Questions from September 2011
As well as washing the screen washer reservoir out with a hose pipe to remove sediment I have for a few years been using the distilled water from my tumble dryer to fill the washer bottle and also adding...
My girlfriend has an old shape 1989 Mercedes-Benz 500SL roadster, with hard and soft tops, with 31,000 on the clock in pretty reasonable nick. We would appreciate some advice where is the best place to...
My daughter owns a 2004 Vauxhall Corsa which has done sterling service on her horrendous commute to work for the last few years. Only 18 miles round trip (Sydenham to Battersea), but it involves all of...
We have just returned from Spain, where we were robbed on the autopista near Valencia. We parked at the services and went for a coffee, and someone presumably stuck a nail in the back tyre during our absence....
Having driven over Tower Bridge for many years, at all times of day and night and first being made aware of the 20 mph restriction (after first reading about it in your column I think?), I managed to forget...
I have seen your letters on parking difficulties and wonder if you have any information or advice about the notice described below. My elderly relatives have lived on an unadopted residential cul-de-sac...
My son bought a 2002 Corsa from a local dealer (operating from his home) on 31 August. We have now found that the radio and head unit are not in good working order -the volume control on the radio cannot...
I'll be selling one of our two cars soon. The insurance on the car is due on 01-11-11. I want to sell it before I have to renew the insurance. If I don't sell it before then, will it be possible for me...
Sadly the majority of motorists seem to forget the Highway Code. 90 per cent of them use the footbrake to remain stationary at traffic lights, not the handbrake, even though they will have a wait of several...
I have been driving a Honda Civic 1.4 (petrol, manual) for five years and it is time to replace it. The car has returned 50mpg on average, mainly because of the sixth gear. Are there other cars of comparable...
I have read your comments as to credit hire and it was something I took into account in renewing with a well-known mutual. However the guaranteed courtesy car was an add-on extra which I refused. I thought...
Can you tell me why some motor spares cost so much? My four-year-old Nissan Note has air-con trouble. It needs a compressor, a pipe and two hoses. Quotes vary, but typical is £975 for the compressor and...
My wife and I are intending to travel to Slovakia from the UK by car. The TomTom tells us that the quickest route will mean travelling for a while in France. However I believe that I read a response from...
It looks as if we are going to have to have controls for the brake and accelerator attached to the steering column. No problem, there is a firm near us in South Molton called Adaptor Car who appear to...
I currently have an Audi A4 S Line diesel that will come to the end of its manufacturer’s 3-year warranty on 19 Sept 2011 with a mileage of 16,000. Do you think it would be wise to take further warranty...
In May of this year I purchased a 2007 Citroen C4 Grand Picasso from a Lexus dealer in the north-west for £8800, financed by Lexus. Included in the price was a comprehensive 12-month warranty. About a...
My husband and I have driven Vauxhalls for many years. I have a 2003 Astra 1.4 16v, he has a 52 Vectra 1.8. We are intending to change at least one of the cars and possibly even go down to one car now...
I have just had my Audi TT serviced at our local dealer, Cheshire Oaks Audi, There are now 75,000 miles on the odometer and I was advised to change the cambelt. The Service schedule printed in the Handbook...
I was very interested to read the email you published on Sat 3 September concerning the poor consumption being achieved by an Astra 1.7TDCI. Mine is the same but also EcoFlex and I only get 42mpg on average....
Can you say what type of air condition makes a petrol/diesel engine more efficient? Cold air, warm, damp, dry - all variables that might affect fuel consumption but I never hear any mention of it. I can...
Your correspondent HK of Poynton reported the practice of a hire car company at Murcia airport charging for a full tank of fuel. I frequently use this airport as I have an apartment in the vicinity. I...
I have a '55 plate Renault Scenic 1.9 diesel 130bhp that has proved extremely reliable but most importantly able to tow a caravan at approximately 1,300kg. I am minded to change to a new Scenic but the...
I have just had to replace a dual mass flywheel on a 2-litre TDCI Ford Focus at 51,000 miles. I was amazed to learn from the dealer that 50,000 miles is considered “par for the course” for this contraption....
On reaching the ripe old age of 65 I promised myself that I would investigate the possibility of purchasing a classic car - a Mercedes convertible perhaps - to brighten my Autumnal years.
So, as I rapidly...
I too have taken out extra 'insurance' for £50 that ensures that any damage to my new-ish car is handled by the dealer rather than the cowboys. It only supplements comprehensive insurance but includes...
I have a 2006 Peugeot 407 Executive 136 HDI which I bought from a main dealer when it was 3 months old, it's done 40,000 miles without any problems until recently. Now when I turn on the ignition, the...
My car insurance with the RAC recently came up for renewal, the price jacked up by over £100 since last year. I went back to my old insurer, Direct Line, who gave a quote lower than the last time I insured...
Reading my Mazda MX-5 handbook and it says that if I am involved in an accident, I should NOT ring my insurance company but ring Mazda instead.
Is this a good idea? Surely it would be my responsibility...
I have a 1998 Vauxhall Omege Elite estate with the 2.5tdi (sourced from) BMW 6 cylinder Turbodiesel engine .
Although this is a good engine (in a BMW ) I find it rather disappointing as regards "pulling...
My friend has had some problems with his Mk4 Golf running rough on idle and misfiring.
It's an 02 1.6, and he's fed up so is thinking of replacing it.
He's now doing a long commute and looking at diesels,...
Our Peugeot is a diesel, so the next service is about 12,500 miles away. It has just been serviced, and we are told we shall need one new tyre, and new brake pads when we return from France in mid October.
We...
I have a 99 Ford Focus.
There is a very loud rattle coming from the exhaust area when hot. The exhaust isnt loose and has no holes in it. I have been told it might be the cat, have you any ideas?
I have been told the law has now changed and I can't transfer my motorcycle no claims over when insuring a micro car using my b1 full motorcycle licence. Is this right?
I bought a Renault Clio Dynamique S 1.2T new three years ago. It has been correctly serviced by the dealer since. I have just had to replace three tyres due to the inside tyre walls showing exposed reinforcement....
I wondered what the best car would be and how much it would be to insure for my 18 year old son.
He he passed his test 2 days after his 17th and has also got an HGV licence. I would like one (doesn't...
I drive an Audi A4 TDI 130SE (2002 owned from new) and do approx 14K per year, I am thinking of an SUV with higher driving position, but not a full-sized 4x4.
Please can you put in order what you would...
My car engine rattles when you first start it up, only for a few seconds and then it runs fine. Can you advise as to why this may be?
Just bought a 2005 1.8 Barchetta for high days and holidays. Excellent condition 34,000 mile, full history etc. Just driven 2000 miles, not hard, over 40 mpg, but used 1.5 to 2 litre of oil. No leaks,...
I bought a 2nd hand car from Evans halshaw hartlepool after seeing an advert on Auto Trader, in the advert it stated the car had keyless entry (an optional extra the previous owner would have had to pay...
I recently purchased a used car from an independent garage. During the sale process I was told that all of the paperwork was with a Director and that I could see it prior to purchase.
I agreed a price...
I have been offered a BMW 320SE diesel with an 06 plate, but as I do a lot of local mileage interspersed with some longer journeys, I do not think it will be the right car for me if it has a particulate...
I seem to remember seeing an HJ answer about the BMW X3 needing significant upgrades when being equipped for towing. I think an improved cooling fan and oil cooler for the automatic gearbox, costing about...
I have recently noticed fairly significant rust on three of the four wheel arches and around the boot lock.
Firstly, have I got a chance of getting this fixed by MB. It is a 52 plate and had its last...
I'm considering winter tyres this year as my partner drives about 50 miles a day and I want her to be as safe as possible during the colder months.
I saw in various other posts that you rate the Michelin...
I am planning to buy a new crossover, hopefully 4WD. Which is the best option?
I am thinking about Skoda Yeti vs Nissan Qashqai, what do you recommend? And which engine?
I am more in favour of the...
For some time you have suggested that using Shell V Power unleaded is well worth the extra cost due to general improved performance and mpg.
As Shell has launched "Shell fuel save" unleaded, do you still...
I'm buying an A5 3.0 Quattro Sport. I guess I'm looking towards the higher end of the options range (DVD nav, B&O stereo, AMI), not concerned either way by leather/alloy upgrades.
My budget is £18,500...
I am shortly changing my 1.4 VW Polo automatic and wish to upgrade - not fussy as to make but do need 50 mpg, automatic, boot space for lightweight folding wheelchair and also my wife's spacious golf bag...
Ive not yet passed my test but I have been looking around for months to try and find the cheapest insurance. I am 18 years old in a full time job and I am looking to insure a Daewoo Matiz SE. I am getting...
I recently parked in a railway station car park operated by NCP. On my return I found a Parking Contravention Charge Notice had been issued because I had not parked between the bay space markings. This...
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