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• Vauxhall Vectra B facelift (1999 - 2002) - 1999 - Intermittent failed clutch in extreme cold? 6 Dec 2007 (Forum)
  Left the car for an hour, and came back; the same still happened. In a shocking application of Murphy's law, when the Frenchman from the breakdown company arrived he insisted on putting the second chain on and the car drove off no problem, so he told me to use my chains.
• Buying a facelift Omega Elite 21 May 2007 (Forum)
  I've seen these cars selling on autotrader and ebay for between £1500 and £2000 which seems ideal for me. My questions are - What are people?s opinions on these cars (I've read the Car by Car breakdown and would like something more specific)?
• Vauxhall Corsa - DOE test added to annual service & MOT invoice? 3 Jul 2017 (Forum)
  All the info we can find on the internet suggests it is something necessary for commercial vehicles in Ireland. To clarify, my parner's car is not a commercial vehicle and we are in England! Fair do's if it's something legit, I just can't help feeling we've been a little ripped off... Breakdown of the invoice as follows: Subtotal £206 (MOT and service) VAT £41.20 DOE test £54 Amount to pay £301.20 Any insight gratefully received!
• Vauxhall Vectra B 1999 1.8 not sure if facelift - Vectra cuts out after 5 mins 15 Apr 2011 (Forum)
  Not long ago it had a service so all filters etc have been changed. The car doesnt sound rough sounds perfect even when revved high so no pinking etc.. Just wondered where my friend can look now i have been told about sensors but wondered if this was the case how can they be tested to see?.
• 2k to spend C220, Audi 80, Avensis 15 Nov 2005 (Forum)
  s, any bigger probs on the lean burn ones. I seem to remember issues with front brakes. I?ve read the CbyC breakdowns, nothing too onerous for any of the above, opinions please. Thanks Ellis
• mechatronics faulty extended warranty 12 Nov 2020 (Forum)
  Car is seat leon 63 reg mileage 77k. So the garage whom i purchased the car from their warranty had expired and i decided to purchase seat extended warranty on 5th October and it had a start date of 5th November as like all warranties there is a 30 day period.
• ford fiesta 1.2 petrol 2011 - Under bonnet explosion/loud bang 29 Feb 2012 (Forum)
    Called Ford who said call this no>>> it was the AA (working for them on breakdowns) Fiesta is 6 m old and 7K on clock - no issues. Callled AA and he checked then started the car ok albeit sounded alittle hesitant, AA said could be too much fuel due to a short start and stop on drive etc and then left???
• Fiesta 1.2 petrol - Under bonnet explosion/loud abng 29 Feb 2012 (Forum)
    Called Ford who said call this no>>> it was the AA (working for them on breakdowns) Fiesta is 6 m old and 7K on clock - no issues. Callled AA and he checked then started the car ok albeit sounded alittle hesitant, AA siad could be too much fuel due toa short start and stop on drive etc and then left???
• Driving in Italy 10 Sep 2007 (Forum)
  LOADS of Truvelos painted grey in villages which might account for how slow the Italians drive - this really surprised me, I was expecting much more spirited driving and liberal use of horns and lights - experienced almost none of that Awful motorway inter-changes often where two lanes merge and then de-merge within 100metres so you have two lanes of cars jostling to get across each other - that was fun. KRAZEEE breakdown trucks - our hire car pegged out and was recovered - wife and kids went in the cab of the tow truck I was sat in the car on the back of the truck, which was a faintly surreal experience - I felt a bit like Maggie in the opening sequence of the Simpsons Cheap parking We also had a Passatt with sat-nav - what a PITA that was- really useless - directed us completely wrongly on at least two occassions eg it had the name of our hotel pre-programmed in it and it took us to trading estate on the wrong side of Lucca and when you ignored it, it would simply go of in a huff and stay silent for 30+minutes at a time, before suddenly coming back to life when you reached the next town.
• Renault Megane Scenic 98 model 27 Feb 2005 (Forum)
  I have a Megane Scenic 1.6RT with an LPG Conversion on it. Yesterday there was a bang from under the bonnet (which may have been from the LPG) the car lost power when going uphill. when listening to the engine there was a knocking noise. the breakdown service removed the plugs and found that no 1 plug had metal between the electrode this was removed and regapped bit the noise was still there (The car was recovered to a Renault Dealers (Bad Move) and they advised it would be £43 for an inspection to investigate the fault.
• Suzuki Swift - Please help, the Garage ripping us off? 20 Mar 2016 (Forum)
  2 weeks ago my partner was driving to my house from bath to brighton her car broke down in southampton and she said that the oil light came on and smoke was coming out fromt under the bonnet, She didnt have breakdown so the highways agency arranged for a tow truck to take her car to the neareast lock up which was in southampton. this was on a friday evening on a monday she phoned some garages local to the lock up and one of them said that would arange to have her car picked up for £50 and taken to there garage.
• New car needed for a friend - advice ple 31 Oct 2005 (Forum)
  It's got 8 months test but no tax and is up for £500 no offers. Obviously we're aware that the tax takes the car up to nearly £600. I've read the CBC breakdown and it seems reasonably favourable, but there wasn't much mention of the 2.0 Turbo model, which I suppose is a good thing in a way! Just wondering what people's opinions are on this particular one, as I have to say that I'm quite impressed that such a large, smart looking car can be had for so little, but I have no idea what to watch out for, and suspect that he may leave himself liable for some huge bills with this car over the next 6 months.
• Hmmm. An A Class? 20 Aug 2004 (Forum)
  Or just keep the Clio until it gives up the ghost - after all, it's practically free motoring with it - it's old (K plate) but does the job well enough if in a slightly knackered looking way. Any advice much appreciated as ever! (I've checked the Car by car breakdown of course) -- Lee MINI adventure in progress
• 1997-2000 Mondeo 6 May 2004 (Forum)
  Amazingly our 140,000 mile 1993 Passat Estate went through the MoT again without any problems, so now it's got a new ticket it'll never be worth more (unless I fill the fuel tank). Time to stick it in the paper and get something a bit fresher. I've read the car-by-car breakdown and read the site here over the years and it seems I can get a 97-2000 Mondeo estate for our budget of £2500. Requirements are: must be reliable; must have aircon; SWMBO would prefer a red one.....
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  Insurance issue re no fault accident - is this right? 16 Mar 2016 (Ask HJ)
  I had a no fault accident in De 2105 when someone hit my car in a multi story car park in Exeter. Fortunately for me a lady witnessed the incident, took...
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  What causes common turbo failures on the Audi A6 diesel? 13 Apr 2013 (Ask HJ)
  Against repeated advice in your column I decided to continue running my gorgeous Audi A6 diesel estate car beyond the three-year warranty period. 18 months...
• Where to buy / How to check turbo car? 6 Oct 2003 (Forum)
  My parents have just retired and have taken away my Nissan QX for a year on the basis that I have a good job :( I am now on the look out for a Nissan 200SX after going through the C-B-C breakdowns and achieves. I can spend upto 4000 pounds and am hoping for a 97R reg car with 60000 miles on the clock. I am going to pay below trade price ONLY and I can wait for the right car with the right price.
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  Should I accept a free service from Skoda after Skoda Assist left us stranded in France? 9 Jan 2012 (Ask HJ)
  On holiday in France, my Skoda Superb TDI 170 DSG Elegance Estate kept going into 'safe' mode. This meant that the car would not drive at more than 80kmh...
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  How should I prepare my car for driving across Belgium, Holland, France and Germany? 4 Sep 2011 (Ask HJ)
  Later next month I will be driving to Germany. The trip will also include visits to Belgium, Holland and France. To comply with the European driving requirements...
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  Sportomatic 28 Mar 2009 (Ask HJ)
  Having read your car-by-car breakdown I think you’re bang on the money about the two cars we currently have. I would appreciate some advice over a new...