Why don't you post up some beginner classes in engine maintenance?

Our Honda CR-V is now back having had a damaged number two exhaust valve replaced and the one next to it, all other valves re-seated and head skimmed etc, plus a new timing belt (old one only two years...

Can you recommend a fun and economical car?

I intend to trade in my 2001 SEAT Leon 1.9 TDi soon and want to buy something that’s fun to drive and economical. I do low mileage and short journeys and don’t want a diesel. I also want a full size spare...

Did my Honda CR-V's DPF cause a hesitation under acceleration?

NB of Littlebourne’s email was timely for me since, that very day, whilst driving my 2010 diesel automatic Honda CR-V in sub zero conditions, I experienced hesitation seemingly from the gearbox. I set...

My Kia Rio is returning an average of 72.8mpg.

I watched with disgust a recent 5th Gear programme where Kia's claimed mpg for the new Rio was "tested". The test was conducted by what could only be described as loutish drivers attempting to wring the...

Why are some insurance companies excluding cover for old age?

I thought other readers might be interested to know of my car insurance experience today and wonder how widespread this attitude is. I am a fit 81-year-old, satisfied all the preliminary questions regarding...

I bought a 2WD Volkswagen Tiguan and fitted it with winter tyres for driving in snow.

Reading the comments by TP questioning your experience with winter tyres prompted me to send you my thoughts. Having owned a 4x4 Volkswagen Tiguan and feeling this would be the answer to snowy conditions,...

Why did you recommend the Skoda Yeti which has a gearbox problem?

Why do you write so positively about VAG cars in your road tests? I’ve just read the Skoda Yeti test. You mention the 2.0 TDi. Quote from a Volkswagen main dealer: "it's the worst engine we've made",...

What's best for value - Civic, Focus or Mazda 3?

I have a 2006 Honda Civic 1.8 i-Shift, which has 24,300 miles on the clock. I am now looking to trade it in and am considering the automatic version of the new Civic, the Ford Focus Zetec Powershift and...

Does the nine year lifespan ‘rule’ apply to my Jaguar?

I have a 2004 Jaguar XKR and knowing what 'they' say about vehicle ages, I am beginning to worry about the nine year lifespan for cars. The car is currently eight years old with 15,000 on the clock, am...

Why is the Trafficmaster system being retired?

In 1998, we purchased a silver Vauxhall Vectra which had a built-in Trafficmaster, which advised of road conditions ahead. This was especially effective on motorways as it stayed in “Automatic Mode” at...

Which cheap, diesel car should my son, who lives in France, buy?

You've kindly (and very promptly) answered a couple of questions regarding my son in France buying a car on a limited budget of 5000 Euros. He's scrubbed the Ford Fiesta 1.4 petrol or diesel. He prefers...

Can I recommend using winter tyres following plenty of experience in Sweden?

Your advice on winter tyres is 100 per cent. As a conservative Brit living in Sweden (-15C at the moment with snow every day) I drive a front wheel drive Passat daily 150km over every type of road imaginable,...

Are there any supermini automatics with more than four gears?

Are there any superminis that are fitted with more than four forward gears on normal auto gearboxes, not twin-clutch or DSG?

Is it realistic for the dash cluster to fail on my 7-year-old Honda Accord?

I was driving my Honda Accord when the dashboard lights went out briefly. This occurred again on the same journey only they were off for a little longer. I contacted my local Honda Garage at Stratford...

Why are modern cars designed with headlights where changing the bulb is so difficult?

On of your correspondents mentioned the number of cars driving with a light not working. One reason may well be the tendency for manufacturers now to make a lightbulb change a garage job. In recent years...

Do speed humps cause problems for emergency vehicles?

You and your readers might be interested in an article about Speed Humps in "Your Witness" by Professor Michael Pope, an expert in the field of bio-mechanics and ergonomics. His conclusion was that the...

Why can't snow ploughs plough snow around speed humps?

Last winter I watched a snow plough come down a road heavily infested with speed tables and speed humps. Consequently the plough had to be raised and the road remain unploughed and dangerous. Another case...

What could be causing steering peculiarities in my Honda Jazz?

I think you quite approve of the Honda Jazz and I find a lot to like about this car. I would be most interested to know if you get queries about systemic steering peculiarities. At any speed over about...

Which reliable, economical four or five door car would you recommend?

I currently have a 1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 coupe and a 1989 Mercedes-Benz G Wagon (that runs on LPG and petrol). Both have done over 140,000 miles and I tend to keep cars for a long time. I like both vehicles...

Did diesel freeze cause my Volvo V50 to lose power?

Setting off after parking my Volvo V50 1.6D DRIVe overnight in temperatures down to -16 degrees C, the car kangaroo jumped for a couple of minutes with the engine appearing to be cutting out. When joining...

As someone who drives in Swiss winters, I'd like to endorse your recommendation of winter tyres.

I have just read the letter from TP of Barnstaple who seemed to think you had little experience of driving on snow and ice. I am glad you put him right about that, and the better performance of front-wheel...

Have back problems and need a car that will accommodate

I have to buy a new car for work. I currently drive an Audi A3 (I have covered 106,000 miles in the last three and a half years), but suffer back problems and find the car uncomfortable. I am only getting...

First car - what should I buy for my son?

My son is 17 and I've told him that I will get him a car and insure it for a year - but at a budget of £9000 all in. Assuming the insurance is about £4500 - what car would you recommend that has low insurance...

Banned from driving - should I mothball or sell my car?

I own an Audi A5 Sportback 2.0 petrol TFSI Quattro. The car is rarely used by my family and I have recently been given a two year driving ban. What advice can you give regarding mothballing or selling?

Should my 'trade purchase' come with a warranty?

My stepdaughter is buying a Mazda2 from her father who is a corporate manager for Volvo. It's an 08-plate part exchange vehicle. He knew she was looking for one, so has bought it through his company for...

My HID headlights don't seem to self-level

I'd appreciate your advice - I bought a new Mercedes-Benz C220CDI Sport Estate just over a year ago. The 'Intelligent Lighting' has never seemed to be properly aligned, being too high, and from the start...

Running in 2012 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2Diesel R - In just 600 miles per Handbook?

With my previous car - a 2006 Kia Sorento CRDi XS purchased new, in the absence of advice form the Handbook I ran the engine in over 10k miles following your advice contained within your FAQ section. Thus...

Which 4x4 to replace our family car?

We want to replace the family saloon with something a bit more rugged - a go anywhere car suitable for bikes and some rough unmade up roads etc. We are a family of 4 with 2 large dogs. While the Santa...

Winter tyres - will these fit my Jaguar?

My friend has a Jaguar S-Type (2007) and wants to purchase winter tyres and wheels 245 x 40 x 18. I have a Jaguar XF 2011 which I will sell to him next year which has 245 x 40 x 19 standard tyres. Will...

Next March registration '13' Will it go ahead?

Do you know whether the registration '13' will go ahead next March, or will it be avoided? A dealer tells me that they are worried it will deter buyers and they have heard nothing either way.

Need a used car with ISOFIX mounts

We are looking to trade in my wifes 05 plate 206 1.1s for a similar size 5 door hatch (or slightly bigger) which has ISOFIX. The car needs to be petrol and return 40+mpg and have a tax band of F or below. We'd...

Engine light on - what does it mean?

What is the function of the engine symbol indicator light in the dash board ? Is urgent attention required, The engine and car show no visual problems

Recommendation from HJ - I'm buying a small/medium family car

I have a Nissan Alemra 1996 1.5 auto. It's low on mileage, but quite old now, and I've been driving it since 2007. It was very good for the first three years, but since last year, during every service,...

Cooper Winter Tyres - have you heard of them?

Do you gave any experience or knowledge of the performance of Cooper Weather Master snow tyres. They are a reasonable price but I cannot find any tests/reviews for them?

Nissan Qashqai - Internal condensation

My wife has a three-year old Nissan Qashqai. There's lots of internal condensation, and that means having to wait a long time before driving off - whih is a waste of fuel. When starting up, the a/c is...

Write-off offer - is it right and fair?

My Jaguar XF 3.0 Diesel was written off when stationary at a junction - no blame whatsoever. It was a July 2010 Luxury model owned from new with 54,000 miles, FSH and very high spec. The dealer, Statstone,...

Water got into my BMW - should I repair or write-off?

My seven year old, 125k miles BMW 530d suffered water ingress last week. The insurer's garage won't take the engine to bits and have costed £13k for a replacement power unit - so it's a write off. The...

Stop-start for automatic - how does it work?

I assume that the stop-start on a manual car is electronically activated when the vehicle is put into neutral. If that is the case, why can it not be activated when an automatic gearbox is put into neutral...

Should I go for a Soul instead of a Jazz?

You recently commented that a Honda Jazz as a better bet than a Citroen C3 Picasso. I was on my way to buying a Jazz when I read that the average age of a Jazz purchaser (let alone driver) is 62. You may...

Tyre stripe markings - what do they mean?

My new tyres have radial red and yellow stripes 'painted' on the the circumference of the tread and somewhat offset from the centre line of the tyre, what do these mean?

Sat-nav advice

I'm buying an aftermarket sat-nav - what would you recommend?

My tailgate is playing up...

On occasions, the powered tailgate on my Honda Tourer will not stay open. It will motor down, but even if I open it manually, it will still close immediately...

Blowing front exhaust - then goes quiet when it warm

I've had a problem for months if not more. When cold, the exhaust blows loud at front and it's rattly. It seems to go after one minute when warm - been worse since the weather turned cold. I can't tell...

Struggling with ABS issues

I had my ABS modulator replaced 15 months ago - and then my front o/s speed sensor. But then the warning lights came on yet again - both front speed sensors indicated issues this time. Have now replaced...

Citroen C3 electrical faults

I have a 2005 Citroen C3 HDI 1.4. The power steering fails intermittently, as do the rev counter and the heater display. Also, the fan stops working and the battery light comes on. This problem has been...

VW Passat EGR warning light

I have a 2003 Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI 130, and the emissions workshop warning keeps coming on. I was told by the garage that the error code reported is for EGR valve. I had cleaned, but this has had...

Fuel efficiency by time of year

I now have a Kia Cee'd Ecodynamics 2011 but despite economical driving (e.g. 50-55mph on motorways, smooth braking etc) it's only getting about 49MPG. With all the cold weather we're currently having I...

Will a battery booster device really work?

I have seen advertised in a newspaper, a device you plug into a cars 12v point (ciggy Lighter) when charged you remove the device and if you have a flat battery in future simply re-insert the device into...

Do I need a full-sized spare for my X-Trail?

I have just bought a Nissan X-Trail Tekna for towing a caravan - the tyre sizes are: 225/55R18 on 18x7J rims, whereas on the Acenta they are 225/60R17. Why is this and what are the advantages and disadvantages? Also...

Looking for a replacement for Octavia - it's tough going!

I've owned a Skoda Octavia for the last six years (I bought my current car when it was one year old). It now has nearly 80,000 miles on the clock, and as it's a diesel, and given all your warnings about...