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Trending topics in December 2013
Questions from December 2013
How do vans used for short journeys cope with DPF contamination?
I have a 2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class automatic and the original tyres fitted were Continental 225/45/R17. Are these tyres and size still the best for this make and model?
We have had a Citroen C3 Picasso1.6HDI Exclusive for almost 3 years and the time has come to buy a new car. We want a similar sized car (perhaps slightly smaller) with the higher driving position and the...
I will shortly need to replace tyres on my 56 Reg Skoda Roomster 3 Diesel 1.4TDI which has done 70,000 mainly trouble-free miles. Currently running on 16" alloys with 205/45 R16 tyres (Falken ZE 912)....
I am considering buying a 1972 Rover P5B Coupé and the Vehicle Check shows a Cat C Accident in August 2004 and a VIC test in April 2009 (Pass). Can I establish what the physical damage was on that claim....
I have a 1990 Renault Trafic 2.5 diesel and my brake pedal is rock hard. I have bled the system OK, but pedal is still rock hard.
My father-in-law bought a brand new VW Passat about 18 months ago on finance.
Sadly, he was recently diagnosed with a serious illness and will no longer be able to drive so we need to get rid of the...
I have a friend who has a 1995 Vauxhall Astra that, in this weather, suffers severe internal condensation. Do you know of any way in which this can be reduced or preferably eliminated?
Five years ago I purchased in the UK a 2003 Jaguar X-Type 2.0 litre petrol, one previous lady owner with 43,000 miles and a Jaguar service history. Since then, I moved to Cyprus and brought the car with...
We run two cars, a Jazz and an Avensis. Both have tyres that have reached 3mm depth so need replacing. In the past, you have recommended Michelin Energy Savers for the Jazz. Is this recommendation still...
I have driven a SEAT Leon Cupra 1.8 20VT for the last 10 years. I can hardly fault it, but it's time to change cars because the SEAT is getting old, and also my wife finds any long journey in my car a...
Arnold Clark has confirmed its £3300 plus quotation for a new DPF for a Fiat Sedici. Is it cast in gold? What are your thoughts on the DPF being professionally cleaned, such as by the DPF Clean Team, as...
My much-loved 2000 Mercedes-Benz CLK 230K cabriolet is now up to 103,000 miles, and is starting to cost serious money so I fear it has to go. I would hope to keep its replacement for at least five years...
Last week we visited the Lake District and decided to take a walk from Grasmere. We chose a walk that was listed as taking three hours and duly parked our car in a Parking Eye Car park, purchasing a four-hour...
I am the registered keeper of a car that was given a private parking ticket. I was not driving the vehicle at the time and I supplied the driver’s name and address as requested. The parking enforcer has...
While my wife was in labour we were talking about how much she loves her Audi (just to take her mind of things). It’s a 2006 TDI Sportline with beautiful wheels and great extras, 70,000 miles. While we...
I drive around 20,000 miles per year on business. I currently have a leased Mercedes-Benz SLK (a bad move for long distances) that goes back in March. I want to buy something reliable, stylish, maybe an...
I am 83 and have a Ford C-Max 1.6 diesel automatic, registered in 2006. I am very concerned about the many reports of gearbox trouble and I am beginning to listen for problems when I am driving now. However,...
I noticed that someone else had written to you about damage to their car from a newly-tarred road surface. I asked your advise in August 2012 and over one year later I am pleased to report that your recommendation...
Aviva has told me that I don't need to tell them I have fitted cold weather tyres, but I understand that other insurers do require it. A colleague told me that winter tyres might be illegal in the summer...
I just scrapped my 22-year-old Audi 100 for a used approved 2008 Audi TT. The manual says it will run best on 98Ron petrol but that 95Ron can be used. I would like to do what's best but nobody makes 98Ron,...
A warning to all car rental users. Check the tyre condition before taking car out of the dimly-lit airport collection point. In August, I rented a car from Hertz in Vancouver, Canada. On our first long...
My 2008 Audi A6 2.0 TDI had an engine oil pressure pump failure in November 2012. Audi refused to assist on the basis that it had not been purchased or maintained by an Audi dealer. An engine rebuild at...
I am soon to buy a new car. I need one around four metres long with a bit of "poke". My driving is mainly mountain roads and motorways. I have three cars in mind, the Suzuki Swift Sport, SEAT Ibiza 105TSI...
My son sold a motorbike back in the spring. Nothing wrong with the deal. He sent the relevant bits off to the DVLA next day. Now, six months later, the DVLA said he would be responsible for any fines etc...
People appear to think they have the right to join a trunk road or motorway from a slip road by just putting on their indicator and pulling out into the stream of traffic regardless of a vehicle being...
I have been driving a Citroen DS4 HDI 160 for about a year. I really enjoy this car, it is comfortable, nippy, fun to drive and economical. It was a great tower of my Eldiss caravan, that I have recently...
While in Austria earlier this year I was told that on roundabouts, the rule is that one only gives a signal just before exiting. This strikes me as quite sensible, as one assumes the motorist is carrying...
I bought a new Ford Kuga Titanium X in June this year, and have recently noticed that the rubber trim round the windows and some of the plastic trim on the door, both on the nearside, have white paint...
After reading your column regarding CB's complaint about damage to a Yaris a/c condenser, I feel I should write to tell you that both my Saab 9-3s suffered similar damage within weeks of each other during...
What other used models the same size as a Yaris, with a good safety rating are worth looking at? Or are they much of a muchness at this size car? We certainly don't want larger than Yaris size.
I have a 2003 Mondeo 2.0TDCI which has just turned 100,000 on the clock and well maintained. The computer warning light has been coming on periodically over the last few years but now is getting more frequent,...
I have been offered a 70 per cent goodwill payment from Audi towards the repair/respray of some minor rust in the roof strips of my 2003 Audi A4 saloon. This is a very good offer for a 10-year-old car....
I have recently taken a subscription for Road Pilot, which warns one of speed cameras and shows my speed on my iPhone (which is fixed onto my car windscreen). I notice that typically my car speedometer...
I was interested to see that you think the Qashqai 1.6DCI would be suitable for an annual mileage of 8500 with only two 20 minute regular journeys per week. I am thinking of replacing my X-Trail with a...
I have been offered a 2.8-litre 1998 BMW Z3 for £2000. I have known the lady owner and her husband for some time and she has told me that the only reason for the sale is her age (mid 70s) and health (arthritis)....
I purchased a nearly-new 2012 Ford Mondeo 1.6 Ecoboost in June 2012 with 3500miles on the clock. The car is parked on my driveway at all times when not in use. Today’s mileage is 10,000. I recently noticed...
I drive a 2008 1 Series BMW 3-door. I have driven BMW cars for over 30 years, but I am now finding, as I get older, that I am having difficulty in the winter. What winter tyres would you recommend? I made...
I have a Ford Transit-based Auto-Sleeper motorhome with Continental Vanco tyres. I have the axle loadings. Could you please help me with the correct tyre pressures? There is nothing in the handbook except...
I have a 2007 BMW X3 2.0dSE with 55,000 miles. Despite a new turbo a year ago, replacement of the inlet manifold and cleaning up the EGR six months ago, the engine management light came on. Now I am being...
My wife and I both recently retired. We want to buy a new or used 4/5 door car. It would need to be economical to run and reliable over an annual mileage of 6000 - 7000 miles, I presume a petrol engine...
I bought a new Corsa SE 1.4 petrol auto which we collected last Friday. After about ten minutes we got on the M1 and after about five more minutes there was a big white cloud of smoke from the back. My...
I had my Volkswagen diesel Touran serviced yesterday. When I got home, I checked the service book and found that they had ticked the 'Oil change: No' box. However, the invoice included charges for oil...
I am going to change my wife's 2009 1.4 Corsa. She requires five doors, reversing sensors and aircon. The car does around 7000 miles pa, mostly short journeys but with the odd longer ride. There is such...
I have a Nissan X-Trail diesel that had a DPF problem, cleared by JFE Nissan at Exeter. They cleared the warning, but after a few weeks, it came on again. JFE said they were unable to clear it and said...
My 2011 A1 TDi recently had a service. I have been advised that the tyres are wearing like a 50 pence piece. What could be the reason for this?
I have. A wheelchair accesible vehicle which I need to sell.
Do you have suggestions as to the best place to advertise and sell it?
The radiator fan continues to run indefinitely after the engine has shutdown even in winter temperatures.
Also, the batttery discharges after a period of time (This occurred even before the fan continued...
We bought a car from a small garage in November. Before we got the car it needed an MOT and service, which the garage did for us as part of the deal of buying the car.
When we got the car we first checked...
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