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Questions from August 2017
My Ford S-Max needs a new automatic gearbox at three years, 47,000 miles. Ford will not accept liability. How should I proceed?
I had a no fault accident and my insurance passed me onto an management company, who provided a replacement hire vehicle so I could keep working. Now third party are refusing to discharge the payment....
Our Renault Clio only covers about 3000 miles per year. The pollen filter is changed at each annual service but I feel that this is a bit overkill. Should I stretch the replacement interval and save some...
My Mercedes-Benz E-Class was deemed uneconomical to repair after being driven through standing flood water in December 2013. It was declared Cat D and required a new engine. It was subsequently repaired...
I was involved in a car accident last year and the other party admitted liability. His insurance company rang and confirmed liability both to me and my insurers. My insurance duly paid for all the repairs...
Is it okay for someone else to drive my car while I'm serving a disqualification, or is the insurance void as it's only insured for me to drive? Can someone with third party cover on their insurance policy...
I purchased two years extended warranty on a Mercedes-Benz C-Class, purchased from Motorpoint. The car recently developed a fault, which was rectified by a Mercedes-Benz garage, having first received authorisation...
Whilst driving along, my 2012 Mazda 3 1.6d (39,000 miles) suddenly juddered and went into limp mode. I cautiously negotiated to the hard shoulder with the dashboard lit up with maintenance, ABS, and warning...
I have a three year old diesel Porsche Macan that has been absolutely superb, just had the MoT and no issues were found. To extend the warranty by another 12 months is £1100, or £1800 for 24 months. I...
I bought a 10 year old BMW 3 Series cabriolet from a private seller two days ago. It had 74,000 miles on it and nearly full service history (missed 1 in 2013). I drove it for two days with an intermittent...
Some friends were recently involved in an accident and are keen to purchase a used car with some sort of lane departure warning system as a result. Can you recommend the cheapest used cars which have this...
I've been told by my local Skoda dealer that my 2012 Octavia 1.8 TSi DSG Estate needs a new DSG as it suffered a failure. They found metal debris in the gearbox when they stripped it. Any ideas why it...
Is it usual for a belt tensioner to go off centre and shred the belt? This was the case with our Peugeot 3008 at 28,000 miles.
We need an automatic car as my wife is disabled and can only drive automatic. We also need a big enough boot to fit a mobility scooter, although we slide it in instead of lifting it over the boot sill....
I'm considering buying a Nissan Leaf. There's an attractive offer on at the moment. Are they good value? Why are they so expensive? Surely there are fewer components.
I own a 2015 Ford C-Max 1.0-litre EcoBoost. The clutch burnt out on the M25 in horrendous traffic, I was lucky I found a stretch of the hard shoulder without an accident happening. Ford refused to pay...
I didn't get a parking ticket because the machine was broken - is it fair I've now been charged £70?
Are parking charges of £70 enforceable when the only reason I didn't get a ticket is because the machine wasn't working? I'm 82 years of age and could not possible have walked to another floor to purchase...
I have a 2007 Jaguar XJ 3.0-litre V6 with 44,000 on the clock. Jaguar are saying that the engine coolant needs replacing at this service and are quoting over £100 to do it. When should the coolant be replaced...
Having just retired, I want to treat myself to a classic sports car. I'm even having a garage built to tuck it away. Problem is, I can't decide what to get. With a budget of £25,000, I've considered and...
We've decided to get a Honda Jazz SE Automatic for its space and versatility. We understand that it can be considered slow compared to other similar size vehicles. Would we would have any benefit by using...
How often should air con gas be replaced in a 2012 Volkswagen Golf?
Our four year old Ford Focus 1.0-litre Ecoboost, with 25,000 miles, went in for its annual service and MoT today (main Ford dealer). When we went to collect it, we were told it was suffering from a major...
I have a 2017 BMW 4 Series with 225/40 R19 tyres on the front and 255/35 R19 tyres on the rear (runflats). Over a two month period, both rear tyres have lost 0.3 bar and the front tyres 0.1 bar. The BMW...
My wife recently changed her car from a Land Rover Freelander, worth £2000 and insurance group 23, to a Renault Clio, worth £2000 and insurance group 9. When I changed the vehicle on our Admiral insurance...
Do you have any advice on buying a 2013 Citroen Dispatch Combi? It's done 45,000 miles. Are they expensive to repair?
The heater resistor pack on my Nissan Note failed and was replaced by my local Nissan garage for £172. The part supplied consists of two parts, the resistor and heat sink, and the wires and plug that go...
You mention that supermarket petrol can clog up engines and reduce MPG from the deposits in their additives. I understand that it's best to use branded super unleaded. Is it the case that branded normal...
In early 2013, I bought a new BMW 640d M Sport Gran Coupe. I part exchanged it two years later for a new BMW M4. That cost me £32,000 in depreciation. I'm now thinking of selling my M4 at the three year...
I'm about to spend some money my grandparents left me, but I'm worried that I might waste it. I need a secondhand car for my family and I've always wanted a Jaguar. I've found a 2014 Jaguar XF D V6 with...
I changed the oil and filter on my 2012 Ford Fiesta. Now the engine fault light is on and the turbo isn't working.
Does parking in a close with five designated parking spots count as driveway parking?
I bought a Mini Cooper S convertible recently and within a week, an interior cover running across the width fell off. I took it to a garage and found out that the clips are broken and the garage is unable...
I've applied myself to the quite practical task of oil draining and replenishment on my current luxury vehicle in order to acquire a more manly approach to life. I've been using Mobil 1 oil, but have noticed...
I'm baffled by the different wheel sizes on offer for the same model of car. Often the higher spec models have bigger wheels. Are there any advantages to these bigger tyres, which seem to be considerably...
I bought a car from a garage, which I later discovered was faulty. I left the car with the garage for agreed repairs. No repair was done, so after 10 weeks asked for money back - to which they refused....
The clutch on my new Ford Focus failed after only 16,500 miles (20 months). Ford Customer Relationship Centre say "no defective part" and blame me for "riding the clutch". We may not be the best clutch...
I've been charged £100 for overstaying in a McDonalds car park on the A12. I've appealed both to McDonalds (I was in the "restaurant" the whole time) and MET parking. They claimed there were time limit...
I have a 2009 Ford Mondeo TDCi X Sport that's done 95,000 miles. I was driving at appox 40mph when I suddenly lost my power steering. The engine management light came on and there was a rasping noise from...
I booked my car in for aircon failure and was told the diagnostic fee wouldn't be charged if work was done. I had work done (for £840) and find the diagnostic fee was charged after all. The phone recording...
When I turn the ignition key, the lights come on the dashboard but there's just a clicking noise and the engine doesn't turn. I've charged the battery using a battery starter as it hadn't been driven in...
I took delivery of a Citroen C4 Picasso about six weeks ago from a recognised Citroen dealer. After having cleaned it several times I've become aware of extensive damage repair. I was made aware that it...
I’m a learner driver with my own car. My dad attached a magnet to my spare key so he put it on the fridge. My car now won't start with the spare key. Is this just coincidence or is it the magnet on the...
My 2005 Subaru Outback 3.0R is losing coolant at a high rate, which reputable garages have diagnosed as a head gasket or cracked cylinder with estimates of £1800 - £ 3600 to replace. In 2015, the head...
I have a 2010 Vauxhall Meriva 1.4 turbo that's around 41,000 miles. Driving on the motorway last week, it began to lose power and then completely died. Had it recovered by the RAC and taken to a local...
Is it usual for insurers to charge if you install a dashcam? I'm insured with Admiral and told them I was thinking of installing a dashcam and wondered if this would bring a discount when renewing my insurance....
My daughter's Renault Clio was hit in the back at a roundabout exit by a Ford Ka. The Clio sustained some damage, my six year old granddaughter and her friend were very upset and crying when this happened....
I'm the happy owner of a 2013 Toyota Prius. I'm leaving the UK for two months in winter and wonder what actions you recommend I take with leaving the car on the drive? The longest I've left the car unused...
My 1982 Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W123) auto doesn't like to start when the engine reaches normal running temperature. It has a K-Jetronic ignition system.
I recently hired a car in Spain and during the rental I had a flat tyre. The rental firm charged me 125 Euros when I returned the car. Fortunately, I had taken out separate car hire excess insurance before...
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