FAP happy?

I would be grateful for your advice on the following matter. I have noted that on occasion you have highlighted the problems and associated remedial costs caused by failure of diesel particulate filters....

ABS sense

My May 06 Octavia 2.0 TDI has just been diagnosed with the failure of the ABS unit [G201 fault code]. I note your recent comments about VW covering the cost of replacing the pump, but from other comments...

Hubble bubble, oil and trouble

I wonder if you can please provide me with some advice as Volvo is refusing to replace a broken turbo on my 18-month-old C70 D5 (which will cost me approx £2k in parts and labour). They are refusing to...

Commuter belter

I am considering a replacement car to use as a commute of around 110 miles a day plus some business miles say 28-30k miles per annum. At present I have a Golf MK 1V TDI 100BHP on an 03 plate approaching...

The 7 Year Glitch

I have just retired and would like to buy a new car that will last me at least 15 years in the price range £17,000 to £22,000 and wondered what your recommendations would be. I have been looking at Mercedes...

Brake chancing

We saw and test-drove a VW Touran just under 3 weeks ago. There was a light on the dashboard, which I thought was the traction control light, and the ESP light near the gearstick was also on. The dealer...

Bad news to brake

I have a 2006 Volvo S40 with 1.6 diesel engine. You suggested this engine in preference to 2.0 litres. It has been economical (average of 48mpg for mixed motoring) and very satisfying to drive. In the...

Closing the unstable door?

I own a VW Golf Mk5 SE 1.6 FSI 115PS registered 16/05/2006. The ESP OFF light came on along with the skidding car motif on the console and would not respond to the switch. Peter Cooper (Southampton) Ltd...

Maz’d hysteria

I have been watching an increasing number of entries on your Mazda 3 technical forum with problems associated with the Dynamic Stability Control unit. As the repair of this problem, a replacement unit,...

Unstable ABS

Had a warning light come up on my 2005 BWW 1 Series. The manual suggests Suspension Stability Control. BMW diagnostics states "brake hydraulic malfunction " DTC at a cost of £1,200 part + £500 labour....