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Questions from July 2010
A few weeks ago, I damaged my wheel and tyre in a pothole. The cost was £340 for a new wheel, as it was unable to be repaired. I phoned the roads department and got a claim form. I photographed the pothole...
I was just reading the C6 test drive (http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/road-tests/citroen/citroen-c6) and noticed that you say it only has four Euro NCAP stars, which is incorrect. It has five, and at the time...
I recently replaced my Volkswagen Golf TDi's head gasket because I had a water leak. Prior to this I had a problem with misfiring and replaced injector two, because it came up on the scanner. Since replacing...
I recently bought this 2004 Vauxhall Astra 1.7 DTI diesel estate which, when I first drove it, was nice to drive without any problems. Later on the same day, it started jolting continuously and the revs...
I recently bought a 2001 1.4 Ford Focus. I was told the near side rear wheel bearing was shot. I've tried to get the hub off, but it seems to be welded on there. Any ideas?
My 1999 Vauxhall Corsa just failed its MOT on emissions. I can't afford to let the garage put it right so I need to have a go myself, but I have no idea what is causing the problem. How do I find out?
I was trying to get the part number of the alternator on my 54-plate Ford Fiesta 1.4-litre petrol model, and I had to take the live feed off because the number was underneath it. I touched the spanner...
What is the best model in the MINI Cooper range for price, performance and drivability, currently?
What's there to look out for on a diesel 1.8 Ford Focus estate on a 51 plate?
My car appears to have developed a slight knocking. It only occurs once I hit around 35mph, gets louder as I get faster, and is inaudible at motorway speeds due to the road noise. It's pretty quiet and...
I've been told by a mechanic that I need a new electronic power steering pump in my Skoda Fabia (2000). The reason for this is that he thinks the wrong type of power steering fluid was put in before. Apparently...
Our 18-year-old son is taken by either an 04-reg Renault Clio 1149cc Dynamique with 55,000 miles, three doors (and CD player) with two owners, or an 03-registered 1199cc Vauxhall Corsa Club with five doors,...
I have a Ford Focus TDCi 03-reg which has done 227,000 miles and is still on its first clutch and exhaust. However the clutch pedal is making a grating noise, when depressed when idling. My local garage...
I'm thinking of buying a 2008-registered Mercedes-Benz A150 with 17,000 miles on the clock. What is your opinion of this car and are there any points I should be aware of?
Any ideas as to why my Volkswagen VR6 Corrado is juddering?
I used to drive a SEAT Alhambra 1.9 TDI SE until a lorry went into the back of me recently. I'm now looking to replace my vehicle, and out of the vehicles listed below I wondered which you would recommend...
I've just bought a Volkswagen Touran automatic for £8000 with a 3-month parts and labour warranty. On way home from garage, I heard a knocking noise and got a quick check done on it in the morning. I was...
My mother currently has a BMW MINI (her second) and she really likes the quality, quirkiness and reliability of the car. However it is now used as an only car for her and my dad, and is not big enough...
I bought our 2007 Audi A3 diesel new when I anticipated an annual mileage of 10-15,000. This has not materialised and we currently do approximately 7000. Having already done 25,000 miles, should I trade...
I am looking to buy a new car with automatic transmission, and wish to stay below the 120G/km CO2 limit. I have a budget of £20,000 in mind, and performance is not that important. I know about the Toyota...
I was driving my 2003 Ford Mondeo diesel estate yesterday and I was about to accelerate to overtake a lorry at 60mph when I lost all power and my glow plug indicator on the dash started to flash. Then...
I bought a secondhand KIA Sportage 2.0 CRiXS Auto in April 2008 and extended the warranty in Nov 2008 for a further two years. Last week, an indicator light showing 'Malfunction' came up with the word...
I purchased a 2006 BMW 320d E Touring Auto for £14,000 from a private dealer on 8 May 2010. Today, the car has developed a fault with the central locking system and I am unable to unlock the driver, passenger...
I'm thinking of buy a Toyota Prius 1.5 Hybrid automatic with cruise control and have noted that they have a standard manufacturer's warranty of 100,000 miles or eight years, so one over three years old...
I have a left-hand drive 2003 Opel Omega which has done 50,000 miles. I have owned the car from new and it has been dealer maintained. In March 2010, upon braking, my car was pulling to the left. I had...
I recently took my 2007 Volkswagen Golf to a main Volkswagen dealership for an oil and filter change on my car's DSG transmission. The garage rang an hour later to state it can only change the oil once...
I have a Citroen Picasso 2004 reg 1.6 diesel 110 BHP exclusive. Could anyone tell me why it has no electric sunroof?
I have a Peugeot 206 1.9 LX D (2000 model). The car runs very well apart from gear changes, when the whole engine rattles and shakes. This is the only time this occurs. Could this be the engine/gear mountings...
I am a girl with a passion for sports cars. I have previously owned a BMW Z3 and Audi TT. I drove past my local Porsche dealer last week and saw a 2001 Boxster in bright yellow priced at £10,995. It has...
Can you tell me if the 2010 Hyundai Sante Fe 2.2-litre has a particulate filter and, if so, might this be a problem?
Please can you tell me if the width of a car stated on website is with or excluding wing mirrors? I have a narrow garage, so I am considering buying a narrower car.
The Mazda 6 diesel engine, from its first incarnation to the current model, has a new form of diesel engine with a diesel particulate filter. According to Mazda this can cause a warning light to come on...
My 1997 Mercedes-Benz C-Class has an electronic key which also doubles as a remote control for the central locking. One day it suddenly refused to work, luckily at home where I could use the spare key....
Where can I find a front near-side suspension leg complete with hub for a 1989 Volkswagen Polo C 1043cc?
I'm getting a grinding noise from my 2008 Toyota Corolla Verso. I don't think it's the engine as the grinding/rubbing noise does not relate to engine revs and is entirely absent when driven slowly, or...
I bought a lovely BMW 530d on an 05 plate from a dealer. When I went to pick it up everything was fine. When I got out of the village and got my speed over 40mph the tyre warning light came on. I returned...
My 1998 Renault Megane's immobiliser is not working. I can't start my car. It's not my fob as I've just put new batteries in. Can you help?
I have a 2004 Vauxhall Vectra diesel and the engine light is on. The car wouldn't rev above 2500 rpm and I took it to a garage to plug it into a computer. It came up with a biometric sensor fault. So I...
Does the Toyota Avensis 1.8 V Matic TR spec have cruise control as standard? The vehicle was manufactured in June 2009, and this vehicle has auto headlights, auto wipers and bluetooth but no cruise control....
My 2006 Volkswagen Golf GT diesel 170bhp has just had its second service, as it's on long life regime. While booking it in, the dealer remarked that it will need its cam belt changed in November when the...
My 3-year-old Peugeot 307 1.6 semi-automatic last week had its thermostat housing replaced after losing huge amounts of water overnight. My local garage has told me that the car is showing early signs...
Which, of the Citroen C-Crosser DCS, Ford Kuga Powershift and Hyundai Santa Fe Premium, is the most refined and comfortable for mixed short and long runs? Seven seats are not needed. Comfort rather than...
I've bought a motorcycle and the registration document has arrived from the DVLA, but it's saying its black and the bike is pearl white. What should I do?
What causes rear suspension air bags to explode? One blew out on our 2006 E-Class Mercedes-Benz before we replaced both rear shocks, and 12 months later it has happened again.
My friend has a 54-plate Ford Focus TD. He stopped the engine one day and it has not started since. That was six weeks ago. Up to now, six fitters have looked at it and don't know what it is. The car just...
I have recently rebuilt a 1999 Ford Focus 1.6 SE silver top engine, which runs very nicely. When the thermostat opens, the bottom hose gets nice and hot, but after a higher speed run the hose goes very...
I have recently purchased a 2003 Ford Mondeo Ghia 2.5 V6 auto from a local Ford main dealer. Overall I am happy with the vehicle, apart from the fact that the acceleration seems very sluggish on uphill...
I have a 52-plate Ford Focus, but there is a whirring sound when you drive it. I've had the four wheel bearings replaced but the sound is still there. I've even tried it with the clutch in or out, but...
I have owned my Nissan Almera 2.2 Di S for about eight weeks now, and it's run with no problems. After returning from a week's holiday I am having real problems getting the car started. I wait for the...
A case reported in our local press has left me confused and wondering what the motorist's rights are. A motorist broke down on a hill on a dual carriageway. They contacted their motoring organisation and...
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