I'm about to buy a Peugeot 407SW diesel with 72,000 miles - does it need a new timing belt?

I'm buying a Peugeot 407SW diesel from a dealership. It's on an '07 plate with 72,000 miles. Should I get them to replace the timing belt before collecting?

Should my Mazda 2 need its brake discs skimmed at 30,000 kilometres?

I just took my Mazda 2 for a service at which I was informed that I need new brake pads and skimming of the brake discs (it is the 30,000 service). Is this not too early for skimming of the brake discs?

Could bumper damage have caused an S-reg Volkswagen Polo to be a 'cat C' write-off?

I've just found out that an S-reg Volkswagen Polo 1.4 we were proposing to purchase was a 'write off' and the status is 'Cat C'. I've spoken to the seller who said it was only the colour-coded bumper that...

What's causing my Renault Espace to rev between gear changes?

My Renault Espace Series 3, 2-litre petrol 16v, T-reg has developed two faults. Firstly, on start up from cold the engine cooling fan kicks in. Also, on start-up whether cold or warm, the engine revs away...

Should I replace my KIA Magentis with a KIA Carens?

Currently I am driving a KIA Magentis SE in which I drive an average of 8,000 miles pa. It is beginning to cost a lot at MoT time. Having had a shoulder injury, I have been advised to get a vehicle with...

Why won't Mercedes-Benz replace the corroded AMG wheels on my new C-Class?

My new Mercedes-Benz C-Class alloys are a disgrace with corrosion on centre hub and spokes. They are the premium AMG wheels. Mercedes-Benz will only replace one of the four under warranty due to some rim...

I had to buy a very expensive tyre for my Porsche in Paris after a blowout - can I do anything about it?

I recently experienced a blowout and visited an Official Porsche Centre in Paris where a tyre was supplied and fitted, for which I was charged nearly £600. The full price of the same tyre fitted by an...

Is my 1996 Fiat Brava automatic's yellow dipstick for the transmission oil?

I have a 1996 Fiat Brava Automatic. When I go around corners the oil light flashes on the dashboard. I have checked the oil levels and the red dipstick says there's plenty of oil in the engine. But the...

Why won't the revs drop on my 1999 Ford Ka?

The revs do not drop between gear changes in my 1999 Ford Ka, and after a few miles when you hit neutral the revs keep climbing. The only way to stop it is to switch the engine off and on again, but it...

How much does a Jaguar X-Type cost to run annually?

I intend to buy a Jaguar X-Type with 70,000 miles from 2002 with an automatic gearbox and 2.5-litre V6 engine. How much does it cost per year to pay all taxes on this car (taxes like insurance, mot, road...

Should I buy the 2.0 PDI or 1.4 TSI Skoda Octavia?

I'm trying to decide between the following: a brand new Skoda Octavia Elegance 1.4 TSI from Drivethedeal for around £14,500 (includes some extras) or a year-old Skoda Octavia Elegance 2.0 TDI PD for around...

I have 90 litres of 10-year-old unleaded. Can I use it in my car?

I have approximately 80-90 litres of unleaded petrol which is 10 to 12 years old. It is clean and stored in approved marine petrol tanks. Can I use it in my car or is there some way to recycle it?

Can you recommend an 8-seat vehicle with lots of space and cheap running costs?

I have far too many kids and need a reasonably-priced 8-seater with plenty of space, that is reliable and relatively cheap to run. The only things I can find that may be suitable are things like the Mitsubishi...

Why does my Renault Laguna 1.9dCi stutter in top gear and smoke under acceleration?

I have a Renault Laguna 1.9dCi on a 51 plate and it runs fine, but when in top gear it feels like it's holding back. Also, when accelerating it produces a little black smoke. Please help - I have cleaned...

I have an electrical fault on my Citroen Xantia - what could it be?

My Citroen Xantia lost all but the battery lights on the dash. I managed to get it going by getting a power cable straight from the battery to the glow plugs rail, waiting about ten seconds and then turning...

Why won't my Fiat Uno start after a wiper motor repair?

My Fiat Uno was kept in the garage for a minor wiper motor repair. I happened to collect it on the third evening. With the headlights on, the battery discharged within 15 minutes of driving and the lights...

Should I buy a Mazda 3 on 0 per cent finance?

Having tested a Mazda 3 2.2 diesel I was planning to buy the vehicle outright from Perry's. However, they have offered 0 per cent finance based on paying half the cost of the car upfront, and this is on...

I need to replace my Peugeot Expert's electronic mileometer - how can I replicate the original mileage?

I have a low milage Peugeot Expert van and for some reason the electronic mileometer LED has started showing only the top half of the numbers and is now showing nothing. The question is, if I change the...

Would you recommend a 2006 KIA Sportage to drive from the UK to Portugal?

I'm thinking of buying a 2006 KIA Sportage automatic diesel (2-litre 4x4) with 49,000 miles on the clock, with a view to driving to Portugal from Dover. Is there anything I should look out for? Does this...

Can I fit different tyres to my 2008 Toyota Auris to improve the ride comfort?

Having just bought a Toyota Auris 1.6 SR petrol 2008 model and the wife has complained about the harsh ride. I want to keep the 17-inch wheels, but would like to know if a bigger profile may soften the...

Why doesn't anyone operate a searchable database of car specifications?

I have, for a while now, been searching and googling for a database, just like the new car prices list at the back of car magazines, that I can download to my computer and search various parameters e.g....

Do you have a lot of complaints about faults on the KIA Venga?

I wrote to you some time ago about my KIA Venga diesel smelling of fuel in the cab. I've done 4500 miles in it now and it is still happening, though not as bad as it was. It seems to be worse on hot days...

Which would you select from the Audi A3 2.0 TDI, Volvo C30 2.0d and Volkswagen 2.0 TDI GT?

I am looking at buying a used car for £10,000-£11.500. My criteria is that the fuel economy is fairly good, it is comfortable (due to longish journeys for work), it has three doors and that it has a little...

Does my diesel Renault Kangoo have an injector fault?

Three days ago I tried to start my 2006 diesel Renault Kangoo and it took ages to start. When I start on a hill it fires right away and goes well. My nephew took off the tubes to the injectors and, on...

How should I sell my 1965 Jaguar E-Type and where should I buy a Mercedes-Benz SLK200?

I am looking at selling my 1965 4.2-litre Coupe Jaguar E-Type which I have had since 1970. It is in good condition. I am also looking at buying my wife a Mercedes-Benz Sports SLK200. What is my best option?...

My 2003 Citroen C3 failed its MoT due to broken coil springs - should I discuss the fault with Citroen?

I have just had my 2003 Citroen C3 fail it's MoT due to broken front springs. There are approx 46,000 miles on the clock and I bought the car secondhand in 2006 from a major car supermarket, where I was...

Which heavier manual car could I replace my 2002 BMW 320d Touring with?

I have owned a 2002 BMW 320d Touring for the last seven years and, among other things, it has excellently towed my Swift Challenger caravan which has an all up weight of 1150kg. Unfortunately the time...

Recommend a 10-year-old runaround which is cheap to run?

What would you recommend for a second car (a runaround)? My maximum budget is £1000. I'm not worried about goodies, the more basic the better. I used to buy Morris Minor vans but now they're expensive....

Are Hifly tyres ok to use on my BMW 3 Series?

I do no more than 10,000 miles a year of fairly conventional driving and have just had two new Hifly tyres fitted on the front wheels of my 2004 BMW 318i at about half the price of the Continental tyres...

Can I remap my 2001 Ford Focus to get more power for towing a caravan?

I need to gain an increase in power (about 15-20 per cent) from my 2001 1600cc Focus automatic, which I believe can be achieved with remapping (or re-chipping as I think it is sometime called). I tow a...

Can you recommend an air conditioning specialist to repair my daughter's Honda Jazz?

My daughter has a Jazz that is about six years old. The air conditioning stopped working except if she drove at very high speed. It has been back to the Honda main dealer now about four or five times for...

Should I have my BMW 525 SE's engine rebuilt at great expense or scrap it?

I have owned my BMW 525 SE automatic since new in September 2001. I have fastidiously maintained it, including recently even changing the so-called for life gearbox oil. It ran perfectly reaching 160,000...

Where can I sell my BMW 636 CSi automatic?

Where should I advertise my BMW 636 CSi auto? I have owned the vehicle for 17 years since 1993. It has cruise control, leather, PAS, ABS and alloys. It's reliable but expensive to run, and now needs an...

What's making my Nissan X-Trail's heater and cooling fan grind when switched on?

I have a 2005 Nissan X Trail 2.5 SVE. There is an intermittent grinding noise coming from the passenger side when the heater or cooling fan is switched on. The only way to stop it is to switch off the...

How can I un-clog my Vauxhall Zafira's diesel particulate filter?

My Vauxhall Zafira comes up with the warning light for the particulate filter, and a couple of times has almost ground to a halt. Will hard driving help and for how long? Is there a fuel additive that...

My Vauxhall Corsa has blown oil all over the engine - what's caused this?

My oil light came on in my 2002 Vauxhall Corsa 2002 yesterday. When I pulled over to check the oil the whole of the underside of the bonnet and engine was covered in oil. I filled it up with oil to enable...

I've been caught by a red light camera whilst distracted by another vehicle - can I challenge?

I recently crossed a traffic light system as it was changing from amber to red. Normally I would have stopped, but due to watching carefully a wandering learner vehicle I spotted the change of lights a...

Does my 5 Series BMW require timing chain replacement, and can I change the transmission oil?

I own a 1998 BMW 523i Touring (E39) currently with 97,000 miles on the clock with full service history. Presently the car is maintained by an ex-BMW technician. I'm informed the timing chain doesn't need...

Why won't Volkswagen contribute to the cost of a turbocharger repair on my Touran?

I was recently driving my 2003 Volkswagen Touran 2.0 (26,500 miles) when the turbo stopped and the car went into limp mode. I called out the AA who diagnosed a turbo overboost fault, so I had the car taken...

What's a suitable car for a learner driver aged 17?

Can you recommend a good car for a learner male driver aged 17? I need one that's cheap to buy and insure, safe, not fast or flashy, but one that doesn't look wildly uncool either? I was assuming we'd...

How can I bypass the immobiliser built in to the Citroen ZX Volcane?

I have a 1994 Citroen ZX Volcane which has the plastic push-in immobiliser, which I have lost. Does anyone know how to bypass these so I can start my car?

How can I repair my Skoda Fabia's indicator ticking noise?

My Skoda Fabia's indicator ticking noise has stopped working but the actual indicators work. I'm told I may need a whole new instrument panel! Surely its just a simple switch or relay I need? Also, my...

There's a delay in getting a replacement power steering fluid pump for my Ford Focus - can I use a pattern part?

The power steering fluid pump has broken in my 2006 (petrol) Ford Focus and the RAC delivered it to a garage which isn't a Ford main dealership. The garage say there is a 2-month waiting time for a Ford...

I'm about to buy a Ford Focus with increasing CO2 emissions - will something need repairing?

I am about to buy a Ford Focus Zetec 2001 1.6-litre. I am still not sure about few things. When checking the MOT papers, I noticed that the CO2 emissions levels doubled between the last 2 MOT results....

Can I change my Nissan Primera's low profile tyres for something else which reduces tramlining?

My Nissan Primera 2.0 SVE tramlines awfully on its Falkon 215/50 R17 tyres - I feel that the car is driving me. I also feel the ride is poor, with a lot of noise from almost any road surface. Can you suggest...

Should I buy a BMW 320D M Sport with 100,000 miles on it?

I'm struggling to make a decision on parting with £11,800 for a BMW 320D M Sport Touring, with 100,000 miles, leather interior and one owner. What are the good and bad points of a buy like this? Am I wasting...

Can I drive my 2004 Ford Focus TDCi with a failing dual mass flywheel?

I have just taken my Ford Focus TDCi 2004 model to a lad I I know who is a mechanic at Ford. The car was making a funny noise when I put the clutch down, and I could feel a sort of grinding though the...

Can I drive my 2004 Ford Focus TDCi with a failing dual mass flywheel?

I have just taken my Ford Focus TDCi 2004 model to a lad I I know who is a mechanic at Ford. The car was making a funny noise when I put the clutch down, and I could feel a sort of grinding though the...

My Mercedes-Benz E-Class's coil spring broke recently - does this happen often?

I have a Mercedes-Benz E-Class 280 CDI, registered 30 Sept 1995 with a mileage of 48,000. It's been serviced by Mercedes-Benz at all times. The car had not moved for 24 hours and was sitting on the drive...

Are failed lower engine mounts causing my Citroen Xsara Picasso to shudder under acceleration?

I have just bought a Citroen Xsara Picasso 2.0 HDI (Xreg Dec 2000) from a car auction. The purchase price was very cheap so I was a happy chappy until I drove it away. Everything is spot on except what...