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Honest John Ask Honest John » August 2012
Trending topics in August 2012
4x4s automatics buying classic cars diesel particulate filter diesels dual mass flywheel family cars insurance large cars legal advice legal issues maintenance and servicing new cars owning reliability small cars technical issues used cars wheels and tyres
Questions from August 2012
This might be a bit of a strange question, but I've got a friend who wants to buy a new car for delivery early Sept to get the new '62' registration plate, BUT - she lives in Leeds but wants the new car...
As I get older I notice every bump and grind along the road. I love my X-Trail petrol T spec, but wonder could you recommend tyres for comfort?
I can afford up to £13,000 and drive less than 3,000 miles a year and wish to upgrade to a Mercedes, can you recommended which model would be best to buy and keep for 10 years plus? Car used mainly for...
I`d just like to inform you of a website that I have recently created call The Saab Specialist Register. www.the-saab-specialist-register.com its unique in the fact that we have nearly all the UK Saab...
I am considering buying a used X3 but have been told that all 4 tyres must be changed at the same time, every time. Something to do with 4wd transfer box (?). I find this very strange - but is it true.
I have recently signed up to a 4year lease deal on a Fiat 500 Twin-air (2012 ) and have had the car for 3 weeks. I understand that the car has only completed 400 miles but the fuel consummation is appalling. Main...
I will probably have to replace my 06 Citroen C4 1.6 HDI (110) due to recent hailstorm damage. Due to the things I have read in your pages regarding diesel engines for low mileage (I do about 8000), I...
I understand that these two cars are basically the same underneath. However, in the review of the Kia you comment that the ride could be better and that it is noisy at speed. Does this also apply to...
I have been running a Passat 2.0 Tdi SE for 5 years, trouble free and doing 25k miles per year. I am now looking to replace it and am considering either a 12/18 month old 320D Touring or (from DriveTheDeal)...
My wife has received a flyer from our local Toyota dealer offering special terms on new cars which they are calling "cost price"! Have you any idea what that means and if so what reduction as a percentage...
Should air conditioning be left on all the time?
I read somewhere that any vehicle seller, whether private or trade, is not allowed to sell a vehicle that is unroadworthy and that if a fault develops within 6 months it is presumed that it was there at...
Does a 2002 Jeep Cherokee 2.55 crd have a timing belt or chain, when should it be replaced?
When I select reverse (auto box) and reverse up an incline, there is a distinct creaking sound from the front of the car. (It seldom does this on a flat road). At first I thought it might be the front...
We want to buy a smallish (2-4berth) campervan/motor home for no more than £12,000. We know we won't get much for that price so is it better to look for low mileage or is the newer the better?
What is the difference between the 1.2 engine in the VW Polo and the 1.2 engine in the Audi A1? The VW is more powerful. Are they both chain cam driven?
On the Citroen C3 semi-automatic (electric clutch), if you left-foot brake whilst the throttle is still open there is an almighty thud from the transmission and the engine goes down to idle rpm, leaving...
I have a mk5 Volkswagen Golf GT TDI, which before and during my ownership I have maintained and serviced on a yearly basis. It is currently on 120,000 miles and the cambelt was last changed at 57,000 miles...
Thinking of buying an Audi A4 Avant around 3 to 4yrs old. I am faced with 1.9 TDI,2.0 TDI, 1.8 FSI or a 2.0 FSI. I cover about 8-10 thousand miles a year and would hold on to a car for 8 years or so....
My indicators on the drivers side have stopped working (all 3 lights). They do not even work when I press the central locking (on/off). They have been playing up for a while but just thought one of the...
The van turbo has failed after 9 weeks and 23,000 miles, I've been told it failed due to a lack if lubricant but the van had been serviced a week earlier and I'd driven over 350 miles that day before it...
I've had my car since February and it has clocked up just over 32,000 miles, I assume the old tyres were the originals. Anyway - I noticed both front tyres were badly worn on the inside (almost slick),...
I changed insurer recently when I changed my car. I had two separate policies with the first insurer. When the first insurer provided a letter to prove my accrued NCD, the letter was specific about which...
We need a small (not city or super mini) quality petrol car for local lanes/town parking and 5000 mile p.a.(currently have 5 year old MB A150). Back and leg problem means need to consider auto or semi...
Need to replace tyres on my Jeep Grand Cherokee '54 size 235 65 17. Want all season rather than summer or winter. Thinking of the OME Goodyear Wrangler HP All Weather but have seen the VREDESTEIN QUATRAC...
My mate is changing a damaged fuel injector in my Skoda Fabia 1.9tdi (2001) he has asked me if it needs to be chipped as some of the models do - not sure if mine does?
Where is the position of the hole in the bell housing to lock the crankshaft.
I have a Ford Mondeo, 2005, 2.0-litre TDCi. It has a Sony six-stack radio/CD player. The problem is that since I put in the CDs, they won't eject, even thought they play and the radio is fine. Every time...
Can we expect a CVT auto model of Toyota's Urban Cruiser?
I will soon buy a Ford Focus 1.6 or 2.0 TDCi, even though I drive only about 15,000 km/year. Which of these engines is more reliable? I'm thinking about problems with DPF, DMF, turbo, ... Or should...
My brother's Y-Reg Peugeot 306 HDI is under power, the turbo doesnt cut in and their is no smoke coming out the back. It will drive along up to 80mph OK, just wont get their very quickly! Any info on...
I have Nissan Almera 1.5 petrol, 64,000 miles and I pay about £30 per week to travel. I drive in town and on the motorway. I always wanted to have an automatic diesel so I found a car - Vauxhall Astra...
When should the cambelt be changed on a 2003 1.4 Tdci Ford Fusion? Should anything else changed (eg: tensioner) at the same time?
What Should Be The Tick Over Speed On a Zafira Diesel 03 Reg?
A guy in the office parked in our office car park. He parked in the correct place but failed to display his permit. He was clamped. He went out whilst the guy doing the clamping was photographing the...
The automatic gearbox occassionally fails to change up a gear resulting in over reving engine. When using the kick down it drops a gear but then stays in that gear longer than normal.
Currently drive Clio automatic 1.6 and find the engine too laboured for managing the hills where I drive. Could you suggest some more powerful similar sized new cars with fully automatic petrol 2 litre...
I need a second car for a once-or-twice a week 60-mile journey on narrow twisty roads. I frequently meet large 4x4s and lorries speeding down the middle of the road, forcing me into hedgerows. Am I crazy...
I notice that http://www.satnavi.com/ is claiming that you recommended them. I'm just checking that is right before I hand over any money. They look to be on dodgy ground to me.
I recently had a new tyre at a national fitter, a wheel alignment check was made the result was that one wheel was 1mm out the other 1.8mm. Should I get the alignment done or at what stage does it become...
I have been to two main dealers in my area who are a) not offering any discount on a new car and b) quoting me a delivery date of nov/dec 2012 for a 62 reg. Is the cx5 that popular that Mazda will not...
I wish to fit winter tyres(205/55/16) for my 2007 Volvo V70 onto used steel rims but steels for Volvo are difficult to source. Can I use wheels from a Ford Focus of similar age as these seem to be readily...
I insured my Mercedes SL in December 2011 with Lancaster Insurance and paid the annual fee in full at inception. I sold the car in July and notified Lancaster of this.I am not replacing the car. They have...
I am looking for some advice about the strength of cars, such as in a crash. I have been told that for a car to be strong, the most important sign of this is that the car must have heavy doors. Surely...
 

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