Questions from July 2013
The heater valve on the Ford KA has been replaced, but I still have an intermittent problem with the heater as it will only blow hot air, any ideas?
My 2012 Honda Civic has been plagued with engine problems and at one stage caught fire whilst being inspected by the dealer. Since then it has been fitted with a new engine, but still suffers with problems....
The air conditioning compressor has failed on my 2008 Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI, with 27,000 miles on the clock. The car has a full service history and has been well cared for. Is this a common problem,...
I purchased a Volkswagen Golf 1.9 TDI Match back in February from Car Giant in London. I was the second owner, with the car previously being a fleet car. The car has 82,000 miles on the clock and was first...
I'm in the market for a Honda Jazz, but have received conflicting information on what a fair price for a 2005 1.4i-DSI SE would be. I have spotted a car for sale with 75,000 miles on the clock, with one...
I am considering purchasing a small/medium sized car that will be used for a daily commute of 50-miles on motorways. I am looking for reliability and economy. My budget is around £6000 and I am open to...
I'm looking to replace my Ford Focus with something that I can comfortably use on a bumpy and muddy tracks in all weathers. I only have £3500 to spent and was considering the Skoda Octavia Scout, do you...
I'm 27 and have just passed my driving test. I am looking for a cheap car to run, but have a slight problem in that I am six foot eight inches tall and don't seem to fit into many cars.
It’s not the headroom...
My 2009 Audi TTS Roadster has just turned 20,000 miles and I have noticed clutch slip - typically third and fourth gear under hard acceleration.
Is there a known (manual) clutch problem with the TTS?...
I am searching for a used car for £7000. I commute 40-miles every day on national speed limit moorland roads and urban 30-40mph roads. All have a broken road surface and the closer to work I am, the more...
Last winter the heated rear screen stopped working in our 2006 Ford Mondeo - the 30A fuse had blown. I fitted a replacement (JCASE female type) but when the screen was turned on the fuse blew again. The...
Can we have redress with Ford after turbo failure at 65,000-miles for a 2007 C-Max? They have not told us why it has failed or given a sufficient explanation.
I've got a 1999 Toyota Corolla and it has been superbly reliable. I was going to buy a newer model (approx 2005), but have read that the VVT-i engines use large quantities of oil after 40,000 miles. Is...
I've previously improved the ride on a 2008 Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 TDCi by changing from the supplied 205/55/R16 wheels to 195/65/R15s.
I've just done the same change with a 2010 Focus C-Max Zetec 1.6,...
I’m searching for my first car; I am 18 years old and have around £800 to spend. I’ve narrowed down my search to two cars that fit my needs and insurance groups, a 1998 Peugeot 306 or a 1999 Vauxhall Astra....
My Honda Accord saloon has started making a high pitched noise when I apply the throttle.
I’ve been told it could be:
- wheel bearing
- clutch bearing
- automatic gearbox
I don’t think it’s the bearing,...
I have a 2000 Peugeot 206 XS 1.6. Recently, and with random spontaneity, I am experiencing engine cut-outs. These happen when I am slowing down for, or am stopped at lights, roundabouts and traffic. When...
My 18-year-old son has decided to take up driving lessons and will eventually have a car of his own. What would you recommend as his first car? My issue is obviously insurance costs but more importantly...
I have recently bought a new KIA Rio 3-spec car. Like many other cars it has an Eco system where the engine shuts off when you stop at traffic lights etc. Sure, if the engine isn't running it is not using...
I am seeking to find out about the engine fitted to my Volvo V70 SE Lux D3. I have been told that it is fitted with a chain camshaft drive, but I cannot find any details of this in the handbook or on the...
I am in the rather extended process of completely rebuilding a classic car. A couple of years ago I had all the major braking system components rebuilt by a specialist. I’ve only now got round to setting...
My wife recently parked at a motorway service station, stayed for three and a half hours and has been asked to pay £90 (or £50 in 14 days). This charge seems grossly excessive. What do you advise?
Our 2009 Golf 2.0 TDI 140 DSG is due its MoT shortly and, as it has done 30,000 miles, we are being advised by Volkswagen to change the cambelt. Is this right and if so, why so soon? Your help and advice...
I have just bought a very low mileage and immaculate 1990 Lancia Delta HF Turbo. Do you have any advice about looking after the turbo? It makes a ‘whoosh’ sound when coming on. Is this normal?
We are in our eighties and our next car will probably be our last. What is most important is ride comfort and comfortable seats. We do about 11,000-12,000 miles a year in the UK, mainly on motorways. At...
I have seen that Motorpoint has delivery mileage Honda CR-V autos for £19,999. It appears that these are imported from Cyprus and only come with a 2-year European Warranty. It looks like a good deal, but...
Having read your column for several years I am aware of the need to occasionally switch on the aircon during the winter months. Despite having done this I now find that my aircon no longer operates when...
My 23-year-old daughter is buying her first car. She wants something about two years old that is small, reliable and above all safe. What do you recommend?
In March this year I bought a 2008 Toyota Prius from a main dealer who gave a 12-month warranty. In April and subsequently in May, the small 12 volt battery failed, requiring assistance to get into the...
I have to make a choice between a new Vauxhall Astra diesel hatchback 1.7 CDTI 16v (130PS) Ecoflex Exclusiv 5 door SS and a new Hyundai i30 diesel hatchback 1.6 CRDi (110PS) Blue Drive Active 5 door, and...
We have two large dogs and moved from a 2007 1.9 auto diesel Golf estate to a 2010 Passat, but find the seats uncomfortable and are unhappy with the DPF. I note your diesel recommendations and wonder which...
Please advise on best engine choice for a used Focus estate (three to five years old) primarily regarding reliability and economy. Please also advise on tyre type for good mileage.
We are changing out of a 2003 Volkswagen Polo (used mainly for commuting) and a 2006 white plumber's van, both diesel. As the commuter has retired and the plumber is semi-retired, we would like a medium...
I am currently trying to sell my car through AutoTrader. So far, the only four responses have been from scammers saying that they will pay the full price but are abroad at present. They seem to concentrate...
We own a 2004 Renault Scenic. We have had it for under a year and already spent quite a bit on it. We had a engine rebuild at the end of last year trying to find a fault which cost £900, bought two new...
I am just about to sign up for a Volkswagen Golf Mk 7 GT 2.0-litre diesel. It's an ex-demonstrator and has a few extras with it, including 18-inch alloys in lieu of 17-inch as standard. What are implications...
I bought a 3-year old Toyota Hilux Double Cab pick-up in November 2012. It was supposed to have come straight from Toyota with a full service history, according to the selling garage. A few weeks later...
I have just had my Peugeot 3008 serviced and have been advised that the two front tyres need replacing. The car is one year old and has covered 12,500 miles. I purchased it in September 2012 and it had...
I have a 2003 Mercedes-Benz V220 CDi. It has developed some kind of electrical fault that two Mercedes garages have failed to solve. Basically the battery discharges if left unused for a period of time...
I have a 2008 Jaguar S-Type 2.7 diesel with 27,000 miles on the clock. Of late it seems to me that the radiator fan operates much too frequently, almost always when the car stops for traffic lights, when...
I have a 13-year-old Mondeo that is running well but I am wondering about the timing chain. If this goes the car is scrap. Should I have it changed and is there anything that should be changed at the same...
The 'start-stop' system on my new Volkswagen Golf TSI is operating very smoothly and presumably contributing to its relatively good urban fuel consumption. However, I recall some discussion about the risk...
I have been led to believe that police speed traps (of the hand-held variety, not fixed camera) could only be conducted where there was clear signage that a speed camera operation could be conducted. I...
We are now considering a diesel, using a Scenic for longer journeys and our Yaris for shorter ones. Have you driven the Scenic 1.5 or 1.6 diesels? Also I have noticed that the real MPG for these is extremely...
I am interested in purchasing a 2007 3.0 petrol Jaguar XJ Sovereign, 26,000 miles, FJSH. The Jaguar dealer is asking £17,000 for the car, which I think is far too much even allowing for the mileage, spec,...
I'm after a Focus-sized petrol car up to two years old (not new) for around £10,000-£11,000. Two key requirements are reliability and boot space. I quite like the Honda Civic and Ford Focus but can't decide...
My daughter is expecting her first child. Currently she drives an old Mini but is looking for something more reliable and more convenient for getting the baby in and out of. We have about £10,000-£12,000...
I feel TH has been unfortunate over his service deal. I have had a Volkswagen Service Package since 2008 with Sinclair Garages of Bridgend. My current car, a Volkswagen Scirocco, bought in Dec 2010, has...
Years ago I read your views on using high quality fuel. Since then I have always used Shell V-Power in my now quite ancient 1998 R-plate Vectra V6 2.5. The car has been trouble-free and continues to perform...
I have a 2008 Audi A4 TDi which was recently serviced at my local Audi dealership and I was told that the front brake pads would soon need replacing. The warning light has now come on, so I phoned the...
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