technical issues | Ask Honest John

Ask Honest John

Most recently answered technical issues questions

What is the average cost for changing the cambelt on an A3 2018 Sportback 1.6 petrol engine?

I jhd a new alternator fitted 18 months ago (20K miles) on my Mercedes 220 CDI and the bearings are now shot so it has to be replaced. How long is a fair life of an alternator?

I get black smoke when accelerating - what's wrong?

I have a 2016 Peugeot Boxer 2.0 HDi and get black smoke under acceleration plus the engine light comes on?

Should I change the cambelt on my SEAT when I change the water pump?

My 2019 SEAT Arona (18000 miles) water pump is leaking. When I get it replaced should I do the the timing belt at the same time? I have been quoted £899 is this reasonable?

How do I programme the key for my Vauxhall Astra?

I recently bought a 2014 Vauxhall Astra GTC and one of the keys only partially works. It will unlock the doors and start the engine, but does not remotely unlock the doors. I have replaced the battery...

Why is my Volkswagen 1.6 TDI running rough?

My Volkswagen 1.6 TDI engine was running perfectly but one morning when I started the engine, it chugged and now holds the revs. It revs up and down with lots of black smoke. What's wrong?

What would cause a sudden power loss in an Audi Q4 e-tron?

My daughter's Audi Q4 e-tron lost power suddenly on the M1 where there was no hard shoulder and an HGV immediately behind her. Thankfully she and her baby suffered no harm. Is this a known issue with this...

What causes my Vauxhall Zafira to blow a fuse?

My 2011 Vauxhall Zafira keeps blowing a fuse. The engine cuts out when the fuse blows and the starter motor won't turn over to restart the engine until a new fuse is put in. It has been getting worse over...

Can anyone change a Jaguar F-Type battery?

I own a 2018 Jaguar F type 3.0 (380) with 14,000 miles on the clock. Recently, I've started to experience battery issues. The car only does 2,000 miles a year and often spends three or four weeks without...

How to stop Toyota C-HR battery from going flat?

My wife has the Toyota C-HR Hybrid and we have just returned from a long holiday (11 weeks) and the battery is flat. Would a solar charger be sufficient to keep the battery in good order? Does the C-HR...