Ask Honest John

Most recently answered technical issues questions
I purchased a ‘nearly new’ Honda Jazz 1.4EX with manual transmission in December 2009. The model has an official fuel consumption of between 42.8 (urban) and 58.9 (extra urban), but in reality, I am getting...
I have a 2002 Volvo V70 estate. This week my wife was driving the children to school in the morning and had the heated seats on to combat the cold. Suddenly and without warning the car started to fill...
I'd appreciate your advice on the markedly different lengths of life of cam-belts quoted by various manufacturers. Ford seem to suggest that those fitted to the petrol Fiesta and Focus models should last...
My daughter has a 2003/53 Citroen C8 with 55,000 miles. The cambelt snapped with resultant engine damage. The handbook advises cambelt change at 100,000 miles or 10 yrs. The car was inspected at the Citroen...
I wonder if you can help? We have a Suzuki Wagon R, 2003. We've had her since February 2008. About 8/9 times we've had to take her back to the garage because the 'Malfunction Indicator Light' has come...
Please help a damsel in distress. My Golf gets locked up in my community carpark. It seems its indicators start flashing of their own free will intermittently. No horn, just indicators. It seems it can...
I am told that a rattle in my 1997 Passat 1.9TDI automatic estate is likely to be a cracked torque converter drive plate and the repair will cost £350. I do not wish to scrap the vehicle. I get the rattle...
I have a Vauxhall Corsa Design 1.2 which is 5 years old, 25k mileage. There seems to be a judder on the clutch, which I mentioned to the Vauxhall dealership that services my car. They have said it could...
Yesterday I made the stupid mistake of putting petrol in my 2007 diesel car. I realised immediately and did not start the engine. We had a garage tow it and drain it. When we went to pick it up they said...
I have a 2005 Kia Picanto and need to get the passenger airbag deactivated. I have three toddlers and cannot get three car seats across the back of the car so have no choice but to put one in the passenger...