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Questions from July 2010
I have a Vauxhall Vectra CDTI 150 2005 model. I have a problem with the power steering pump, which works intermittently. On start up it either works or it doesn't, and when it doesn't work the pump (electric...
I'm taking part in the Mini E trial and will occasionally use the car for business use. Under the company policy I currently claim back 22p a mile and the tax relief of the balance. Does this mileage rate...
I'm writing from Portugal where we are having some problems with the brakes on our Opel Corsa D 1.3 75cv CDTI. From time to time, when you put your foot on the brake pedal, it sinks almost to the floor...
There is water in the passenger footwell in our 54-reg Vauxhall Vectra estate. At the same time the motor to the air conditioning and heating system has failed. Do you think the two are linked? I am getting...
I took delivery of a new Skoda Fabia TSI / DSG 77kw a month or so ago, and have driven around 450 miles since. Then, yesterday, the car stopped suddenly for no reason and the display showed 'Engine fault:...
My Suzuki dealer has sent me an 'exclusive invitation' as a valued customer, as they must sell 40 new cars to reach their target (assumedly before the new registration) within the next 10 days. They are...
The ECU light is on the dash (engine symbol) of my 2000 Vauxhall Vectra 1.8 16v and it runs pretty badly. I have read all the information I can find, and I believe it's fitted with a Siemens Simtec 56.5...
I live in France and I'm in the process of gathering quotes to have a tow hitch fitted to my 1997 Volvo 940 estate, which is a late 2.3 T version. So far, one French garage has told me that pre-1997 and...
I am now retired and in the fortunate position of being able to afford one last new decent car. Our priorities are comfort and driving enjoyment. The car must be diesel (for economy) and estate with an...
I wrote previously when I needed a vehicle to suit my incapacity, which was easy to get into and out of, automatic and would take two Labradors and my wife. Behold, on your say so I became the proud owner...
I am in the process of buying a 2007 Honda CR-V 2.2I -CDTI ES and am being offered GardX Protection for £299 for 8 years and Honda Gap Insurance for £299 for three years. On the face of it, both appear...
I have a Jaguar X-Type diesel 2L SE (2008). I bought it about nine months back from an authorised dealer and now the clutch has gone, and the dealership is saying it's driving style and wear and tear,...
I have changed the coil pack and plugs but my Vauxhall Corsa still has a misfire. It will start ok but it's got some sort of knocking noise coming from the engine. Can you advise on the next checks that...
I wish to flush the water out the cooling system in my 2001 Volkswagen Passat, but I don't know where the radiator drain plug is. Can you help?
I have a Chrysler Grand Voyager 2.5 diesel 2002. It was standing for about three months and will need some work doing to it for the MOT, but once a week I started it and let it run and turned on the air...
My Honda CR-V 2.2 CDTi's driver's side mirror fully folds out when the engine starts and does not return to its normal position unless physically pushed back. Any suggestions gratefully received.
I don't know if you know much about this, but I'll ask anyway. We got a Motability car in January 2008, and we like this model a lot. Now I am a Ford man, so would prefer that make. But according to information...
I purchased my Mercedes-Benz when 18 months old from a Mercedes dealership in August 2007. Despite repeated attempts they have not, to date, been able to fix a problem under terms of warranty. Can I legally...
My 1995 Nissan Micra's rear indicators do not work but the front ones do! Why?
In recent years the explosion in asthma cases has been blamed on the fact that all our homes are cleaner and therefore children do not build up an immunity to beat the disease. Has anyone made the link...
I bought a Ford Kuga 20 months ago and really enjoy it. I drive 40,000 to 50,000 miles a year, mostly on the motorway, and I need space for materials, power for safe overtaking, decent economy, good handling...
I think it is bad advice to suggest drivers use their left foot for braking. While using your left foot may be result in shorter stoppage distances in the rare case of an emergency (assuming the driver...
For the past 10 years I have driven diesels and never needed to top up the oil in between services. I now have a BMW 3 Series petrol from new (Sept 2009) and it required one litre of oil after 9000 miles....
The engine of my Alfa Romeo blew up and I'm looking for a good Alfa engine repair specialist. Any ideas?
Can I use BP Ultimate diesel in my Yeti? The DPF rules say no biodiesel. I understand that BP Ultimate is also biofuel-based?
As the 73-year-old owner of a 54-plate Honda Jazz automatic which is coming up to its MoT and annual service, is there anything in particular I should be looking out for? The car has been serviced annually...
My 2001 Mercedes-Benz Vito 2.1-litre diesel is suffering with very bad smoke from the exhaust. The engine seems to be misfiring with a possible chuffing sound from one or more injectors. It's suffered...
My 2000 Volkswagen Golf IV 2.0-litre automatic runs fine from cold, but when it warms up it starts to misfire, then has no power and then cuts out. I have replaced the coolant temperature sensor, crank...
I am in the process of buying a Suzuki Splash 1.2 GLS and have found out it has a cable clutch. Is there any history of problems with this on this car and is this old technology or do other cars have them?
The parking brake on my Honda Jazz (58 plate, 9000 miles) does not hold the car on anything more than a modest uphill slope. The dealer has "adjusted" it twice and checked it on the 'roller'. He says it...
I have a Volkswagen Polo which is now giving me bad backache on my left-hand side after only a short time driving, which I guess is due to having a curvature of the spine, and now also osteoporoses has...
My wife's Renault Scenic (nine years old and 69,000 miles) has just had a new cam belt fitted. When I picked it up it seemed to be misfiring badly. The garage fitted new plugs - no change. They suggested...
I have a Peugeot 406 and sometimes the indicators work fine, and sometimes they do not work at all. Is this the flasher unit? In my experience, when they pack up they either flash slower or stay on.
I have a Peugeot 307 1.6 110bhp HDI. I had no problems prior to having a full service at a well-known garage, but after I picked it up I noticed that there was a serious lack of power and it can barely...
My car's shredded its fan belt. I've just been told by the AA not to drive the car, and that it's unusual for a fan belt to shred. Do you know what would have caused this?
Following a prang, my car was classed as a write off and was sent to be stored at a salvage compound. The insurance company refused to settle the claim and say they advised me by voicemail to collect car...
I would like to buy a used Jaguar X-Type 2.0-litre diesel estate with full leather seats. Do I need to worry about the expense to replace clogged particulate filters? What is the advantage of the Euro...
My wife and I are after a good car for long journeys, including touring Europe; something that we could drive 400 – 500 miles per day and still enjoy a nice meal out in a good hotel in the evening, rather...
My son has just turned sixteen and I have offered him car driving lessons for a birthday present. He is a pretty good 'back seat' driver, but I would like him to get some safe but realistic experience...
I am approaching 70, still alert, etc., but I would like to find an easy
way to have an independent assessment of my driving. I want to find out if my driving style is safe and sensible, rather than if...
In our local area, Walton upon Thames, drivers are now regularly prosecuted for parking on the zig zag lines either side of the crossing in the High Street. This is done by CCTV: you get a picture of your...
My son bought a 2005 Honda Civic Type R from a dealer three weeks ago. The nearside headlight unit held condensation and we asked an independent motor engineer friend to replace it. Whilst completing the...
My wife has a Volkswagen Polo S 1.2 64PS registered 06. The VW dealer has told her that she should have the cambelt changed as the car is 4 years old. But it has only done 30,000 miles and I thought the...
There is a lot of talk and action regarding the future of electric/hybrid cars as if this technology is going to save the world. To my mind, pure electric cars are unsuitable for anything other than short...
I bought an ex-showroom FIAT Bravo 1.6 Multijet with Dualogic transmission in August 2009 with 400 miles. For 35 years I have always driven automatics and although I took the FIAT on a test drive, it covered...
I bought a Hyundai i10 on 1st September last year. The reason I bought it was the praise attributed by the motoring press, particularly yourself. On the whole I agree with the accolades. However, I have...
A delivery driver who works next door to me, told of an incident about two weeks ago. He was driving his car to work in South London when he was stopped at a Police ANPR checkpoint and asked for his driving...
As a weekly reader of your column I often see you advise people to change wheel sizes to avoid a certain problem. Would this not affect the speedometer reading, thus making it illegal unless the gearing...
We have a 1,200cc petrol) Panda that is 6 years old this month and has done about 45,000 miles. Should the cam belt be replaced at this mileage? There is some confusion about this. Also the dealer said...
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