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• Tyres - legal? 28 Oct 2005 (Forum)
  The difference seems to be about 2mm (ish), suggesting that the tyre is designed so that when the edges have no tread, the central area has the legal minimum. So the whole tyre "runs out" of tread at the same time, assuming even wear. Now, IIRC the law prescribes that that centre area needs to be 75% of the tyre width. This is where I get confused. Michelin's centre area is 5.5 inches, exactly 50% of the (11 inch) tyre width.
• Change Nissan QX back to Mondeo? 5 Apr 2004 (Forum)
  Any comment helps, positive or negative. Comment from Michael R would be especially useful as you run one. Current 1995 Nissan QX running cost is 28 p per mile, inclusive of all cost (inc. car mats, polish, etc.), after 30k miles. From my previous calculation, a de-fleeted Mondeo will be at 19-20p per mile, keeping it for 5-6 years.
• thoughtless drivers - a question 21 Nov 2003 (Forum)
  on the way into work this morning - I'm approaching a Y junction where the A571 and 49 join. 100 yds before the junction is a street used as a rat run. Traffic on the A49 is heavier so people cut through to save a few seconds over a hundred yards. Someone has come down the rat run and pulled out onto the A571 even though there is no room, so they are blocking the lane coming AWAY from the junction - result, traffic coming out of the junction stops, the junctions blocked and nobody can go anywhere Then there is the two-lane roundabout at Aspull, where traffic waiting to turn right can't because of the mondeo blocking the outside lane, even though he could have let it through by waiting for five seconds, and the queue of traffic he is in will be moving at walking pace for three miles Then there is the person (gender unknown, totally black tinted windows on king-cab pickup truck) dropping kid off at school.
• Rover 414i Rusting/Split Spark Plugs. 22 Dec 2002 (Forum)
  Investing another few hundred on another one when it dies is not a problem so I'm not concerned about curing any problems but, from an academic point of view I'd love to know: 1) What splits that No 2 plug? 2) What rusts the plugs? [2] I used to do two 1.5 mile runs a day but there's been no short runs now since October. 3) Is it possible to free the solid plugs? WD40, pouring engine oil down? [2] 4) Compression on No 2 is 90. Good or Bad? [1] 1 & 3. No 4 is Helicolied and will remain untouched for ever. ;-) [2] Beyond the Aluminium/Iron rust battery interface there must be some something else. 6 months for plugs to rust in solid is crazy. [4] [3] Ok Q3 isn't academic.
• VW Polo (2002) - VW Polo poor idling 9 Apr 2014 (Forum)
  If you use it for a long run, the MIL lamp goes out, so it's only idling and short runs that have this particular issue.   Last Friday, my wife was on the school run, and the oil light came on. Just orange, which signals oil getting low.
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  Should we use a diesel additive? 16 Jun 2024 (Ask HJ)
  I bought VW Tiguan 2.0 TDI 2015 but we do not do a lot of miles as we used to. We hardly do 2000 miles a year and mainly short journeys. We are aware of...
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  My car is starting on its own, what can the problem be? 26 Feb 2024 (Ask HJ)
  A couple of days ago my wife was sat in the porch watching the cars go by down our road, I was in the conservatory reading a book, my car was parked outside...
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  Has the emissions fix ruined the DSG in my Volkswagen Touran? 19 May 2017 (Ask HJ)
  I took my Volkswagen Touran along for the emissions fix last Tuesday. The very next day, the car lost power at 40mph. The same thing occurred the next...
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  Why is the turbo failing on my Suzuki Swift? 21 Oct 2013 (Ask HJ)
  Two years ago I bought a Suzuki Swift Ddis from an authorised dealer. The car was running fine until, a few months ago, the turbo failed. The car was still...
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  Recommendation for SEAT's aftercare. 28 Apr 2012 (Ask HJ)
  When a connecting rod failed and punched a hole in the side of the 1.9TDI engine block of my 2007 SEAT Leon, I didn’t hold out much hope of a happy outcome....
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  Should I sell my diesel Audi A4 now before problems arise? 3 Mar 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I have an Audi A4 Avant S line quattro TDI 2.0 litre diesel (170PS motor) with a BRD series engine. I purchased the car new in 2006 and have now done 52,000...
• Risks buying certain 3yr old cars 24 May 2007 (Forum)
  So IMHO, some particular `cult`models are a real risk these days, far more than in days gone by. Then there is the petrol into common rail diesel and running it 40 miles until it finally chugs to a halt, quietly part exchanged and coming soon as a nice " someone else has taken the initial depreciation 3 year old" to a dealer near you. As for me? There`s no way I`m going to buy a small sub £8,000 car used, I`ll take the hit on buying new, then keep it 15yrs.
• Honda GCV 135 22 Sep 2025 (Forum)
  This engine and the longer stroke 5.5hp GCV160 are still current models and are unusual for being an OHC design with a wet cambelt, i.e running in oil within the engine. They are very quiet and are praised for efficiency and low emmisions. I have a fairly comprehensive guide to the engine which tells me that the valve clearances need checking every 150 hours (reckon mine has done between 150 and 200 hours) though there is no mention as to what the clearances should be.
• Buying an X-1 2016/7 advice 24 Jun 2025 (Forum)
    I do tend not to follow the manufacuters intervals and do an oil change every 6 months or so with the manufacturers oil.  Following this, I did manage to run a 309 Diesel for over 250k on the orignal engine before the injector pump and rear suspension failed. On this subject of timing chains and wet belts, is it better to change the oil with the manufacurers recommended oil sooner rather than later?
• Bmw 520d - Wheel alignment. 3 Jun 2025 (Forum)
  I have recently had 2 new tyres fitted to the rear of my 2012 520d. Pirelli P7 Centurato run flats I was told the tracking was out and paid to have it done. Before it was tracked, the handling felt solid. Now when I go round a corner (particularly left) it feels like it is going to step out, even at a low speed.
• Dacia Duster - Battery charger 20 Dec 2024 (Forum)
  Obviously I'll make an easy access, waterproof connection behind the bumper to link the two. I can't see a problem having the charger connected to the battery whilst the engine is running. I've merely posted this up for any comments that might agree/disagree.     
• Audi 100 SL 1970 - Advice on selling vintage Audi 100 14 Dec 2024 (Forum)
  He was a mechanic by trade and so everything has been kept to the highest standard, though the car hasn't run for approx 10 years but has been kept inside a garage through this period. Would anyone be able to offer some advice on the best place to try and find a good home for the car? The car is located in Farnham Common, SL2.
• Kia Picanto - Camera for Cross Traffic Alert 8 Oct 2024 (Forum)
  I would have loved a non wired solution to the issue, cones or such like, but I think I've run out of options.  Most cameras I see are for reversing, can anyone recommend any for pulling out (or even both, when I'm edging the car back in!?) Thank you so very much
• Mercedes-Benz GLA - Crunching Noise When Coming To Complete Stop 30 Aug 2024 (Forum)
  Best I can describe is it feels like something is clamping on under the car at the very last second before stopping and it's impossible to come to a nice smooth stop. Happens every time, whether the car is running hot or cold. Anyone have any idea what could be causing this? Cheers, Danny.
• Kia Venga 2 2011 1.4 5speed - MOT time 11 Jun 2024 (Forum)
  Passed, zero faults, zero advisories and emissions all well within tolerances. Good for another year of running around. Date tested 4 June 2024 PASS Mileage 65,970 miles Test location View test location MOT test number 2016 5626 4817 Expiry date 28 June 2025   Date tested 5 June 2023 PASS Mileage 64,723 miles Test location View test location MOT test number 9862 6174 5815 Expiry date