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• Fiat Brava - tappet noise. 1 Sep 2001 (Forum)
  Not being desperately 'mechanically sympathetic' I wonder if anyone can tell me if this is an early symptom of the classic bravX/marea cambelt failure, and or reccommend a good fiat specialist in the croydon area. The car has 48k muiles and had a full service 8k miles again, and as pointed out in the car-by-car breakdown, it started life as a rental car. It didn't tick until the last 3k miles or so. Cheers Anthony
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  Do all diesel engines have DPF issues? 6 Jan 2023 (Ask HJ)
  Is there a diesel car yet that can cope with town driving/short journeys without clogging the diesel particulate filter (DPF) and exhaust gas recirculation...
• Peugeot 307 - Warranty rights on a used car that has broken down 17 May 2012 (Forum)
  Is this normal? Would this breakdown in your opinion mean the car was of 'unsatisfactory quality; under the Sale of Goods Act? Is their "warranty" legal? Do I have any other rights? I know suspension coils do sometimes just 'go', but it really is disappointing and concerning that this should happen so soon after buying it, especially with 3 of my colleagues in the car at the time!
• Nissan Micra K11 - Micra or Sirion for cheap small auto car? 30 Oct 2011 (Forum)
  I'm looking for a small, cheap, automatic car. On Autotrader locally there are quite a few late '90s Micras and a few Daihatsu Sirions (I'm discounting the Corsas, Clios and Puntos) Checking the car by car breakdowns, I was surprised by the negatives on the Micras, I thought they would good reliable little cars.
• Replacing new car? 12 May 2003 (Forum)
  A month ago my wife bought a new VW Polo 1.4tdi. The car had a faulty gearbox from the start - it was sometimes almost impossible to get the gear lever out of reverse. After 264 miles the drivers' front seat tipping mechanism broke so that the seat was permanently tipped forward; VW breakdown had to come out and get the seat back to its correct position.
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  BMW Z4 Roof motor - not recalled by BMW yet a well documented BMW fault 18 Apr 2011 (Ask HJ)
  I have a BMW Z4 on a 54-plate. The automatic roof recently stopped working. I Googled the problem and it appears that the most common fault for the roof...
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  Replacing a well loved RAV-4 22 Mar 2011 (Ask HJ)
  We have owned a 1996 Toyota Rav-4 GX 5 door since 2004. We've had no major problems with it, in fact it is the most reliable car we have ever owned (touchwood) I's...
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  Should my new 2010 SEAT Ibiza be using so much oil? 24 Dec 2010 (Ask HJ)
  On 12 November 2010 I purchased a SEAT Ibiza ST 1.2TSI DSG. The oil warning light came on after six weeks' use at 1,700 miles. I had been advised by the...
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  What's causing a burning smell to come from my overheating 2009 Volkswagen Golf TDI? 14 Oct 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I have a 2009 Volkswagen Golf 2.0 TDI. A few months ago I drove about 13 miles on a hot day and when I got out of the car I could smell hot metal, and...
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  What's wrong with our SEAT Alhambra's gearbox? 31 Jul 2010 (Ask HJ)
  We have an '02 plate SEAT Alhambra 1.9TDI. In the last month or so, my wife has lost power twice when driving it. She switched the engine off, and everything...
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  Micra economics 30 May 2009 (Ask HJ)
  I have owned Nissan Micras since 1997, trouble-free until I bought my present car in April 2007 (12k miles to date). Since then I have been rescued by...
• Aren't they appalling ? 16 Jul 2004 (Forum)
  The HJ Car by car breakdowns ? I've not read anything so depressing for ages. I will have to change my beloved Xantia shortly and researching what's available is enough to scare you to death. Have you read the stuff on the Ford Focus for example ?
• Astra 1.6 ecotec d - Astra 19 Plate Clutch Issue 9 Jul 2019 (Forum)
  Reading lots of people with same issue, so I assume Vauxhall will have to act on this. Bit concerning on a new car with low mileage!
• GOLF TDI Bluemotion - Misfuel 3 Dec 2015 (Forum)
  My question is can a diesel do 220+ miles on unleaded before it would breakdown? I'm starting to doubt my sanity even though i am sure i haven't misfueled!! Help!
• Jaguar XJS V12 (1975 - 1995) - Irrational XJS purchase. Mid-life crisis already? 2 Jun 2009 (Forum)
  Being still under 40 I am wondering if I have already reached the 1/2 way point..... Browsing the Classic Car section of Ebay and saw a car I have liked for years and I instantly fell in love. 1991 Jaguar XJS 5.3 litre V12 convertible in black, cream leather and a history file going back to the day it was built, stuffed full of receipts showing exceptional love and devotion.
• Mazda 323 (1998 - 2003) - 2002 2.0 Correct way to use jump start leads? 16 Sep 2008 (Forum)
  It's many years since I last used jump leads but distinctly remember negative to negative terminals. What has changed and is it safer just to call out a breakdown company to do the jump starting?
• FIAT Punto II (1999 - 2006) - 05 1.3 Emission system `show stoppers?` 22 Jun 2008 (Forum)
  Thinking of going to France/Italy, later in the year, in the 2005 1.3 multijet van. Now I have the gendan fault code reader in the car I`m getting interested in what could be done to keep going in certain situations. Questions, 1) Am I right in thinking the MAF, Turbo Boost sensor and EGR, can trigger codes, put the car into `limp mode` but not actually cause a breakdown?
• exhaust gas recirculation problems 24 May 2006 (Forum)
  Further to my postings of 5th and 18th of May, mentioning problems with Renault diesel engines, it seems that in Honest Johns car-by-car breakdown, under Espace 2002+,they are known to have E.G.R. problems, but this has never been mentioned on any service. But I know from experience how dangerous this can be. About a year ago I was driving up the A23, from Brighton to London, in the middle lane, went to overtake, and suddenly there was without warning absolutely NO THRUST OR POWER, fortunately it wasn't quite rush hour and I was able to pull over safely.
• Clio 1149 D7F engines 2 Dec 2002 (Forum)
  I have a T reg Renault Clio 1.2 petrol (1149cc) with no trim and 44k on the clock. I have just read on the car-by-car breakdown: In "what to watch out for" "On 1,149cc D7F engines it is essential to change the timing belt, tensioners and the water pump every 3 years of 36,000 miles (whichever comes first)."
• Citroen Berlingo Multispce 1.5 HDI adblu Feel 2015 - Battery /alternator problems Need Help please! 17 Feb 2022 (Forum)
  Have had nox sensor replaced under warranty and now battery issues. Broken down twice not being able to start car. Taken to mechanic had 2 new batteries still happening . RAC breakdown mechanic diagnose alternator prob. Alternator (2 tried)  replaced under warranty. Still not charging battery. Mechanic baffled?