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  • Which oil should I use in my Volkswagen Polo to reduce start-up noise? 12 Jul 2010 (Ask HJ)
    I have a W-reg Volkswagen Polo 1.4-litre automatic with 60,000 miles. Since I've owed it, I've been using 10w 40 semi synthetic oil (as recommended). It's...
  • Jeep Cherokee (2002 - 2007) - 05 2.8 Torque converter recall woes. 4 Dec 2009 (Forum)
    What I'd like to know and can't seem to find and answer to is: If the torque converter replacement was done incorrectly could it within a couple of hundred miles have wrecked my gearbox? As I understand it the converter is a clutch mechanism on an automatic diesel vehicle. If the vehicle was incorrectly calibrated (chipped?) after the work could this have been a factor. Apologies for not having great technical knowledge about this, but I think I've had poor service here and the wool's being pulled over my eyes.
  • Toyota - Servicing my 4WD Toyota Hiace camper 27 Jul 2009 (Forum)
    Not exactly rocket-science, but while the engine in this van (3.0 TD) was used in some UK-spec Toyotas, access is a little more difficult in the mid-engine of the Hiace, plus the combination of 4WD and an automatic gearbox will be unfamiliar to those used to working on UK-spec Toyotas. Once I decided to look around for other garages, I remembered that I know a rather impressive garage here in Bradford which operates mainly as a van and car-hire outfit.
  • Volvo C30 (2006 - 2009) - Poor fuel economy. 2 Jun 2009 (Forum)
    I am in the main, highly deleighted with the car except for its appaling fuel economy. I purchased this car after owning a MkV Golf 1.9 TDI DSG (Automatic), owing to the Volvo's stunning good looks (in my opinion lol) and chose the engine and gerabox being as near to my Golf's spec as possible. The Golf always returned very near to the government figures ie over all consumption of 48 MPG.
  • Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - Should dealer repair faults? 27 Mar 2009 (Forum)
    Hi, I wonder if anyone can offer any advice on this: I test drove a used (2001) Ford Focus (Automatic) earlier this week, which was for sale at a local independent garage - it was advertised as having "remote central locking" on AutoTrader... When I test drove the car, the keyfob was missing a battery so the remote part of the central locking didn't work.
  • MOT new plate regulations 1st Oct 2007 29 Oct 2007 (Forum)
    Source: http://tinyurl.com/yrh6nv (Auto Express: MoT clampdown on reg plates) QUOTE: "Plates fitted to models registered after 1 September 2001 that arent embossed with the name and postcode of the supplier and BS AU145d British Standard symbol will result in an automatic failure. The move is designed to make it easy for testers to spot non-road-legal show plates, as these dont have a BS symbol." Also press release at VOSA http://tinyurl.com/2qlzdy (with additional PDF document link from that page for other complying issues for plates.)
  • Traffic flow vs. speed limit 14 Aug 2007 (Forum)
    In the case above where the limit went from 40 to 60, this was shortly after the M4 turnoff (going North), so it might be that the traffic flow before the junction was that much greater, and after the turn-off (say two gantries later), improved flow means they can turn the speeds up. Still, I'm not convinced that 40 can be faster than 50. And are these limits governed automatically? Does anybody know? I also think that if these limits really do improve flow, it would make sense to use SPECS cameras, as that would do a better job of keeping speeds steady, and if this ultimately makes people's journeys shorter, it's a good thing (though the problem with this is the ridiculous 10% overstate that are legally permitted on speedometers - my Volvo seems to be perfectly calibrated, but generally most cars are not).
  • Company Car vs Car Allowance 18 Apr 2007 (Forum)
    Need to post a poser for my 1st post. Hope someone can help me. I currently have a Merc C Class Automatic Coupe that is petrol for my company car. I have asked for a diesel but have been told I need to run this for at least another year. I get my mileage back when on company business but obviously, not personal and its expensive as I have to drive approx 60 miles per day when not out on customer visits.
  • Limits of Warranty? 5 Feb 2007 (Forum)
    I'd be interested in others BR'ers opinion on a warranty claim I'm currently pursuing. (sorry, this is a bit long!) I've had a niggly problem with the automatic shift smoothness on my c270 cdi since I bought it under approved used warranty from a Mercedes dealer last year. Basically, when the engine's cold it's 'jerky' from 1st-2nd for the first few miles or 10 mins running.
  • Did you know... 18 May 2006 (Forum)
    * In 1978, another 'world-first' was the passenger compartment air filter. * In 1980, Saab introduced Automatic Performance Control (APC). * In 1983 they introduced the 16-valve turbocharged engine and introduced asbestos-free brake pads. * In 1985 SAAB pioneered direct ignition, which eliminates the distributor and spark plug wires
  • Escort Auto Problems 12 Aug 2003 (Forum)
    Any thoughts on this would be very welcome as I\'d like to get it sorted out while still under warranty (and before my girlfriend gets so wound up at the sound that she drives the thing off a cliff!) 2) I know that automatics (and particularly CTX) aren\'t particularly zippy, but there doesn\'t seem to be an awful lot of power behind the kick-down acceleration. When I put the boot down, there\'s about a 1 second pause for throught before the car rather sedately takes off.
  • Spot the p****** 20 Dec 2002 (Forum)
    TAILGATING ...travel behind the car in front at 75mph with only 10 meter gap or less 25 , bonus of 5 if it's raining (should 3 series drivers be exempted because that seems to be an automatic feature of that car?) 5. PHONES ... handheld receiving a call 15/ dialling one 25/texting 40 6. INDICATORS ... non-use on roundabout 15..on motorway 20 7. OVERTAKING ... within 100 yards of leaving a motorway anyway 20 8.
  • Accident with a turn in the road 26 Nov 2002 (Forum)
    Even if he'd been right behind me and I'd misjudged the distance or something the first thing he should have done was to slow down to see what I was going to do? Or does it not work like this? If you do a turn in the road to you automatically not have any priority? I can't find any information about it in the highway code on the net. Thanks
  • 2500km in a Citroen Xantia 17 Feb 2002 (Forum)
    Strangely it seems to get the back of the car much colder than it does the front. I loved the automatic windscreen wipers. Changing speed, interval and even on and off, depending on the wetness of the windscreen ? how does it do that ? I found it slightly irritating that even if one has left it on automatic, if you switch off and on the engine, you have to take them off automatic and put them back on for it to work.
  • What reliable estate should I choose? 19 May 2025 (Ask HJ)
    I need to swap my 2013 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 petrol hatchback for an estate so it can accommodate my two large dogs. I am considering another Astra or swapping...
  • What MPV do you think I should buy? 28 Mar 2025 (Ask HJ)
    I live on the south coast and work in the water sports industry. I’m looking for a large MPV I can take the seats out of and turn into a large van when...
  • Is the cover of the Toyota/Lexus Relax warranty better or worse than an extended warranty? 4 Jun 2021 (Ask HJ)
    I purchased a brand new Lexus NX on 17 March 2021, which includes a three-year warranty. I also purchased an extended warranty with the offer to buy the...
  • I'm taking my car off road for 6 months. Do you have any storage/maintenance tips? 4 May 2021 (Ask HJ)
    I have to take my 2018 Volkswagen Polo (petrol) off the road for 6-months minimum. I have read about battery trickle chargers and wonder what type I should...
  • How do I prevent thieves from trying to get into our car overnight? 25 Mar 2021 (Ask HJ)
    How do I stop the local youths from trying my car's door handles overnight when the car is parked on our drive?
  • My Volkswagen T-Roc bunnyhops and VW refused rejection. What now? 29 Sep 2020 (Ask HJ)
    I've been fobbed off by Volkswagen saying my new car had a software fault, then apparently it's a characteristic of the vehicle. VW refused rejection after...
 

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