Questions from August 2010
I've just bought myself a 2001 Ford Focus and I'm fitting some reversing sensors. I need to know which is the colour of the reversing wire that I need to connect the system to.
I am looking for car insurance and I'm totally confused with the different policy offers, particularly with regard to 0 per cent compulsory excess. Help please.
On all three occasions I have driven my 2008 diesel Honda CR-V on motorways in the fast lane, and have experienced immediate power loss and have had to cross into the hard shoulder. On every occasion I...
My 2004 Mazda 6 diesel estate's clutch has failed for the third time at 60,000 miles. After some coercion, Mazda paid for replacements one and two (at 9000 and 22,000 miles respectively) but will not contribute...
I have just taken my Vauxhall to the garage as the engine management light is on. The fault reader showed code P113 - 'door inactivation position sensor'. The garage has never heard of this and couldn't...
My BMW 118d is due for new Pirelli runflats soon. How can I tell if the new ones I buy are the latest version with improved ride characteristics?
I'm absolutely hopeless on these matters but I've got a leak somewhere in my radiator. I'm having to top up the coolant every few days. I bought some Radweld, but to me the directions aren't clear as to...
I have a 2000 Peugeot 406 HDI 90 Rapier. When the engine is warm, the car will not start. Everything works with no warning lights, it's just that it will not catch. After several minutes it catches, or...
My Peugeot 306's cigarette lighter does not work. All the fuses are okay as the dashboard lights and the cigarette light works, and these are all on the same fuse circuit, so I want to purchase a new unit....
I am thinking of buying a Volvo XC70 205 diesel. Are there any potential problems with the turbos I should know about?
The ESP light on my Audi A3 is permanently illuminated. From the fault code I believe it is the much-maligned problem with the ABS pump, which I was completely unaware of until I started doing some research....
My 5-year-old Rover 75 Connoisseur SE CDTi diesel has covered 29,000 miles and will average 48 miles per gallon on a long run dropping to 43 on short runs. My independent garage has recommended Shell V...
In March I wrote, “My 23-year-old daughter is to return to car ownership after four car-free years as a student. The usual advice from all quarters was steering her towards a 4 or 5-year-old Fiesta, given...
What is the law on 3.5-tonne and 7.5-tonne gross box vehicles in relation to motorway third lane use? The right-hand lane of a motorway with three or more lanes must not be used (except in prescribed circumstances)...
When travelling at approximately 75mph in the fast lane on a motorway, my 2006 Audi A6 Allroad diesel lost power. The engine was still turning over but the car was going slower and slower. Despite trying...
I think I have been mis-sold a warranty, given a false MOT and charged for unnecessary work on a high-end car. Is there anyone I can email or speak to confidentially? The dealer will not speak to me but...
I have run a 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK Cab from new (it's now at 98,000 miles) and I recently had the autobox circuit board replaced by a good specialist garage, as the gear change sometimes stuck in lower...
I looked at a 2009 Vauxhall Insignia Tourer 2.0CDTi Exclusiv yesterday, the dealer's own ex-demonstrator with 7300 miles on the clock and priced at £16,495. I'm part-exchanging my 2004 Vectra Energy 2.0...
I drive a 2000W BMW 318SE that I really enjoy but it has not been without problems. It has done 90,000 miles. My wife drives an 06 reg Nissan Note 1.4SE that has done 40,000 miles. Its load carrying capability...
We have just bought a second hand car from a dealer and we found we had to immediately replace broken rear springs and shock absorbers. We understand that we can claim against the dealer, especially as...
My wife and I do 400 motorway miles every weekend and carry a lot of kit. An estate is essential. We have a Mercedes E240 2005 petrol model estate at present which has done 95,000 miles and which has always...
I purchased my 406 automatic, petrol engine, new in June 2000 from a main dealer in France. After about 6 months and coming down an incline on a Spanish motorway I had to brake forcefully to avoid someone...
On 23 October 2009 I purchased a 2002 Golf 130 TDI from an established dealer for £4,500. It had 97,500 miles on the clock, but single owner and FSH, main dealer to 88,000. It came with a warranty from...
A lifetime friend has just died, leaving a 2004 Brotherwood converted Mercedes Vaneo 1.9 automatic petrol with 35,000 miles. The conversion comprises lowered floor, slide sideways rear seats, a drop down...
It’s time to change our car and we finally decided on a Peugeot 308S 1.6 petrol. We are looking for a fairly new low mileage vehicle. Most of the 308s advertised on the Peugeot dealers' website are 1.4...
I have just acquired a rural property access to which will involve about 2 miles along first a semi gravel road and then an unmade dirt track to the house entrance. The visits I have made already suggest...
As a result of ill health, my good friend is considering selling his
Jaguar XK120, which he has owned for 56 years. It is in superb roadworthy condition with some racing history and is used on a fairly...
Our 18-year-old son is about to take his driving test and needs a car. He has been offered a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2i 16v Design Twinport 3 door with 54 plate for £2,800. The car is from reliable friends so...
I have spoken to VW about the failed ESP module on my Golf. They wont help me because I don’t have a full VW service history. But this is a manufacture’s defect and should be the subject of a recall on...
I saw your explanation of indicator etiquette at roundabouts, but felt that it was rather vague and didn’t really answer the question as to which approach lane you should be in. My interest stems from...
Now the hot weather season has descended on us, it has also brought with it idiots that leave dogs in their cars with insufficient ventilation. I witnessed this yesterday in the car park at Burnham Bridges...
I have a Ford Fiesta 1.3 OHV G reg 1989/1990. It starts on the button and runs ok, but will not idle. If you come to a junction and remove your foot from the accelerator, the engine stalls. I have cleaned...
I have a 2002 Peugeot 206 1.4HDI. A couple of weeks ago the engine management light started flickering on and off, and the speedo and the rev counter will read 0 one second them will read 120 miles an...
Can I tow a car back to the dealer? The car in question has been on SORN and it has a current MOT, but I'm insured on the car that would do the towing.
I have a 2009 BMW 330d touring with many extras which I bought for £46,000 list new (it now has 16,000 miles). In April of this year it began to run very rough on startup from cold, and didn't go as well...
We have a Ford Mondeo estate. It has always gone pretty well. We went out on Saturday and it drove fine. Stayed at home Sunday and on Monday morning went out to start it up. Nothing. No electrics at all,...
I am trying to find the list of minor traffic offences according to British Law. Is there any legal document or guide available where all minor traffic offences are listed?
We own a 2007 Vauxhall Astra 1.9 SRI CDTi diesel. The other day I heard a rattling noise in the car and, by the time I got home, I was struggling to get it into second and fourth gear. The garage has said...
The steering rack on my Ford S-Max recently failed and cost me £1300 to replace. The car was just out of warranty by six months and only has 26,500 miles on the clock. I bought the car when it was a year...
We tried out the Fiat 500 1.2 Lounge petrol but found it to be very sluggish, especially as we live in Devon with loads of hills. You mentioned that there could be problems with diesel models on short...
A fortnight ago, when driving my BMW up the M5, on two occasions the DTC warning light flashed and I had a momentary power loss. Both incidents were over in seconds. It didn't happen again until last night...
I was recently 'invited' by my supplying dealer to bring my 10-month-old 170 BHP Volkswagen Scirocco TDI/DSG car in for what was termed an 'Express Visual Check'. The car has done 13,300 miles and is running...
Watching a lady reverse a very large van between my car and the other petrol pump, I was distracted enough to pick up the petrol instead of diesel filler. I only put in two litres of petrol before realising...
I have a 2002 Fiat Stilo Abarth fitted with Selespeed transmission. I have owned the car since 2003. The car has done 36,000 miles. Soon after purchasing the car I noticed that, on starting from cold,...
I recently purchased a 2008 Ford Fiesta Style and, to my amazement, the car came with a key which looks very much like what my grandmother had for her car 15 years ago, a simple plastic thing with no remote...
The dealer has had my car for engine repairs for a month - what can I do to speed the process along?
I bought my car from a dealership in 2009. It's an one-year-old ex-demo with low mileage. No problems with previous service history. This year in Feb it started having problems. The engine indicator lights...
I have a new Smart Car which is using a lot of fuel and feels as though it is labouring when trying to keep to 30mph and 40 mph speed limits. Is the car too powerful or is there something wrong with it?...
I own a 2004 Ford C-Max TDCi with over 100,000 miles on the clock, which will need replacing fairly soon. I seem to remember you writing that if one bought a Mercedes-Benz 220 CDi, it would never require...
Some years ago I had a Volkswagen Passat. I purchased a relay that replaced the wiper relay and gave a variable rate of sweep. This worked by switching on the wipers in 'Intermittent' and when you got...
My Citroen C6 is just over three years old, owned from new with 58,000 miles and always serviced at a Citroen dealer. I took out Citroen's extended warranty. At a recent service the Citroen dealer informed...
Elsewhere on 
