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• Renault Espace (2002 - ) - 03 2.2 turbo+intercooler problem 22 Jan 2011 (Forum)
  Hi can anybody help.Bought an espace and a warranty (endorsed by a well known motoring critic),paid extra for wear and tear and turbo cover.When car went for service we asked the garage to check for oil leak as we noticed a drop on drive,couldnt find anything.three weeks later during christmas took car back this time oil leak found advised not to use car and was booked in for investigation.Intercooler and turbo failed so warranty company rang by garage who sent engineer out.Warranty will not pay or help with repair due to:quote-intercooler was contaminated with oil and was also visualy oil stained around the area where the unit had been leaking which would be considered progressive in development and would not be considered a sudden breakage,there was slightly excessive lift on the turbine and oil contamination which in the absence of any actual breakage the cause would be consistent with general in service wear and deterioration of the turbo support bush and seals.Apparentley the warranty company sums up as saying the policy does not cover for any items which have not suffered a sudden and unforseen breakdown,but which are simply worn out.The car is a 53 reg 2.2 dci espace with service history and 71k on the clock.Has anybody any advice as it seems to me this company is hiding behind weasel words and clauses(not my words-check the ad).
• Ford Focus - 2007 Ford Focus intermittent total engine failure 13 Jan 2011 (Forum)
  So far we've spent £300 on investigation / test / new coil pack with no results. I cant see what other option we have than to sell the car - a car that might fail on you at any time is pointless, i'm especially worried about any long distance trips. Thanks.
• Honda Civic UK (2001 - 2005) - 02 1.6 Engine Temperature problem? 22 Jan 2010 (Forum)
  I have had the car for two weeks or so and it was purchased from a main dealer as an approved car with a one year warranty for mechanical breakdown but excluding wear and tear. I have noticed that the temperature guage only moves about a quarter up the scale.
• Away to Europe- in what? 24 Aug 2005 (Forum)
  The Polish travel websites also have fairly dire warnings about car crime - are they more likely to be interested in a new hire car than an old Jag (assuming nothing on show in either car?) Maybe I'm just getting old, but I seem to be worrying a lot more! I did almost the same trip in 1998, and just got in my battered 1987 Nissan Sunny and did the whole trip with no hassle at all.
• Sporty Coupe 21 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  A cruise through the car-by-car breakdown and some other car sites has suggested a Puma, a Tigra or a Hyundai Coupe, to a budget of £10K. Showed Madame a picture of a Xsara coupe and got that stare again, so it won't be a Citroen.
• Merc 300d 6 Oct 2002 (Forum)
  I've just spotted a Merc 300d on the list at one of the nearer auctions, and I have a reason for being interested in this particular model. However, I know pretty much nothing of Mercedes cars, or of cars from this particular time (registered 1987) and I couldn't find the 300d listed in the car-by-car breakdown on this site. Perhaps it's a variant of another type of Merc - if so, could someone tell me which one to look under?
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  Why does the battery on my mild hybrid keep going flat? 12 Nov 2025 (Ask HJ)
  I have a Ford Puma 1.0 MHEV but have fault with 12 volt battery losing charge. It will run fine for two or three weeks but then will require jump start...
• Renault Laguna - AA Breakdown Repair Cover - Dont Waste your money 24 May 2014 (Forum)
  I’ve been a member of the AA now for some years.  It’s only this year that I’m disappointed with the service I have received. ...
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  Are you aware of a transmission fault recall for the 2002 BMW X5? 4 Sep 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I have a 2002 BMW X5 which has got transmission problems, has displayed a transmission error ('Trans. Fail-Safe Prog') on the dash but is not now showing....
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  Gripping yawn 21 Feb 2009 (Ask HJ)
  I currently drive a BMW 530d and I love the engine, but not the lack of 'kit' in the car or the lack of grip in poor weather. We live in a rural area of...
• Any - 'Used Approved' 28 Feb 2020 (Forum)
  Unfortunately the car itself is not so good and I am rejecting it because of bodywork corrosion (a shame, because I really rate these cars). Which led me to wonder how 'Approved Used' cars are selected. AFAIK, the manufacturer has no 'quality assurance' programme.
• Dilema (no it's not a car) 23 Jan 2002 (Forum)
  The car stays garaged until i need it over the summer or winter, when as i said it drives down to south Europe on the Autoroute. Consequently i need a very reliable car as i cannot afford to breakdown in Europe (even with AA intnational cover), it is just too much stress and hassel.
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  Is it common for Volvo S60 automatic gearboxes to fail after just 84,000 miles? 10 Oct 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I am writing after recent disappointment with my Volvo. The car is a 2002 S60 T5 and at 84,000 miles the automatic gearbox has been playing up and is slowly...
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  Mazda 6 timing chain jump after 41k - advice on compensation from Mazda 31 Dec 2012 (Ask HJ)
  Hello, I purchased a Mazda 6 diesel 2.2 TS2 + 5 year RAC extended warranty from The Car Shop, Swindon and took possession on 28/09/12 with a mileometer...
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  Why were Skoda Assist so unhelpful when our Octavia broke down in France? 10 Jun 2012 (Ask HJ)
  Please could you inform your readers of an experience we had in May of this year when travelling in France with our 2-year-old Skoda Octavia 1.4TSI. About...
• FIAT Punto II (1999 - 2006) - Insurance Write-Off Question 10 Feb 2010 (Forum)
  I don't know whether the garage or the insurance company want her to pay this but I'm a little unsure as to why she should stump up to scrap a car that has been written off by her insurance company. She's also been given a courtesy car by the garage so now her car has been written off, I'd imagine that she'd have to give the courtesy car back quick-smart.
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  Volvo XC40 burnt out clutch and damaged flywheel - can the dealer make me pay? 28 Jan 2022 (Ask HJ)
  I have a Volvo XC40 manual which is eight months old and has done 5,600 miles. I had a problem changing gear and a slight burning smell which went away...
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  Issued with parking ticket whilst broken down at motorway services - can I contest this? 5 Jan 2013 (Ask HJ)
  Last Monday our car broke down in the car park of a Welcome Break motorway services on the M5. I called out the AA and they told me it wasn't safe to drive...
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  Younger drivers can buy and insure modern classic cars, such as a 1991 Golf, much more cheaply than a modern car. 9 Jan 2012 (Ask HJ)
  I thought your readers might be interested in this info. In the last 16 years I've mainly owned and run older cars. What I've found is that you can insure...
• Suzuki Swift (2005 - ) - Uneven wear on rear tyres 25 Sep 2009 (Forum)
  My wife has a 4 year old Swift that we bought from the local dealer when it was about 10 months old and it has been serviced there ever since. This year, the car failed the MOT test because one rear tyre was illegal, owing to very uneven wear. The rear tyres are scrubbing on the inside edge and it seems this is due to a manufacturing fault that is well known by Suzuki and the dealers (and is reported on this web site in the car by car breakdown as being quite a common problem with early cars of this model).