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Which safe 4WD car offers fun, practicality and room for a family? 28 Jul 2012 (Ask HJ)
I drive a Mazda MX5, which I love to bits, but which isn't practical as it snows where I live, so the rear wheel drive isn't the best. I thought a 4WD... -
Renault Scenic v Citroen C4 Grand Picasso compared 30 Aug 2009 (Forum)
On holiday in Spain last week and luckily we had pre-hired a car. I had booked a Pug Partner on the basis that it was cheap, roomy, and a car I was genuinely... -
Why is my Hyundai i20 mpg so much lower than expected? 9 Jan 2017 (Ask HJ)
My 2012 Hyundai i20 1.2, 41,000 miles on the clock is quoted an average of 57.6 mpg. Your website suggests that the real average mpg for this make and... -
Can a failed DPF regen cause oil contamination in the engine? 29 Nov 2016 (Ask HJ)
My 2013 Mazda 6 diesel recently had a low oil pressure warning light come on. I stopped driving immediately and got towed to my Mazda dealer. They changed... -
How can I fix my Volkswagen Polo misfire? 3 Sep 2016 (Ask HJ)
In March this year I privately bought a 2010 Volkswagen Polo 1.2 TSI. It was sold with a full service history, with 24K on the clock. It ran really well... -
Misleading fuel figures 16 Nov 2014 (Ask HJ)
I’ve noticed that car owners are not getting close enough to the stated mpg figures. In my circumstance, I bought a new Audi A4 2.0-litre TFSI quattro... -
Ford Focus Estate 1.6 petrol 55 reg - battery drain /isolator 15 Feb 2016 (Forum)
as it was intermittent and i had no idea when the battery would discharge, again totally frustrating at o.4.40 am when i left the house for work and the battery was totally flat - anyway cut a long story short on the advice of my garage/auto electician decieded to have a promax 12 v isolator fitted and it was explained that this would work if the isolator sensed a drain via the battery it would shut down everything, preserving enough power in the battery to restart the car - i know the isolator works as i have experienced drain on 3 or 4 occasions since having fitted and never failed UNTIL the a couple of days ago, a recent cold snap with tempratures down to +1 - -3 degrees, went to the car as normal tried to open with fob but nothing, opened with key as i could see that isolator had kicked in - nothing at all on dash display, no concerns at this point, expexting isolator to kick back in, when turning the ignition key as normal - but nothing at all, had to jump off the wifes audi, it was only then that the isolator kciked back in and it started first time - now not taking any chances due to early start, and disconnecting the positive termial after 14 mile journey, but have tested the isolator since and hey presto works fine after each 14 mile journey advice appreciated -
Mercedes Benz E280 CDI Avantgarde W211 - Problems After 'Engine Diagnostic Light' came on.. 16 Jul 2015 (Forum)
The technicians came up with loads of 'faults' including crank and ex back pressure sensors, turbo seals and boost seals leaking, plus gearbox sump gasket leaking. Whilst doing the above, they also changed the V Belt, and the automatic transmission fluid. I ended up paying £1300 for the privilege !!! Three weeks later, on the way back from Portsmouth, the car suffered power loss, and would take ages to accelerate upto 60 mph or more... -
Citroen C5 II (2008 - ) - New Citroen C5 Early report 16 Jan 2010 (Forum)
Collected my C5 2.0 HDi last week-end. A large saloon, Mondeo sized. Concave rear window seems cute but has no internal impact. Much less slab sided than... -
Which hatchback should I buy? 12 Jan 2017 (Ask HJ)
I have a fair budget for a used car, preferably a petrol hot hatch with reasonable MPG consumption and also suitable for everyday car use. I am thinking... -
Ford Mondeo TDCI - 2006 Mondeo TDCI EGR Valve - Help Please!!! 29 Oct 2012 (Forum)
I cleaned out the existing EGR valve in accordance with all of the blogs (but not the mainfold itself) and have had the fuel filter replaced. I only use Shell V Power fuel, and I have tried the 'italian tune-up' alluded to in a number of conversations. Recently, I decided to see what happened if I simply unplugged the EGR's electronic connection - and while there is an initial puff of smoke in the initial accelartion thereafter, it basically disappears in its entirety after that - no smoke whatsoever irrespective of how I drive. -
Treating your car well - fueling 23 Sep 2007 (Forum)
Therefore since buying my new cars this years both toyotas as i'm a jap fan i now own a t180 and a rav4 xtr and they are both fueled with shell and nothing else. My t180 i'm looking after the most since the shell garage right by my work now has V-Power diesel which is suppose to contain cleaning agents for extra lubricity and soot breakdown. Whilst i maybe naive by believing in this i'm willing to pay the extra. On balance i get the same / similar miles to a tank compared to shell extra diesel and its extra cost is barely even noticeable costing no more than a beer each fill up. -
Renault Espace (1997 - 2002) - Diesel Problem Vol2 19 Sep 2018 (Forum)
As Volume 1 reached 180 posts, this post has become Vol2 - Vol 1(below link) has been locked - continue debate in this one, far more logical than my original edit ! http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?v=e&t=24466&m=614963 s -
Supercharged Harley 8 May 2007 (Forum)
We were in no hurry, but the owner experessed surprise that it wouldn't even live with the two 600s or the 750 (less powerful than the Hornet and FZ6 600s) for acceleration. Contrast this; my rev limiter is at 14000RPM, peak power is at 10,500, and during typical overtakes today I'd be surfing along between 6,000 and 8,500 in a nice lively sweetspot before it all goes banzai. -
Are Volkswagens really as problematic as you say? 22 Apr 2011 (Ask HJ)
I know you question your loyalty to Volkswagen, but they can't all be that bad. I know a lot of people put in complaints about them, but there are a heck... -
Academic question 21 Feb 2009 (Ask HJ)
I am an indecisive academic requiring help. In 1994 after months of deliberation and investigation, I bought a brand new VW Passat Diesel Estate and declared... -
Those whom the Gods would destroy... 10 Apr 2005 (Forum)
Four 50% worn Bridgestones with nice white lettering on them. On the road. Satisyingly light and vague power steering as is SOP for all American automobiles. Shocks are stuffed and plenty of body rattles. V-8 burbles well, possibly an intermittent miss on one bank on the idle, maybe number 6. Burnt valve, could be. -
Will E5 petrol still be available after 2026? 23 Jul 2025 (Ask HJ)
On the introduction of E10 petrol back in Sept 1st 2021 the government at the time said E5 would be available for the next 5 years. So the cut-off point... -
All T/C Autos aren't made equal.. 16 Jan 2019 (Forum)
Mercedes have been up and down in this regard, but on the whole seem to hold up. Ford automatics are hit and miss (not the powers*** or the newest t/c which are too new), some models, such as the Mk 1 and 2 Mondeo were notorious in the US where it was sold as the Contour for eating gearboxes.. but then we have JohnF's focus which soldiers on without maintenance! -
Fiat Qubo 1.3 Multijet 95 Trekking - Engine management warning light 24 Jan 2015 (Forum)
Whist not built to the same quality as the BMW, the Qubo was big inside, reasonably compact outside, with 95bhp it pulled quite well and cruised comfortable around the maximum speed, whilst returning 54mpg on Shell V-Power diesel. Within 2 months I experienced an engine management warning when starting from cold. The engine appeared to run normally but advice in the handbook was to stop immediately and take the vehicle to the nearest franchised dealer, in this case D Salmon Cars of Colchester.
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