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• Peugeot 308 CC - Faulty engine control system 17 Aug 2020 (Forum)
  Engine oil and coolant levels checked - OK. Plugged into Rac-Scan to draw fault/trouble codes. UNABLE TO COMUNICATE WITH VEHICLE SPECIFICS BUT COULD DRAW FAULTS THROUGH EOBD. UNABLE TO CLEAR CODES.PROCESS DENIED.
• Volkswagen Golf - '11 Golf MkVI DSG Petrol CAXA - timing chain/cam? 22 Jan 2020 (Forum)
  Last service at 52K in 2019. Drives smoothly though I've only done a mile or two in a test drive. Dealer doing a DSG oil change now before handover to me as there's no record of one around 40K. I'm getting a bit worried as I've been reading reviews* that talk about reports of timing chain & cam belt failures leading to massive engine damage.
• Ford Focus II (2004 - 2007) - 05 1.6 Engine System Failure on 115PS 12 Jan 2020 (Forum)
  Could any on these sensors be a likely cause and be replaced myself for less than the cost of £100 worth of diagnostics? Strangely this problem appeared to disappear from the point the car had its first oil and filter change since I bought the car and then re-appeared coinciding with having it's second oil and filter change. Is this just fluke or could there be some logic to this?. Thanks in advance for any help and advise.
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  Is a high mileage used Transit a safe buy? 8 Sep 2019 (Ask HJ)
  I am thinking of buying a 2015 Ford Transit Custom with 138,000 miles. I'm a little concerned at what to look for with this mileage, but I will only average...
• A generation of cars - 33yrs and 696,900 miles family motoring costs 30 Nov 2018 (Forum)
     Our three cars (two before 1993 when I bought my first Audi and semi-retired the TR7) are considered as a totality to keep figures simple).   Maintenance varied from under £150 (? no oil changes that year!) to over £1200 in one unfortunate year.  The total cost of the seven cars (my TR7, Audis 2.0E, A6 2.8, A8 W12;  MrsF’s estate Passats GL5, 2.0GL, Focus 1.6) was £53950, and we still have three of them.
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  Timing chain failure on my MINI - where do I stand? 3 Nov 2016 (Ask HJ)
  My 2013 MINI has covered 73,000 miles and the timing chain/tensioner has failed. The MINI garage does not recognise a problem but said they will carry...
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  Does warranty work carry a 2 year guarantee? 17 Nov 2014 (Ask HJ)
  I bought a second hand (2011) Volkswagen Golf 1.4 petrol DSG last year. It was trouble free until a few months ago when it was recalled to change the gearbox...
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  Mk7 Golf - which engine is best? 14 May 2014 (Ask HJ)
  I am planning to change my Honda Civic diesel for a newer Volkswagen Golf (Mk 6 or 7). As much as I might like to go for the GTi, I think may have to make...
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  Advice on service plans 14 Dec 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I am looking to purchase a Volkswagen Golf Mk7 (GT 1.4 TSI), which I am now informed by my local dealer should be arriving in about a 7-10 days time. I...
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  Should I replace my 2006 Renault Megane with a 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK230 Kompressor? 10 Feb 2011 (Ask HJ)
  I currently happily run a 2006 Renault Megane convertible 1.6 petrol manual. I do about 3,500 miles per year and the car has done 30,000. I have the oil...
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  Should I get rid of my 2002 BMW 320d and replace it with something newer? 1 Aug 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I am dithering about whether to replace my 2002 BMW 320d Touring, which I have had from new, has 110,000 on the clock and has given me little trouble....
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  What's causing a lack of power under acceleration on my BMW 530d automatic? 13 Jun 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I have a 2003 BMW 530d Auto (E60) that has done 124,000 miles. I recently experienced a sort of power lag, by this I mean when doing speeds of 75 - 85...
• Renault Espace (1997 - 2002) - 02 2.2 Dci engine rattle under load 20 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  It sounds almost like something loose somewhere? I bought the car with 70,000 miles on it and a FSH. I change the oil and filters evey 7500 miles and use a good quality semi-synthetic oil. I have had the drivebelt changed, and the belt tensioner assembly. Six months ago the bottom pulley broke (metalised rubber came away from the centre of the pulley), so this was replaced and everything checked out again at that time and another new drive belt fitted.
• Volvo S40 5th Gear Problems 20 May 2007 (Forum)
  also i have changed the gearbox oil and refilled with 3.5 litres of comma ep75-80w which is the correct spec, there were no traces of metal in th old oil. and i have checked the engine.gearbox mountings as best i can by rocking the engine, and also revving it when stationary and can't find any excessive movement.
• The Beetle mystery 7 Jun 2001 (Forum)
  Every couple of days I had the car back, regular oil changes in the garage where I worked and each time the level kept rising with petrol. To cut a long story short they cured it and again they didn't know how and the problem went away. Several years later in unusual circumstances I met the ex manager of another Midlands main VW dealer and began to tell him the story.
• Fiat 500 - City car recommendations 14 Oct 2024 (Forum)
  My wife has a 2011 Toyota Aygo , 3 door with 70k on that has served us well for 7 years. It's been using oil excessively now for a number of months despite circa £500 worth of work done 12 months ago. We have decided it is time for a change.  We have a budget of 6.5k /7k at a push for what must be a city car.
• Jaguar X-Type 2.0d 2004 182k - The Old Girl Rolls On 27 Nov 2018 (Forum)
    Rears are still very good (last time had four cheapos) so had new on front - planning that now all four will meed changing next time.  Have spare set of 16" wheels if I really want to get into this but they need blasting/painting. 'Chwarae teg' ('fair play') as we say here, when I collected the car he had done the tyres, checked/topped the coolant, oil, brake and steering fluids, put it up om the ramp and given it  a quick pre-mot to check she was ok for the winter.
• Audi TT Roadster 2008.tsfi - Mysterious Stutter at 2000rpm 6 Nov 2018 (Forum)
    Ive had this since purchase earlier this year.The local Audi specialist couldn’t find anything and apparently checked the coils/Maf and replaced the oil breathercan.I have since changed the air filter/plugs and had a carbon clean. Its still there and annoying but does not seem to be any worse.   Ive been on the internet and there seems to be no hard answer.
• VW Golf 1.6td se DSG 2013 - Cold Start issues 21 Mar 2018 (Forum)
   Does the cold start activate the DPF? Car runs on a diet of ASDA, Sainsbury's, BP, Shell and ESSO. OIl is changed every 7-8k, using VW Quantum: 5w30 Long Life. Thanks for any replies.
• Seat Leon SE TDI 1.6 auto registered May 2013 - Seat Leon 2013 DSG 7 auto gearbox problem 24 Jul 2017 (Forum)
  It only does this occasionally, I think more often when the car has been driven for some while. The car had the gearbox oil changed from synthetic to mineral under a recall in 2014. The car has done 30,000 miles and been serviced annually. Does anyone have any idea of what might cause this problem? If it needs specialist attention, can anyone recommend a repairer; I live in Walton on Thames, Surrey.