Exhaust fumes smell

I have a 2005 Vectra C with a few problems. Firstly I have exhaust fumes through the air vents and also in the engine bay plus it is a slow cold starter and occassionly I get an engine management light...

Spare keys

Main car key to my Ford Focus lost (suspect stolen by a pick-pocket in supermarket). Replacement from Ford Main Dealer (Lisburn N.I.) is to cost approx. £180. Surely the wizardry in these coded keys...

Ford Fiesta battery

I am having a lot of problems with the battery on my R-reg Ford Fiesta Auto - they keep dying! Four in less than four years each replaced by the AA under warranty. The last one only lasted three weeks!

Citroen Xsara Picasso speedo

Our car is Citroen Xsara Picasso 2003 model. The speedo has stopped working and we wondered if it could be a fuse. The battery has been disconnected and that did not work. Can you help with the fuse number...

Sizes of winter tyres

Hi, I see your recent articles in the Telegraph re winter tyres, and the advantages of them. Assuming one opts to have a set on separate wheels (ie not swapping the tyres on the same wheels), is there...

Collapsed bearing cage

I wonder if you know why the bearing cage on a well maintained, regularly professionally serviced, Peugeot 206CC might suffer this catastrophic event on a motorway after less than 17000 miles. My car...

VW POLO 1.2 TSI

I am interested in the new Polo 1.2 TSI and have read your road test and watched the vidio. You write that the engine has a chain driven cam yet in the video you piont to a belt driven cam. Which is correct?...

Volkswagen Production Delays

We ordered a New VW Golf match in September 2010 with the dealer saying it would be 12 weeks. In fact every dealer we spoke with told us 12 weeks. After many emails and calls with both the dealer and customer...

Peugeot 306 HDi starting problems

I have a Peugeot 306 HDi and am having problems starting it. It takes long to start when cold and warm but it's not as bad when warm and once started it ticks over fine.

Most economical estate car

I am looking to purchase an estate car. It will be used as a business car and i'll be travelling about 250 miles a week. I need a bit of comfort, plenty of load carrying for fragile items, to include space...

Vauxhall Zafira

I have an 2007 Vauxhall Zafira 1.9 diesel and the oil level has risen is this down to the DPF?

Peugeot 306 exhaust problems

How come my Peugeot 306 diesel 1.9 is misfiring and excess smoke coming from the exhaust?

VW Golf Mk3 engine problem

I own a 1995 Volkswagen Golf MK3 1.8 cabriolet. I have recently discovered brown foaming in the radiator expansion chamber. The temperature guage inside the car goes up to 70 quite quickly and the warning...

Too many cars

I own a 1996 Volvo 940 Estate 2.3 SE with 133k on the clock, a Citroen Berlingo Forte 1.9 diesel on an 02 plate with 68k, and my wife owns a Nissan Micra 1.0 se with 34k. We need to consolidate and I...

Dual mass flywheel

I am considering buying a Skoda Yeti (2.0 CR TDI 140 6-speed) and wondered whether this uses a dual mass flywheel, or whether VWG group had moved on from these.

DPF problems on VW Golf 1.6 TDI

I am thinking of buying a new Volkswagen Golf 1.6 TDI. The problem is I do very low mileage (approx. 5000 miles per year). One Volkswagen salesman told me I wouldn't have problems with the DPF and the...

Toyota Yaris turbo fault

The turbo is free and turning but will not kick in on my Toyota Yaris. All the pipes have been checked with no fault found but i'm unable to find out why. The engine is running well but with no power due...

Volvo V50 steering worries

I recently exchanged a C30 Volvo to purchase a 56 plate Volvo V50 2.0 Sport from Sturgess of Leicester. On the test drive before I agreed to purchase the car I pointed out to the salesman that the steering...

Parking fine

l received a letter of a fine for £80 for being in a car park for more than 3hrs - 3hrs and 32min to be exact. I have stayed in the car park for 4hrs before because l go to the the gym. It happens to be...

Snowy conditions

We are senior citizens living in a pea shingle road on a slight hill and have trouble getting out in snowy conditions. We are considering chains or autosocks or an economical 4x4. We are about 300yds...

Rover 25 ignition problem

In the last month my 2005 Rover 25 has had problems starting. At times when I turn the ignition key there is a silence and then a two-tone warning sound starts. This has not happened first thing on cold...

Which 4x4?

Like most of the country we've had severe problems getting around in recent weather conditions. We live on the southern side of Dartmoor, about halfway up the moor, with an uphill lane as a drive, with...

Focus replacement clutch

I have a 2006 1.6 TDCI Ford Focus. How much roughly would it cost to have the clutch replaced?

Poor starting

I have 1999 VW polo 1.9 diesel, which when the weather is frosty will not start without pre-heating several times and even then the starter sounds as if it is not turning the engine correctly. Once the...

Ford Focus

My wife has now decided after a long review to buy a Ford Focus. She needs four doors and to be able to carry equipment for two young grandchildren with good and easy access to the boot. What do you recommend...

BMW M3 E46

I currently run three cars, one of which is a 2006 M3 Convertible, acquired two years ago for about £24,500 with 12000 miles on the clock. The car was purchased from BMW Approved Used Cars on one of their...

Suggested replacement for Passat

After nine delighted years with our Volkswagen Passat 1.8T Estate, we realise it's now bigger than we need, and with petrol prices going through the roof, we'd better downsize. Can you recommend something...

Heater matrix

I have a Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI 1999 with a heater matrix problem I think (no heat. The car had a leak on the main cooling radiator so a mechanic put some sealant in last year. The car has had a new...

Diesel emissions

I am a mobility customer and I have ordered a Renault Grand Scenic dCi. It was supposed to be ready by the end of January, but now I am being told it will not be ready till at least another 4 weeks because...

Oil smell inside car

I have a Ford Focus T-reg and I am getting a distinctive oil smell coming through the vents of the heater after idling for about five mins. I've noticed a leak, maybe from the rocker cover gasket on the...

Car for partly disabled driver

My sister-in-law is partly disabled with spine problems that cause left foot drop. She currently has an ex-mobility 06 plate Nissan Micra automatic which she likes but which is unreliable. She previously...

Choice of new car

I am about to retire having had company vehicles all of my working life. I am budgeting about £15,000 and am tempted towards a new or nearly new car with a long warranty, e.g Kia or Hyundai. Thinking...

Car engine size

I'm looking to change my current seven-year old Golf TDI (1.9-litre, 130 bhp) and would like to ask about car engine sizes please. I read that modern engines are much improved and smaller engines can...

Budget tyres

I drive a Ford Focus MK1 fitted with Michelin Energy tyres. I have recently had fitted two new budget tyres to the front wheels retaining the worn but legal M.E. tyres on the rear. Is this a safe combination?...

Toyota Corolla Verso

Does the Toyota Corolla Verso Estate 2.2 D-4D T3 have an engine particulate filter?

Ford Fiesta 1998 light problems

I have no parking lights working but the dash is illuminated, when i click once for low beam i have only the drivers side working but when i click for high beam, both work. Indicators and rear lights are...