Trending topics in December 2013
Questions from December 2013
My Vauxhall Vectra C 1.9 diesel has started making an intermittent clunking/crunch through the lower gears. It does not do it when you let engine speed slow down, or when changing down, but only on the...
Last April I purchased a 2010 Honda CRV 4 x 4. I now need to fit two new tyres. When I took delivery the vehicle was supplied fitted with three Dunlop and one Falkum. Having done some research I think...
I commute 24,000 miles a year mostly on motorway and usually queuing in traffic. I'm looking to replace my Volkswagen Polo 1.4 petrol which I drove into the ground (235,000 miles) and I’d like a diesel...
My 2013 Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 1.6 tdi has been pulling to the left since I picked up the car (pre-registered with 20 miles on the clock) four months ago.
If I hold the steering wheel straight the car...
A section of the dashboard trim on my Volkswagen Tiguan has melted/disfigured as a result of an air freshener making direct contact with it. When I informed Volkswagen they claimed this is not covered...
We have a 2011 Ford Focus TDCi and recently had the clutch replaced under warranty. I have taken the car back to them regarding the refit and they assured me all is well; however, since getting the car...
My Mazda MX-5 apparently requires a complete handbrake lever assembly after being delivered to my local main dealer on a tow truck due to an oil leak. There was nothing wrong with the handbrake when it...
I’m having some problems with my Vauxhall Agila. Recently the EPS light came on then the engine cut out. The car would not restart, but eventually fired up after it was taken to a local garage. It was...
Can you tell me where I can get the best discount on a new car? I’m in the market for a Mazda 3.
I recently took a second-hand 2011 Land Cruiser for a test drive, and it would not disengage from low 4WD. When I told my mechanic about it, he was not surprised and said it was a common problem. Apparently...
I have just bought a new Volkswagen Golf Estate 1.4GT with standard 17-inch wheels. I ordered the GT over the SE as I thought it had the ACT engine - it doesn't and I’m still waiting for an explanation...
I am looking for an economical diesel estate with a large flat load space. I would like it to drive well and not be sluggish, but without sacrificing economy. My budget is £6000.
My shortlist includes...
I own a 2004 Toyota Celica and I'm having endless problems with vibration coming through the steering wheel at around 70mph. The front and rear wheels have been balanced (the fronts by two different garages)...
I'm looking for a small, cheap, reliable, low insurance cost car for my 19 year old son. He will use it to drive to his apprenticeship job and cover 18 miles a day. I have £1200 to spend. What do you recommend?...
I am about to retire and feel like treating myself to a real car having driven company rubbish over the years, I have had 10+ years of motor sport experience so I am not naive and fancy a BMW M3 saloon....
My 2008 Land Rover Freelander is nearing 50,000 miles. Can you tell me when I should change the cam belt?
A friend of mine (who works with Land Rovers) say the belt will last 100,000 miles, but the car...
I had my 2003 BMW 5 Series stolen three months ago and the police have just informed me that it has been recovered. They also informed me that the car has been involved in some offences in the UK.
Can...
Can you tell me where I can legally place an in-car camera? I want to fit one to my dashboard, but don’t know the rules on such things.
One week after my car was serviced the engine has seized. It's still full of oil, but now refuses to work. Could it be something the garage has or hasn't done?
I am thinking of buying a convertible car with a metal folding hardtop. It needs to seat four adults and can be either a petrol or diesel. I have £7000 to spend, what do you recommend?
I'm looking for a large-ish five door that will accommodate two adults and a child seat in the back. Ideally I'd be spending no more than £3000 and I'd rather an older, less complicated model that is going...
I have recently bought a Mazda 2, but it has only been supplied with a tyre repair kit. Can you tell me where’s the cheapest place to buy a spare wheel?
I need to buy a second car for commuting 25,000 miles per year. I have £3000 to spend and want to keep running costs as low as possible. I am also tall, so need something that will accommodate my long...
I'm 21 and recently got myself a good steady job, with a decent income. Having driven my parents' Fiat Panda for the last three years, I'm looking to get myself a second hand car in the £5000 bracket....
I've just read an answer you gave regarding paring in a supermarket car park I can't believe the answer you have given. It's not any sort of offence to park on private land; it' only a rule set by the...
I own a 2001 Ford Mondeo diesel, with 115,000 miles on the clock. Recently the car has started stopping or jolting forward. I called the RAC and they said it’s a P0149 and P1546 errors, which is related...
The windows on my 2001 SEAT Leon are opening by themselves when I lock the car. What’s going on?
I am looking at buying a used SEAT from a main dealer. I have negotiated a good deal, but the seller is some distance from where I live. The car comes with warranty and 30 day return policy, but I am worried...
My wife has a 2009 BMW X3 X-drive 2.0-litre which has 235/55 R17 standard tyres fitted. Having read your frequent comments about the benefits of fitting winter tyres she is about to "take the plunge" and...
I am having some problems with the gearbox in my 2003 Volkswagen Passat automatic. It drives fine most of the time, but jolts when I stop and change into neutral and back to drive or reverse. After that...
Recently, when driving on a motorway after 20 minutes or so, the temp gauge of my 2005 Mondeo 2.0-litre petrol automatic moved into the red. However, if I coasted downhill, the gauge came off red. The...
I have an 80,000-mile BMW E83 2004 X3 3.0i automatic. Recently, the brake warning light came on in conjunction with the warning lights for ABS, DSC/xDrive and the tyre pressure indicator. The 4-wheel drive...
I am thinking of buying an older 2000 X-reg BMW with 50,000 miles, one previous owner and FSH from a dealer. Apart from ascertaining the regularity of servicing and use, and assuming that you do not dismiss...
My car is a 2007 Volvo V70 diesel automatic with 54,000 miles. It is serviced by the Volvo dealer as required. When towing a caravan (but only then) I get a warning saying 'Transmission service required'...
Bad news for visitors to France. The cash pay booths on the Autoroutes in Southern France have been replaced by ‘card only’ machines. The queues are horrendous! We saw a three kilometre queue near Aix-en-Provence...
I have been quoted £571.68 by Aylesbury Honda to replace the air conditioning condenser and seals on my 2003 Honda Accord 2.4i Exec Tourer Auto, which seems like an awful lot of money to me, when the car’s...
Have you any views on the effectiveness of tyre repair kits? For example, how far and fast can one drive after using the product, and is any special skill needed? My own car, a 2012 Toyota Yaris, has such...
Please could you explain to me why the electric car is deemed to be ‘pollution-free’? Charging a re-chargeable battery is a very inefficient process and the electricity used to re-charge it is subject...
I have a 2005 Volkswagen Touareg 2.5TDI with 30,000 miles, which has developed a transmission fault. Moving slowly up a gradient, the transmission seems to wind up with a loud clicking from near-side rear....
I wrote to you some time ago regarding the problem of purchasing a three-year service contract from a Honda dealer who subsequently ceased trading. Initially Honda (correctly) stated that it wasn't their...
My beloved 8-year-old MG ZR with 29,000 on the clock has been written off and I'm seeking a replacement 1.2 or 1.4, 3/5-door hatchback, made in Britain, up to £11,000 new or pre-reg. I've seen a Micra,...
Four month ago I bought a new Citroen C3 Picasso Exclusive and I must admit that it is an excellent car for my needs. I have a disability so appreciate the automatic box and cruise control. However, the...
My wife's car was a 1995 Mazda 323 with 70,000 miles with FSH and in good condition. She loved it, put a personalised number plate on it and had intended to use it until she is too old to drive. Now it...
I have a three and a half-year-old Hyundai i30 diesel with 60,000 on the clock. The franchised dealer who services the car is telling me that the coolant and pollen filter both need replacing at a cost...
The last time I took my Fiesta for a service at Dagenham Motors, Edgware I mentioned there was a slight vibration on the front wheels at 70mph. They later advised that the wheels were buckled and that...
About 18 months age I bought a Citroen C4 Picasso with an embedded satnav. Imagine my frustration when I found that it would only accept a partial postcode (the first five digits). That only gets me to...
I drive a 2003 Honda CR-V with 48,000 miles on the clock. I cannot achieve more than 28 miles to the gallon. I have tried four tanks of Shell V Power and still no improvement. It's proving expensive.
My daughter has a 2006 Mercedes-Benz 350 CLK auto with relatively low mileage. It's time for its £355 annual service from the main dealer, who has also recommended a transmission fluid check/replacement...
I have a 1996 Saab 9000 CSE 2.0 Eco 5-door manual that I wish to sell. It has 165,000 miles on the clock and a full service history. It's green with pale beige leather seats, has one year's MOT but is...
I recently changed from a BMW 530D, for which I had a set of alloys with cold weather tyres, to a Jaguar XF 2.2D and need a suitable set of wheels and cold weather tyres. The XF came on 245/40 R19s (it...
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