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Questions from December 2012
Having spent much of my life immersed in most matters car related including working on the body shop floor and restoring classics, I have an axe to grind with those who consider bringing back the scrappage...
I took my 2008 Vectra to a Vauxhall dealer (Downside Motors, Chilcompton, Radstock near Bath) for its annual service and MOT on 31/10/12. I have used this dealer once before but wouldn’t say that I had...
My sister-in-law is coming to live in the UK next year from Australia and wants to bring her 4-year-old, low mileage Volvo V70 with her. We can sort out shipping, but believe that she may have to pay some...
I recently saw your advice to a Honda Jazz owner saying contact Honda Happiness Accident Assistance rather than his insurer in the event of an accident. On the same basis, in the event of an accident in...
For a dozen or so years I have had a ‘Trafficmaster’ device on my dashboard that indicated when motorways and other major roads ahead were congested. It operated via sensors and transmitters on bridges...
I last wrote to you 8 years ago when I was looking to buy an automatic to commute into central Manchester. I didn’t want to sell my Audi TT Roadster and you recommended a Toyota Corolla, which has been...
As your readers seldom seem to send good news about Volkswagen, I thought you might be interested in my experience. I bought a new Passat Estate in 2004 and was disappointed to recently discover corrosion...
In March I bought a new style Honda Civic (petrol). After about 6000 miles, an oil warning light appeared. As I was miles from anywhere I rang the Honda garage, which told me to contact the AA. Their mechanic,...
I am selling my Jeep and someone is coming to view it on Sunday. They are from Zimbabwe and working over here. They want to send the Jeep back to Africa. I have told them I want cash for the vehicle (£2,950)...
I have just had my two-year old CR-V serviced at 38,000 miles. The Honda dealer replaced the front brake pads (the first time they had been replaced) but told me that the front discs also needed replacing...
I had a meeting with a colleague at Hamilton services that ran over the 2 hr parking allowance. We were in the Costa Coffee area and purchased coffees and food during this time. I have received a parking...
I would welcome your advice on replacement tyres for my 2005 X - Trail. Presently it has Dunlop Grand Trek ST20 215/60 R17's fitted. These were on when I bought the car at 29,000 miles and I've since done...
I am getting conflicting information about what I am legally obliged to carry in my car whilst driving in France. Can you shed any light on this please?
Any recommendations or advice about best tyres for ride comfort on a Honda Jazz? Ours is on 16” wheels.
I never imagined that my choice of new car would be decided by its front seat head restraints. My wife, who drives our one car as much as I do, has a back problem and is a little short in the leg. She...
We recently purchased a four-year old Ford Fiesta Zetec from an established dealer who we have used before. After payment he gave us only one key. When we queried this he said he had only been given one...
What is the most appropriate car for a 17/18 yr old girl, hoping to go university next year. Test already passed and likely to really need a car. Parents and/or grandparents have to stump up. Many people...
I have a classic Range Rover that I have owned for 20 years. About 10 years ago I had it converted to LPG and it has served me well. However an incident occurred yesterday which has left me concerned....
I always find V-Power fuel to be really good on engine of all the fuels that I have used over the years. Does this mean using supermarket fuels result in less mpg due to higher RPM, more carbon deposits,...
Last winter, I cleaned out my shed and found some old half-used bottles of windscreen washer fluid. I tipped them all into my washer bottle. The resultant cocktail blocked all my pipes and it cost me £125...
I need to look for a replacement for our 1996 Peugeot 405 GLXD Turbo estate which we have had since 1999, not because there is anything wrong with it but because the weight and power are both well short...
While not knowledgeable enough to question your answer to GR of Maidstone regarding his problem with an abandoned Transit in her road, I seem to recall in my past police days (ex-Kent 1962-1992) the offence,...
With reference to the email "Chewed Lore", I have stored my car in Florida over the past ten summers and to keep the rodents out of it I hang a supermarket plastic bag of mothballs in the engine compartment....
I was interested to read of a Volkswagen Golf automatic suddenly accelerating. I have an automatic Skoda Octavia and it is virtually impossible to reverse smoothly at low speed, particularly when reversing...
I am currently running a petrol-engined Vauxhall Astra 1.6 16V Club purchased new on 30-6-2001. This has been serviced by an independent garage every 6 months and apart from normal wear and tear to tyres,...
I have a 2011 Jaguar XF 3.0 Diesel S which came with bling 20" wheels and low profile tyres. Ideally, I would like to replace these with winter tyres fitted to a more appropriate wheel size. What would...
Sadly, my much-loved Ford Puma is about to meet its demise. Can you recommend a replacement that will have the same driving experience and oomph of the Puma without extending my finances too much?
I...
Please suggest winter tyres suitable for a 2009 Ford Fiesta Titanium currently sporting 16inch alloys with 195/45, low profile tyres.
I propose to fit 14inch or 15inch steel rims with either 175/65 or...
I'm tempted by the Volvo C30 2.0D Powershift accepting that every few years I might have a big-ish bill with the DPF. Are the engine and transmission reasonably trouble-free otherwise?
Alternatively is...
My son ran into a pot-hole in Leeds and damaged the suspension on his car, which will cost about £500 in repair costs. The symptoms manifested themselves immediately after the incident and the damage is...
Start stop has stopped working at all over past few weeks. Conditions for operating have been met e.g outside temp and battery fully charged manually. Is this potentially related to the diesel particulate...
I'm looking to buy a small family car to keep the next seven years. In the past I've always bought 'nearly' new at 6-18 months old.
What would you recommend? I average 12k miles a year mostly on town,...
I have a snapped timing chain on a 1.3 multijet engine and I have heard that these engines are "safe" and as such this should not have caused internal damage. Please can anyone confirm this for me before...
I bought the car in September and I have had to have the brakes replaced. The garage replaced this at its cost four weeks after purchase as I got VOSA involved.
The car seemed fine until now. It keeps...
I am currently an owner of the mark 1 Toyota Yaris 1.3 (5 speed manual) but it has now done huge mileage (147k) and I want to replace with the Honda Jazz CVT (2008), last of the old shape.
Just wanted...
What penalty or problems will there be if a car for which it is recommended that synthetic or semi-synthetic oil is used is given 'normal' oil on an oil change?
After a journey the cooling fans on my Honda Civic stayed on for a while for first time ever. They went off after 5 mins. When I started the car today the fans came on and stayed on even though the car...
I have a Honda CR-V and I would like to fit pneumatic seat covers to help combat the firm suspension.
Locating them in the UK is a problem, Alibaba show them on the internet but the seller wants to sell...
Sorry to bother you at Christmas (and hope you had a good one) HJ but in a moment of festive stupidity started putting unleaded in my tank. 3.5 litres before I noticed and stopped and then fully filled...
This particular car is fitted with 16 inch wheels rather than the standard 17 inch. I seem to remember you once saying that smaller wheels/ tyres give a softer ride. Is this true in general, as I find...
I have a Ford Mondeo 2.0-litre Titanium manual. Does it have a chain drive or a replaceable cam belt?
We have a Volkswagen Touran 2007 SE TDI 105 1.9. Had it for 10 months bought second hand from a useless garage and had nothing but bother with it.
It broke down on Christmas Eve and we had to be towed...
I am buying something to replace my ageing Volvo.
I was looking at the Hyundai i30 or Skoda Rapid when it occurred to me that I might be better off going upmarket and used in a similar price range.
The...
I have been using Autotrader for 20 + years.
As a small independent retailer I prefer to use my website and advertise each vehicle individually (It is also more cost effective!).
Auto trader have a club...
As I put my Vectra into reverse the parking sensors immediately start beeping constantly, as if telling me I am near a obstacle without any obstacles behind me. I put it back in to neutral and it stops....
I have a Rover 25 2001 model. Sometimes when I try to start the engine it wont turn over, as if the starter is jammed. It starts with a bump then it starts normally for a bit, then it will go wrong again.
Do you have to go to court or get banned from driving completely if your insurance holder (Bell, safe drivers scheme with black box fitted) cancel your insurance policy for going over 100mph? Or do they...
Our Honda Jazz is 6 years old - a year ago the locks started getting 'sticky'. Now all the locks have failed - including the steering column - replaced at a cost of £576! And one of the keys is bent and...
I have just discovered that my new B-Max is leaking rain water very badly in the offside boot area. A protective sheet that I had on the floor of the boot was found to be soaking wet. The car is now...
I used to drive a Mitsubishi Carisma, now I drive a Volvo V40. I will change in 2013 and I want a smaller car. Must think of driving comfort.
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