Questions from December 2012
I had my car serviced at 15,000 miles back in July. The engine started knocking on Monday. I turned it off and rang RAC; they said it had no oil in the engine. So he put oil in and got me to drive it to...
My Hyundai Coupe (which you recommended) has been excellent for five years, but I now need something gentler on my bad back. So I'm looking at SUVs.
The choice comes down to VW Tiguan, Honda CR-V or...
My daughter bought a car on finance with my help. The salesman on the test drive pointed out that it had a heated front windscreen, which is essential for us. Now the ice is here, we find that this was...
I am told nitrogen filled tyres rarely need checking because they do not deflate like ordinary air filled tyres. Is this true? Is it worth paying to change to nitrogen?
Looking at on-coming car headlights at night, should the offside headlamp appear brighter than the near side headlight if correctly aligned? Or should it be the other way round?
I noticed a noise on starting my petrol Ford Focus Zetec 1.6. It sounds like a belt squealing, and lasts for a minute or so on the first start of the day. I looked at the belt on the left hand side of...
I recently fell foul to an online scam offering me a very reasonably priced Ford Focus for sale via a financial intermediary. The car was being being stored prior to sale on behalf of the owner who had...
The police sent me a 'Notice of Intended Prosecution' for exceeding a 50mph speed restriction and along with it an offer for me to attend the Driver Awareness Training Course. I did not decline the offer...
I've heard that some Honda Jazz cars were built in China/Thailand and not Japan,does this affect build quality/reliability?
What problems should I look out for?
There's a banging noise from my brakes when they're applied - and I get the same when driving off after braking.
The noise is loud and comes from the front wheel driver's side
I am looking to purchase a Volkswagen Golf Mk7 (GT 1.4 TSI), which I am now informed by my local dealer should be arriving in about a 7-10 days time. I have already looked very closely at the (downloaded...
In the Real MPG section, there isn't a slot for the 520d E61 2009 (Tourer). Could it be added it please? Just bought one a couple of months ago, very happy with it but want to contribute.
My car struggles to start as soon as the weather gets cold - but once started, even if its turned off, it will start in one go. Two years back, it used to struggle a bit - but now it's very bad.
Once...
I am looking to buy a 04 plate Range Rover TD6 Vogue 2.9L with 73k miles on the clock. AA inspection (which was excellent service) gave generally v good results for a car of this age.
I am interested...
I recently purchased a used Jaguar 2.2 SE estate from a main dealer in Reading. The car was sold to me on the understanding I would benefit from a one-year 'Approved' Jaguar warranty. When the documents...
The driver's side of my 61-plate Nissan Navara Tekna Double Cab windscreen started misting up after five minutes driving - and there is an unusual odour in the cab. I took it to Nissan Wirral, who have...
Three weeks ago, I took my car to a local garage to replace the timing belt. Today as I was driving, the engine stopped running - I called the AA, and when they turned up, they told me that the timing...
We are interested in a Toyota Yaris 1.3VVTi TR five-door, registered 19 November 2010. It has 13,320 miles on the clock. It is priced at £8695, what sort of price should we aim to pay, as it seems a bit...
I've just bought one-year old, 4600-mile, Mercedes-Benz E-Class from Mercedes-Benz Used Retail. I drive it home and put in garage, and three days later when I went to drive it, I noticed three fairly deep...
I've owned my (diesel) Ford Focus from new six years ago. I've always serviced it at the main dealer, but after problems starting the car, they tell me that it needs a new fuel pump costing about £1500....
When I tried to purchase online four winter wheels/tyres from Mytyres.co.uk, they initially took my order, and confirmed by email. But very shortly after I received a second email which stated 'as per...
When you insert the nozzle and fill the tank, the pump doesn't automatically stop it just fills the tank and then floods the forecourt with petrol. What could be the cause of this?
This is my girlfriend's...
I have a 2003 Volkswagen Touran 1.6 FSI with 86,000 miles on the clock with full dealer service history. The EMS light on the dashboard came on and I had the car diagnosed. The timing chain is showing...
I borrowed my husband's car, and inadvertently overstayed in Asda car park. I have received a letter from Town & City Parking demanding £40 by 24 December; this then goes up to £70 if I don't pay.
They...
We are a retired couple - we're in our early 60s and have bought a motorhome. It's in France, where it's registered, as we have a boat moored there. We have a winter home in the Algarve, and between France...
I Also saw this site, as you know the company mentioned sells cars at very appealing prices.
And as of writing this are still up and running:
http://veho-alliance-lp.com
There are even a couple of...
please can you help, I bought a nissan micra three years ago (it was a year old) and it is now 4 years old. It has always been serviced at a nissan garage at the intervals recommended.
It has done just...
My two BMW's with 19-inch alloys have experienced cracks on four of the wheels. This is a common problem which BMW continue to contest responsibility. The cracks are normally formed on the inside of the...
I owned a motorbike 20 years ago which a friend stored for me. I lost touch with him depite trying to locate him. Last year however I found him via facebook. He never sold the bike but left it with someone...
I have several small scratches on my car. Do vanish paint pens do as good a job as they claim ?
We are looking for a large estate/mpv for daily commute of 26 miles round trip the majority of which is on motorway/dual carriageway. Fuel economy, yet good motorway crusing speed and space is important;...
When I started my car a few days ago I noticed that the radiator fan was running, even on a frosty morning - is this correct? I now have a problem with the thermostat or cooling temp control. The temp...
While away from home, my car alarm went off and continued off and on for over 48 hours (according to my neighbour), and I arrived home to find a flat battery. Is there a noise pollution law under, which...
I wonder if you could give me your opinion on what car i should purchase next. My partner and I are really torn between a Ford Focus C-MAX or a Renault Grand Scenic. Our budget doesn't stretch very far,...
I've just bought a 2009/59 Mazda 6 SL with the 185bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine. It has 18-inch alloys. The handbook specifies 16, 17, or 18-inch. Which is best - and why?
I am looking to buy a secondhand car, I am looking to spend about £8000. Are there any pitfalls with buying from Motorpoint?
And are there any other car supermarkets to looks at, without travelling too...
My Porsche 997 is currently in a friends garage on private land. The MoT expired last month. I am currently abroad and have no plans to use the car until February 2013. The Tax Disc is valid until March...
I am really hoping that you can help me with my dilemma or at least point me in the right direction. I'm a resident of an estate overseen by the City Council who previously employed the vehicle clamping...
My wife has been running a Y-reg 1.0-litre petrol Yaris since new, and has now clocked up over 120k miles at over 50mpg, mostly commuting 15 miles each way into Leeds with the occasional longer journey....
Our Verso Corolla Verso went off to the garage today to have its heater fixed - I have just been told by the Toyota garage that it is essentially dead. The head gasket has gone which means:
£700 for a...
When I turn on my sat-nav it keeps coming up with a message 'please insert original data carrier'. This only happens when it is cold. It works okay when the weather is above 4 degrees c.
My wife's Suzuki Jimny had a new catalytic converter/exhaust fitted by a main dealer in February 2012. She was charged £600.00 plus VAT. In November, the system failed and a local garage replaced the system...
We live at the top of a country lane which is above the winter snow line and so are looking for a capable 4x4, but one which is not too big (but big enough for the two dogs).
Subaru are selling a number...
I wish to fit a spare set of wheels and winter tyres to my 2008 Ford Fiesta Zetec Blue. The car currently has 16-inch alloys with 195/45 R16 tyres. I was considering fitting 14-inch steel wheels with deeper...
I have a 10-Plate Volkswagen Golf TDI. It's excellent, but as I am in the country, I am thinking of trading it in for a 4x4. But I don't want a huge Chelsea tractor. Something about Golf size would be...
I have now taken over responsibility for organising the insurance for my elderly Mother's car. She is 86 years old and drives a Honda Jazz (on your recommendation). Her annual mileage is very low - well...
I have a 2003 Toyota Corolla Verso, which has two sunroofs. Following the recent heavy rain, both front and rear footwells on the passenger side were wet (the vehicle was parked on the road with minimal...
My 57-Plate Jeep Cherokee loses power periodically - and the result is that I pull up, with the engine shuddering, and then switch off. After standing for a few minutes, I turn the key - and it fires up...
Should I turn off the stop-start button on my MINI One, as most engine wear comes from stopping and starting?
I'm going to look for a car I've seen for sale in a magazine classified ad. It's a five-door 2005 Nissan Micra 1.2S with 73,000 miles on the clock. I don't know the condition, but the pictures look fine...
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