Questions from July 2010
I am an observer for the Institute of Advanced Motorists and am currently observing a gentleman to help him to pass his advanced driving test. His car is a 2010 KIA Cee'd 1.6 diesel with an automatic gearbox...
Do number plates with the wrong font or spacing or letters changed by screw position, eg C to E, and are therefore illegal, affect the insurance of the car? Is this something one should take note of in...
Are you aware of any developing problems involving dual mass flywheels on the 2010 Efficient Dynamics BMW E90 320D SE range? I've recently had a problem diagnosed as the DMF and have been advised that...
My daughter moved away from home a while back and has no need for her car (which now lives on our drive). She has asked me to sell it on her behalf, which I'm happy to do but want to check the legalities...
I bought a car from private buyer and drove home. Within 30 miles of starting the journey home (80 miles) a bearing collapsed and tore off the back wheel - it was only MoT'd on April 26 2010. Where do...
How long does a motor manufacturer have to continue to provide spare parts for? I heard 10 years after the production of the car ceased. I'm having a problem getting a spare part for a 9-year-old Citroen...
I'm thinking of buying an early MX-5. I remember you recommending a particular year as being the being the best bet, which was it? I like to work on my own vehicles and I think that you mentioned that...
I have an '04 plate Saab 95 2.2 turbo diesel that has started to run very rough. It has 55,000 miles on the clock and was serviced at 50,000. It starts without any problem and runs well until it gets up...
I am learning to drive. I would like to buy a eco-friendly car and I have around three thousand pounds to spend - could you advise me on what I could find for this outlay?
During the night some scumbag stole my Vauxhall Corsa SRI's door mirrors. I have now discovered that this was a limited edition and Vauxhall no longer manufactures door mirrors for this particular model....
I'm looking to replace my petrol car with a diesel and I quite like the Citroen C5. I've found an Oct 2007 plate 1.6HDi VTR+ saloon with 1500 miles for sale by a Citroen main dealer, as part of the Approved...
Could you please advise which is the most fuel efficient 4-wheel drive model of the Tiguan range? I currently drive a Volkswagen Driver and I need a vehicle which has a lot of space for my grandsons and...
We have owned our 2002 Volkswagen Passat since new. Following a heavy downpour with a driving sideways wind, I got in the car the next morning to find the drivers footwell waterlogged, as was the back...
I have a private number plate on a vehicle that I am going to trade in for a new car in September. What is the best way of transferring this to the new vehicle?
I'm not sure whether to trade in my 2002 52-reg 1.5 S model Nissan Almera or spend more on new tyres and brake pads. I visited a showroom and saw a basic Micra, brand new but now obsolete, and could change...
I am considering purchasing a device which is supposed to jam speeding laser device signals and doubles as a parking sensor. Is it legal and is it an effective way of avoiding laser gun speed traps ?
I understand the Vauxhall Corsa 1.7 CDTi has the new Vauxhall diesel engine. I am considering looking for one. Is it reliable and does it have a good DPF life with the 1.3 CDTi, which apparently has problems?
I have just purchased a Skoda Fabia 1.2 DSG and consider it a great car. I'm very happy with the performance for a small car and, compared to the small Toyota automatic, it is excellent. You recently said...
I run a 1997 BMW 323i Tourer that has done 150,000 miles (admittedly it had a factory replacement engine at 30,000 miles due to cylinder liner corrosion) and apart from the usual bushes, bearings, shock...
My Ford Mondeo mk2 2.0-litre estate 'splutters' when trying to accelerate in higher gears. It will sometimes take a while to start in mornings as if starved of fuel. Any ideas?
I have a Skoda Octavia, registered in 2005, with the Volkswagen 2-litre (140bhp) diesel engine. It is due for the timing belt to be changed. I'm not sure what else needs to be done when the belt is changed?
My wife has a 56-plate Honda CR-V with the CDTI engine. It has 56,000 miles on the clock and a main dealer service history. The last service was in February 2010. Yesterday it suffered a terminal failure...
Our Renault Scenic 2006 1.5 diesel has developed a strange and unpleasant smell emanating from the air conditioning, especially when the unit is first turned on. We run the air conditioning generally when...
We ordered a premium Hyundai ix35 4x4 with media and individual packs in Sirus silver on 14 May 2010. Delivery was estimated at to be before the end of July, but has now been put back to end of August...
I have just purchased a Volkswagen Polo on a 10 plate. My lights are constantly on when the engine is running. I cannot turn them off at all unless I turn the ignition off. I think there is a fault on...
Could you please recommend possible vehicles for my partner, who is having to hand back her company car (a Nissan Pathfinder) at the end of the month? She likes the room and power of her Nissan, especially...
I ordered a brand new Suzuki Swift Sport in February this year, taking advantage of the car scrappage scheme. At delivery date, I made my way to the dealer and very happily signed all appropriate documents,...
I have a trailer with a weight of 600kg unladen and 2500kg laden that I want to register in Bulgaria. The authorities there will only accept a V5 or similar as proof of ownership. The DVLA just keeps sending...
Where is the diesel fuel filter located on my 59-plate Saab 9-3?
The paint protection Cilajet is getting good reviews on this side of the pond. US and Canadian websites are www.cilajet.com and www.cilajetcanada.com I'm not sure if the product is available in Britain....
I have a Road Angel speed camera detector, which displays my speed. On my Honda CRV it always read 3 mph higher than the car Speedometer. I have changed now to a Civic Type S and the Road Angel reads 5...
I am in the motor trade and was on road test in a customer’s car the other day. He was driving and block changed from 2nd to 5th at about 35mph going UP the gearbox. I was horrified, believing this would...
Perhaps you would like to alert your readers to a potential trap. Recently, in Hanover, parked up legally in the museum area, I returned to find a ticket on the car. On enquiry, this turned out to be a...
We recently changed our car insurances and have a much better and cheaper deal from Saga than our old company. Loyalty certainly did not pay. However, we have been persuaded to change our roadside assistance...
The current disgraceful state of the roads here in Northumberland, and apparently across the rest of the UK, finally puts paid to the absolute lie that speed cameras are about safety. If the previous government...
In recent correspondence, CS suggested that 4x4 owners should assist "public authorities" delivering meals on wheels etc. when it snows. There are organisations that already do this, particularly COTAG...
Many cars (Golf, Audi TT) have no spare tyres. The can of sealant costs £45 (or £3 from cpc.co.uk) and once used, the tyres cannot be repaired, needing new replacement(s). What progress? Can Golf Mk4 emergency...
I noted your recent comment on the time lag with VW DSG gearboxes when starting at junctions. My three-year-old Passat 2.0TDi DSG suffers from this to such an extent I am considering changing it for a...
I have an 03-plate Hyundai Trajet 2.0CRTDi with approx 80,000 miles on the clock. When I change from first to second gear there is a very unhealthy crunching noise. From talking to Hyundai dealers and...
Having purchased a 2009 model Toyota Verso, I thought you might appreciate some feedback. I agree 100 per cent that my "2.0D is uninspiring to drive" - its either underpowered or over-geared, and seems...
The clutch pedal on my wife's Peugeot 107 is becoming jerky on return. Is this a manifestation of the 107 clutch problem and will it be covered by warranty? What do you recommend? The car is a 2008 model...
I took my Nissan Almera 2002 1.8 Auto to a garage had new complete exhaust fitted at cost of £348. Soon after, the engine management light came on. The garage checked it and said it was O2 reading new...
On a PCP, if I pay a higher deposit it reduces the monthly payments, I think. When is it a good idea to pay the higher deposit on a PCP?
I've heard that the Peugeot 107, Citroen C1 and Toyota Aygo were made identical, with a few changes. Do all three cars have the same clutch kit?
I am considering buying either a Volvo V70 or Ford Mondeo estate. We need a diesel to do two long journeys abroad a year and modest mileage in the UK, possibly to pull a medium-sized horse trailer with...
I would like you to make all your Vauxhall purchasers aware that if they do not have their cars serviced by Vauxhall dealers then any goodwill gestures regarding warranty will not be forthcoming, although...
Could you tell me if there are any changes being made to the Note, September onwards. My dealer said he thought they might alter the engines, but said they would be the last to know. Anything you can find...
I am seriously looking to buy a 7-seat MPV shortly with a budget of around £12,000. Everybody, including your good self, seems to rave about the S-Max, but looking at the reviews and specs, it does seem...
I am looking to buy a '57 or '08 plate Nissan X-Trail and just come across some information that seems to indicate that the turbo has been a real problem. Can you offer any advice on this? I understand...
My 20,000-mile Volkswagen Golf GT TDi 2.0-litre has just had the DPF, engine management and diesel glow plug lights come on. I bought it six weeks ago from a main Volkswagen agent. The dealer who has looked...
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