spare key is not a remote...
To replace a company car, I will be buying a used large family car. It needs to be automatic, with low depreciation over two years as I only intend to keep it that long. I have £12,000 to spend and would...
My Corsa broke down a few weeks ago and the top end wont turn, I have been told it's the timing chain by a mechanic, but I can only find reference to a timing belt, and no one seems willing to look at!...
Is the VAG 1.4 TSI engine any good? Looking to change car, I do 15,000 to 20,000 a year.
I need a bigger car to replace my 05-plate Golf.
My wife's car is insured through Kwikfit 'insurance'. She received a telephone call this week from someone who said he was calling on behalf of Kwikfit and offering GAP insurance. My wife declined and...
Not usually indecisive but can't decide whether its time to trade in my relaiable Volvo V50 2.4i for something diesel. There's quite a few good deals out there but it's never put a foot wrong in 102,000...
Unfortunately I got my Vauxhall Vivaro stuck in a 3ft puddle. The van cut out in the middle of the puddle. I managed to tow the van home and park it on a hill, to helpp drain any water that may be caught.
I...
My 1.5-litre Clio diesel is four years old, with 68k miles on the clock. I have been advised that the fuel pump has failed internally sending metal filings through the fuel injection system. To rectify...
My job involves lots of small stop/start journeys (40-50 per day), sometimes only driving a few hundred yards, sometimes a couple of miles and I am using too much petrol in my Nissan Note automatic 1.6....
I have a SEAT Altea 1.9 TDI 2006, which has done 20k miles. The alternator warning light was making a faint glow on the dash.
I took it into the SEAT dealer and at first they couldn't find anything wrong...
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