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Questions from June 2010
The clutch went on our Ford Mondeo today and we were towed back to our local garage. The quote for replacement was more than the car is worth, so we have decided not to proceed. The problem is, we had...
I had car insurance with a major insurance company up to 26 May this year. When I contacted them with a view to renewing the policy, they asked for a copy of my driving licence which I duly sent. I then...
My 08 2.0TDI GT Sport Golf which I bought, believing Volkswagens are reliable, is now going into the local dealer for a second time to investigate a problem where the diesel drains back into the fuel tank....
I was told some time ago that the rule of thumb for servicing a car was mileage or annually, whichever came first. As I am a low mileage driver (38,000 in eight years) I therefore take my car to be serviced...
You have often advocated switching to winter tyres over the winter. I live in a remote area and frequently have to contend with deep snow and mud. My 2006 Audi Allroad is ideal, except it would benefit...
I took my Honda FR-V diesel in for its 62,500 service and was surprised they told me the rear brake discs need changing. Apparently they're worn out. The pads still have wear so there is no damage to the...
I have a 1983 Bedford CF Motorhome. I want to change the wheels for alloys or better-looking steel wheels. Could you tell me what make of car or van have same wheel fitting please?
I bought my 2006 Vauxhall Zafira 2.2-litre automatic one year ago. So far, problems found have been a new timing chain, two fuel pumps, new housing for the carburettor and the list goes on, all covered...
I'm currently driving a 1.3 3-door Toyota Yaris 55-plate and, with a new addition to the family, I'm finding it too small. Do you have any advice as to what is a good car to buy, preferably small and economical...
My 2009 diesel Ford Mondeo is fitted with a misfuelling inhibitor. I called in at a recently-refurbished Esso station in Stoke-on-Trent at the weekend to find both the petrol and diesel nozzles were the...
Please could you explain what differences there are between belt driven and chain driven cam shafts? Is one more fuel efficient, less noisy, more reliable and costly than the other? What makes one engine...
Now that my wife has retired, as I have, we can't justify two cars, so my "too big" 2001/51 Renault Laguna Privilege 1.8, with 80,000 on the clock, will have to go. I say this with some reluctance, because...
I am looking to export my one-year-old Ford S-Max 2.5T to Singapore. Do you have any advice and can you recommend an agent to help me ship and import the car into Singapore?
I am having trouble with my diesel Ford Fiesta 1.7 TD's starter motor. If I stop and start a lot, the motor takes a lot of time turning over and on a couple of occasions has flattened my battery. Does...
I am considering leasing my next car. I need a very reliable car for the forseeable future due to family commitments and need no unexpected bills! I would like a Ford Fiesta diesel 1.4 or something similar....
I am thinking of buying a new Citroen Berlingo Multispace. The model I am looking at does not have a Diesel Particulate Filter. I currently have a diesel Ford Galaxy and have had repeated problems with...
I have had a KIA Cee'd 1.6 LS for 15 months now and have been very happy with the performance. It is used mainly for longer distance motorway driving when I do use it, so I'm baffled that I am intermittently...
I have been told that my 2006 Volkswagen Passat - due for its annual service - will also need a timing/cam belt replacement, based on the age of the car and not miles covered (about 12,500). Would the...
I'm aged 70 and need a new car. I've had major spinal surgery and my surgeon recommended that I should be driving a bus or a lorry to be in the correct upright position! It must be an automatic with reasonably...
I am looking at buying a 2007 (07) Skoda Octavia with the 140PD engine in it. However I have found a few bad reports on the engine, some in relation to turbo failure at an early age and others about a...
My son is looking for one of the old style Minis (he's always wanted one). What model/spec do you recommend up to £1500?
Another driver has just written off my 2004 Vauxhall Meriva 1.6, 8v Energy, with 67,000 miles and an LPG conversion. I paid £5850 for the Meriva two years ago, and although the accident wasn't my fault...
Can you advise on the new Toyota RAV4 transmission please? I am currently torn between the petrol and diesel models with automatic transmission. I think I remember you lavishing praise on the S CVT gearbox;...
My Honda has blown its engine. As far I know a piston snapped resulting in the engine seizing. Just before this happened, I smelt car fumes in the car, then heard a tapping noise coming from the engine....
My husband is serving in HM Forces Germany, and we are about to return to England. We have a Mitsubishi Shogun Sport, which was purchased in Germany at NAAFI car sales as a new vehicle. Although in the...
I would like your advice please on a problem I have with Hyundai. I think you would agree with me that one of the biggest selling points for the Hyundai range of cars is the 5-year warranty, it certainly...
I took delivery of a new Hyundai i10 in Feb 2010. Within 15 minutes of collecting the car and driving it away, I heard a squeak or squeal from the rear of the car. I returned the car to the garage who...
I recently had my satellite navigation on and noticed that at 70mph on the speedo, the Sat Nav reckoned actual speed was 65mph. I know that speedos must not understate speed and it is not uncommon for...
I have just booked my 2007 Honda CR-V 2.2 diesel in for its annual service at the local Honda dealership where I bought the car 18 months ago. The car has just under 28,000 miles on the clock. The dealership...
I run and insure three cars and, until 2009, had no claims for 37 years and no convictions. I had a Discovery insured by Saga with protected no-claim bonus, written off by fire in April 2009 and a similar...
I'm considering buying a used Citroen Xsara Picasso 1.6 Desire, registered July 2003. The car has had two owners and has covered 66,000 miles with 12 months' MOT. It is in very good condition but has no...
I am in the process of buying a Motability car, and I can only drive automatics as I only passed in an automatic. I drive an automatic Fiat Punto at the moment. My cousin has the Citroen C3 and I really...
Where can I find the colour code for my 1995 Peugeot Boxer van? I have looked under the struts and under the bonnet. The van is down as red in the log book, but it is a maroon colour. I have been to an...
Can you offer any advice on buying a pre-war classic car that has been stored in a barn for 30 years? The car has not been registered at Swansea and has no registration document. It is currently with a...
Do you have to re-sit your driving test if your licence was revoked?
I'm thinking about purchasing a modest motorhome or camper van and thought the Volkswagen Autosleeper Trident series looked worthwhile (I'm not wanting anything huge). Are there any poor points to look...
My son has a 51-plate 1.8 Series 3 BMW with 60,000 miles. The engine is not in good nick, but it runs ok for day-to-day use. His new baby arrived and he now needs a people carrier with seven seats. He...
I am looking to buy an older 4x4 for towing horses. I have owned a number and understand the pitfalls, however cannot seem to find one that is cheapish to run, reliable and can tow 2500kg. Any suggestions?
I'm looking at a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190E at a local garage. It's only done 20,000 miles and looks spotless, with no visible defects or rust. I've known the garage for years and the mileage will be genuine....
I was taken to court 18 months ago for having an illegal plate (they said because it was metal it was illegal). The case was dropped because my plate is EU standard, equivalent to BS standard. A year later...
I bought a BMW 116d in March, new from the dealer and have been mostly happy with the car. It is now up to about 3500 miles and I have noticed that when the car gets hot (in stop/start traffic or on hot...
I own a 4-year-old Mercedes-Benz SLK200. It recently had a service at a dealership and I was shocked and stunned when it cost £1060 (including two rear tyres). The level of service isn't that brilliant...
A member of my family is having to drastically reduce outgoings but still needs a car for local journeys. I realise that there is no such thing as a "cheap" car but is there a Fiesta-sized model at the...
I bought a Renault Grand Scenic and, after 30 miles, it switched itself off (lost all electrics and power) on a roundabout at 20mph, and I had to try and steer with no power steering to avoid crashing....
I live in a tiny close where my house is at the bottom, but to the side of me there is a house down an alley. The problem is the neighbour parks outside my living room window rather than going down his...
I just had an MoT on my Y-reg Astra. I got it back and went for a run and I noticed that my mileage and mile trip were not illuminated. As I'm not very good with cars I thought it could be a fuse gone,...
The indicator 'ticking' is inaudible in my 2007 Toyota Yaris, so the occasional failure to notice its non-cancellation is frustrating and potentially dangerous. It's not a huge problem but it was the same...
I have recently purchased an '03 reg Mazda 6 2.0 (136bhp) TS TD. The car has done 75,000 miles. In my rear view mirror I can see smoke in the headlights of the car behind when going over 2000 revs. Now...
I am doctor who lives in Sri Lanka. I would like to know the value of a Dodge Nitro which was made in 2008 before I import it from UK. Can you kindly help me?
We are returning to the UK after 30 years abroad to retire. We are looking to buy two cars, one small as a runaround and one medium-sized for longer trips. Our total budget is £25,000. It must be automatic...
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