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• Mazda Mazda 6 (2002 - 2007) - Diesel Pump Gone - How To Get It Fixed Cheaper 26 Aug 2011 (Forum)
  Hi everyone, I thought best to give everyone a full description of my problem and what to do to get it fixed cheaply Having read so much about this common diesel pump problem it was no wonder after hitting shy of 100k my car started to play up. People have suggested that you can get about 10k out off the car until it dies...with me try 100 miles. It all started last week when the car started to cut out after starting from cold, two or three minutes into my journey once the car was warm everything was fine.
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  Under suspension 10 Jul 2010 (Ask HJ)
  Some time ago you were good enough to give some very helpful advice. I hope you are willing to repeat the trick. I have a 2005 Mondeo diesel bought at...
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  Clutch slipping on Ford Focus 1.0 Ecoboost 11 Jun 2015 (Ask HJ)
  I am having problems with my clutch rubbing/slipping on my Focus 1.0 ecoboost 2012. I bought the car second hand back in September last year and it has...
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  Which 4x4 for winter driving in heavy snow? 11 Oct 2012 (Ask HJ)
  My daughter who lives in rural Aberdeenshire is looking to replace her 10-year-old Subaru Forester with a smaller, newer 4x4 with a punchy engine suitable...
• Don’t do as I do 27 Sep 2025 (Forum)
  While off on a two week Med cruise I bought a car unseen that I wouldn’t recommend to anyone. A friend contacted me for a bit of advice regarding a newer car for her 83yr old dad. He settled on a Kia Ceed 1.0 turbo (he’s not sure which spec) but when I was told he’d been offered £1,000 for the 2013 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi Zetec he’d had for the last 8yrs I quickly offered £1100 for it.
• Replacement for Toyota Yaris Mk 1 auto 31 Oct 2023 (Forum)
  My daughter in laws  Y Reg Yaris auto is in need of replacement due to corrosion . The car has been faultless over the five years she has owned it , passing every single MOT except the last one. What other 23 year old car could claim this ? Ideally the replacement must be a small hatchback with a Torque Converter auto box or a reliable alternative.
• Hyundai i10 - Paint discolouration on new car 13 Sep 2023 (Forum)
  My daughter has a 72 reg i10 in their standard “Mangrove Green” colour. It’s about 7 months old and the paint around the exhaust is...
• Peugeot 308 SW - Carless Driving 24 Feb 2022 (Forum)
  3 weeks ago I clipped a car wing mirror and didn't stop.  I've received an NIP for driving without C&A. I have a private plate that was applied to the car on the 1st of May last year.  My current insurance started on the 2nd of May *with the old reg plate* IE it changed between quote and acceptance.
• Focus v Volvo 22 Mar 2021 (Forum)
    I believe the Volvo V40 is based on the same platform, and seems to be roughly the same price. I'm looking to buy a one year old car, certainly less than 2. Will the Volvo share the same platform as the latest Focus MK4?  Is the Volvo a better car? It seems to have a 150 PS Diesel engine amongst others. Is this a proven engine?
• 17 REG Astra K 1.4 turbo petrol auto stop start - Topping up Battery 3 Mar 2021 (Forum)
  Hello, My stop start has stopped working  owing to battery suffering from low amount of driving and cold weather. I am getting a message up "low battery start car", which isn't a problem, it starts fine. I want to top up the battery, I only have an old trickle charger with hi/low setting. Is this suitable with the car having stop/start? Also, with the battery being in the boot, which is the best way of charging?
• Honest John's Motoring Agony Column 12-01-2019 Part 1 14 Jan 2019 (Forum)
  The difference in reliability between the so called premium European makes, and a decent Far East produced car are enormous. I was chatting to a BMW Mini owner in a car park a few days ago; having noted his new Mini was shiny and my old Mitsi really dirty; I posed the question "How much do you think this has cost me in repairs over the last 10 years". "£5,000", was his guess
• Audi A5 - Car Finance - Right to Withdraw 26 Dec 2017 (Forum)
  Hi all I've just bought a 6 month old A5. Originally I was going to pay ££ but the finance option appeared to make too much sense - £1.25k...
• Birmingham to Bournemouth 15 Apr 2017 (Forum)
  We are off to Bournemouth on Sunday, after I have performed all of my official duties in the morning! My wife is keen to take her car (Yaris Hybrid) and I am debating whether to take the Logan or the MX5. The Logan would be an easier trip, but less fun when we got there. So the first question, is it a risk to take a 13 year old car on a long trip?
• Ford Ka - Radio Code Required 26 Mar 2017 (Forum)
  Hello wise sages ! I had to replace the battery in the wifes car today as the old one was dead and it just "clicked" when i tried to start it. IT WORKED ! The wife's car has now come back to life ! However, the "War Department" is now unhappy as the radio now says "CODE" on the front and doesn't work.
• Toyota Aygo - Aygo: clutch problems on some models? 22 Sep 2016 (Forum)
  Currently have a 2002 Mk. 1 Toyota Yaris, but it has been written off in an accident. So, I'll be in the market for a 2007-2010 small car. Yaris's in this date range are bigger than the old Mk I's. So I was considering something smaller, an early model Aygo with about 60k on the clock. However, I have been worried to read about clutch failures on some Aygo's.
• Nissan Almera Tino - is it okay to drive with air con compressor broke? 21 Jul 2016 (Forum)
  Car is 13 years old but I like it. I am thinking to perhaps wait to see if it gets through the MOT in November and if all okay then sort the air con, well get a professional I know to. Question is, will driving it with this broken compressor cause further damage?
• Toyota Auris Hybrid Icon Plus - Insurance Group & Tyres 5 Mar 2016 (Forum)
  Just purchasing a 1 year old Toyota Auris Hybrid Icon Plus. One thing that puzzles me is the insurance grouping for this car is 14 but for both the Icon and the Excel its 7. Sure enough insurance quotes indicate that the Icon plus for me is about £40 to £50 more than the range topping Excel but my thoughts are why and can this be challenged?
• Audi A3 Saloon - Dash cams 13 Feb 2015 (Forum)
  I cannot see how the trim around the winscreen can be easily removed and I am not sure how the warranty would be affected. (The car is 15 months old). There must be power available near the interior mirror for the interior lights and the auto mirror and perhaps this could be tapped into. The local Audi dealer can offer no assistance and I would be interested to hear if anyone has overcome these problems.
• Ford Fiesta Saloon - 1.4l - 05 Reg. - Engine 'pinking'. 11 Jul 2014 (Forum)
  My car has started 'pinking'. ( An almost inaudible tinkeling from the engine) That's what it sounds like anyway. In the 'olden days' one got it thro'...
• BMW 3 Series Touring - Great RAC service. 16 Mar 2014 (Forum)
  Went out to the car (8 year old petrol 3 series) yesterday just before lunchtime and it sounded very rough when I started it and the engine management light was flashing. Anyway called the RAC and when the technician arrived he diagnosed a faulty coil, he managed to find a parts supplier that would stay open for him and away he went.