Questions from November 2012
At what point did the Vauxhall Corsa CDTi engine switch from a cambelt to a cam chain, as some forums say they're chain drive, while I've seen an advert advising that a car has had its cambelt replaced.
I'm...
I'm buying a pre-registered (June 2012) Honda Jazz 1.4 EX with 2000 miles on the clock. Honda dealer has offered a three-year warranty to begin in June 2015 for £700, including full breakdown cover. Worth...
My 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK200 has 225x45/17 on the front and 245/40R on the rear. I can't source any of the rear tyres, and have been advised by my local Mercedes-Benz dealer to change the rear wheels....
I am looking to buy winter tyres for my daughters Puegeot Partner Combi(03) which is fitted with alloy wheels 185/65/15. I do not wish to buy steel wheels. Can they be fitted to alloys? What would you...
I have just received a letter from UKPC 'inviting' me to pay a Parking Charge for £90.00, stating that "if after a period of 28 days, the amount requested in this Notice has not been paid in full you,...
I purchased a four-month old Venture edition Mazda MX-5 with 1050 miles on clock. Test drive was okay a week before. After buying car (empty fuel directed to shell garage down road) Filled up with Unleaded...
I have a query on wheel sizes for my 2002 Honda CR-V. I bought the car with a set of four 16-inch alloys, fitted with 205/55-16 Michelins. From a technical standpoint, these are the wrong size as they...
My daughter and son in-law are looking to buy a Honda Civic, as it lots of room for the bits needed travelling with their young baby. They have around £8000 to spend - anything you would recommend or watch...
My son bought a one-year old Volkswagen Scirocco a few days ago, and when we got it home, we found the centres of the front tyres were badly worn down to the wear indicators.
The garage claims that cars...
Over the years I've used Miller's Diesel Plus in our diesel cars, mainly to lubricate the injector pump rather than seeking extra performance. We have just bought a Kia Cee'd 1.6 CRDi, and the handbook...
I have a 1999 Honda Civic 1.6-litre Aerodeck automatic. Can you please tell me if Shell V-Power works with automatics, and if so how long do you need to use it for it to take effect?
I would like to buy my first car. I have to choose between: Ford Focus 1.6 (2009) vs Opel Astra H 1.6 (2009) - or Ford Fiesta 1.4 (2010) vs Opel Corsa 1.4 (2010)
Which car I should choose in each category?...
I have just noticed that I can smell petrol from the oil filler cap and dip stick. The car is running perfectly and mpg and temps seem fine. Am I worrying about noting or does the car just need an oil...
Can you please give me the name of the maufacturer/supplier of the Hatchback Tailgate protectors that protect the car's bodywork when loading/unloading the boot?
I have a 2008 Audi A3 and I know that...
We've just moved to a rural area, where the twice daily school run involves 6-8 miles - each way - of narrow lanes, which are sometimes flooded and muddy. And they will be soon be icy and snowy too!
We're...
My daughter has been trying to sell her Mini Cooper for some time without any luck. I suspect she is asking too much for it, at around £5000. It is in very good condition having been resprayed (original...
My sat-nav on my BMW X5 SE 2009 model only accepts four- or five-digit postcodes in the UK. Works superbly in France, but useless in the UK. Is there an upgrade that I can load to bring it up to the latest...
A wheel bolt has been cross-threaded into the rear hub of my 2001 VW Polo SDI. My local garage has advised that, as a result of this, the rear hub will need to be replaced at a cost of £138.
A new tyre...
Any advice on tyres for Citroen Picasso - it's an '04-reg with around 110,000 miles on the clock?
I have a MINI Countryman, and need something larger and comfortable, sporty but smooth. Had a current SEAT Leon DSG diesel, with no DPF before, and want something slightly larger. The Audi A3 appeals,...
My wife car was struck heavily from behind, causing it to be off the road and requiring around £7000 in repairs. The other driver's insurance company contacted my wife by phone before she had even got...
I received a parking ticket yesterday in a private car park. When I arrived the only pay-and-display machine was out of order, so I did not get a ticket. When I returned, there was a ticket on the car...
It's a problem with a Fiesta that's been left standing for four weeks while the owner was away from home. Now, the fuel pump is not running for 1~2 seconds when ignition turned on (and car will not start)....
The glow plug light on my Ford Mondeo 2.0LX 115PS TDCI 2003 (53) is continually flashing. I've had the glow plugs replaced, but the light still flashes. It takes about 15 goes to start in morning and once...
Travelling North along the A34 approaching the Pear Tree intersection Oxford at around 7.30pm on 18 November, I witnessed a lot of traffic braking violently up ahead. An accident was very, very close to...
Two garages have returned my P-registered Polo (65,000 miles) saying they cannot trace a combination of heavy rumbling/vibration from the rear of the vehicle - particularly when stationary. The exhaust...
I need to change front brake hose for mot, dont have manual questions are:
1 What size spanners required?
2 For bleeding brakes do you have to do all or just front brakes?
3 How much brake fluid is required...
I would like to fit winter tyres - which are good ones, and should it be all four or will just two do?
Many thanks for the reply the other day about downsizing from a Vauxhall Zafira to a new shape Fiesta. Your advice most welcome but the wife has thrown a spanner in the works, and now quite fancies a 2008...
What should I buy to replace my Renault Grand Scenic diesel? I only need to transport myself and wife mostly – but I also need to carry bulky and dirty stuff, occasionally.
I used the Renault Scenic with...
My daughter is trying to find a car to learn to drive in. She is 6ft 4in, but has 38in long legs (most tall men have 33in legs). She is currently in a Toyota Prius - and she is squashed into the cabin...
My Daughter's 2008 Ford Fiesta required a replacement steering rack as the original lost fluid. A replacement from Ford was around £380 plus fitting, but I was able to get a reconditioned unit from a motor...
Driving with the cruise on for 60-65 minutes, I stop for a stretch, which takes around 10-15 minutes. Back on the road cruise control will not set, and it takes around 25 minutes before I can set it again....
I read your explanation on how to benefit from Shell V-Power yesterday. Following your recommendation I've been using Shell diesel in my Ford Kuga 163ps with Powershift since new (now 18k miles) and a...
Five weeks ago I bought a used 2005 Fiesta from a Ford Dealer. I have just noticed that one of the rear tyres is rated for winter, and the others all summer. Could this be dangerous under heavy braking...
We love our Ford Fiesta, but the arrival of more grandchildren requires a slightly larger vehicle with similar mileage. What can you recommend.
I have been offered a 2005 Kia Sportage 4WD with 45,000 miles on the clock and FSH for £4700 at an independent dealers.
Does this vehichle have a chain drive and is the asking price too high?
I have a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI. It has done 19,000 miles and has newish Continental Tyres on 16-inch alloy wheels. I feel the road noise on anything less than a near perfect road is not what should...
I've just bought an Alfa Romeo 147 Alfa JTD 120 8-valve. It's an 07-plate with 52,000 on the clock, and full service history. I've read that belts and water pump have a habit of failing well before the...
There is a new hazard on our roads - that of very large agricultural vehicles which are appearing in increasing numbers and are travelling longer and longer distances. On main roads they cause long tailbacks...
Do you remember the days when the AA patrolman with his motorbike and sidecar used to wave at motorists with an AA badge? If he did not wave it meant there was a speed trap ahead. No speed limit on the...
My father-in-law wishes to return to driving after a year off the road. His absence was due to deteriorating eyesight caused by cataracts. He has now had the cataracts operated on and his eyesight is fine,...
We would like to replace our Mercedes 300TE and Volkswagen Polo 1.4 with a fuel-efficient, low maintenance car which is spacious enough to carry two sets of golf clubs. We drive about 5000 miles per year...
Returning from overseas I read the police plan to prosecute drivers who are 'hogging' the middle lane (lane 2) of our motorways. I have not seen anything else on this subject, or how the police propose...
My Toyota RAV4 has been a good and reliable servant for the last ten years but, at 110,000 miles, it’s beginning to creak a bit, so I'm thinking about a replacement. We need space for passengers and for...
I currently drive a 2010 Nissan Qashqai 1.5-litre diesel. I see that they now have a 1.6-litre diesel which offers a bit more grunt and better economy. The engine looks very complex and this makes me wary....
I had my photograph taken on an unfamiliar road in Bournemouth, which for miles had been subject to a 40mph limit but, unnoticed by me, at a junction the limit changed to 30 mph and I was duly clocked...
I’ve taken your advice on Shell V-Power fuel but I would like to clarify a few other factors. My car has only done 40,000 miles and, even for the age, I’m guessing you would still recommend V-Power. For...
I am thinking of buying a secondhand Mercedes estate and am looking at the E280 or 320 diesel. Having owned an E270 CDI for nearly ten years which clocked up 240,000 miles from new without any problems,...
I currently own a 2004 Honda Accord 2.0i Executive automatic and would like to downsize to something easier to get in and out of, with cheaper running costs. A diesel does not seem to be an option. We...
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