Questions from June 2010
I own a 2.0 170 TDI PD with DPF and on our web site Seatcupra.net and other VAG web sites we are getting news of the franchised dealers reflashing the ECUs to a lower PS (about 155) so the reliability...
I just bought a 1999V Ford Cougar, full service history, excellent condition throughout, but aircon not working. Just been to Kwik fit to recharge the gas, but got it for free because the air didn’t get...
I am seriously considering buying a BMW 840/850 in the next few months. What is your opinion of these cars? I am considering spending £6,000 approximately, give or take a £1,000. I have heard rumours...
I just bought a Corsa 1.2SXI. I have been driving it now for 3 weeks and it has just started to make a tapping noise very much like a diesel. I have changed the oil and filter (the oil was dirty and the...
I'm in the fortunate position to be able to spend £50k-£60k on a sports car which will be our third car and therefore used only as a treat. Ideally, I'd like to buy something that won't depreciate too...
In March 2009 I bought a used Jaguar XF, previously owned by Jaguar, Brown’s Lane, Coventry. On 31-12-2009 at 39,000 miles, it suffered catastrophic engine failure. The car started to speed up without...
You have mentioned several times that its a good idea to let a
turbodiesel cool down before switching off after a long run. I recently bought a Skoda Yeti 2.0TDI CR and I notice that the fan sometimes...
On the 17th March my V11 dropped onto the doormat and I was surprised to see that 12 months tax for my BMW 120d (129g/km) was going to cost me £120 rather than the £90 I was expecting (for once I thought...
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...
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...
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...
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 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...
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...
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 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 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...
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...
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...
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...
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?
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...
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 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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
I finally parted with my beloved but batty Rover 75 in favour of Nissan Note. It's within my budget, big enough to house a wheelchair for my mum, and (I thought longingly of my old Micra) reliable. It's...
I thought you may like to know of some problems with my BMW 120i M Sport 07/57. About 12 months ago the "stop/start" feature stopped working due to a faulty low fuel pressure sensor. Then a month ago it...
Thank you for your excellent information relating to buying a BMW 530D. I found it very useful as I've just purchased a used example. I would like to advise your readers to be as transparent as possible...
I'm trying to find out the recommended tyre pressure for my 2007 Nissan Note automatic (please see the details below) as the sticker on the door side where it's usually written seems to be removed. I approached...
I have a Porsche Cayenne which is great but very thirsty. Due to a change in circumstances I am now having to drive 200 miles every two weeks, which is obviously an expensive journey. The area I travel...
I need to replace a fog light on a 2007 Renault Megane saloon but I cannot see any way to do this. The handbook says refer to dealer.
We were on holiday in France in July last year when we were bumped in the rear by a French driver. We were stationary at the time, waiting for a car which was two cars in front to complete a turn. It was...
I'm considering buying a Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211 advertised and badged as an '05 (54-plate) E350, but the history on this web site suggests that this model was not available until July '06. Is there...
I have cosmetic damage to the rim of the steering wheel on my Xsara Picasso. Does anyone in the UK sell the old type lace-on leather steering wheel cover? I have searched the net but can only find thick,...
I had a letter from Continuous Registration Centre (DVLA) asking me to pay a fine (£40 or £80) because I had not taxed my car. My car tax was due at the end of February and I sold it to a garage in part...
I just bought a 59-plate Vauxhall Corsa with 2000 miles. It seems a nice car and is a 1.4 Design, but when driving in low gears there is a grinding squeal-like noise coming from the front brakes. Will...
I shall be hiring a car at Malaga airport in September and I'm uncertain as to the possible pitfalls that may be encountered. What cover should be accepted, such as additional insurance?
I bought an i30 in March. I have been in France for a few weeks. It now stutters and stammers. I tried the Hyundai dealer in Periquex, they don't deal in Hyundai warranty work. They told me to try Bergerac,...
Can a sticky variable nozzle turbo cause high fuel consumption?
We are on our second Vauxhall Zafira, both bought new. First petrol one was good. This second one (now three years old) is a diesel and generally not a good car. I want to change to another 7-seater petrol,...
Maybe you noticed Tesco's offer on Castrol oils? I picked up the 5w-30 A3/B4 for my 1999 model Petrol Vauxhall Vectra (60,000 miles), for which I used all the time Vauxhall oil 10w40 A3/B3 because I thought...
I was told yesterday by a BMW dealer that if I want a leather interior and sports seats on the new X1 I want to buy, I should order the "designer pack". Ordered individually, the items are slightly more...
My Citroen C5 2.2 HDi 2001 model's air conditioning blows hot air on the passenger side and cold air on the driver's side when the temperature is set at low on both sides. Any ideas?
I have a Volkswagen Golf 2006 which has developed this ESP fault. I innocently took it back to the dealer we bought it from and said what was happening. He said he'd do a diagnostic test and would be in...
In the summer, is it most economical to have the windows open or the air con on? I have a 2008 Ford Ka.
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