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• Citroen Berlingo 1.9D 54 plate - 'Unsolvable' over-heating problem! 27 Dec 2014 (Forum)
  The coolant temperature sensor is faulty - although it accurately reflects warm up temps and it is possible to 'see' when the thermostat opens. Is there any way of measuring cooling system flow rate?  The oil is 5w40 and changed every 5000 miles. No mayo or obvious signs of HG failure. Such a frustrating problem considering the basic design of this engine. 
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  Why's my Ford Mondeo losing power and smoking? 13 Aug 2010 (Ask HJ)
  My Ford Mondeo is a 2003 TDCi 130bhp Ghia. Since last week, as I apply acceleration to my car gently from 0 up till 85mph, it feels like it is losing power...
• Renault Espace (1997 - 2002) - 99 2.0 Autobox, either repair or change to manual? 13 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  Strange because it was fully reconditioned at a cost of £1200 just 20K miles ago. I suspect it's terminal because there are filings in the oil and the oil looked dark and burnt. I realise that these creatures are more complicated than the average human brain but the average human pocket cant affor £1200 every 20K miles so, I would really apppreciate any tips to either repair it or replace the whole transmission for a manual.
• Honda Accord Tourer (2003 - 2008) - iCTDI a Long term review 7 Oct 2007 (Forum)
  It remains thirsty - real world mpg averages 40, I've managed 43.7 on a tank recently, but that was 95% motorway, aircon off and 70 mph on cruise. Talk of 55 is just fantasy. Dealers are not impressive, on the 37.5k service the oil was overfilled by nearly 2 litres - 50% of engine capacity. I had to fight to get this sorted for free, the offending dealer wanted to just have it drained, the dealer in London I?d taken it to felt this was unacceptable, and eventually gave up and paid themselves to change the oil ?
• Cheap motoring 19 Jan 2003 (Forum)
  H reg 1000 super that cost us £350 about 2 years ago went today for £275, in that time I put a water pump on it, changed the plugs, distributor and rotor arm etc and it had an oil change, one due now. What can I say? About £75 per year not including petrol insurance etc. If anyone can beat that and then sell it to a happy buyer please let us know.
• Vauxhall Zafira Tourer 2015 - Two interim services in a row 21 Oct 2021 (Forum)
  Vauxhall repairer  Interim service on 12/10/2020 @ 34146 miles - brake fluid changed. Vauxhall repairer  Interim service on 16/10/2021 @ 35933 miles - nothing changed. Halfords autocentre (Engine oil changes at each service). Halfords said interim is similar to main.
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  How much should it cost to change the turbo unit in my 2008 Hyundai i30? 21 Mar 2017 (Ask HJ)
  My 2008 Hyundai i30 2.0 has just had its service and MoT at the main dealership (as I always do). During the service the technician noticed one of the...
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  Problematic sump nut 23 Apr 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I own a Jag XJ N reg and last year when I collected it from the garage after its service and MOT the garage informed me that they had crossed threaded...
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  Could you recommend a petrol car with a large boot to replace our Mazda 6? 28 May 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I was extremely concerned to read about the problems with the Mazda 6 Diesel as I have a TS2 Diesel Estate with a 56 plate. I check the oil every fortnight,...
• Zafira 1.9CDTI SRi - cutting out while driving! HELP 14 Sep 2021 (Forum)
  I have had a few things done to the car to test to see if it would fix it, Fuel filter changed - was realllllllly dirty!! (obv never been changed) Throttle body cleaned EGR cleaned DPF checked Fuse box cleaned and checked - no visible dodgy wires or blown fuses Oil filter change and new oil Injectors tested - all working but not at their best New cam belt (this had also never been changed!!)
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  Audi S8 judder 5 Oct 2016 (Ask HJ)
  I've recently bought a 1997 Audi S8. The car has 109k on it and an excellent service history. In fact, it's never gone more than 6k miles between oil services....
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  When should I change the timing belt / chain in our Ford S-Max? 27 Jul 2013 (Ask HJ)
  We drive a RHD 2009 Ford S-Max that we bought new when we lived in UK. It has now completed 73,500 miles. When should I have the cam belt/chain (not sure...
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  Buy a new Jazz now or wait for the new one? 14 Jul 2013 (Ask HJ)
  I bought a 1.4 petrol CVT-7 Jazz in 2006. It has been a great car for my purposes, and apart from brake replacements there have been no problems to date....
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  Why isn't air conditioning maintenance included in my Volkswagen service package? 18 May 2013 (Ask HJ)
  I purchased a Volkswagen Passat CC two years ago. Volkswagen has contacted me to remind me of the second year service, which is now due. They also said...
• Toyota Yaris II/Vitz (2006 - ) - Gearbox design flaw in Yaris (>2006) 26 Oct 2008 (Forum)
  My girlfriend bought a brand new 56 plate Yaris from Toyota back in 2006. The gear change has always been a bit crappy, but then about 6 months ago the gearbox started leaking oil. Still being under warranty, we took it into the Toyota shop and they 'repaired' it. The gearbox stopped leaking, but now the gear change into first and second was _very_ poor.
• Returning a used car question. 20 Sep 2015 (Forum)
  I brought the 2010 car from a car marketsuper under 3 weeks ago and I phoned the main dealer acouple of days after to discuss the car and they said it was due a free warranty change of the DSG automatix gearbox oil - so i booked it in. When they did the change they found the twin clutches needed to be changed.  I have experienced the occassional juddering (1st-2nd) and jerky gear changes when in start stop traffic and the car is fully warmed up - not a good ride at all.
• SAAB (mostly) cold starting problem 4 Jan 2005 (Forum)
  Once the day warms up a bit it usually starts OK but this is not much use to her as she needs it to get to work. She's had the battery and plugs checked and the HT leads and distributor cap changed with no success. I've suggested they get the coil and lead changed which they are doing this week but this is clutching at straws. Also I've checked the fuel pump is working. Oh, and they had the oil changed within the last 6 months also and she doesn't use it much so no high mileages or lots of runs involved.
• Vauxhall Grandland X - What are the facts about 'wet cam belts', Vauxhall and others? 21 Jan 2025 (Forum)
  For instance, I have read that an upgraded belt was introduced, possibly around 2019, but I don't know if this is correct? I've also read that the recommended oil viscosity has been altered from 5W30 to 0W30 (something like that), but I also don't know if this is correct? And, even if it is, then a slight change to the oil viscosity is certainly not a 'cure'!
• Astra Elite 1.6v - Automatic gearbox 6 Apr 2015 (Forum)
  My car has just had a full service through a vauxhall dealer/garage and they told me that there was a slight misting of oil coming from the pipe to the gearbox but ticked all the green boxes on the vehicle health check sheet and said it wasnt anything to worry about. A couple of days ago (2 weeks after this service|) my car started to rev really high before changing gear (my car is automatic) and as I got to a junction and after hearing a loud noise, it wouldn't move at all.
• Citroen Xsara Picasso - Help, Please... 6 Jun 2013 (Forum)
  Now it wasnt perfect, a little scruffy it had no parcel shelf in the back and no interior mirror, and the passenger wing mirror was cable tied on and the front drivers fog bezel was missing, but i thought thats ok i can do these bits myself. The engine looked clean with no signs of oil leakage and all the electrics seemed to work ok. So to cut a long story short these are the worrying problems ive got.   As said ive had for about 5 weeks, and ive put in 6 (yes 6) litres of oil, Im 99% confident its not leaking and i am 99% its burning, sometimes when pulling away or changing gear there is a little cloud left behind me, Now ive read that 1.8l Petrol picasso's can be abit juicy on the oil and use upto 1 litre per 600 miles, Problem ive got is ive put in 6 litres and only done 600 miles, What is going on, whats wrong and what can i do...