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• Vauxhall Zafira A (1999 - 2005) - 02 plate 1.6 16v engine problems 14 Jan 2008 (Forum)
  Also iv'e noticed other people saying in the forum that they seem to be using a lot of oil, which to be honest is exactly what our car is doing for no apparent reason. there is no leaks i can see around the engine or asscoiated pipework or fittings and no smoke coming out of the exhaust not even on cold startup. i checked the oil only the other day after checking it only a couple of weeks previously to find to my horror that the dipstick was bone dry, so where is it going?
• Advice re:selling my BMW at auction 2 Feb 2007 (Forum)
  I bought the car in 2002 with 86K from a lease co, and have added the remaining 82K with no problems. Full service history - BMW and more recently BMW indy specialist plus I?ve documented additional oil changes done by myself. Car has never used any oil, ever. I now need to sell the car and don?t have the opportunity to p/ex. I?m thinking that I?m unlikely to attract a private sale through Auto Trader or local papers due to the mileage.
• Peugeot 206 lx 1.4 automatic 2001 - Diagnostics Fault? Gearbox problem? 3 Jan 2013 (Forum)
  In september 2012, I bought a 2001 peugeuot 206 lx 1.4 automatic, from a private dealer with no warranty and after a couple of weeks I noticed that there was always a strong burning smell coming from the bonnet, although it never felt that it got too hot and i couldnt really tell where exactly it was coming from, also when i was driving for the first little while the car over revs, to about 40,000 but only sits on about 30mph (it would prob rev more but the noise worries me and i ease my foot off accelerator) then the car will make a clunk noise n jolt forward slightly, that will happen 3/4 times and then do it one time massively, the car will then make 3 beeps with no lights flashing and then drive normally. I had the engine oil changed and a new filter put in place as it was filthy, hoping this would solve it but it hasn't, Then i was driving home one night when all the sudden the temparature needle went straight from cold to hot and flashed stopped on the dash, i pulled over got out but the engine was not hot, i called out green flag who looked it over and said he didnt think it was a major problem he thought i probably needed gearbox oil but i had a slight leek from sensor swicth underneath bonnet which was coming from exhaust pipes to engine?
• Volkswagen Golf V (2004 - 2008) - 1.9TDi 136k miles, 2nd interim report 9 Dec 2009 (Forum)
  Anorak on, and checking brim to brim figures, the last 24k miles on the Michelins were at 51.3mpg, the following 19k miles on the Dunlops were 49.1mpg, despite driving more like a mimser to compensate. OE headlight bulbs changed (easily) at 114k, one tail-light bulb also changed (had to unbolt the lamp unit). Front and rear pads (not disks) changed at 107k. Bonnet some times difficult to latch shut ? colleague told me that AA/RAC man gave him the tip for a roadside cure to dribble oil from the dipstick into the mechanism...
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  Are Ford EcoBoost engines reliable? 21 Jan 2022 (Ask HJ)
  I am planning to buy a car and getting confused between a Ford Focus 1.0 EcoBoost Zetec vs the Ford Fiesta EcoBoost 1.0 Zetec. Can you please advise as...
• BMW 3-Series E90 (2005 - ) - 325D Final installment 24 Apr 2008 (Forum)
  On balance it seems inadvisable to chance it. When in doubt spend money. Consult BMW manual. Page 127 solemnly intones that only BMW approved oil should be entertained. Rack what remains of brain. No data whatsoever on subject of BMW approved oil. Not convinced that progress is being made. Search for BMW approved oil. Spend a very long time on this subject.
• "Fun" car for retirement 24 Nov 2016 (Forum)
  I wondered what opinion the good folks here had about the choice between these two? I would go for petrol due to reliability concerns re the oil burners and no concerns re mpg due to low mileage and we're probably leaning towards the Volvo due to the hard top. I'm guessing the imperatives are to try to get one where the timing belt etc has been changed recently and to check the roof mechanism/condition carefully?
• Ford Fiesta 1.6 TDCI - Turbo died 10 days after purchase 1 Sep 2015 (Forum)
  I kept talking with the dealership but they kept their ground stating that they don't know what I did with the car after the purchase, that the car had to cost at least 5,000 for me to ask for a repair or replace, and that the car had passed an MOT  the day I bought it so it must be something I did. I told them what the garage told me, the turbo was new someone had recently changed it and didn't change the oil pipe feed and the filter there had clogged. This was a problem present at the moment of sale. They keep saying their company is too new and they don't have the resources to fix it at their expense and that I'm getting a good deal by paying half of it because they will tow it to the garage at their expense and they will fit a new cambelt too which is not part of the problem.
• Ford Mondeo III (2000 - 2007) - 150,000 mile tdci report 6 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  The only major issue has been a failed water pump, which also took out the power steering pump. I've also had a rear brake caliper seize which was easy enough to change. I've done almost all the servicing myself, just oil and filter every 10000 miles and a new air and pollen filter occasionally. Actually, the pollen filter was changed for probably the first time in the cars life earlier this year.
• Ford Mondeo IV (2007 - ) - Three weeks with a 2.0 TDCi auto 15 Feb 2010 (Forum)
  Once warm if you want to press on the 3k changes remain and it is noisy with a top end diesel rattle. Engine noise in cabin on tickover is intrusive. Auto box hunts at around 30mph (3-4th change) and 40mph (4-5th change). Tiresome in urban traffic.
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  Why am I suddenly getting poor economy from my car? 11 Apr 2023 (Ask HJ)
  I recently purchased a 2004 Mondeo 2.0 LX auto, 175000 miles, and am only getting 22-24mpg around town when I was expecting 30mpg. The owner's manual suggests...
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  Can I claim compensation for a cam belt failure? 18 Nov 2021 (Ask HJ)
  My Ford Fiesta 1.0-litre EcoBoost, registered/made in early 2016 with 67,000 miles, has just had a cam belt failure which has destroyed the engine. The...
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  Should I buy a high mileage car? 9 Nov 2020 (Ask HJ)
  Are high mileage cars good value?
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  Are Volkswagen DSG auto gearboxes troublesome? 9 Sep 2020 (Ask HJ)
  I bought a new Volkswagen Golf auto in 2015. It's had its yearly service at Volkswagen authorised dealers just last week. The car has only done 9300 miles...
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  Which small van would you recommend to use as a camper for under £2500? 25 Apr 2018 (Ask HJ)
  I'm looking to buy a small van, e.g. Ford Transit Connect (LWB, high top). The plan is to use it as a small camper at weekends and drive it as my everyday...
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  What should I buy as a new tow car? 20 Dec 2016 (Ask HJ)
  I currently own a diesel 2013 Audi Avant A6. It's a 2.0 TDI 177PS for towing our relatively small Eriba Troll (1000kg). The A6 is used mainly for long...
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  Passat with no heater and overheating at high rpm 11 Jan 2013 (Ask HJ)
  I have a problem with my Passat TDI 130 PS 2001, on motoway journeys over 50mph, the temperature rises, or when holding revs over 2000rpm. I have had the...
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  Has Volkswagen admitted that there is a fault with the 1.4 TSI engine? 28 Jul 2012 (Ask HJ)
  You are more or less on your own in the UK when it comes to reporting problems that car manufacturers would rather not discuss. I have followed the Volkswagen...
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  Should I sell my diesel Audi A4 now before problems arise? 3 Mar 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I have an Audi A4 Avant S line quattro TDI 2.0 litre diesel (170PS motor) with a BRD series engine. I purchased the car new in 2006 and have now done 52,000...
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  I won against Mercedes-Benz regarding their 30-year warranty in respect of rust on my E-Class. 25 Feb 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I had a long running saga with rust on a year 2000 Mercedes-Benz E320CDI. In July 2007 all four doors and the boot lid were repaired/replaced under the...