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Honest John Ask Honest John » January 2013
Trending topics in January 2013
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Questions from January 2013
The indicators stopped working whilst driving along. When I stopped, the central locking also not working, and the radio operating switch on steering wheel - and blue main beam headlights indicator lamp...
I am an 18 year old girl and I'm looking to buy my first car. I work full time and will mainly be using the car to get to and from work. I have a budget of around £5000 pounds and I would ideally like...
I have a Ford Mondeo Mk3 and have had to replace the drivers side Spring. Getting the shock and broken spring out was easy, the problem started trying to get the shock back in. The Haynes manual says...
I'm looking for a second hand car - a smallish but stylish family hatchback - and am keen on diesel's mpg and torque but am mindful of the cautionary tales you tell of subjecting these to short runs -...
I need a reliable estate for commuting (about an hour each way - motorway and traffic) and weekend jaunts with bicycles etc. Budget is around £6k and I tend to keep my cars for a while. I've narrowed...
Our whole family (three cars worth) has been sent Parking Charge Notices by ParkingEye for parking in a Booths Shop in Windermere on Boxing day for 2h 40mins (2 Hours being the max) while the store was...
We have a 2002 Peugeot 307 Rapier. It had been running fine but finally a day came when it started showing up anti-pollution fault. We got it checked but the local garage couldn't resolve it. We kept running...
I have recently moved to a job where I need to commute 25000 miles per year. I currently drive a Ford Focus 1.6L petrol. Could you please suggest something that would be similar sized but a good economical...
I am due to renew all tyres on my 2008 Volvo V50 SE (205 50 R17 93) and have found Hankook Ventus Prime 2 K115 tyres as a possibility. These tyres appear to have scored well on the 'tyre labelling' system...
How good is the Toyota Corolla 1.6 automatic?
Car has refused to start after working just fine. Each time started okay and then nothing. There is not the click of a starter motor when turning the key, but quiet clicking from under the fuse box, but...
The passenger electric window is not working, but the drivers one is, would this be the motor or is there a seperate fuse and could the switch itself be a common fault?
Just had my first puncture on my T Spirit, which has factory fitted 17" wheels. The compact spare is 16". I'm having to wait for the replacement tyre to be delivered, so am driving with the spare on the...
Terrible thumping noise when either heating or cooling used.noise stops immediately when climate control switched off.car has covered 130000 miles,65000 by myself.i have very rarely used the air conditioning...
I am buying a used toyota prius, which is fitted with toyota recomendid mats , the dealer insists that because of health & safety I have to buy new replacments mats is this true.
Your suggestions please! I have around 10k to spend on a car that could be described as ‘different’ or ‘unique’. I don’t want an eco-car! I would ideally like a six cylinder petrol or diesel but am...
Around this spring time my company car will be replaced with: Renault Megane Sport Tourer 1.5 dCi 110 Dynamique TomTom 5dr (Stop/Start). This car will come without a spare wheel/tyre, which will be the...
Bought a new Audi A6 in June 2012 (in Finance). On 29 December 2012, we drove the car and after a mile we noticed a lot of white smoke getting out of the exhaust. The white smoke was so much that we decided...
My 03 (built in 02) WRX has done only100,000 km. The manual calls for cam belt replacement at 160,000 km. In view of the age of the car, should I replace it soon? Does anything else need replacing at the...
Hi, I own a Mazda 5, 55 registration, about 82,000 miles run. It consumes 4ltrs engine oil almost every 1000 miles now. I checked for leak or smoke in exhaust but can't spot either of these symptoms. I...
Given continual rises in train fares, its now become both cheaper and easier to buy a secondhand car. I live in London, and it would be used for travelling out of the capital on weekends. My council impose...
I have just found a parking ticket at a private carpark from premier parking services. I had not had the chance to get a ticket and put on my car before I was ticketed. My son is 4 and partially sighted,...
Audi RS3: front tyre wear is 9400 miles and they're GONE and I haven't thrashed it. Is this the norm?
On 17 December I parked on a main road in Bristol in what I thought was a correct parking area - other cars were parked there and the only part of a number of signs displayed that I noted was that parking...
We bought a 3 year old VW Golf in Sept 2011 from an independent dealer who was recommended to us by a friend. He did a good job of finding the car, organising a service/MOT and delivering it to us for...
Sorry put all of it above, we are having a new Mercedes B class 1.8 petrol engine shortly my dealer wants to know what tyre/wheel size we want. Your newspaper article always say's how important they are...
I went past a speed camera at Pentraeth, Anglesey at about 6pm on the Sunday evening at the end of half-term in October last. This was a particularly sneaky effort from North Wales police, who presumably...
25 year old girl living in the city centre but working in the countryside, seeks sensible but stylish small car to replace much loved 2003 Skoda. Able to spend £6-8k for a new or very nearly new model...
I bought a used car from a dealer and for the first weekend the car wouldnt start and the garage replaced the battery. Now the clutch is slipping and they want to charge me for replacing it. I dont want...
I am thinking of getting rid of my run flat tyres shortly. I have purchased a BMW space saver kit, and checked if it fits ok which it does, I didn't fancy using the tyre seal goo with the run flats. What...
My son was unfortunate to have an accident in his Mini One. We were impressed with the safety features of the Mini which enabled him to walk away from the accident. On looking for a replacement car...
I'm hoping you'll appreciate an unusual question, one that stretches you! I've a 2004 1.8 Vauxhall Astra Mk5 auto with 80k on the clock. It would be worth £1800-ish if someone hadn't "keyed" the paintwork,...
My husband I are considering replacing our 1998 Honda Civic. It’s just made it through it’s MoT and he is desperate to keep it. I am not so enthusiastic. There were a few points of advice and the bushes...
We are downsizing to one car and are spoilt for choice with SUVs. The Skoda Yeti appeals for its smaller size. The Kia and Hyundai have great warranties and are very well equipped. The Kia also has a petrol...
Are there any owners of Nissan NV200s flagging up exsessive rear tyre wear? I'm down 2mm on both sides of my new van after 18,000 miles.
I own a 2007 VW Passat 2.0 SEL TDI 170 DSG Estate which has covered about 75,000 miles. Until June it was averaging just over 42mpg on a combined cycle over 4500 miles, and on a run I could routinely get...
Following my recent experience with my insurance renewal, I thought I would share my findings. Having compared some 23 insurers and telephoned six independently, I found some infuriating responses. I...
What is the point of electronic handbrakes? You report that water ingress is a common problem. If it's so common why don't they fix it? I have just been quoted £550 by Volkswagen to replace just one side....
After having a 2008 58 registered BMW 120d stolen the police recovered the car undamaged within 48 hours (actually it was valeted for sale) but it was recovered without the original tax disc and with two...
I own a (July) 2009 Ford Focus 1.6-litre petrol, which has covered 30,000 miles. During Christmas, the fuel pump failed and I was left with a bill of £400. Surely a fuel pump should last more than three...
I am considering buying the new Ford Kuga. Have you any experience of buyacar.co.uk based in Chiswick, London. Their deals are very attractive.
Hello, I live in Portugal and I bought a Triumph Stag Mk2 for restoration. I am looking in England someone that sell the V8 engine. Do you know where if someone works with this engines?
I have a 2006 IS220 Lexus - 105,000 miles and just had to have the dual mass flywheel and clutch replaced at £1450 plus VAT - should I stick with the otherwise excellent Lexus or is it time to change?...
I'm trying to decide upon a 4x4 or cross-over to do 20k miles p.a. half motorway and half badly potholed rural roads. 4 wheel-drive is needed because we live in a hilly area. I'll buy second-hand and can...
Would you recommend 16-inch wheels for this model, or would 18-inch give too hard a ride?
My son's Vauxhall Corsa turns over but won't start from the ignition but works fine from a bump start. We have changed the battery. Any ideas?
I bought the above car New last year,and had fitted by the suppling garage the extra large rear spoiler. The problem is the washer jet does not aline to the centre of the rear screen,I have spoken to the...
Looking to replace our '97 3.1 LWB Isuzu Trooper with smaller, more economical Freelander 2 or Nissan X-Trail or similar. Need to tow 20 foot boat axle weight 1.5 tons. Budget £9000. Your advice please
Had agreed to buy a friend's good condition 06 plate Pathfinder Adventura 80K miles for £8400, which I thought was an ok deal. Before the transaction was done he rear-ended someone - not hard enough for...
My Volkswagen Golf (2.0TDI, 140 bhp, 2004, 90k miles) was hit on 27th December whilst parked with no occupants in a residential area. The other party admitted liability and my vehicle is currently being...
 

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