Ask Honest John

Most recently answered owning questions
Is there any legal requirement to have new cars serviced and maintained by the main dealer? We have new cars which don't even appear to have service books for stamps.
I just bought a used car. I have the V5C/2 green slip but it is already filled with somebody else's name and address, plus it has an old reference number and I can't pay the tax online. How can I pay the...
I have an unusual problem with my 1981 Toyota Hiace. In the six years that I've owned the car it has started burning sump oil and revving out of control on three occasions. Each time was on main roads,...
I've just bought a Renault Megane 1.6 petrol. When I start the engine, it starts but loses power at first. It needs a bit of accelerating to keep the engine running. I have changed the spark plugs already,...
I took my Volkswagen Touran along for the emissions fix last Tuesday. The very next day, the car lost power at 40mph. The same thing occurred the next day and the next. On Saturday I stopped at a roundabout,...
I hear a gurgling sound in the dashboard of my Volkswagen Passat and I'm losing antifreeze. I don't see any leaks. Do you know what the problem could be?
My Hyundai Santa Fe had a new water pump and cam belt last October. I've just been informed that the head gasket has gone as a result of the new water pump going. Should the new water pump last longer...
My car was badly keyed and will need a complete respray but the car is only worth just over £3000 and repairs are £1800 so likely insurer will not do it. If they say no and offer me a settlement, can I...
I bought a new 2013 Audi A3 which has apparently not been affected by the emissions problem. I had intended to do 20,000 miles per year, but my personal circumstances changed and I have only done 20,000...
I purchased an approved 2012 BMW X5 from main dealer in May 2015 with a two year warranty. In February 2016, the main dealer supplied and fitted new alloys under warranty. Last month, my car went to the...