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Questions from March 2013
Three weeks ago I went over a speed bump and the battery warning light came on and a warning 'Limited EPB' appeared on the console. I took the car, a 2004 Ford C-MAX to the main Ford dealer who replaced...
Just had a 2008 Ford Fiesta brought in with no engine start. Battery was 9 volts, replaced battery, checked Diagnostics for any codes - only low battery faults found, still won't crank with key. Key locks...
Would the new VW Golf auto be an improved ride over my Jazz iShift?
I have a 3 year old Mondeo 2.0 TDCI with 65,000 miles on the clock. I do around 18,000 miles per year and have a 40 mile round trip for work each day. It runs as new and has had no problems while I've...
I have a 2008 Mitsubishi Outlander D-ID 2.0. I'm having some real problems with my steerin - at the moment the steering feels really sloppy and the steering wheel pulsates (kick back) in the opposite direction...
I currently have a Dec 2005 Skoda Superb 2.5 V6 TDI which is our only car as we have a 1500kg caravan.
I understand the problems with DPFs but most of our journeys are local < 10 miles but we still need...
I purchased an approved used BMW (2006 330i Touring M Sport) from a BMW dealer in August 2012 which I have two questions about;
1/ It has come to light after 8500 motorway (very sensibly driven) miles...
I've always wanted a Chrysler 300C, but concerned how well it will perform in snow, even with snow tyres. Should I completely write it off since we can get lots of snow, or will winter tyres make it drivable...
I am in the market for a convertible and know you extol the virtues of the FIAT 500. Would it be silly to pay the extra for an Abarth pokier version, or just go for a top engine ordinary FIAT 500C? My...
I thought you might be interested in my conclusions for misbehaving central locking on a X-Type Jaguar. The problems were varied and not constant as to which doors opened or locked. The most common after...
I feel moved to write about recent legislation on exempting pre-1960 vehicles from a MoT. I'm a classic car fan and own Sunbeam Rapiers and a collection of mid-eighties Audi B2 80's. These later cars are...
I wonder how many millions must have been spent on the countless number of 20mph signs now blighting roads in built up areas, many in little-used rural roads. From what I have seen this ridiculous limit...
I read your reply to JN of Midhurst in which you said you couldn't understand why people preferred analogue speedometers. The reason is very simple. With a digital speedo you have to actually look at the...
I wonder if you can give us some advice. Our Land Cruiser has done 90,000 miles with no problems whatsoever until the engine suddenly died while overtaking a lorry up a hill on the A46. It had to be put...
Like JN of Midhurst, I too was caught doing 35mph in a 30 zone. First time in 60 years of blameless motoring, so I was cross. I took the speed awareness course, which cost me £90. However, my new Jazz...
Last autumn I joined the A5 from a minor road at a busy large roundabout with five exits. As I left the roundabout I felt the slightest bump on my nearside. Four days later I received a Notice of Intended...
A letter asked about audible speed warnings in cars. For the past 10 years I have been using a device made by NCS Systems (www.ncs-systems.com) called Speed Angel, which provides both audible (switchable)...
I've been racking up 25,000 miles a year in my Superb estate since September 2010, and am planning to change it this year. My default plan is to replace like for like, whilst adding the security of 4x4...
I have to use my garage as a workshop, as well as a safe haven for my beloved car to eliminate the worst of the British weather. Unfortunately, the garage was built by a thoughtless developer who minimised...
In November 2012 my wife and I purchased a 1.6 Petrol Zetec Ford Fusion automatic, registered September 2010 with a recorded mileage of 4400, which has now covered 4950. We find acceleration on drive-off...
I am wondering about buying a 2002 Volkswagen Passat Estate 4.0 W8, automatic, 91,000 miles, full VWSH. It is advertised at an independent garage for £4995. Is there potentially plenty of life left in...
We are focusing on news regarding fuel additives for use in diesel engines. With diesel cars now over 50 per cent market share in the UK, and very significant numbers in use, there's a valid story concerning...
I have my eye on a Porsche 911 996 C2 cabriolet, the ‘facelifted’ version with 3.6-litre engine etc. It’s a 2002 with 58,000 on the clock and a full service history (Porsche main dealer for years 1-3 and...
We have a 2-litre Alfa 147 Twin-Spark Lusso, bought new in March 2004. It's the most reliable car we've ever owned (we had 13 BMWs before). The mileage is only just over 48,000 and we'd like to keep it...
I posted a message on the Toyota blog relating to the about to be launched new 2013 Toyota RAV4. In it I said:
“I change my car on a 3 year cycle. In 2007 I bought my first RAV4 paying extra for a model...
I must be one of many, I'm sure, who's now preaching the benefits of winter tyres on a small hatchback after cruising up snowy roads that were the equivalent of the north face of the Eiger before (Goodyear...
A huge thank you for your advice about water damage to the electrics of my MINI convertible due to failure of the hood. I pursued the MINI dealership MD and he has conceded on this occasion that the damage...
One to add to your list of decent behaviour. I have a Golf 1.4 TSI 122PS DSG automatic registered 30-6-2009. At three and a half years old with a mileage of 12,316 the Mechatronic unit failed (the car...
Last Friday a lady crashed into my car. She admits it was her fault, we swapped details and the insurance company is now sorting the claim. My problem is I think they are too quick to "write off" my car....
My wife is thinking of changing her two-door car for a four-door and likes the look of Volkswagen Golf Bluemotion 2010/11, but a mechanic friend said they can be a problem. Can you please advise as we...
In considering the benefits of winter tyres, is there any reason I should not use them all year round? I can buy them in exactly the specification for my car, which is 225/55R18 98V. My mileage is 15,000pa,...
My newer car’s air conditioning is stinking whenever I turn it on. The smell is terrible. Do you know what's up with it and how I can make it smell better?
Further to the recent comments from readers about metals becoming bonded together (principally aluminium alloy wheels and iron hubs). Harking back to my school chemistry lessons, the problem is that any...
I think you need to look closely at your "MoT results" statistics. I've just looked at the Skoda Superb. The graphs state that for every year apart from 2002 the Superb has a worse pass rate than the average....
I’m retiring at the end of the year and my wife and I will be reducing to one car. I want to purchase a usable classic, which I can fiddle with and use purely for the fun of it. I’m not interested in rare...
If you have any advice for a frustrated driver then I should be grateful to hear it. Whilst heading out and driving along a local urban stretch of A-road today I caught up with a group of at least 20 cyclists,...
I have an Audi A4 Avant with a 3-litre diesel engine. I would rather like to change it for an S4 but I don't like the low profile tyres that are standard on that model. Could I specify A4 wheels and tyres...
I bought a Citroen C4 from a Citroen dealer in 2009. Although it had only 300 miles on the clock it was a secondhand purchase. Since then, all services have been done by the dealer but last year I was...
For many years my wife and I have been buying the Vauxhall 2.2-litre Vectra as we like its combination of size and power, we also like the fact that the economy of the petrol engine is surprisingly good....
My son in law is just starting out as a plumber and is considering buying a Peugeot Partner diesel. Having read your page for a number of years I told him that he might have problems with a diesel as he...
Several months ago I bought a 2011 SEAT Ibiza 1.2tsi with the seven speed dsg gearbox as a replacement for my diesel Focus, as I do a lot of town driving with work and was worried about imminent turbo...
The DVLA tells me that regardless of being a French/Spanish or other EU resident holding a driving licence of the country in which resident they are subject to the 70 years old rule.
I hold a French...
My Ford Mondeo Estate brake pedal goes rock hard while I am driving resulting in ( for a second) brake failure. I took it to my local garage who replaced the vacuum?
After a few days the same thing happened,...
We currently run a 2010 Mondeo 2.0 Titanium (60,000 miles) and a 2009 Fiesta 1.6 Zetec (20,000 miles), both diesel. I am deploying to Afghanistan in July for 6 months. Would it be best to sell the Mondeo...
I recently contacted you regarding my intention to buy a Volkswagen Jetta. I have now bought the car, and am delighted with it. It carries our two sets of golf clubs with ease, all out of sight in the...
At present we have a 6 year old Toyota Yaris. It's been reliable but we want to change it in.
We're 82 and 75 - both still fit and able to drive and we live in a village, trips are mainly within a 50 mile...
In Saturday's Telegraph reference to mobile tyre fitting at competitive prices. Have used Blackcircles.com on a number of occasions found them to be competitively priced and punctual.Do not just sell the...
I hired a van from a rental company today to move some office equipment around. I paid a £200 deposit upfront, the charge for hiring the vehicle for the day plus £12.50 to reduce the excess charge from...
Your Renault Zoe report said 'Only a handful of the latest tech diesel engines can be started and driven for less than 5 miles from cold starts without eventually choking their diesel particulate filters'...
I have just bought a 1997 Jeep Cherokee, 88,000 miles, fsh, etc.
My first task will be to take it to my trusted mechanic for a thorough service.
In addition to a "service", what else needs to be done to...
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