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  A compromise 5 Oct 2011 (Ask HJ)
  I am retired. I have a Mk 1 Freelander 2004 td4 (automatic) for general running about and towing an 18 foot caravan (Bailey Senator) 2 or 3 times a year. Wife...
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  Where there’s a well there’s a way 1 Oct 2011 (Ask HJ)
  I have a 2005 Mondeo Titanium X 2.2 TDCi, bought two years ago to tow a caravan. This has four 255/40ZR18 low profile tyres on alloy wheels. These tyres...
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  Change of Scenery 10 Sep 2011 (Ask HJ)
  I have a '55 plate Renault Scenic 1.9 diesel 130bhp that has proved extremely reliable but most importantly able to tow a caravan at approximately 1,300kg....
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  Car sold with failed MOT 19 Apr 2011 (Ask HJ)
  Part-exchanged my 180,000 mile car for £800 with dealer and handed over VT20 MOT Certificate which had a few weeks left on it before expiry. However,...
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  Do you think Volkswagen would contribute to repairing my Volkswagen Touran's ignition barrel? 26 Aug 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I have just been locked out of my 2006 Volkswagen Touran (just out of warranty). The key fob works but the key would not fit into the ignition. The garage...
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  Could a blown bulb have caused a starting problem on my Vauxhall Corsa SXI? 16 Jun 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I have a Corsa SXI. For the last six weeks it has had a intermittent problem - sometimes it would start and sometimes it wouldn't. My mechanic has spent...
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  Money honey 29 May 2010 (Ask HJ)
  I am told that a rattle in my 1997 Passat 1.9TDI automatic estate is likely to be a cracked torque converter drive plate and the repair will cost £350....
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  …waiting to happen 14 Mar 2010 (Ask HJ)
  When I purchased my Mercedes B200 CDI the dealer recommended joining an Accident Management Scheme approved by the manufacturers. They said, in case of...
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  International motor 25 Jul 2009 (Ask HJ)
  Further to your remarks about the Spanish 2nd hand market in Saturday's issue (June 6th), I wonder if you can help us with a similar problem in the south...
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  Saf fan 13 Jun 2009 (Ask HJ)
  Early this morning, on a thankfully very quiet M25, my 1993 Renault Safrane cut out and would not restart. No prior sign of distress in running, or any...
• Ford Focus (1998 - 2004) - 2003 1.8 TDCi - will not start poor fuel delivery? 1 Jan 2008 (Forum)
  Been on before on this - for 7 months now, once in a while my Focus 03 plate only 24K miles 1.8TDCi 115PS refuses to start -RAC men says it fuel delivery its been into Ford Dealer had £2000 (yes 2000) of parts fitted new PCM, new fuel pump system etc crankshaft sensor yet still plays up. Then in November it got towed in yet again this time Ford Dealer say 'its fixed' it was a chafed wire under the gearbox, wire part of fuel delivery they said. I battle with Ford Customer relation centre and got £1200 refunded a few weeks ago. think Ive got it sorted then Then it starts to play up again reluctant to start , tonite 28/12/07 had to abandon it at work hope to get it towed to Ford dealer tomorrow.
• Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCI Zetec - Lack of knowledge about engine cover and under tra 3 Sep 2024 (Forum)
  Not sure if should have posted this or in general discussion, however, am looking to purchase used model of above car for towing a caravan.  On checking MOT history, this has been a recurring theme over the years. My question then is, when coming across this issue on MOT tests, could this be hiding a significant issue for the car going forward in respect of possibly costly repairs.
• Citroen C3 Picasso - sudden power steering failure at speed 8 Oct 2021 (Forum)
  during this week suffered sudden steering failure on above vehicle , towed to garage confirmed electric steering motor failure, now it seems this component failure is a problem across the PSA Group and Citroen will replace free of charge , so far so good ,..now the main dealer wants to charge me £380 because they cant undo the bolts and need to remove a subframe to complete the work, any advice as to where i stand as i really dont see why  a fully equipped workshop cannot complete the job how it should be done and see fit the charge me additional cost for what is basically incompetence
• 2003 Ford Focus1.6 auto - Jump starter/battery charger 3 Feb 2021 (Forum)
  Yesterday I had started and stopped my car a couple of times and then the engine would not turn over, a garage towed me and fitted a new starter motor. All is working fine now. Although this would not have helped me yesterday I am looking to buy a jump starter and battery charger in case I am away from home and need one.
• Skoda Superb Estate? - Big comfortable petrol car 16 Sep 2020 (Forum)
  Any of you wise people got an alternative. ps not keen on low profile tyres or reliability heaadaches. I would love 6 cylinders+ really oh & I may need to tow a small boat. TIA
• Ford S-MAX - Dual Mass Flywheels - what causes them to go? 11 Jan 2020 (Forum)
  Christmas even the car runs like a Tractor / Narrow boat chugging away with the car vibrating. Garage returns from break and we get AA to tow it down.  They diagnose failed clutch no ability to get into gear.  Car has done maybe 50 miles? Garage end up removing clutch and diagnose failed DMF.  New one installed. Collected yesterday and gone again!
• Nissan Qashqai /Hyundai Tucson - Best buy Nissan Qashqai /Hyundai Tucson 15 Aug 2019 (Forum)
    I had A Tucson a few years ago, 54 plate and loved it, except for the running costs, petrol /Road tax. I see the newer ones are more economical 16 plate. Obviously, I'm aware I need a good towing vehicle for a lightweight 2 berth caravan, I'll be doing a lot of mileage, not just driving it on short trips.  The Nissan Qashqai? I don't know much about these and would appreciate some feedback please  Many thanks ?
• Renault espace manual 1998 2ltr 8 valve petrol - No spark 18 Jan 2018 (Forum)
  I have a 1998 2ltr 8 valve renault espace petrol,on completion of an mot test it failed to start the garage checked the vehicle and suggested the fuel pump had failed,the car was towed back home where a  eww pump was fitted the car still did not start,on checking there was no electrical power to the pump also no spark at the spark plugs all fuses and relayes were ok,diagnostics  checks will not log into this vehicle, up to the mot the car had been trouble free ,can anyone please tell me what has gone wrong.
• Mercedes 2002 Diesel Auto E class "Elegance" - Battery 6 Dec 2016 (Forum)
  Where i live, the car is a bit exposed to the weather and when its freezing , it does start but i reckon if it was left for a longer term it may struggle. I remeber driving the old Dodge postal vans and having to be towed /jumped started on freezing mornings.. My question/curiosity is , does the cold weather actually drain the diesel  battery , for example , lets assume you left the car for a week or 2 in cold conditions but returned when it was above freezing perhaps , as an example, 1o degrees or so..Would the previous cold nights affect a physical  drain on the diesel battery , or, would it start as you left it. , Brain.
• Ford focus or Suzuki Ignis - Which do I get rid of? 26 Aug 2015 (Forum)
   We have 2 cars, one needs to go, but which one? Ford Focus Mk2 54 plate 1.6 lx 5dr 83500 miles , fsh, aftermarket tow bar. Rear axle bushes on the way out. Suzuki Ignis 54 plate 1.5 vvvt 4 grip 5dr, 33500 miles, fsh, radio/cd not working, paintwork on the bonnet very faded. The focus is mine, the ignis is my wifes, I am not bothered as whichever one we keep will be the wifes.