Pressure crooked

I have heard that the 2.0 TDi (PD) engine in the 2005 VW Passat has a tendency for the oil pump drive to fail suddenly at around 70,000 - 90,000 miles. Is this a known fault? If so, has it been rectified...

Difference of a pinion

I have a 2007/56 Skoda Octavia with 79,000 miles on clock and the diff has just seized and smashed the gearbox. Is this a common problem?

Hello sealer

My granddaughter purchased a Vauxhall Astra Twintop convertible in July 2008. For the first year, the car was not exposed to heavy rain and was garaged at night. Now, however, there are signs of leakage...

Catastrophic converter

My 05 plate Golf Plus 1.6FSI has recently Catalytic Converter failure with only 24,162 miles on the clock. I intend writing to VW to ask for their comments and to see if they would like to inspect the...

Economic situation

Last November, on your advice, I used scrappage to buy a Hyundai i10 Comfort. With one exception I have been delighted with everything about the car. It is lively, perhaps too lively for an octogenarian...

Teves brakes

How many readers have AUDI, SEAT, SKODA, or VW products with Teves ABS faults and replacement parts costing £1,170 - £1,300? We currently have had this problem on both a 2.0 TDI SEAT Altea and a 2.0 TDI...

Matching numbers

I currently drive a 53 plate Golf Match V and I'm thinking of changing it soon. I've spent over £1,800 on it in 14 months and I think it's time for a change. I've been pretty happy with it, particularly...

Drive shafted

I am appalled by some of the tales of dodgy behaviour by dealers. Here's one to add to the list. In February 2009 I bought a used 05 VW Passat 2-litre petrol Saloon with 30,000 on the clock. So far so...

Six life?

Do you have any feedback on the durability of Volkswagen's six speed DSG gearboxes as fitted to the current Passat? Do you have any advice to help reliability other than the standard 40,000mile/4 yearly...

DSG’d writes

I noted in your website ‘What to Watch out for’ section for the Golf Mk VI: "Problems emerging with the 1.4TSI and 7-speed DSG: jerking at low speeds, losing drive, etc. One owner had the transmission...