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• 
  Which small runabout with seven seats? 13 Oct 2012 (Ask HJ)
  With three young grandchildren my beloved BMW 3-Series convertible is becoming less practical. I am reluctant to part with it and so I am considering a...
• 
  Should we have our cars serviced annually despite low mileage? 23 Jun 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I was told some time ago that the rule of thumb for servicing a car was mileage or annually, whichever came first. As I am a low mileage driver (38,000...
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  How can I keep an old cheap car going? 11 Aug 2025 (Ask HJ)
  My runabout is a 26 year-old Corsa, approaching a genuine 60K. I bought it for £240 8 years ago from an old chap who had started to bump into other cars...
• VW Up - What constitutes a service? 9 May 2019 (Forum)
  He told me that a cambelt was not a routine service item and that its replacement would have had to been negotiated into the selling price if I had wanted it done at the time.He argued that a service is an oil change, check the breaks etc but nothing more. I'm very used to taking my car for a service and whatever needs doing being done with them contacting me to check its ok to do any more expensive items - such as a belt - before they carry out the work.
• Ford Focus 5Dr Hatchback 2.0 Ltr TDCI - Starting Problems 4 Aug 2015 (Forum)
  and said they cannot find any faults and have said 'it is just one of those things' which will be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. The car has had a full service every 12 months/12.5k with fuel, oil, air filters changed each time even though the fuel and air filter does not need changing each time! Fuel treatment has also been added at each service. I hope someone can suggest a possible cause as I feel it will let me down at some point soon if this issue is not resolved.
• 1.8 petrol Vauxhall Vectra Life - Lifespan of 1.8 petrol Vauxhall Vectra 18 Dec 2012 (Forum)
   It is superb on long runs, fast and frugal as well as swallowing my children, labrador and all associated clobber.  It's regularly serviced (gets an oil change at 10,000) but other that that is not 'cherished'.  I think it still looks great and am always pleased to be seen in it.  Money is very tight right now and I feel like I am running on faith, not having the spare to change it.
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  Ford Focus Titanium 2013 Powershift Gearbox failure - is this a common problem? 3 Apr 2022 (Ask HJ)
  I bought a 2013 Ford Focus from a main dealer in 2018. The car only had only 56,000 miles on it. It now has 67,000. The garage has told me that the wet...
• Nissan Primera (P12 auto) - Worth considering? 31 Oct 2024 (Forum)
  Seems that for the money, you can get one with lots of service history-I believe it's pretty crucial for the longevity of the timing chain to have had regular oil changes?  We both like the interior design, and the reverse camera and optional sat nav are attractive options, which don't seem to be present on similar family cars of similar ages.  Could anyone give me their opinion on these cars?
• Chrysler PT cruiser - AM I mad? 12 May 2018 (Forum)
    Have another elderly friend who needs a cheapo car , so have given neighbour £200 for it, (it drives like a dream, tyres nearly new, bodywork perfect, leather etx, no warning lights, no starting problems. About £300 +vat for calipers, discs and brake pads, and will give it an oil change and fresh MOT.   Service history complete with tons of bills, EVERYTHINg that was needed was done.   will pass along to other friend if he wants it... Otherwise will use as a 2nd car, SWMBO likes automatics...
• Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer - MAF Fault? 7 Feb 2018 (Forum)
  Questions: Is the MAF the main suspect or could there be another cause? I had a oil change service about 800 miles ago and read over-filling could cause a problem on the inlets. Is this likely? ESP warning light came on with MAF disconnected. Bit strange?  
• Golf Mk6 2011 Bluemotion 1.6 TDI. - Fumes inside car 3 Oct 2017 (Forum)
  If I close all the vents and switch off the fan there are no fumes in the car 3. I just had a full service and timing belt change 4. My garage has checked the exhaust and it looks fine   5. My garage can’t find an oil leak 6. The car has only done 36k 7. It passed the MOT emissions test   Has anyone seen sometihng like this before?
• Head Bolts -should I lubricate 14 Jun 2017 (Forum)
  I'm changing the head gasket on my car. Should I lightly lubricate the Head Bolts or could this affect the torque tightening & in long term, tightening stability ? I was thinking of screwing the bolts in initially using a little oil and then a little copper slip, before I fit the head gasket with the head.
• Daihatsu Skywing - Transmission Drain/Fill Plug Identification 15 May 2017 (Forum)
  Gearchanges sometimes need a bit of force lately, and the oil should be changed.   I checked it when I got the car but can't remember where the plugs were.    I think this looks like the fill/level plug, about level with the middle of the driveshaft.
• Citroen C2 1.1 2006 - Citroen C2 underpowered and trip incorrect 5 Feb 2017 (Forum)
  It normally does about 10 miles a day and doesn't show then. I've just flushed out the colloing system, changed oil and plugs then took it out for an Italain tune. It still seems underpowered, and I noticed on the trip it was reading 36 miles - after I had done about 3 or 4. Connected problems? I don't think the clutch is slipping - or am I just missing it?
• Services - extravagant or just plain sensible 24 Apr 2016 (Forum)
  The plan is to have the car serviced, with a full service each year at my garage, and get a mechanic friend to change the oil and filter inbetween at about 5,500 miles. Does this sound extravagant ot just plain sensible? BTW, a full service, including pollen filter, at my garage will be £204 inclusive of VAT.
• while in - 'ALFORDS 9 Jan 2016 (Forum)
  At which point (perhaps i should not have) I asked the customer if the car had been serviced? (no not for more than a year)said the customer, so said in my humble opinion an oil and filter and air filter change might do the trick before going down the "expensive" route. Cue black looks from said receptionist. Then i saw the "person" fitting the wheels back on to a defender using the air wrench to tighten up the wheel nuts, not bothering to use a torque wrench.
• Talking of Telegraph Motoring... 19 May 2015 (Forum)
    It's as bad as "The Horse of the Year show" on TV years' ago, that seemed to be on all the time! Oh yes - I agree with HJ - oil and filter must be changed at least once a year, whatever your mileage - especially if low and a lot of short journeys!
• Audi A4 1998 2.8 - Automatic gearbox issue 24 Dec 2013 (Forum)
  Please could anyone come up with any sugestions to what could be wrong? I have been told that it is possible that the Transmission oil is low. I dont want to service and sit with the same problem. Please HELP!!!
• Jaguar X Type 2002 - Engine smell 2 Nov 2013 (Forum)
  I had all the cylinder coils and plugs changed earlier this year, 1400E then a few months later the engine started to miss; a pipe had come loose which supplies air to the motor 170E. Recently they wanted to check the transfer case oil level as there is a winter only oscillating grinding noise from the drivetrain 270E Since then there is burning plastic like smell from the engine, the temperature is half on the guage and the car seems to heat up super fast in the space of only 8 minutes.
• Nissan Micra 1.0 - Advice on Rear Shocks please. 6 May 2012 (Forum)
  OK well it's an old one 2002 but it was a gift !   MOT yesterday showed signs of oil leaks around rear shocks.  I'm wondering if it's feasible if I do have the shocks changed,  how sensible it would be to have adjustable ride shock absorbers fitted to render the suspension a bit more like a Citroen so that it rides a bit more smoothly over bumps.