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Honest John Ask Honest John » September 2014
Trending topics in September 2014
4x4s buying buying a new car buying a used car buying and selling classic cars clutch failure diesel engines diesel particulate filter dpf electrical faults estates family cars legal and consumer advice maintenance and servicing new cars owning selling technical issues used cars
Questions from September 2014
My van is a Renault Kangoo (2009) with 80,000 miles on the click. It was last serviced 10 months ago at 75,000 miles. This morning when I started the engine an amber symbol of a car came up pointing to...
My BMW 3 Series E46 is running poorly, The engine appears to be uneven in its power delivery and feels like the diesel isn't getting through. Any ideas?
I have a BMW 1 series 118d (2009) and the DPF warning light has come on. It pops up after every four or so miles per journey. I haven't noticed any difference in my cars performance though. I have around...
I wish to buy a new LHD Volkswagen Passat or Golf. Where are the best deals? Is there a car broker you could recommend?
I'm looking for a car to replace my 2002 Peugeot 406 Coupe diesel. I love the car for its looks and fuel economy, with a smooth rude and 50+mpg. I also like that, whilst being a coupe, it's also practical...
I regularly use the M1 between, junction 10 and 13, where the variable speed limit signs are permanently on even if the road is completely clear. In fact, people have got so used to this that they ignore...
The yellow engine light came on this morning while I was driving my 2007 MINI Cooper. I am a bit concerned as I bought the car just five months ago and it had a full Service history and recent MoT. The...
Does anyone know if the 2005 2.2 diesel Honda CR-V is cam belt or cam chain and what are the servicing intervals.
My 2006 BMW E90 320i has developed a fault with both rear drive shafts. To fix this, I have been quoted £800. This is only three months since another fairly major fault with the head gasket and timing...
We are in the process of buying a 2014 Chrysler Grand Voyager. The car is an ex-demonstrator, advertised at 321 miles, at £29,990 from our local Chrysler dealer. We need this car for my disabled daughter....
I own a 1998 Jaguar XK8, with loads of electrical faults. The traction control warning light is on, there's a gearbox fault, causing limp home mode, headlamp failure down one side and the windows don't...
I am in Mallorca, Spain and have a 2012 Fiat 500C 1.2 cabrio. It's a lovely car that cost me 12,800 euros 12 months ago. Do you know what the current value would be? Its got 39,000 KMS and is really well...
I have a 2006 Range Rover Vogue, which has developed a problem with the ignition. If you remove the key you cannot get the key back into the ignition. The vehicle has now been at the supplying main dealer...
My wife wants to buy a new diesel. Something between the Renault Clio size but less then the Laguna Tourer. We like the look of the Captur and Megane, but the Kia C'eed has also caught our eye. Which is...
I have a leaky oil sump on my 2002 Ford Focus. My local garage has quoted £350 + labour to fix this problem, which seems quite expensive. Should I look somewhere else, or pay the money to get it fixed?
Is the ECU unit on the Mercedes-Benz B-Class a common problem with CVT gearboxes?
We want to buy a Nissan X-Trail 2.2 diesel. Would it be able to tow a single horse trailer with a small horse/pony in it weighing about 450kg? We would be towing only to local events no longer than an...
Does 10 seconds taken to allow some to alight from a car constitute 'parking'?I have recently received a PCN which clearly shows on video the whole time taken. Is there a higher body that oversees local...
I have the chance to buy a Mazda 6 2.2 SE-l nav auto diesel estate 2013, or a Ford Focus Titanium auto diesel estate 2012. The Mazda is priced at £15,500, while the Focus priced at £13,999. I like them...
Do the new regulations on road tax in any way change the "Tax Exempt" status of classic cars? Also what now will be the process to move a classic from SORN to on the road?
I bought a three-month old ex-demonstrator Honda CR-V in 2004 from a main dealer. Since then, I have had it serviced every year at the main dealer and looked after it impeccably. The car has done only...
I need to replace the cracked windscreen in my 2013 Honda Civic EX GT. I am concerned that the standard insurance replacement will not be compatible with all the sensors fitted in the original screen,...
As my Audi A5 Sportback reaches five years old, I am thinking about a replacement before big repair bills start appearing. I have done 26,000 miles (trouble free) and want something with similar 180PS...
Over the years, with various cars, whenever I have had tyres replaced the garage invariably ask whether I want the tracking adjusted. How often would you suggest this is necessary? Every year; whenever...
I bought a new Citroen C-Crosser in October 2010. It has now run past its warranty and done 42,000 miles, with a full service history. However, the car has developed a clutch problems. It has a tow bar...
I need a medium sized estate or MPV with a flat access boot (for getting my wheelchair in and out easily). It must be an automatic as I do mainly urban, start stop and short journeys. I have been told...
My camper van has developed a two foot crack on the wind screen. The crack developed while I was overtaking a tipper lorry, which was spilling some of its load through its tailgate. Before I had a chance...
I am thinking of selling my Land Rover Discovery 3 (2007) Pursuit (limited edition- only 300 ever made). It has Java Black paint with Ebony interior leather, 19-inch alloys, body coloured wheel arches...
We have just bought a Vauxhall Meriva (2010). The car is fine but we have a major problem - we can unlock all the doors with the central locking key, however when inside the car once you lock all doors...
Where can I buy a spare wheel, jack and wheel brace for my new SEAT Alhambra?
I am a qualified mechanic currently working in a garage. I feel it is time to further my career and start my own business. I was hoping to begin as a mobile mechanic, doing things like car servicing, but...
I bought my Ford Focus in 2008 when it was approx six months old and had 6000 miles on it. I've done 77,000 miles on it now (six years later) and have had to replace the DPF three times: May 2012, Jul...
My Toyota Yaris automatic sometimes loses power when pulling away from a junction. It only happens in the first mile or so of starting and only started happening a few months ago. Any idea what might be...
Does the Mk3 Ford Mondeo come with factory lowered suspension? I am thinking of buying one and the seller says it was lowered at the factory, which wont affect my insurance. Is this true?
My 86 year old father in-law wants me to have his car because he cannot drive due to eyesight issues. The Ford Focus (2002) 1.6 petrol has been owned from new and has only covered 17,000 miles. Apart from...
I bought a 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander from a main dealer 14 months ago. Since then it has needed two clutches and a gearbox. The clutch failure is caused by crankshaft oil seal failing and contaminating...
I have a 130 mile per day commute and need to buy a used car. Any advice on what I should buy?
I'm a 29 year who has just passed my test and I'm looking to buy my first car. Is it a bad idea to buy a new car as my first car? I was thinking about a Hyundai i10.
I have lost one set of keys (remote fob & metal key) for my 2005 Honda Civic. The lost set is the one with the key number details printed on the electronic fob. The existing key I have does NOT have the...
My sister in-law had her 2010 Volkswagen Polo DSG 1.4 petrol serviced at 50,000 miles by her local dealer last summer. A week later the sump plug along with all the oil fell out. She stopped as soon as...
I have owned a Passat since new in 2009 and done 86k. The engine management system advises that the turbo is failing and it cuts out when accelerating uphill on the motorway. The garage says it is clogged...
My wife wants to change her Honda Jazz for something with an elevated seating position and a bit more power to cope with the Dorset hills. We cover 12,000 miles a year and would like something of a similar...
My insurance company has received a claim from some solicitor specialising in personal injury claims. The alleged accident never took place but they have my registration number, a location and date when...
I am trying to fit an aftermarket CD player to my mk1 Ford Focus, but noticed I need a harness adapter to connect the CD player to the internal wiring. Which adapter do I need as I have found many that...
I 2005 Ford Focus will not start. I went to start it for work and had no ignition light, while a loud buzzing noise came from the fusebox area. The digital display says engine system fault and the indicators...
My three year old Audi A4 Avant ran out of warranty six weeks ago. This month, it's had great trouble knowing what gear it's in. It went in to Audi today who said the clutch is worn out and probably the...
My 2009 Toyota Urban Cruiser 1.4 diesel has lost both its DMF and clutch after 22,000 miles. Is it a well known fault and should I expect any comeback from Toyota?
If I sell my car before October first can I pass on the unexpired car tax to the new owner? It cost me £265 in May to renew and the buyer certainly would like to know if it can be included in price of...
Our car was recently scraped in a car park - just cosmetic damage. The other party admitted fault. Our insurance, via a claims management company, said it'll cost £1700 to fix, and want to write it off...
I bought Ford Focus ST last October and it has just done 2000 miles from new. I started having stalling issues and looked on your car review page which highlighted the problem with the model. I booked...
 

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