Audi A6 emission control light has come on - what does it mean?

I have an intermittent fault with my Audi A6. The Emission Control light comes on and goes off randomly. It all started in October where I had to do a lot of short journeys. But most recently the light...

Why have my parking sensors stopped working?

The parking sensors on my 2008 Ford Mondeo have stopped workong. If I engage them manually it just makes a beeping noise and the parking sensor button on the dash just flashes. When I put the car in reverse...

Powershift problems with Ford S-Max

I have a 2011 Ford S-Max 2.0 diesel with Powershift auto. It has only done 22,000 miles, but is more than three years old so out of warranty. The transmission has a faulty sensor which is costing me £2200...

Land Rover Discovery - which winter tyres are best?

I live in the Scottish Highlands, which gets heavy snow and ice from November till April. I own a 2009 Land Rover Discovery, but am not sure which tyres to buy as I only spend 10 per cent of my time off...

Nissan Note problems - what's the cheapest fix?

My 2008 Note recently had its annual service at a local Nissan garage, but I want to question two of their recommendations. The first problem is the lights on the dashboard behind the rev counter and...

Should I buy a diesel?

I'm looking to buy a diesel; mainly for the long distance drive I usually do and the tax rates. However my friend recently told me that diesel cars have received a huge backlash in publicity. He also...

Is it illegal for a dealer to pretend to be a private seller?

I bought a car from what I thought was a private seller, but have since found out the seller is a dealer. To make matters worse, the car is not fit for purpose and has been deemed to be unroadworthy. Is...

Is my Audi's built-in sat nav faulty?

I bought a new Audi Q5 with lots of extras six months ago. However, the built-in sat nav doesn't take the fastest or shortest route when asked to do so and if you programme in the home address it takes...

Should I buy a Lexus RX 400H with a high mileage?

Should I be worried about buying a 8-9 year old Lexus RX400H with 130,000 miles on the clock?

When should I service the auto box on my Focus?

I have a 2008 Ford Focus 2.0 petrol auto. I am trying to find out when I should service the auto gearbox. It looks like it has never been done and looking through the service literature it doesn't list...

Should my local garage pay for snapped glow plug removal?

Last week I had a quote from my local BMW garage for £300+ for changing the glow plugs on my BMW 5 Series (2003). I gave them the green light to do the work, but have now been told that they’ve snapped...

Should I change the timing belt on my Fiesta?

I have a 2006 Ford Fiesta Ghia 1.4 petrol that has done only 22,000 miles in nine years. I've been recommended a timing belt change at 100,000 miles or eight years. Is that right for this low mileage car?

Have you guys tested Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons tyres?

Sometime back you mentioned that you were going to test the new Goodyear Vector 4 Seasons tyres. Have you done so and if so where can I see the test report?

Parking fine in a hospital - do I need to pay?

I received a parking ticket from Parking Eye for parking in a no parking area at a hospital Feb 2013. I had to take my daughter to A & E and did not see the no parking sign. I wrote to PE explaining the...

Which wheels for a V40?

I am considering buying the Volvo V40 XC D2 Powershift. 17-inch wheels appear to be standard although 16" wheels are available at no extra cost, which should I choose and why please?

Buying an Eos - does the roof tend to leak?

I am considering buying a Volkswagen Eos but I have heard that there have been problems with leaking roofs. This is also now quite an old model, shortly to be deleted. Any thoughts?

Post-warranty gearbox failure - should the dealer pay for my repairs?

I have a 2011 Volvo V60 with a gearbox failure. It is 37 months old and has done 48,000 miles. The twist to my story is that I took the car in for a service one month before expiry of the warranty and...

Which is best for a family, estate or MPV?

My wife and I have a large dog and are expecting a baby in March. I currently have a Mazda 6 Estate (2004) but am looking to sell for a newer and bigger option. Whilst I would love another estate and am...

Is the head gasket leaking on my Jaguar XJS?

I have a Jaguar XJS 3.6 Coupe auto. It was laid up for over a year, but fired up and ran smoothly when I bought it eight months ago. I have restored the interior (damp due to leaky screen) but found a...

Hyundai i30 paintwork peeling - who's liable for the repairs?

My son purchased a five month old Hyundai i30 in August 2012 from a dealer. Over the past year several large sections of paintwork several inches in diameter have come away, mainly around the front bumper. My...

Can frozen wiper blades cause an electric fault?

This morning I've tried to operate wipers when frozen. All I got was a lot of clicking in fuse box area. They worked eventually but now all the electrics keep going off and coming on whilst driving. Any...

Is it illegal to sell a car that's unroadworthy?

I recently bought a 2002 Volkswagen Golf for my daughter who is learning to drive. We paid £650 and the car was taxed and MoT'd for one month. When we bought the car the MoT was a clear pass with no advisories...

Is my car legal without a DPF?

I've removed the DPF and EGR from my Vauxhall Signum, due to constant engine problems. Is the car legal if the model is pre-2008?

Can a stop-start system cause turbo damage?

I have just ordered a Skoda Octavia 1.2 petrol. The car has a stop-start system fitted for economy, but surely it is good practice to let a turbo engine idle for a short time to allow the turbo to cool?...

Ford S-Max suffering injector problems - can I fix it myself?

My Ford S-Max has a diesel leak from what I believe is the fuel injector manifold. It sits in the middle of the engine and six silver metal pipes come off to feed the injectors and the top has three ridges...

BMW 320d - should I change the auto transmission oil?

I wondering if auto transmission oil should be occasionally changed in my 2006 BMW 320D? It doesn't appear as a routine service item in the booklet.

Does a Mk4 Fiesta qualify as a classic?

My mother's Ford Fiesta was first registered in May 1997. It is in immaculate condition inside and out, but failed its MoT in May last year because the brakes were not effective enough. It has only done...

Why does my Renault Clio cut out when I stop at a junction?

Why does my 2005 Renault Clio cut out when I stop at a junction? It only occurs just after starting and after the car has been stood over night. Once I restart it it's okay.

Mercedes-Benz CL500 auto - do I really need to change the gearbox oil?

I own a 2009 Mercedes-Benz CL500. It has covered 35,000 miles from new and my local dealer inform me that the automatic gearbox oil and filter should be changed at this mileage at a cost of £303. Is this...

Golf R carbon build up - is there a cure?

Is there anything I should add to petrol to reduce the carbon build up on the exhaust in my Volkswagen Golf R? Or will it harm engine? There is a build-up on the exhausts. I sometimes use metal polish...

My Zafira has an intermittent starting problem

My Vauxhall Zafira B sometimes won't start. After you turn the ignition all the normal dashboard lights turn on but nothing happens, not even a click. It randomly happens around once a week or less. I...

Tyres for Mercedes CLS

I have a 2008 Mercedes CLS which has 245/40/18 tyres. I fitted Michelin Primacy 3's to my previous E-Class which lasted well and were good on fuel but they don't make them for this tyre size. Goodyear...

What is the best petrol to use in a BMW 330I?

What is the correct petrol to use in a BMW 330i?

Slow starting Nissan Micra

My 2005 Nissan Micra (petrol) has been very slow to start from cold recently. It does start first time, but is sluggish until the ignition "kicks in" and turns over in a slow, less positive manner. I...

Why is fuel economy so awful for autos?

Why is fuel consumptions so bad in automatics, compared to the manual versions? It appears to be worse with Kia/Hyundai/Ford, most with dual clutch boxes. VAG group cars and BMWs seem to roughly match...

Peugeot 206 SW - when should I change the glow plugs?

I have a 2004 Peugeot 206 SW with a 2.0 HDi engine. It has 72,000 miles on the clock, mostly on long motorway trips, and has been maintained according to its schedule. Do you think it worthwhile changing...

Honda Civic: 1.8 petrol vs 1.6 diesel?

Can the 1.6 diesel be driven like a normal car without causing dpf problems? How long a drive before the engine is hot enough to burn the exhaust soot? I do a lot of short 4.5mile trips in winter I find...

Valuation of as new Rover 75

Could you please help me value a 2002 Rover 75 V6 Connoisseur in Wedgewood Blue with only 175 miles on the clock. It is as new. If I decide to sell it, where would you suggest would be the best place?

I misfuelled my C-Class - what should I do?

I filled my Mercedes-Benz C250 with petrol instead of diesel. I realised when the engine began to falter after about 25 miles and stopped the car. Mercedes-Benz recovered the car and took it to their Norwich...

Which car on PCP?

I'd like advice on what 5dr hatchback to buy please. Would like to put a £2k deposit on an £8k car, with four year payment plan at roughly £125.00 per month. I need a 1.4 to 1.6-litre engine. Age 2012/3....

I need a first car for less than £1000

Looking for my first car for £1k or less. Needs to be a runabout car doing roughly 14k miles a year to and from work. I have found a Citreon Saxo 1.1 petrol on 02 reg, and a Ford Fiesta Ghia 1.2 04 reg....

Used car has broken down after 2 months - what should I do?

I recently purchased a 2007 Isuzu Rodeo for £7200 a few months ago. Today, the engine started making a strange noise and the car then refused to start. My local mechanic thinks it’s something to do with...

Can I get a decent car for £500?

I have a tiny budget of £500-£600 for a second hand car, but have no idea which make or model to go for. Can you help?

Will I have DPF problems with this driving style?

I'm tempted by a 2010 36k Qashqai 2.0-litre diesel with FSH. I like everything about it but concerned whether I might have DPF issues. Annual mileage would be 8-10k mostly short runs of 10-20 miles with...

Would a Hyundai i10 make a good first car?

I'm currently learning to drive and thinking ahead about what car to buy when I've passed.! My daily commute is a 10 mile round trip in heavy city traffic, but I'll also be doing a fair amount of motorway...

Are German cars reliable?

I saw this article (http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/news/company-cars/2013-11/bmw-and-audi-top-reliability-survey/), which suggest that German cars are fairly reliable. Then on the other hand there are many...

Should I buy a 2011 Golf automatic?

I love my Volkswagen Golf TDI, which I've had for 11 years. But I now want a car with an automatic gearbox. I have tried a 2011 Golf TDI auto and think this is the car I want. But friends say I should...

Refuelling problems with Jaguar XF

I've started experiencing problems when refuelling the tank of my 2011 Jaguar XF. The fuel pump starts clicking when the tank is 1/3 full and it's almost impossible to fill the tank to the top. My local...

Buying a new Audi A3 - petrol or diesel?

I am interested in buying a new Audi A3, but am unsure whether to go for a petrol or diesel. I mostly cover short journeys of 10 to 20 miles. Is it best to stick to petrol and if so 1.4 or 1.8 engine?

Ford C-Max suffering from turbo spindle play

I was servicing my Ford C-Mas 1.6 diesel the other day and noticed the end of the turbo spindle has about 1mm of play. The car has done 75,000 miles and has been serviced with OEM parts all its life and...