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Questions from August 2010
Can anyone recall which year and power output was the last non-ECU turbodiesel Mercedes-Benz? I'm looking for a low-tech, powerful diesel, with five or six cylinders for a 'project'. The less wires the...
I recently fitted a new EGR valve to my Vauxhall Zafira, but since I got it done the following happens. When starting there is occasionally white smoke, followed by irregular idling until the engine is...
My Volkswagen Golf Plus SE model 105 DSG lurches on gradients when I try to reverse park it. I took the car to the dealer to get them to check out the transmission. The garage stated that there was nothing...
I am currently trying to buy a used diesel small or medium family car. Some important criteria: Economy (first of all). Less than 1.9-litre (there are some tax problems in Greece for 1921cc and greater)....
I am hoping to buy a Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi 130 Zetec. The car looks good and has six successful services behind it and 90,000 miles on the clock. I was wondering if there was anything I should be looking...
My Peugeot 307 SW was purchased from a Peugeot main agent some three months back with 32,000 miles recorded. On two occasions sudden power loss has been experienced where, following a beeping sound, the...
Would you recommend a Prius or similar for motorway journeys, including on the Continent? If not, what's the drawback?
How do I calculate whether it's worth keeping my existing car or replacing it? I have an eight-year-old Volkswagen Passat Estate 1.9TDI 140PS (52 plate, 97,000 miles), in average condition, which I keep...
I have a Toyota Yaris 1.4M D-4D TR which I bought new in 2008. I have been pleased with the car, except for its lack of pulling power going up hills. For this reason I am thinking of buying a Volvo C30...
In last Saturday's paper, you advised someone who does 10,000 miles a year that 'You don't do enough miles for a diesel.' I'd appreciate your opinion as to what mileage would suggest the need for a diesel,...
We recently bought a Ford C-Max from a private seller who said he was selling because he'd been made redundant, and that there was nothing wrong with the car otherwise. A test drive brought up no problems...
I bought an 11-month-old ex-Volvo management C70 with 4400 miles on the clock from a Volvo dealer in February 2010. Included in the deal was the first annual service. On 2nd June at 7700 miles, the car...
A week ago I bought (privately) a 55 plate Mondeo with cash. I signed the log book and so on, all the time being led to believe that the mileage was 85,000. I brought the car home whilst waiting for the...
We have a 2003 Vauxhall Zafira Design diesel which we bought secondhand about three years ago. For some time, we have had problems with the management light, which comes on after about 20 mins on the motorway...
I have just recieved a Parking Ticket for being on double yellow lines outside my home. I noticed that the warden recorded my registration wrong! He/she got the first letter as a V instead of a Y. How...
I have a 1995 Toyota Previa 2.4i. If I build up speed slowly then I can get a fair bit of speed out of it (110mph), but if I accelerate hard the power just goes flat and it sounds like there isn't any...
My son bought a new car almost three years ago and paid for GAP insurance at the time, to cover the difference in the insurance settlement and the cost of a replacement car should the car be stolen. The...
I currently own a Nissan Qashqai 2.0 Acenta 2008, which I bought secondhand in November 2009. Currently we get about 35mpg. We mostly use the car at weekends for longish journeys, with the occasional short...
My wife runs a 2003 MINI Cooper S which she has had from new. In truth she would have been better served by a Cooper, as the ride quality is not good and potholes must be avoided at all costs. I have noticed...
How long should a bulb last on a car? Is it covered by the three-year/60,000 mile warranty? I have a Volvo V50 and the low beam offside bulb went off in May 2010. Now the nearside bulb has failed. The...
I am looking for a secondhand small 4x4 for my mother. It needs to be able to house two smallish dogs in the boot. She does about 6000 miles a year and would rather have an automatic diesel, although that's...
Which would you recommend out of the Hyundai ix35 and Kia Sportage? I have driven the ix35 and it is very nice, but I understand that delivery is now stretching into November! How does the new Sportage...
I am considering buying a used car from an online car dealership. However, upon asking about the warranty, I was told the cars are sold as seen. Do they not have to be responsible for a period of time...
My wife and I have identical Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec diesels, one four and one two years old, and we often swap. The tyres are the same make and same pressure, and both are fully serviced. After extensive...
11 months ago I bought a new Fiat Multijet and as it is nearing its 12-month service I have received a letter from the dealer recommending all sorts of extras they say I need. For example, do I need to...
My Audi A3's ABS pump module has packed in. I got a used pump and module with the same numbers on as mine, but was wondering whether, if the part numbers are the same, I still need to have it recoded?
I bought my 2007 Mercedes-Benz E-Class 320 CDi estate in May 2010. It broke down in June and emptied half a tankful onto the ground, squirting out from somewhere at the rear of engine. This was fixed under...
I have a soon-to-be-classic Peugeot 205 GTI, a 1986 C-reg that I've owned for 18 years. It's done 120,000 miles and is in generally good shape, but has an annoying problem of pinking and misfiring. It...
The car alarm sounded one night in my Toyota Avensis with no sign of external disturbance. The same happened the following night, and as I used the remote to silence the system I noticed a large moth fluttering...
I am having problems with my insurance company. My car was stolen on 07/01/2010, so I reported this to my insurance company but they refuse to pay out as they say that there was no MOT on the car and that...
My BMW 325d Touring 09 has developed a fault. The indicators come on now and then of their own volition. Has this happened before?
My wife's nearly three-year-old 1 Series BMW needs four new tyres in the next few weeks. At the moment it is fitted with the original Bridgestone Turanza runflat tyres (205 55 r16 91v). Would you advise...
I have an Audi A4 2.0 FSI automatic, registered in September 2004 with 23,500 miles. It went for its annual service and MOT to a local Audi dealer and failed the MOT due to emissions. They said it needed...
Whilst driving my car I get a horrible whining noise coming from the front near-side area of my car. My initial thought was the bearings but I can't find anything to indicate that it is. Any suggestions?
Do you know where I can find a manual for a Renault Clio 1.9 DTI engine? I have been unable to locate one. I have the Haynes manual for the 1.5 DTI but it does not cover the 1.9.
My 2010 Fiat Panda has no markings on the headlight lenses with which to line up continental beam adaptors. How do I go about fitting them correctly?
I have just bought a T-reg Peugeot 306 and I am finding that there is not a lot of power for a 1.6 petrol engine. What could be the problem and what can I do to correct it?
I have recently lost the last key of my 2007 SEAT Leon Reference Sport and have been quoted by my local SEAT dealership, who did a job exactly the same a few weeks ago, a price of £1500. That seems to...
My father struggled through the Northumbrian winter last year, getting his car through the snow. He has decided that a 4x4 is a must. He's got up to £15,000 to spend, would like something not much older...
My 2006 Ford Focus' air conditioning seems to be blowing but no heat or cool air will come out through the vents on the dash. It seems to be blowing against the windscreen constantly. Do I need to take...
My Vauxhall Vectra B cut out whilst travelling. I tried to start the car up and it wouldn't start. The engine management light and 'spanner' light flash, then both stay on. I've changed the fuel pump and...
When I press the button for the CD player in my 2007 Ford Focus, the 'aux' sign comes on and CD player does not work. It's been changed once already by the dealer. What's wrong with it?
While driving in Greece recently, my 2005, 45,000-mile Volvo XC70 2.4 D5 flashed up 'Anti Skid Service Required'. On reaching home 1500 miles later, with no apparent problems apart from having this message...
I am considering purchasing a new Hyundai ix35 Premium 2.0 CRDi. I have contacted three Hyundai dealers and the best discount I have been offered is £700 off the list price of £19,745 for the 2wd and £20,745...
I have a Volvo S80 D5 and when I leave it, say, at an airport for more than about 12 days, the battery goes flat because I can't see how to lock the car without using the remote. I can buy a battery backup...
I just purchased a new car and I have an adorable young neighbour who takes great pleasure in keying any car that I own. Yes, I know the obvious responses, but that really isn't an option, as he's too...
I've seen you write a couple of times that owners should check the cam retaining bolts on Corsa C models - does this apply to all models and years? I've got a 2003 1.2 SXi. Also, is this something that...
Where can I buy 12 month's European breakdown cover with unlimited travel per trip? Most of the policies I can find limit travel to around 90 days.
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