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Questions from February 2014
I have received a letter today regarding a parking infringement. The notice says I have parked in a disabled parking bay at a shopping centre. However, I have never visited this place and on the day in...
How do I go about getting disabled parking outside my own house?
I need advice on buying a used car for a friend who has mobility issues and finds it difficult to bend when getting into a car. He wants a fairly normal car but understands that a 4x4 might have to be...
Six weeks ago I made a bad judgement and drove through deep water in my Peugeot 306 the car cut out and I’ve been told that the engine has suffered hydrostatic lock and the rods are bent. With a car of...
I have just received a parking ticket from Parking Eye for parking at a large service station. I had just arrived back from France and had driven non-stop from Portsmouth that evening and had to stop to...
In general, how do replica alloy wheels measure up to genuine alloy wheels?
Assuming that BP Ultimate or Shell V-Power diesel is not readily available (I am going abroad), do you recommend the use of Millers Diesel Power Plus during the running-in period of a new Honda DTech 2.2...
A local Subaru dealership has a couple of Legacy Estates for sale (Legacy SE Nav Plus 2L Petrol Auto) 10 miles on the clock, registered Dec 2013 - priced at £17995.
Seems like a lot of car for the money...
My wife has bought a used Nissan Juke. She found it in the classified section of a national magazine and paid £8000 in good faith and checked everything whilst with the car. She also HPI checked the care-number...
My (3 buttoned) key fob use to work with my Vauxhall Vectra (2003). However, after a struggle with the immobiliser, I would get a PADLOCK through CAR symbol on my dashboard.
I opened the case and went...
I bought a 2009 Ford Focus 1.8 TDCI Zetec with 34,000 miles on the clock three months ago. However, two weeks ago it starting making a loud noise which turned out to be a broken camshaft due to a shell...
I am looking to replace my 2002 Toyota Yaris 1.3 SR, which I have had for 10 years. I am currently doing a weekly commute between Southampton and Torquay, a route mainly of fast A-roads and dual carriageways...
I have seen a 2002 Mercedes-Benz SL 320 Edition for sale, with full history and 87,000 miles on the clock. The asking price is £9970. I have always lusted after this car but could never afford one. Now...
The engine management warning light has illuminated on my Toyota Yaris, three weeks before I'm due to exchange it for a new Aygo. The sale has been agreed with the dealer and the car is still behaving...
Whilst getting my 2011 Fabia serviced at my local Skoda dealer I was informed that the brake pipes are corroded due to salt from the road and need to be cleaned and treated at a cost of £45.
I've never...
My wife has decided to trade in her four year old Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec diesel with 29,000 miles on clock for a new Nissan Qashqai. We have been customers of the local Ford/Nissan dealer for the last eight...
I own a 2012 Vauxhall Astra 2.0 CDTi and the car’s rear pads were seized in pad carrier causing heat damage to the disks. The work to fix the problem cost over £200. I’ve also had issues with the quality...
Now that all tyres are rated could you please advise what are the best tyres for a 2006 Toyota Prius? I want the tyres to combine longevity, fuel economy and quietness.
I own a 2010 petrol Skoda Octavia VRS DSG with 20,000 miles on the clock. I have read your reports that the gearbox oil and filter should be changed every 3-4 years, but my local dealer says I should wait...
The engine management light showed up on my 2004 SEAT Leon 1.6 petrol the other day. The engine has been fluctuating between 700rpm to 1000rpm at idling, but this is not a regular phenomenon as it happens...
I’m concerned about the introduction of E10 (petrol) and the impact it will have on my 1997 Jeep Cherokee and 1988 Porsche 944 Lux Auto. Is there anything I should be contemplating having done to them...
I want to replace my Mazda 3 (2004). I do 10,000 miles per year, which averages about 50% on motorways. I'm retired and would like to keep the car for several years, so low running costs are important....
We are a young family looking to move to a bigger car to carry all of the paraphernalia associated with our two young children (currently we own a Honda Jazz). We regularly have to park in narrow car parks,...
We have just bought a used Volkswagen Beetle from a private seller. However, it would appear that there is a turbo fault with it, which make cost £2000 to fix. What are our legal rights?
My Mercedes A-Class (2010) has very comfortable seats, but the steering wheel does not extend forwards for a comfortable arm driving position. This affects both my friend (six foot one) and myself (five...
My Volkswagen Passat 1.8 petrol loses power gradually when driving from 70mph to 40mph. Sometimes it seems as if its being choked, while other times it drives fine. Any ideas?
What small car will not disappoint me when it replaces my seven year old Fiat 500 Lounge Automatic? Economic petrol consumption a must.
I have a car like your dad's Auris Hybrid. I want to put a wheel chair in the boot but it is not flat can you tell me where i can get a flat bottom from
I have had serious water in rear passenger foot well for two weeks and nobody can solve it. Any idea?
The clutch pedal on my Honda Civic 1.8 I-Vtec makes a squeaking/creaking noise when the clutch pedal is depressed and raised. There is no clutch judder or signs of slip, it is just a squeak from the pedal....
I've just received my new V5C document for my new 2014 Audi Q5 and I was comparing it to my Audi A5 with the same engine size, albeit from a 2009 vintage.
The CO2 reading for the new Q5 is 169 G/Km and...
I took my van into my garage as it was belching smoke and making a whirring noise on acceleration. I thought it might be the turbo, but the garage said it was two faulty injectors. I had these replaced...
My Mercedes E-Class failed its MoT and I was wondering if you have any idea with what they failed it with (offside front suspension arm has excessive play in a ball joint) whether the suspension arm just...
I’m experiencing a lot of problems with my Vauxhall Vectra 1.9CDTI. The power comes and goes and you have to rev the engine hard to pull away, only for the power to drop as you move along. The engine management...
The steering is very tight on my 2006 Volvo V50. It is tough for the first quarter turn before power assistance kicks in, but OK going from lock to lock. This problem only occurs when the car is cold and...
I have just bought a 2004 Ford Fiesta, but it sounds like it has got noisy tappets that don’t quieten, even when warm. I’ve read you can flush engine then add a special oil to quieten noise tappets. Is...
I very much like my Honda CR-V 2006 model automatic which has done 63,000 miles.
I do about 11,000 miles per year and need to tow a 1346-kg MTPLM. At what mileage do you advise I change the vehicle?
Later...
I have a 2006 Citroen C5 Estate 1.6 HDi. It uses Eolys fluid to assist combustion, does this in turn mean that the DPF will not need to be replaced or reconditioned at some point in the future?
With the well publicised problems with the DSG gearbox (does this effect both the 6 and 7 speed versions) do you recommend actually buying a vehicle equipped with one? I assume that warranties would cover...
I have a 2009 Renault Clio 1.5 diesel and when I start it emits lots of black smoke. The problem has got so bad now that thick black smoke fills the road and loss of power. Any ideas?
My Ford Fiesta diesel, which has done 80,000 miles, has stated acting odd. At around 70 mph I start gently rocking back and forth in the seat - it feels like the brakes are being applied gently. It's more...
My son purchased a Vauxhall Vectra SRi CDTI 120 in June 2011 with 57,985 miles on the clock from a local dealer. At an MoT examination in December 2013 he received a VOSA Test Certificate that indicated...
I am in my early fifties and have degenerating spinal problems. I currently drive a 2002 Skoda Octavia Elegance 1.9tdi, with 128,000 miles on the clock. It has been a resounding success, extremely comfortable...
Your recommendation is to use air con regularly to avoid dry seals but my car manual recommends leaving air con on to enable the climate control system to function but later on the quick start manual it...
I am considering the MINI Cooper S - the new version yet to be released. But, using MINI's online configurator and adding 90% of the options on offer, the price unsurprisingly rockets by £10,000 bringing...
I have £20000 to be spent on a 2 seater classic car, but i don't know which one to choose. Any ideas?
Just got told my whilst driving, my reverse lights are stuck on. It's a renault clio grande 98-01 manual.
Any ideas what can be causing it? Where we should look to try and fix it, and how?
My dad's going...
I wish to part exchange my Citroen C5 1.6 Diesel estate (Grey) 61.000 miles full service history. Its a 59 registration.
I would like a medium hatchback, so I can get my dopey Labrador in. Petrol,chain...
I was driving to Lincoln on 6 December when a temporary sign for the market detached itself from the mounting and wrapped round the front of my car. I took photos of the damage and rang the council to...
My girlfriend recently bought a 2007 Audi A3 from a used car dealer seven months ago. The service history book states that the "toothed belt" (timing belt) was replaced at 44,000. The car has been making...
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