Which model of Volkswagen Golf should I buy for 13,000 miles a year?

I want a perky Volkswagen Golf to drive that is fairly economical. I intend to keep the car, so am thinking about a diesel engine. I do quite a high mileage, about 13,000 per year. There are quite a lot...

Are there any cars that are designed to last more than 12 years without rusting?

In the past I have owned a Volkswagen Polo and a Golf. The cars lasted 17 years and 14 years and were still good roadworthy cars when I sold them. I was shocked when I read your comments about modern cars...

How do I get a new code for my CDR500 radio?

I've put a new battery into my car and I can't find a code for my CDR500 VDO radio. How do I get a new code?

I can't open my BMW 523's door with the key or remote - any ideas?

I own a 523 E39, a stunning car. Unfortunately I'm unable to open the driver's door using my key or remote. I have checked all the fuses and the relays all seem ok. I have disconnected and reconnected...

Which medium car has the best back support and adjustable seating?

Could you please advise as to which medium-sized car has the best back support, which also allows for a range of adjustment?

Have I blown a fuse in my 2006 Ford Fiesta by connecting the battery in reverse?

I have a 2006 Ford Fiesta. I tried to jumpstart it by connecting the battery the wrong way round. Now the car is completely dead. Do I need a new battery or have I blown a fuse?

What's clonking at the front of my 2005 Mercedes-Benz A-Class?

I have an 2005 Mercedes-Benz A180CDi which has done 40,000 miles. The offside front suspension clatters over bumps and makes a single 'clonk' when first setting off. The clattering noise varies quite a...

Does the Mitsubishi ASX have a chain cam and DPF?

I'd be grateful if you could tell me if the diesel Mitsubishi ASX has a chain-driven camshaft and a DPF?

How do I reset my Mitsubishi Spacestar's fuel range indicator?

I have a 52-plate Mitsubishi Spacestar which shows the approximate distance you can travel with fuel, but when I topped up the distance did not change. Now it's showing no miles but I've still got half...

Could supermarket fuel have burned my valves out?

I have had problems with misfiring, loss of power, and red engine management lights coming on on two cars which where filled with unleaded petrol at a supermarket. One of the vehicles has needed to have...

My Citroen C4 HDI won't start - any ideas?

I have a Citroen C4 2.0 HDI and I'm having problems starting it. The ignition lights and the dash all turn on fine, but then when you try and start the car nothing happens. I have checked the battery and...

My Ford Ka's failed its MOT badly - is it worth repairing?

I bought a Ford Ka about three months ago and just took it for an MOT which it failed badly! The offside rear (chassis) vehicle sturcture, nearside sill and offside floor pan have excessive corrosion,...

A dealer sold a car I'd put a deposit on - is this a breach of contract?

Last week I agreed to purchase a used Ford S-Max from a national Ford dealer. The deal was negotiated and a price agreed. The car I was purchasing was not viewed as it was at another branch of the dealer....

Does my Jaguar XK8 have a serious gearbox fault?

I have recently bought a 2004 Jaguar XK8 from a Jaguar specialist for £15,000. Having driven it for two weeks I have noticed a severe "snatch" between first and second gear (which appears worse if I accelerate...

My Peugeot 306's radio won't work after I flattened the battery.

My battery went dead as I left my lights on. I was successful in jump-starting the car but now my in-car stereo is totally dead and there's a flashing red light on the stereo, which I guess is the alarm/immobiliser....

My Peugeot 106 diesel won't start after running out of fuel. Does it need to be bled?

My Peugeot 106's battery went dead so I gave it a jump start from another car and it started straight away. I put a new battery on it, but it had run out of diesel and after putting some in it now won't...

My Mazda 323 will not run - what's wrong with it?

This afternoon my X-reg 1.4-litre Mazda 323 died. The engine starts but will not run, it's as if the ignition is being switched off. I'm guessing there is a very special piece of technology that keeps...

My Renault Espace has illuminated a warning light - does it really need a new engine?

I have a 2004 Renault Espace, and a warning light with an orange outline and a horizontal orange zigzag line comes on now and again. It also seems to lose power. I took it to my local dealer and they reckon...

Why won't my Peugeot 106 1.5 diesel start?

My R-reg Peugeot 106 diesel started playing up. On Tuesday I did about five miles in the car. I got home and switched the engine off, then realised I'd forgotten something so tried to start it back up....

Do you have any info on the BMW 318TI?

I'm looking to buy a BMW 318TI 1999 automatic. Could you give me any info on these?

Why don't my Volkswagen Golf's automatic windscreen wipers work in drizzle?

The intermittent front wipers on my 2007 Volkswagen Golf do not work. They are activated by a rain sensor. I have been to my local Volkswagen dealer three times and they claim that they work fine, pouring...

An engine management repair to my Mercedes-Benz SL320 hasn't worked. Why must I pay for it?

I own a Mercedes-Benz SL320 M-reg, built in 1994. Since I bought the car three years ago the cruise control has never worked. This didn't bother me and I hadn't any spare cash to repair it at the time....

Can I fit smaller wheels and tyres to my Skoda Superb II?

My Skoda Superb II Elegance is a magnificent car, fully justifying its name. But tyre wear is heavier than on the Superb I by about 60 per cent. My local dealer tells me that Skoda will not supply a new...

I've got handbrake problems on my 51-reg Vauxhall Corsa.

I've got a 51-reg Vauxhall Corsa SXI. If it's parked on a hill the handbrake goes up eight clicks before it will even begin to hold the car. I know they're meant to self-adjust and only go up three clicks....

How do I know which biodiesels are suitable for my 2004 Skoda Octavia?

I have found the Volkswagen biodiesel statement online dated 3 March 2010. In that it states the Octavia 1 (1u) is approved on B100 RME biodiesel up to production week 26 of 2006. I am considering buying...

I bought a car from a trader which has suffered a number of problems. What are my rights?

I bought my car less than six months ago and was told there was no problem with it. They even serviced it for me prior to me taking it away. I believe that the fault was already there and I have just made...

I want to buy a Ford Mondeo, but why do you advise petrol engines for my annual mileage?

I'm looking to replace both a 54-plate 2.0-litre automatic petrol Ford Mondeo and a 2007 1.4-litre manual Fiesta with a newer Mondeo, which will cover 8000 to 10,000 miles a year. I've noticed that you...

I have a brake fluid warning light in my Peugeot 306 but the brakes feel fine. What's wrong with it?

I have a warning light on my 1996 Peugeot 306 diesel turbo. I know that the warning light indicates a low brake fluid level. When I first found the problem about a month ago, I just filled it up and then...

Do you have information on the latest generation of runflat tyres for my BMW 530i?

I read one of your letters sometime ago mentioning the latest generation of runflat tyres. Can you direct me to the latest information as I cant find it on your website? I have a BMW 530i.

Where can I get air conditioning system seals for my Ford Focus?

Can anybody tell me what seals I need for the air conditioning system on my Focus? I took it to a local garage for a top up and was told that seals were leaking. I looked on the web and can't find any...

Is there anything we can do about the engine noise in our 2010 Ford Fiesta?

Having owned Peugeot diesels for the past 18 years, I am both amazed and disappointed with the noise levels of my wife's recently purchased 2010 brand new Fiesta 1.4TDCI. At tickover, and when moving through...

Does the Renault 1.5 Megane DCI have any common problems?

I am thinking of buying a 2004 Renault Megane 1.5 DCI Dynamique 100bhp, but I am being given mixed reports about this model. Can you advise me on any common problems with this car?

What's the difference between the 140 and 110 Skoda Yeti versions?

I am considering buying the diesel 4x4 Skoda Yeti but can't decide between the 110 and 140 versions. Other than power, is one better than the other? The price quoted on the HJ site via Autofinders is very...

What problems can I expect when restarting my Renault Clio which has been stood for two years?

I have a Renault Clio 172 which has been stood for two and a half years. Before it was parked up it had the head rebuilt and the cam belt done. it only has 42,000 miles and it's a 52 plate. What sort of...

My car misfires after fitting crankshaft sensor - does it need resetting?

My car misfires after fitting a crankshaft sensor. Do I need to have the computer reset?

My steering has got heavy and I can hear rubbing from the steering column. What's wrong?

My steering has got a bit heavy, and I can also can hear a rubbing/squeaking noise inside the car from the steering wheel/column. Now I can sometimes hear a slight click whilst turning the steering wheel.

What are your thoughts on the Mercedes-Benz C220 Blue Efficiency?

I am thinking of changing my 2008 Skoda diesel estate (32,000 miles) for a nearly-new Mercedes-Benz C220 Blue Efficiency manual 6-speed SE Estate. Have you any views on the C220 (reliability etc)? Where...

Do all Suzuki Swifts jolt when driving slowly?

I have a 2009 Suzuki Swift 1.5-litre which is jolty when driving slowly in traffic. Is this the drive train resistance, is it a fault with the design or is it a problem with my clutch? My dealer told me...

I've found that I was not registered as the owner of my car when I bought it. Can I reject it?

I purchased a vehicle from a dealer and the tax is up for renewal. I received no reminder from the DVLA of this and contacted them to find out why. It turns out that I am not the registered keeper of the...

What can I do to protect my number plate from cloning?

I have just received a letter from a car parking enforcement company, telling me that a car with my plate had overstayed at a Sainsbury's car park (no fine this time). This was in Stoke-on-Trent on 19...

I need an economical, reliable car with a warranty to replace my Volkswagen Polo. Would a Mazda 2 do the trick?

I currently own a Volkswagen Polo GTI. I have been having a few problems with it over the years and have decided its time to upgrade, as I do a lot of miles, and it's not the most economical of cars. I...

My Mercedes-Benz C270 has developed an electrical fault in the dash. Do you think Mercedes-Benz will contribute?

I purchased my Mercedes-Benz C270 estate on 1 September 2004 new from a Mercedes-Benz dealer. The instrument panel needs replacement due to an electronic fault in the panel (cause unknown!), at a cost...

My Peugeot 307 HDI has a lot of problems. What can I do?

I bought my Peugeot 307 HDI 2-litre diesel just over a year ago and have had nothing but problems with it since I got it. The dealer turned out to be unreliable but as my car is financed he gets away with...

Where are the fan heater sensors in my Citroen Xantia?

I have had a T-reg Citroen Xantia 1.9TDI for a couple of years and had to change the fan heater twice because it didn't always come on. It now won't work at all and I have been told its the sensors. Have...

Where is my Ford Focus leaking water into the cabin?

A puddle of water has appeared in the nearside front footwell of my 1999 Ford Focus hatchback. The rear nearside footwell is also very wet. The car has not been used in the rain, but it has rained heavily...

I've had my Peugeot 306 GTI's head gasflowed and the new valves seem wrong. Are they?

I have just had my Peugeot 306 GTI's head gasflowed with better cams. When I got it back I realised that on top of the valves there is a little dome recess. On one set of valves they are small and the...

Do you think Volkswagen would contribute to repairing my Volkswagen Touran's ignition barrel?

I have just been locked out of my 2006 Volkswagen Touran (just out of warranty). The key fob works but the key would not fit into the ignition. The garage has said that a spring within the barrel/ignition...

What's happened to my Volvo V50's gearbox?

I'm stranded locally in my 2007 Volvo V50 with no bite on the gears. The clutch has not gone to the floor like it does when it's dead, and the gears still can be found too. There's just no response in...

Which Saab 9-5 models are the best secondhand buys?

I see the prices for Saab 9-5 are the best around secondhand for a good family estate. I have £7000 and do not know which engine or year to look into. Is there anything I should watch out for?

Looking for a second car with low running costs and street cred - will the Ford Focus fit the bill?

I am a 19-year-old lad who has had a 1.0-litre 3-door T-reg Volkswagen Polo for 18 months now, and I am looking to move on to something bigger and more powerful. With insurance, tax, service costs, street...