Why does the AA charge so much for replacement batteries?

Recently my wife’s six-year old KIA Picanto would not start, so we called the AA. The patrolman who turned up diagnosed a dead battery. He said that he had a replacement in his van and would we like him...

Is it possible to disconnect a battery isolator without sounding the alarm on my Rover 45?

I keep a 10-year-old Rover 45 garaged abroad. I have fitted a simple battery isolator, and even after five months away it still starts first time on reconnection. The only problem is that I have been unable...

Why doesn't my BMW's Efficient Dynamics system work for short journeys?

The AutoStop/Start on my 2009 BMW 120 M Sport stopped operating on a journey from Bromley, Kent to Cornwall. On return from holiday, 500 miles later, I booked the car into my BMW dealer. I was told my...

How should I store my Volvo automatic for four weeks?

Having read your advice on three months' storage, could you say which of the points are really necessary for an 11-year-old Volvo auto that will be garaged for four weeks, please?

Fiat 500 - start/stop system doesn't work

I have a new Fiat 500 with stop/start, but the system refuses to work. It has been back to the garage numerous times because the stop/start does not apply itself when it should, and when it does it does...

Why does my Volvo S80's battery keep going flat?

This is a desperate call for help. My car is a Volvo S80 auto, bought secondhand with 60,000 miles registered, five years ago. It now registers 67,000 miles. I do infrequent low mileage. It has had two...

Will the Porsche Cayenne stop-start system damage the battery or DPF?

A friend is purchasing a Porsche Cayenne diesel with a stop-start fuel saving cut-out facility. Firstly, does this rapidly destroy a battery (with all the re-starts)? Secondly, as a diesel with a DPF,...

How should we store our Chrysler Sebring for two months without a garage?

We have a 4-year-old Chrysler Sebring Coupe Cabrio. It is a little underpowered, but we like it. We are away for the whole of October and November and have no garage facilities. Is it advisable to get...

What's wrong with my BMW 520d?

I have just had my BMW 520d Touring serviced at 33,000 miles by a local dealer, preceded by a warranty check, which found a leaking exhaust manifold and a faulty EGR. When I took it away, I noticed that...

What's causing my Ford Focus' battery to go flat?

I purchased my Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost in April 2012. Since then the battery has gone flat on three occasions. The first time was three weeks after purchase. The second, on 16 August 2012. The battery...