Can wheel cleaner damage alloy wheels?

I noticed what looked like long, wiggly worms appearing all over all four (standard) wheels of our 2008 Volvo C70. They seemed to be radiating from the hub across all the ’spokes'. Neither the Volvo main...

Which car would you recommend as a workhorse and for towing a boat?

I currently drive a Toyota RAV4 and have been extremely happy with its versatility, reliability and comfort. I need good legroom being 6-feet 3-inches. It has been a great workhorse, helping to move flat...

Will 16-inch wheels clear the brake calipers on my Peugeot 308 CC?

I asked you where I could purchase different size wheels for a Peugeot 308 CC TVi Allure to improve its ride. It is currently on 225/40 R18s. You suggested a set of four TUV-approved 16-inch Alutec wheels...

I think that older cars can be much better value than newer cars.

Concerning recent correspondence about Jaguar XFs, diesels are more economical but by a very small margin when you consider the cost of fuel and diesel maintenance costs. I get 35mpg on a long run and...

Thanks for your recommendation for the Hyundai i10.

On April 17 2010 you advised a reader that a Hyundai i10 1.2 auto was a great little car. At that time I was 82 and with similar needs, so I took your advice and bought an i10 auto. It has proven to be...

When did BMW start installing DPFs in the X3?

I am considering buying a BMW X3 2.0D SE. Could you tell me when the diesel particulate filter was introduced to this model.

Electrical gremlins in a 206

My wife's owned from new Peugeot 206 has now been passed on to our son. The rear wiper now comes on for a few sweeps when the doors are opened. It also stops wiping in various positions. The garage seems...

Buying winter tyres for a Tiguan?

For the last eight years I have used Michelin Primacy HP for summer and Alpins for winter (on a Saab 95 and then a Mondeo) I now have a Tiguan 140 SE 4Motion (not for off-road) which came fitted with...

Can I fit these tyres to my Forester?

Following your recommendation I bought a replacement Subaru Forester 06 - very happy thanks! I need to replace the tyres and you have previously recommended Pirelli Scorpion STRs. They only come in 215/65/R16...

Air flow problem with a Corolla?

I have a 2003 Toyota Corolla D4D - the air blower is working very poorly and the aircon is rubbish too. I understand that the aircon may be out of gas - but what do you think is the problem with the blower?

Want an economical family car, low tax and insurance but with a nice solid build and engine

I currently have an 04 Toyota Corolla auto (had it 4 months) but worry it's hard on petrol and don't like the loss of control with an auto. I would like to buy something a five-door hatch that's economical,...

Extended warranty won't pay for fuel pump failure - what can I do?

My second hand Ford Mondeo has suffered a digital fuel pump failure, which has ruined the injectors. I bought the car from a dealer in September and paid extra for an extended warranty. After months of...

Vauxhall Meriva or the Ford B Max - which would you buy?

I will soon need to change my car to one that is suitable to take two elderly people in the back. I have decided it is between the Vauxhall Meriva and the Ford B Max. I am also weary of changing gears...

Buying a Vauxhall Corsa - which diesel engine is best?

My son wishes to change his 2004 Vauxhall Corsa 1.3 CDTi for a newer version. He has seen a Corsa with a 1.3 cdti engine with 95PS which he favours as it is more powerful than his 75PS engine in his current...

How can I soften the suspension on my T5 minibus?

Can I do anything to soften the ride on my recently bought 2011 Volkswagen Transporter minibus? It is the nine seater basic model, which I bought in France. The front seats are OK and the middle seats...

Does the Citroen DS3 have a sunroof?

Is there a good reason for the up-market DS3 not coming with the wonderful sunroof that is available with the uninspiring C3?

Second-hand petrol S-max rare?

After a lot of research I am planning to buy a nearly new petrol S-max. I am only doing about 10,000 miles a year with a lot of short journeys and I have been put off diesel by DPF and flywheel issues. Petrol...

Will a later parcel shelf fit an earlier SX4?

My father has just bought a Suzuki SX4 (08 registration). We need a second hand parcel shelf for it and have found one at a salvage yard over the internet. The one we've found is on a 61 registration...

Automatic pick up truck for towing caravan?

HJ advised me to get a D-Max rather than an Amarok to tow caravan: good advice, delighted with it. Now my mate wants a pick up to tow a big twin axle caravan but he wants an automatic gearbox. Is D-Max...

Air Conditioner - how often should it need re-charging?

My 2009 i10 had it's fourth annual service recently. At the same I asked for the air con to be checked as it didn't seem to be cooling down at all. They reported that the air con had no refrigerant in...

Some questions about servicing my Punto

I have recently bought a Fiat Punto Easy from Desira Norwich,the servicing schedule is every 18,000 miles with an estimated cost of £180. The handbook states that if the car is used mainly for town driving...

Speak to insurer or manufacturer after an accident?

I recently bought new Hyundai i30. The manufacturers say if I have an accident claim I should contact their agent in the first instance NOT my insurer (Sainsburys). They will then take over all negotiations...

New Juke for our daughter?

My daughter needs a new cars. She likes big cars but needs an economical car as she drives high mileage. The booot needs to be good for the dog. Looks are important but price more so. Nissan Juke has been...

Which estate car?

I currently own a 2005 Ford Mondeo diesel automatic estate Ghia X which is extremely comfortable and takes everything I throw in it, but has not been very reliable, expensive to maintain and has reached...

Which tyres for an X-Trail?

My X-Trail is presently fitted with 215/60 R17 96VMS Pirelli Scorpios. The local tyre dealer now advises that these have been replaced by Pirelli Scorpio Verde. I have been advises 225/55R17 W97 for...

Best reliable, second hand estate/station wagon - any ideas?

I'm looking to buy a second hand estate/station wagon, to be driven to the south of France and back again a few times. Don't want to spend more than 8-9k. Surfboards/skis will be on the roof or in the...

What are my legal rights on this issue?

I bought a fiat ducato van from a dealer and three days later it went wrong I took it back and he replaced an injector, charged me a further 200 quid and said it was OK now. It made no difference what...

Is this kind of thing available any more?

When I was a young driver in the late 1960s I had a simple cut-out switch to help deter thieves. I also read about a more sophisticated device that allowed the car to be driven away but after a few hundred...

No V5 as the car was gifted by previous owner who lives outside the UK - what do I do?

An Oman student left country a year ago and abandoned his car. I work with him and I am going home on leave and have been asked to dispose of the vehicle. I would like to apply for a v5 and MoT and tax....

Reverse is gear hard to find - can you help?

I've had my new i10 style for about 6 weeks and quite often I find that reverse gear can be quite difficult to engage, I often have to pop it into first gear lift the clutch a tad then go back to reverse...

Why won't Motor Codes help with a serious Mercedes-Benz rust issue under warranty?

This is the response from Motor Codes regarding the premature rusting of my Mercedes-Benz E-Class that has not been rectified under the Mercedes-Benz 30-Year Mobilo warranty: “I am sorry to learn of...

Why won't Land Rover help with replacing our engine after it ran out of oil?

My husband bought a Range Rover Evoque a year ago. He was recently driving it when he heard a noise. He called out Land Rover and they found it had no oil in it at all. The engine needs replacing, so it...

Is a 4WD Carrera better than a RWD Carrera with winter tyres in the snow?

Which has better road-holding in the snow: a 911 Carrera 4WD without winter tyres, or a Carrera RWD with winter tyres?

How does the DPF work in my Peugeot 3008 diesel?

I am a lady driving a Peugeot 3008 1.6 diesel EGC doing about 10,000 miles a year, mostly on short runs of between 10 and 15 miles with only an occasional longer one. I keep reading about the particulate...

What is causing this fault with our Volkswagen Golf Twincharger?

I have a 2007 Volkswagen Golf GT Sport Twincharger 140 with 54,000 miles and full VW service history. Whilst travelling at 20mph for 4-5 miles on minor roads on holiday in Wales (with blind summits and...

Can I sue my local Volvo dealer after my engine blew?

Some time ago an oil warning light showed intermittently on the dash of my Volvo. I took it immediately to my local Volvo dealer (where my car has been serviced since new). I was charged £60 for investigation...

Car drivers need to concentrate and look out for motorcycles.

My wife was a nurse in a busy A&E hospital and she has seen some shocking after-effects of motorbike accidents, mainly caused by the actions of car drivers who were not concentrating on their driving....

What can I replace my Honda Accord with that offers more space for passengers in the back?

I own a Honda Accord 2.2i-DTEC 150 automatic, first registered in March 2012. To date it has covered 12,250 miles with an average consumption of 44.4 mpg according to my accurate calculations, though the...

Which petrol automatic SUV should we buy for motorway and local use?

Over the past four years our situation has changed. I no longer drive due to eye problems and my wife now does all the driving. She is in her mid 70’s. Until now we have retained our two cars, a 1999 BMW...

Are there any known faults with the Skoda 1.4 TSI engine?

Might I ask you for your advice on the 1.4 TSI engine? Does it have any inherent faults? I am considering buying a new Octavia Estate, and having run BMWs in the past I have no knowledge of this engine,...

Recommend a small, reliable car for under £1000?

My granddaughter's boyfriend managed to upend her Micra and she is now looking for a sensible replacement. She is keen on a Fiesta but her mother and I, who will be funding and thus have the last say,...

Why can't my Skoda dealer fix my Fabia's faulty rear wiper motor?

My neighbour, a widow, took delivery of a new petrol-engined Fabia Estate six months ago. Since delivery, the rear wiper motor would not stop working regardless of switch position. The main dealer said...

What do you think of the Renault Laguna Coupe?

I drive a 1999 Toyota Celica, which I love and have owned for eight years with no major problems at all. I feel however, that I would like something a little more up-to-date. I still want a coupe or a...

Recommend an SUV for local use in the Alps and for occasional long journeys?

My daughter lives permanently in a high ski resort in the French Alps (Val d'Isere) and needs a four wheel drive (obviously with winter tyres as well) for use by her and husband and three young children...

Why are so many cars suffering coil spring failures?

My daughter's 2006 Citroen C2 has just had a second suspension coil spring fitted. I was interested when the repair garage said this was number 20 this week, not dependent on the make of the car. Tended...

Where can I take a refresher driving course near Leeds?

I would be obliged if you could give me the address of a refresher driving course in the Leeds (West Yorkshire) area please?

Which SEAT Ibiza TSI has the 3-cylinder engine and is it reliable?

The only Ibiza TSIs on sale that I can find in 5-door SE version are two 2010/61s and they have the 3-cylinder engine, advertised as 1.2 TSI 105PS. Is this as good as the 4-cylinder version? Or do three...

Why aren't Volkswagen customers told about timing belt changes when they buy a Golf or Polo?

I am writing to thank you for the reply you gave to CS of Woodstock recently relating the changing of a camshaft belt on a Volkswagen Golf. My wife owns a Polo which is six years old and has a mileage...

Is there a way of repairing a puncture at the roadside without ruining the tyre?

Most new cars, like my wife's Zafira Tourer, are not provided with a spare tyre, and only a canister of material that will give a temporary repair to a puncture, but in doing so, will ruin the tyre. Is...

Is there a way of reducing road noise on a Chevrolet Volt?

I bought a Chevrolet Volt a couple of weeks ago and am very pleased with the car in every way, apart from one - the road noise at high speeds (over 50mph) is surprisingly louder than I would have expected,...