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• when to do Proton Persona timing belt? 24 Nov 2006 (Forum)
  Today we bought from a Proton main dealer a 1998 R Proton Persona 1.6 automatic for my mam, its done 45000 miles and has full main dealer history (only cost £655 too), but i was wondering when we should change the timing belt?. The handbook says 54000 miles but the guide in the 'car by car breakdown' section of this wonderful website says regular changes are needed, so i dont know if i should wait until 54000 miles or not. Can anybody please help me, thanks.
• BMW 325 conve or Audi A4 2.4 Convertible 25 Jan 2006 (Forum)
  I am torn between the two options. The audi seems to get good write ups but I do quite fancy the BMW I have read the car by car breakdown and find that neither have any particular skeletons in their closets. Any backroomers have experience of one or both of these vehicles?
• Accidents and AA / RAC cover 23 Jul 2003 (Forum)
  I'd always assumed they would recover the car as they always bandy words like recovery and rescue around, but thinking about it, the service they sell is *Breakdown* recovery. So, what is the situation?
• Impreza Advice, please. 12 May 2003 (Forum)
  Are there any Impreza owners out there who could give me some pointers/questions to ask the seller? I'll be looking for FSH and evidence of cambelt renewal etc., I've checked HJ's car by car breakdown - are there any other special points I should be looking for? Thanks in anticipation, P.
• Old Vauxhall Astra 17 Jan 2001 (Forum)
  Bearing that in mind, what should she ask an independent mechanic to look out for in particular and what are your opinions on the price and reliability of the model? I have checked into the car-by-car breakdown page on this site and am sending a print-out to her.
• Vw golf - Immobiliser nightmare 5 Jan 2013 (Forum)
  Yesterday I drove to my mums a mile down the road did what I needed to do and when I went to start the car again the immobiliser kicked in. My step dad plugged the diagnostic machine in and erased it but it did nothing. My breakdown cover came out and said he couldn't do it and it needs resetting. Is there anything I can do it can anyone recommend someone somewhere in Leicester to help??
• Toyota Land cruiser lc - Vibration in cold weather when stopped and in 'D' 21 Oct 2010 (Forum)
  In the cbc breakdown for the landcruiser it says: "May 06 Landcruiser LC5 D-4D auto had all 4 injectors replaced in March 2008 to resolve a vibration / judder through the car when held stationary in drive in cold weather.
• Ferry prices 23 Sep 2005 (Forum)
  Want to do South West England to say ST Malo or similar in N W France, returning 3 weeks later via Dover crossing with car and caravan, 2 adults, 3 children {5, 3 and 1} Anyone know the cheapest ferries? Can go mid week. National Breakdown AKA Green Flag - do they still do cheap ferry tickets, or caravan club etc?
• Audi Quattro 1980-86 20 Nov 2001 (Forum)
  I know that they can be very expensive if they go wrong and l am also aware of the insurance. BTW HJ's car breakdown's do not go back this far. dan
• Audi A6 2008 - Garage repairs 6 Feb 2017 (Forum)
  Good afternoon I'm after some advise on garage repairs, my car wouldn't start November 16, took it to Vw/ Audi specialist, he advised car had dpf filter blocked up also rocker cover needed to be removed and cleaned due to running car on incorrect oil,  I had a bill for replacement dpf from motor factors and fitting for £1045, car has been back in garage since end of January 17 due to breakdown, garage said oil filter was clogged solid and caused the engine to blow,  I'm not a mechanic, but Surley this should have been replaced when the original repair was done?
• Ford Fiesta - 60 plate Fiesta - warranty problem 30 Jan 2013 (Forum)
  While at the end of a 120 mile journey last week it developed a strange rattling sound. I pulled into a car park and called breakdown service and was towed home. The car has been diagnosed by Ford as needing a new short motor which will cost £3750 and they are claiming the fault has originated in a spark plug and ruined the engine from there.
• Audi A3 Sportback - Help need advise on dealing with Dealer/Warranty 12 May 2020 (Forum)
  AA on day said my Hydraulics had gone on my Clutch as the breakdown was quick car telling my to change into every other gear even though I was on Motorway at 70 very odd then just dries with the clutch pedal firmly collapsing down right against the floor, there had been none of the normal signs a clutch was going slipping/ smell / bad gear changing etc. and car only was 27k miles.
• Overheating problem Corsa 1.2 Merit 16 May 2005 (Forum)
  that evening, I started to return home, but only got miles down the road when noticed the temperature gauge was in the red. I pulled over immediately and called the breakdown service. The breakdown man spent almost an hour at my car, but could not find the cause of the problem. The part of the engine containing the temperature transmitter was very hot (in the red) and the radiator was cold.
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  Coil spring collapsed on my daughter's Ford Fiesta - is this common? 26 May 2012 (Ask HJ)
  My daughter was driving her 70,000 mile 1999 Ford Fiesta 1.4L petrol at very slow speed whilst parking, when the front offside suspension coil spring suddenly...
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  Sensored e-mail 23 Jan 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I am upset about the way my local Volvo dealer dealt with an ABS fault on my V50. I believe there is an issue with Brake Pressure Sensors. I am £1,000...
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  How can I become a car journalist? 23 Oct 2013 (Ask HJ)
  Can you tell me the best route into car journalism? I really want to get into the business of reviewing cars and/or working for a publication or website...
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  Unpairable 17 Apr 2010 (Ask HJ)
  Further to RB’s problem, I have also just changed to an iPhone and had Bluetooth problems. I run a 2004 BMW 330 convertible with integrated Bluetooth hands...
• Ford Fusion Semi Auto, 2004 Petrol 1.4 - Durashift EST Warning Light 13 Dec 2010 (Forum)
  I bought the above car on credit on 9th July 2010.  I have had several problems with the car since purchase, , Problems with selection of gear on initial acceleration, very problematic in 1st gear to the extent that car vibrated and would not select initially.
• Mazda RX-8: reliable second hand buy? 23 Feb 2007 (Forum)
  Since this is the first time I have considered a rotory engine, are they as reliable as conventional engine cars? How long will those rotor tips last? I have read the car by car breakdown. Bearing in mind I do 20,000 miles a year, I fully accept the high fuel and oil costs but I am not hoping the RX-8 will run to 150k without major engine work required, like my Nissan QX and Mondeo TDCi.
• 1997-2000 Shogun or Colorado? 8 Jan 2007 (Forum)
  Is there any reason to go for one over the other? Is there anything I should particularly look out for as these cars head towards banger territory? I've checked the car-by-car breakdown (of course) - and ruled out Jeeps and Discoverys. I believe the Shogun engine is an interfence unit, so timing belt replacement is critical, but I think the Toyota's is non-interfence.