Ask Honest John

Most recently answered maintenance and servicing questions
I'm looking to buy a 2012 Skoda Yeti diesel 2.0 (110PS) with 55,000 miles on the clock. It comes with the one year manufacturer's warranty. Is there anything I should check has been done, or any big bills...
My BMW 550 doesn't quite reach full temperature on my short journey to work so I take a route which is a couple of miles longer to ensure it gets properly hot. My colleague says this is pointless and I'm...
I have a 2001 Ford Fiesta with a 1.8 diesel engine. The auxiliary belt has snapped and I am trying to replace it. However, I'm struggling with the routing of the belt - I've got it in what looks to be...
I'm buying a 2013 Audi A4 diesel with 110,000 miles on clock. I always use Shell V Power diesel and do 30,000 miles driving a year. I intend to keep the car for three years and intend to get my mechanic...
I need to sell my 2006 Vauxhall Astra, but the engine management light stays on all the time. It was mentioned on the MoT advisory, but it passed anyway. Any idea how I can fix it?
I am looking to buy a used Peugeot 206. I've seen a 2008 model with 24,000 miles on the clock. Can you tell me if I will need to change the cam belt? If so, how much will it cost?
My 2005 KIA Sportage doesn't go into gear when the engine us cold, especially during the mornings. Please can you tell me the cause of this?
My trusty Toyota Yaris Verso [petrol] runs happily enough on 5w-30 fully synthetic oil. Would there be any problem in topping up between services with some 10w-40 semi-synthetic oil that I have spare?
I am interested in the Fiat 500C (TwinAir) but am worried about the maintenance of the fabric roof. I live on a street with lots of trees which drop honeydew in the early summer. I am an OAP and would...
I have received the invitation to have my Volkswagen Tiguan 2.0 TDI "fixed" by the main dealer to deal with the emissions issue. I have read the reports on your site of post-"fix" problems and I wonder...