Questions from July 2010
I have a newly-bought 1995 Ford Fiesta 1.3 plate. I checked the coolant level and it was empty, so I topped it up and all is well, the fan kicks in and the car does not overheat. I have no visible water...
We have been offered a 2007 automatic petrol Polo with 9000 miles by a Volkswagen main dealer with a year's warranty. Are there any pitfalls of which we should be aware?
Where can I find a specialist Fiat electrical engineer in Hants? I need a report on problems to use in a legal case.
My 1989 Nissan Micra automatic starts first time in the morning. I take her to the supermarket (five miles or so), shop, get back in and she has trouble starting. Any ideas?
I own a Ford Mondeo Zetec 2005 TDCI (130). I have had the car for a year with no problems at all, until now. The car starts fine and runs ok in first, second and third, but when you go to fourth or fifth...
I have a 2007 Astra Twintop diesel with 51,000 miles that I love, apart from a recent problem with the emissions warning light frequently lighting up. About eight weeks ago this happened on the way home...
After getting through its MOT, I was advised by the mechanic that the catalytic converter for my '99 T-reg Honda Civic Aerodeck estate (1.6 LS) was going to need replacing. I asked how much it would be...
I am about to buy a Renault Clio 1.6 RT automatic (2000) but I have a couple of questions. When I inspected it today there was no reservoir for the automatic transmission fluid and no dipstick. The seller...
What should my colleague look for when buying a T-reg Volkswagen Polo with 107,000 miles for £950 from a dealer?
Can you please tell me if I can change the oil and filter on my 2001 Reg Audi A3 1.6 SE Manual? How do I do this.
I was driving along when my Mk4 Volkswagen Golf stalled and I tried to put it back into gear. The gear stick was so stiff, it just wouldn't budge. I forced it into gear and eventually it went into gears...
I have an 06 Mitsubishi Grandis diesel, which has done about 24,000 miles. On a couple of occasions this summer, after motorway journeys, the clutch pedal fails to engage until it is depressed much further...
Is there such a thing as a reliable, small, good to drive coupe or convertible with leather seats on a budget of up to £4000? Am I asking for the moon?
My Ford Focus Zetec has recently started losing power whilst I am driving and the speedometer drops to zero. The car still moves but is very slow, and then after a few seconds the speedo jumps back up...
I had to pull up sharpish yesterday in my 2000 Hiace van after a dodderer pulled out. My brakes felt rubbish and I only just stopped in time. Afterwards they seemed to go back to normal, but the brake...
I ordered a Hyundai ix35 from a local dealer on 1 May 2010. I was given an estimated delivery date of 17 June 2010, so I paid a £500 deposit and agreed a part exchange value on my vehicle. Right up until...
Your column has previously commented on the known ball bearing problems with gearboxes in the 2005 Honda Jazz. Having taken it to main dealer with problem in June 2010, Honda authorised full repair with...
I have £2000 or thereabouts to buy a car for work. I do about 50 miles a day, so I need something that is reliable to drive. I was thinking about a Nissan Almera or the 52-plate Fiesta. My present P-reg...
My daughter is thinking of buying an 04-plate 1.8 Ford Focus Zetec Estate with about 54,000 miles on the clock, with full service history from the supplying Ford main dealer. The non-franchised local dealer...
Last week I was hit from behind by a driver who got out and apologised for having dodgy brakes. She would only give me a phone number and said she would call me once she got to work with all her insurance...
I was reading an article recently which said that a number of car manufacturers will shortly be fitting brake override systems to all new cars. In addition, Toyota has also agreed to retro-fit the new...
I have a 1999 1.8 Vauxhall Vectra and I've been having problems with it since we got it. After spending around £160 on replacing some parts, I think its been the EGR valve all along. It's been like it...
I've just bought my first car - a Ford Fiesta 1.3 LX - and the radio is asking for code. The radio model is 3000, serial no: M076547. Can anyone help?
I have a Mk4 Vauxhall Astra 1.6 8v. When I start it and pull away I can hear the water flow throw the heater matrix. It never loses water temperature and there is good hot air in car, no oil in the water...
I am hoping to buy a Renault Clio 1.6 RT automatic (2000) and checked your review section for some background info. You mentioned that some automatics are prone to surging, which can be cured by replacing...
I have just bought a 3-month-old Mondeo Zetec TDCI 140 registered in April 2010. The garage advertisement claimed 139g/km CO2 and road tax of £110 a year. However, section 10 of the V5 form I was given...
First of all thanks for your reply recently, where my car was written off and the insurance company sent it to salvage with out informing me and refused to give me the car back. With your advice I managed...
Can you let me know what is the best car for a 17-year-old, especially with the insurance part of the bargain being so high?
I'm looking for a mid-size estate for general motorway use, but also for outdoor gear and to carry kayaks on the roof - perhaps even to sleep in the back with the seats down (I'm six feet tall). I've narrowed...
I have a 2006 1.8LX petrol Mondeo - could you tell me if it has a timing chain or belt? Also, at what mileage would I be looking at having it changed?
We have been trying over the past couple of weeks to buy a car with around £12,000 in cash, but Nissan dealers and Vauxhall dealers seem singularly uninterested here in Chester. Trying to get any of them...
I have a 2002 Subaru Impreza saloon 2-litre automatic. I bought it from a main dealer in 2007 and had it converted to run on LPG. I get it regularly serviced and it had all the replacements, such as the...
Can you recommend the best car for my son who has recently passed his test to drive an automatic car? He's 6 feet 4 inches tall and about 19 stone, and he'll have about £2000 to spend. He has learnt in...
You have mentioned that changing oil in an auto box is like a type of dialysis. My 2004 Toyota Avensis T3 is an auto with conventional torque convertor. Is it a nightmare task and costly to have the oil...
My Citroen C4 automatic is a sweet car and the automated manual transmission works superbly and smoothly. My 56-plate example is ex-Motability and has covered 19,000 miles. Recently the transmission went...
I have recently purchased a new Toyota Yaris and I am generally quite happy with my choice. However there is a 'but'. This model has an analogue instrument panel, lit in an orange colour. The Yaris I had...
I recently added injector cleaner to half tank of diesel in my 51-plate BMW 320d. I drove it as per normal, refuelled, and then started noticing blue smoke when at traffic lights. Performance seems ok....
I am looking at the Fiat 500 1.3 diesel Lounge. The best price I have come up with is with through an online car supermarket. I've never bought a car this way before, is it recommended? I have tried my...
We are looking for a small car for my mother, with the following characteristics: four or five doors as a baby seat needs loading and unloading, diesel as weekly trips up and down the motorway will be...
I have owned a Jeep Patriot LTD diesel for three years now and have been very pleased with the car. Due to health problems I need an automatic. I would like to stay with Jeep and wonder if you have heard...
I am looking at purchasing a Volkswagen Lupo as an everyday driver. I am looking to spend around £2000 and want the 1.4 Sport model as it will be used on rural roads and dual carriageways, plus I wouldn't...
I have just replaced the rear tyres on my 2007 Mercedes-Benz E320 at 25,000 miles. As far as I am concerned, this mileage is very good. However, on both tyres it was very evident that inner third of the...
I have a brand new Fiat Punto EVO. After three days the steering failed, then recovered. Fault not traced. Later that day at the Fiat agent the car would not start, then it did start, then it would not...
We are looking at buying a car for my 17-year-old daughter who is learning to drive. We are budgeting on spending £5000 and thinking of a 2007/2008 Citroen C1, 2005 Vauxhall Corsa or Volkswagen Polo. Is...
I have a 56-plate Vauxhall Meriva that has done only 25,500 miles and has developed an ESP fault. After trawling through the net I get the idea that Vauxhall are aware of this problem but won't admit it....
I want to get a set of winter tyres on steel wheels for my new Octavia Estate, but I've been quoted £1300 by the dealer. I know where to go to get the tyres, but I'm struggling to find where I can get...
Ever since I had a no-fault accident in early 2009, when a trailer towed by a Land Rover skidded on ice and hit my stationary car, I have been subject to at least one call a month from companies encouraging...
We have a 2004 Ford C-Max automatic and we have been experiencing loss of power on acceleration from first gear through the gears, and when accelerating at about 50mph the car dramatically loses speed...
I was about to order a Volvo C30 in D3 or D4 form when I read your reply to a letter in yesterday's Telegraph. You do not recommend a diesel when a lot of the use is for short runs. I do not rate either...
Does the Mitsubishi Shogun SWB 2003 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine have a chain or belt driven cam?
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