Questions from May 2011
I have been looking at a used 52-plate Punto. No service history, 100,000 miles, MILKY SUBSTANCE on oil filler cap, but oil on dip stick is clean! No over heating, no misfiring, can you help me? Should...
I have a BMW 330d Touring, March 2010.
The car is a superb drive, but the combination of 18in wheels, run flats and potholed roads is driving me crazy. The recommended pressure for the run flats when...
Hi, just collected approved used 2004 Jazz from the main dealer.
They 'forgot' to include the MOT advisory, or to return my call when I queried it, so I checked it online at the VOSA website.
The car...
I have a 2004 Mazda RX8 192 that I bought in April 2005 with 5,000mls on the clock. I bought it from a Mazda Dealer with a full service history and I have kept it fully serviced and maintained as per the...
Kia Sedona TS 2007/57 plate, Front heater blower not working, back works fine. Everthing looks good on dash but blower not blowing. Can hear low humming noise when turned on.
We'd like to replace our Renault Scenic for our reritement. Which would you recommend Honda Jazz or Toyota Verso? Need a high driving position.
We have a 2010 A-Class that is very uncomfortable on our country roads. Is there an alternative small car? Or have I got to move up to a medium size to get more comfort? Maybe a Focus/ C-MAX or a Mazda...
My girlfriend (not a good start) had the 2 front tyres changed on her 04 plate base model Ka a few months ago.
Whilst she was at the Ford garage getting a quote for the heater to be fixed (functioning...
I'm in the market for a new car to replace my 52-reg Ford Galaxy Ghia 1.9 TDI. I'm looking for something similar and I can't decide whether to go with diesel or petrol.
I've noticed the Citroen C4 Grand...
I was recently involved in a accident that was not my fault and the other party has admitted liability. My car is now going to be written off as it is uneconomical to repair. I've been told the hire car...
I have a Honda Jazz CVT auto - 56 plate @ 17000 miles. Just bought.
Within days I noticed a wobble sometimes occurring at between 30 - 40 mph as if the body is shimmying side to side. Sometimes occurs...
Two months ago I purchased a brand new Ford Fiesta.
Last week, whilst my car was parked in my work car park, another colleague drove into it and damaged my rear bumper (taking off roughly an inch of...
I only occasionally drive in Europe, but I propose driving to south-west France in August with my family. I hold an old style paper UK driving licence. I understand that the DVLA website does not suggest...
My daughter's 2008 Ford Fiesta came with alloy wheels and low profile tyres. These look great and make for superb handling on smooth roads, but after the bad winter and the resulting potholes she has had...
I recently had an accident where I was reversing out of a parking space and, as I did so, another driver reversed across my path and we collided. There was damage to his passenger side rear panel and initially...
I am about to renew the insurance for my 2002 Rover 75 2.0 CDT. Having read in your column about various tales of hire car scams, accident management companies etc. jumping on the bandwagon of innocent...
I found the UK too hard on drivers with constantly rising costs, so I have moved to France. Yesterday I was offered a car by a French neighbour. He tells me the cam belt jumped the pulley, and he can't...
I am looking for a Porsche Cayman around £17,000 for my wife. We really like the car and I think we could afford one for doing around 6,000 miles a year. I am happy with a slightly higher mileage car if...
Could you please advise me as to the benefit of larger wheels on the Golf TDI Match demonstrator which I am thinking of buying? The dealer is wanting an extra £500 for these.
I'm thinking about buying a Mitsubishi Colt convertible, two years old, 6,000 on the clock, £8,500. Are they any good? What do you think?
I drive a Skoda Fabia 3 which has cruise control. My husband says that it is uneconomic to use. Is he right?
For once I have to write in praise of Nottinghamshire County Council. If you Google Nottinghamshire Potholes you'll find a map-based reporting system. You identify where the hole is and leave your contact...
I think you may be wrong about illegal transmitters stopping car keys from working. I believe that the keys work on a frequency of 433.92MHz and use a super-regenerative receiver. The general use of super-regens...
I own a 2005 Volvo V50 2.4i with 49,000 miles on the clock. The computer now shows me 'Anti-skid Service - Required'. Reading the blog on the Volvo Forum, apparently Volvo have known of this problem for...
I just wondered whether you could give me some advice on replacing our second car. We've only got about £1,500 to spend and need something that can seat two adults and three children. It also needs to...
Does the 1.6 e-HDi 112 stop and start engine with electronically controlled manual gearbox (ECG) have a diesel particulate filter? As I do 90% short trips I need to be certain it does not have a filter.
I have a Fiesta 1.25 V reg and the heaters will not turn off. I've changed the heater valve and flushed and renewed the coolant but this seems to have made things worse. Please help?
I got someone to plug a reader into my wife's car at the weekend, and got some fault codes which are as follows; P0560/P0380/P0603 and lastly P1517. What would your second opinion be? I think it could...
I have a 12-year old 5-door Rover 420Gsi and my wife has a 10-year old 3-door RAV4.
We want to sell both cars and get one new petrol 5-door medium-size hatchback, eg Golf or similar size. We are both...
I have a 2003 Volvo XC70 diesel auto estate which I have owned from new and which has a little over 60K miles on the clock.
It has generally been reliable, but has recently required both front coil springs...
I apparently need new front brake pads and discs and the Peugeot dealership have quoted me rather a lot(!)
I was wondering if it is best to cough up and fit genuine Peugeot parts or whether I could get...
I own a 2008 Mercedes E220 automatic. I plan to keep it for the next 4 years. Current mileage is 33000 and I expect to do 10-15k per annum, so in 4 years time it will be in the 80-100k miles range.
I...
Should a Honda Jazz CVT be in neutral or drive when stopped at traffic lights.
Which is better for the car and its fuel economy?
My stepson recently purchased a 2007 Ford Focus that had been advertised on eBay by a private dealer (trading from home, but with trade plates, VAT registered etc). When I asked what warranty came with...
I need some advice on what car (probably second hand) to buy.
My priorities are:
MOST IMPORTANT:
1. Low *overall* cost motoring
2. Quiet & comfortable with good ride on motorways (long journeys & making...
Do you think the new Golf Cabriolet with 2.0 diesel will be a good long term car to own? This would be my 'retirement' car. My other choice is a Scirrocco.
The turbo on my Astra van 2002 diesel has gone. Do I need exact part number as I have been told there is only one turbo for this model? Trying to access second hand.
I have just had the clutch replaced in my Peugeot 206, 1.6 XS, but the problem is that now the new clutch has been fitted it now jumps when trying to move it. The clutch jumps and then the car stalls....
I bought in November a Ford Fiesta Zetec. 58-reg, with 6,780 miles. I have now driven another 1,200 miles in the car.
Going down steep hills the gear lever kept coming out of 2nd gear and sitting in...
I would value your advice as to which car to buy - we have a Toyota Prius and a VW Touran, and are looking to replace the Touran with another MPV. Our current favourites are the Honda FR-V and the Toyota...
Do I have a transmission problem or a "dual mass flywheel" problem if the engine over revs when shifting from 2nd to 3rd?
It's also noticable once and awhile from 3rd to 4th? Seems to stick in 2nd and...
I am due to change from a Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDi (diesel) to a Skoda Roomster 1.2 TSi 109PS (petrol). The Octavia will start moving on tickover, which is a great help in multi-storey carparks, traffic...
After receipt of NIP from Lincolnshire police I asked for and received photo of alleged offence, caught on Lastec LTi 2020 camera. Only rear of car shown so what happens when more than one driver sharing...
My car is 13-months-old and has done 11,000 miles. I noticed what I thought to be excessive scoring on the nearside rear brake discs and to a lesser extent on the offside. I took it in to the dealer to...
I'm after a small hatchback with a low entry hatch (so that the old dog doesn't have to jump up too high).
Recently when I change gear (any) it makes a kind of clicking (well makes some sort of noise which is hard to explain) noise everytime i change gear.
The car seems to be running fine, but I am worried...
I've come into some money and want to buy a great used car, but I hate depreciation.
What cars would you recommend that are less than 10 years old, cost less than £50,000, and are likely to be future...
I have a 2005-plate (manufactured 2004) Ford Focus Estate, 1.8 petrol.
It has just passed its MOT but with a note to the effect that it is rusted underneath - I presume the part of the car closest to...
I tow a 1500kg caravan with an 2008 E280 CDI Estate. I want to replace this car with a 4x4 for better traction in mud/snow. I need a car which has a large boot for two dogs and a pushchair.
The E-class...
I bought a used Honda Civic with a full service history in January of this year for £7500. The car recently (whilst on holiday) developed a fault which required the vehicle to be abandoned and towed to...
Elsewhere on 
