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Questions from June 2011
As an ex-employee of an insurance company I have been following the recent correspondence concerning the non-disclosure of accidents. It is understandable to think that what the insurer doesn’t know will...
In my seventies and awaiting a hip transplant plus enduring arthritis in spine and knees, I seek a replacement for my Ford Ka. I dislike the new style Ka and have found the old model hard to access, as...
We communicated some time ago on my wife’s overstay at Oswestry Aldi and the amicable outcome. Our daughter recently found herself in the same situation at the same store. (No, not pushing her luck, she...
My car won't start from the ignition key, however, can be started by putting power from the battery straight to the starter, which the AA did for me to get me home.
So far I've had a few garages look...
I am about to buy a V6 roadster from a main dealer. What discount can I expect on a used car of about four years old? What is the expected discount on a new Roadster with delivery mileage only.
I currently drive an 02 plate Mazda 6 2.0 petrol auto. I do 25k a year, 80% on A-roads and motorways. I average 36mpg in the Mazda with careful driving.
I am looking for a manual with decent fuel economy...
In May I shredded a tyre while in France. I was glad to be driving a Mondeo with a full-size spare. I was able to replace the tyre with an identical Michelin the same day. What would have happened if I...
I have a car on lease from Masterlease. Someone drove into it and hence it had to be picked up from my house by the bodyshop. When it was returned to me some 3 weeks later repaired, I noted that the DPF...
I'm looking to change my 2008 Aygo, which has given me intermittent starting problems for almost 2 years, although my Toyota garage can't find out what's wrong with it.
The Aygo has been the worst car...
My daughter turns 17 later this year and will start learning to drive.
We run a Toyota Auris 1.6 and while I think it would be ok to learn in I suspect the insurance may be prohibitively expensive, so...
I have sold my car last year in October and sent off the log book to the DVLA with new keepers details, unfortunately DVLA has never received the paper works (what they are saying).
Approx. 4 weeks ago...
I've replaced the cam seal on this engine (a TUD) along with cam belt and tensioner. Once it started I got oil running down from the tensioner bracket - is it a head gasket problem? I've also got foaming...
Problem with high fuel pressure shutting my Citroen Relay van down while driving. I've changed high pressure pump, regulator, in tank pump, rail sensor, ecm and engine wiring loom, still no luck...
My Mondeo used to idle at just under 1,000rpm on the rev counter. Now, when I start it up, it goes up to 2,500 for a few seconds, then comes down to just under 2,000rpm.
When driving, when I come to a...
I want a comfortable, well appointed, easy driving car with good cargo capacity and weight/torque ratio, towing and soft off-road capable.
Please rate my short list and any I may have missed.
Freelander...
I need a small petrol estate to take two sets of golf bags and electric trolleys.
The other day my Range Rover was broken into, the thief attempted to take it away. The offender was caught in the act.
A registered recovery vehicle was used and the driver supplied the tools to break...
We currently have two cars, a Citroen Xsara Picasso and a Ford Ka Collection, on 54 plate (47,700 miles).
We are a family of 5 so obviously we cannot fit into the Ka and we are looking to replace it.
...
We bought a second hand Audi A3 (2006/56 plate, diesel, 92k) from a garage at the price of £7,500 (the price had been dropped from £7,995 that weekend as they were having a "Sale").
We were given a 3...
After 37,000 miles, mostly motorway, ENGINE SYSTEM FAILURE warning was displayed accompanied with a loss of engine power.
Recycling the ignition temporarily cleared the fault and restored the power....
Please advise approximate cost of changing the cam belt on my wife's Honda Civic VTEC 1.6 auto. The local dealer is usually pricey so just wanted to check it with you first. Mileage is 60,000.
I am hunting for the used car for my family, I have three young children so need a car that fits three comfortably across the back.
I currently own a C-MAX and originally started looking as I get stuck...
We live in Hong Kong but spend 4-5 weeks each summer in the UK. My wife bought a 2005 Mini Cooper (not the 'S' model) Automatic 1,598cc with 47,000 km on the clock earlier this year (trouble free so far,...
Following correspondence with the Mercedes online customer helpdesk, I have established the following facts about the two additional rear-facing seats in a Mercedes E Class estate:
1. that they cannot...
I own a Mazda 323 sport 2002, the passenger side headlight is not very bright on dip beam and when I switch to full beam turns off, I have replaced the bulb and the problem still occurs, any ideas what...
I had reason to change one of my headlamps on a 2002 Clio. I was astonished at the difference bewteen the two as thge old one had browned. I believe the Clios have styrene covers and not acrylic. I have...
My business (a doctor's surgery) is very close to a busy town centre and has its own car park for staff and patients. However we get numerous complaints from patients saying that parking is always a problem...
My brother is planning to move to Singapore in a couple of months and says that cars are very expensive to buy there. Would it make sense for him to buy a car here and ship it out? The car he is thinking...
The idling revs on our newly acquired Qashqai are quite high and this is disconcerting when trying to creep out of our concealed entrance - is this normal or can it be adjusted?
My esp (skid) light has come on, the esp button does not appear to do anything but I hadn't noticed that before the light came on.
Not sure what the button is supposed to do as the manual is terribly...
It's been my daughter's 21st birthday and as such she has had a lot of friends round here helping prepare for a party etc. During this week, two of my neighbours have complained about their cars being...
We have an 11yr old BMW 528i saloon and 5yr old Golf 1.6 FSI both automatic.
We want to replace the two cars with one that can cope with central London driving (has to be auto) incl. dealing with lots...
I have a 2002 Mondeo diesel with knocking at the rear on both sides. It started over 12 months ago.
Had a new sub frame fitted 3 years ago, had new anti roll bar links fitted 6 months ago. Been back to...
I have recently moved to Italy and am in the last throes of my youth. I am interested in buying a second hand convertible but don't want anything too precious. I am thinking it makes sense to import...
Which is the safest way to accept payment for a private sale? I asked my bank but strangely they were very non-commital!
I took my Rover 45 to a garage as the cylinder head had gone.
When the part was skimmed it was apparently warped, he said he would try and seal it anyway. It would not seal and he recommended a new engine....
Madam replaced her 'Y' Yaris 1.3 CDZ which had everything & a wonderful car, with a 08 Polo 1.4 Match auto with electric sunroof (the manual Yaris was hard for her to open), but the seats set off my back,...
This questions about the Touran TDI 2.0. I changed the oil in my car 3 months ago and regularly I checked the engine oil level. Just wondering why my engine oil warning light keeps on popping up even though...
My present car, a Mitsubishi Colt CZ3, has removable and slideable rear seats, as did my previous car, a Mercedes A Class.
Can you please advise me of any new small/medium cars on the market that have...
I bought my Jaguar in March with 3 months warranty (on invoice it just stated these words). Test drove well.
Would not start when leaving the dealer premises. Dealer got vehicle to start eventually giving...
I have water leaking into the battery compartment of a 2006 BMW 525D. This caused a breakdown and major electrical problems which will cost me about £1,000.
BMW have not identified the cause of the...
I'd like to check when my DSG oil filter was last changed (if ever), is there a date-code on the filter casing? If so, how do I de-code it, mine shows PA66-GF30. I suspect this is just a mold code rather...
As the new Mondeos do not need a key to start, only a fob, if the fob is outside the car will it still start? I believe some people found that it does, others that it does not.
I have seen a 2004 Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi for sale that I am interested in. It is VERY high milage (360,000) but it has been serviced four times a year (24 stamps in the book) and it is only (just over)...
The manufacturers three-year warranty runs out shortly. BMW have offered to renew it(£427 inc. emergency service), but so have Warranty Direct (£300) & Warranty Wise (£531).
Can you suggest which would...
I would like to buy a saloon car which is automatic and has the option to engage 4 wheel drive mode for bad weather. I am looking at mid range price.
The engine on my Meriva is making a tapping/clicking noise. Any ideas what this could be? Cam belt tensioner?
We have an apartment in Spain. Rather than the expense of hiring a car each visit, we intend to take our UK car out to use for the four visits (each of one month) that we shall make during the year.
We...
I am planning a three-week trip to the States next spring and I am in a quandry about whether to go for a convertible (the ideal), a standard car or even some type of RV.
There will be three adults...
I have followed the on-going tail of increasing insurance costs, but there is a way we can all help cut those costs. My Mk4 Fiesta required a windscreen after a stone cracked the original one. Whilst I...
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