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  Should I change my 10-year-old Honda Accord for a Vauxhall Vectra? 30 Aug 2010 (Ask HJ)
  My Honda Accord is ten years old (I've had it for six of those) with 97,000 miles on the clock and it feels like it could do the same again with no problem....
• Ford Mondeo II (1996 - 2000) - 01 1.8 Running very rough - electrical issue? 22 Feb 2010 (Forum)
  I think (though this may be my imagination to some extent) that it also runs smoother when there's less load on the battery i.e. I kill the air con and heated screen etc. I really suspect it's something electrical. I've bought HT leads but not yet fitted them due to only ever remembering mid journey. When it's really stuttering, it interferes with the radio, again leading me to believe it's an electrical fault or a short somewhere.
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 02 2.0 Engine stalls a few seconds after starting 13 Dec 2009 (Forum)
  It starts perfectly and runs fine, but it cuts out just as though it has been turned off. No lights come on until the revs drop enough for the battery light comes on. It starts again perfectly on the next turn of the key. It appears to simply need an ECU reset as I can actually keep the revs at about 2000 (it doesn't matter how many revs I have - it still stalls!)
• Toyota Prius III (2009 - ) - Impressions of the new Prius 29 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  The Prius has far more room in the back than most competitors: the boot is shallowish (because of the need to store the batteries) but it's enough, and there is a big under-floor compartment for laptops etc. Cristicisms - not much. I don't like the foot-operated parking brake, although at least it's mechanical and not electronic.
• Nissan Micra (1992 - 2003) - 01 1.0 Erratic idle and revs,stalling,power loss 25 Nov 2008 (Forum)
  Next morning, replaced the sensor, warmed up the car and hey presto it runs like new again! Disconnected the battery and after reconnecting the engine management light no longer appears. From my own experience I suggest if you experience the problems listed above to get down your local scrap-yard and try the sensor that fits to the unit (its controls the idle apparently).
• Vauxhall Vectra C (2002 - 2008) - 07 1.8 Wheel Balancing 26 Jul 2008 (Forum)
  Or is this normal and I am just too fussy? The vibration is similar in severity to perhaps an electric toothbrush where the batteries are running out. From past exerience an weight free wheel with this kind of vibration needs 15 to 25 grams to sort it out. Thats about how far out of balance I think it is, but as I said I saw the guy get 0 - 0 on the machine.
• Peugeot 306 (1993 - 2001) - idling problems 27 Dec 2007 (Forum)
  , an ECU problem or if it is still likley to be the stepper motor (and the new one is actually the wrong one). I also read that disconnecting the battery to rest the ECU may help and I will try this shortly - I'm just not confidant it will help - if it does I'll report back within the hour (its now 10.15am 27/12) Thanks for any help with this
• My first BMW... 24 Apr 2007 (Forum)
  On the other hand, if the car is clocked, it's mechanically very sound and someone has done a very lazy job of clocking it - much easier to fake the history out and fix the cosmetic issues if you want a quick sale, I'd have thought. What worries me more though is that when I got the car the airbag and battery lights were on on the dashboard, although the alternator is charging fine. The backstreet garage couldn't reset the service light with their tool and although a local, general garage (in the GGG) whose owner always has BMWs was able to reset the service light, they couldn't get the car to talk to the diagnostics to take it further.
• Vauxhall Vectra TD 1999 starts then dies 20 Mar 2006 (Forum)
  Intermittent problem, if the car is a little low on fuel (below the 10 lire mark), if I do not start the car for over 7 or 8 hours then, then I turn the key, the car starts but will not rev high, then eventually dies after about 5 seconds. The car then will not start. You can turn the car over until the battery dies. I then have to get someone to jump start me which normally takes about a minute or 2 of turning over until the engine finally starts to bite and eventually starts. This problem seems to be worse if I park with the nose of the car facing UP-HILL.
• Mercedes C25DT (Sept 98) Auto (W202) 20 Feb 2006 (Forum)
  One morning when it happened a "chatter" similar to a relay rapidly switching on and off, was audible in the cabin - but this has not happened since. The agent said that the battery was at the end of its life - changed! No difference! Any ideas? The Mercedes agent seems at a loss and I've asked that Mercedes (UK) get involved, now that it occasionally happens when the engine is running at operating temperature I'm concerned it could cause an accident.
• Pug 406 - Died, any ideas? 10 Jan 2006 (Forum)
  Couple of seconds later, the dash lit up like a christmas tree, the big red STOP light, the engine light, oil pressure, battery, you name it. I was approaching a lit village so i popped it into neutral and coasted under a street light. 10 or so seconds after the lights came on, the engine itself "stalled", requiring a quick struggle with the lack of power steering to bring the car to a safe stopping point.
• 406 Cambelt Gone - worth repairing? 10 Nov 2005 (Forum)
  I've been doing this for 16 years, buy a japanese model instead - only been to one in last 6 months (and it was a flat battery)" (This has been heavily discussed in other threads I know - just giving my tuppence worth) My possible courses of action: a. get Cam changed (£200)- sound a bit steep - 3.5h@£35 p.h. +VAT and see if it starts.
• Problem Polo Repurchased 24 Aug 2004 (Forum)
  Bought new, now 16 months old has had electrical problems from new resulting in 5 long stays in the garage, and 8 breakdowns. The problem was intermittent and hard to pinpoint but resulted in the battery draining down in a matter of hours. Various repairs were tried but none was successful. When I finally lost all confidence in the vehicle I contacted VW customer services who dismissed my complaint as not severe enough to warrant them taking action.
• A most reliable car 17 Dec 2002 (Forum)
  It's life would have been one of grinding stop start short trips in heavy traffic in high temperatures, loads of idling with the aircon on at full blast. To my certain knowledge it has had 3 punctures, four new front tyres and two new batteries in 7 years plus the a/c topped up with RJ a couple of times. As far as I recall absolutely nothing else has been touched. It seems to burn no oil. It did boil over once - broken fanbelt. It has never failed to start and run or do what it is required of it and I see it now shows 120,000 km.
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  Is it time to dispose of my car? 6 Dec 2021 (Ask HJ)
  I have a 2011 Mazda 2 TS2 which has covered only 29,000 miles. I have owned it since 2014 and am the second owner. I recently had it serviced by a Mazda...
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  Can you ride an electric scooter or hoverboard on the pavement in the UK? 20 Nov 2018 (Ask HJ)
  I just read an email from you in which there is a review of the Micro Sparrow electric kids scooter. A few days ago, I received an email from Surrey Police...
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  Is my rusty 1977 Daimler Double Six Coupe worth restoring? 18 Jul 2018 (Ask HJ)
  I own a low mileage 1977 Daimler Double Six Coupe which as you know are now rather rare with only 300 odd were made. The problem is, it has been standing...
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  Our newly-bought, used Mazda CX-5 is emitting white smoke - what should we do? 9 Feb 2018 (Ask HJ)
  We've recently purchased a 2014 Mazda CX-5 2.0 petrol with 108,000 miles on the clock. On the day of the purchase, we pointed out some white smoke coming...
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  We have a garaged 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300 that we want to sell - is it worth getting it running first? 31 Jan 2018 (Ask HJ)
  We've been given a 1991 Mercedes-Benz 300 that we now wish to sell. It's been garaged for the last eight years. It has 157,000 miles on the clock and is...
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  Our car alarm goes off every night because it wasn't fixed properly after an accident - what do we do? 28 Jul 2017 (Ask HJ)
  Both doors were replaced on our 2013 Ford C Max and now the alarm keeps going off at night. We get error messages for child lock malfunction, service required,...