Should a crack in the screen be repaired by the dealer before I buy this Alfa Romeo 147 Lusso?

Yesterday I took delivery of a 4-year-old Alfa Romeo 147 Lusso. Before buying the vehicle I pointed out to the salesman that it had a windscreen chip which is eye-level on the driver's side, and when it...

Is it legal to remove the DPF from a diesel car?

I've seen adverts for companies that can disconnect the diesel particulate filter from the car's ECU. Is this legal and does it make the car better? I think you said only in the last couple of years DPF...

I've found a way of removing 'clouding' from the inside of polycarbonate headlight lenses.

We have an elderly Focus that has suffered the common problem of "clouding" of the surface of the polycarbonate headlamp lenses. This can, I am told, lead to MOT failure. Whilst there are (relatively expensive)...

Why do modern cars only last seven years when our grandson's 1986 Honda Accord is still going strong?

I was interested to read the answer to "AB, Ormskirk". You said that one couldn't question the quality of a nine-year old car that was originally designed to last about seven years. My grandson is just...

Is the new, more strict MOT test designed to force cars off the road?

I understand that a stricter two-yearly MOT test has been introduced with effect from January 2012, including items such as ESP, airbags and other potential repairs not covered by the present test. This...

LED Failures and the new MoT rules

When it comes to cars with multiple small lights as sidelights - ie LEDS and daytime running lights - how many need to be working so as not to fail the new MOT?

Is £300 reasonable for a Lambda sensor heating element repair on a Volvo V70?

The Engine Management Light has illuminated on my early 2000 Volvo V70 petrol estate. My local garage, which I think is reliable, says it is the heating element that brings the Lambda sensor up to scratch...

Why are Volvo 940s considered to be 'unfashionable'?

I was tickled pink to learn that Volvo 940s are "deeply unfashionable", “but have a following.” My 940 2.3 Turbo Estate has served very well. I think this type of car was one of the last of the real Volvo...

Why did my 2003 MG ZT pass its MoT with an illuminated airbag warning light?

In a recent reply you wrote that cars will now fail their MoT tests if certain warning lights, including airbag warning lights, indicate anything wrong. For the last three years I've been driving a 2003...

New MOT requirements - aftermarket HID lamps

In your article about the MOT rules from 1/1/12, you advise that afterrmarket HID conversions will fail without washers and self-levelling. You appear to be wrong on this. The official MOT testers manual...