Questions from August 2010
Twice in the past year you have answered a similar question to 'is it economical to coast in neutral down hill'. Both times your answer is wrong! Of course you are correct that in neutral the engine is...
My son is a photographer who sometimes carries 9-foot backdrop rolls to shoots, as well as lighting poles etc, and needs to replace his ageing Shogun Sport. He would like better fuel economy, and occasional...
I have a two and a half year old BMW M3 and I drive it a lot because of my job. I plan to change it in 2013 and imagine it will have done about 80,00 miles by then. I need to plan this carefully because...
My 2005 Citroen C4' VTR's engine management light keeps lighting and telling me the de-pollution system is faulty. Any ideas?
I own a 1999 1.6se petrol Volkswagen Bora which seems to be burning a lot of oil, which can be seen more so when taking off after sitting in traffic, or taking off after back pressure has been applied...
I have a 2008 1.6 Vauxhall Meriva which has an annoying creak at low speeds and a buzzing/rattle over 60mph from under the driver's side dash. Do you have any ideas where this could come from? Also, I...
I have a Vauxhall Astra automatic that started to play up. The gearbox and engine management lights have both come on. The car drives and changes gears but I have to change them myself. What could be the...
I just bought a 2003 Ford Fusion 2. I am losing water in the expansion tank. No leaks anywhere, no temperature increases. What can it be?
Another vehicle reversed into my car at a motorway service station car park and drove off without attempting to leave any details. However, I have his registration and two independent witnesses. Damage...
My wife's Volkswagen Polo Dune was supplied new in 2004 with bright silver alloy 71/2 J x 17 'BBS' wheels with 215/40 ZR 17 83W Dunlop Sport 9000 tyres. The nearside alloy wheels have been 'kerbed' and...
I've discovered Mazda are recalling Mazda 3 2007-2009 models due to major problems with the steering column. Have you any information regarding this?
I am looking to buy a 2003 Ford Fiesta 1.3 LX 3-door hatchback. It says in the description that it is in excellent condition all round, and has a brand new timing belt and water pump plus a full service....
I'm trying to work out whether to buy a petrol or diesel Ford Mondeo, taking into consideration that the initial price for this car secondhand is the same, say £2000. If I'm doing a mix of short five-mile...
In the past I have owned a Volkswagen Polo and a Golf. The cars lasted 17 years and 14 years and were still good roadworthy cars when I sold them. I was shocked when I read your comments about modern cars...
I've put a new battery into my car and I can't find a code for my CDR500 VDO radio. How do I get a new code?
I own a 523 E39, a stunning car. Unfortunately I'm unable to open the driver's door using my key or remote. I have checked all the fuses and the relays all seem ok. I have disconnected and reconnected...
Could you please advise as to which medium-sized car has the best back support, which also allows for a range of adjustment?
I have a 2006 Ford Fiesta. I tried to jumpstart it by connecting the battery the wrong way round. Now the car is completely dead. Do I need a new battery or have I blown a fuse?
I have an 2005 Mercedes-Benz A180CDi which has done 40,000 miles. The offside front suspension clatters over bumps and makes a single 'clonk' when first setting off. The clattering noise varies quite a...
I'd be grateful if you could tell me if the diesel Mitsubishi ASX has a chain-driven camshaft and a DPF?
I have a 52-plate Mitsubishi Spacestar which shows the approximate distance you can travel with fuel, but when I topped up the distance did not change. Now it's showing no miles but I've still got half...
I have had problems with misfiring, loss of power, and red engine management lights coming on on two cars which where filled with unleaded petrol at a supermarket. One of the vehicles has needed to have...
I have a Citroen C4 2.0 HDI and I'm having problems starting it. The ignition lights and the dash all turn on fine, but then when you try and start the car nothing happens. I have checked the battery and...
I bought a Ford Ka about three months ago and just took it for an MOT which it failed badly! The offside rear (chassis) vehicle sturcture, nearside sill and offside floor pan have excessive corrosion,...
My husband, now retired, has driven Mercedes for many years but his latest Mercedes C180 estate no longer provides a comfortable driving position for him or easy access when getting in as he needs a higher...
My Subaru Forester boxer diesel is my 6th Subaru, all previous 5 having been highly satisfactory. This latest is quite the worst car of any I have driven. The gearchange is stiff and clunky, and you have...
In August 2007 my car was hit by a Polish registered lorry at a junction. The nearside wing mirror was taken off and some damage was done to the paintwork. We stopped and exchanged details and I provided...
I have a new model Honda Jazz 1.4EX, registered January 2009, which has done 49k miles - mainly motorway driving. At the third service I mentioned a whirring noise when idling with the clutch pedal pressed...
The hydrolastic suspension on my 1998 MGF needs doing but don't want to be ripped off. Anyone know a good, reputable garage that has the equipment?
Nearly four years ago I purchased a 1994 FIAT Panda Colour from M1 Motor Auctions Leeds for £100. I have done about 60k miles in it, and I cannot believe the rear exhaust silencer is now blowing. Do you...
I thought you and your readers might like to hear of the excellent service I received this week from a local independent garage, F R Pulleyn of Station Road, Haxby, York. The clutch on my car failed and...
In February my partner had an accident in the private car park of our block of flats, reversing our 2006 Yaris into our neighbour's Mk1 Mercedes SLK. The damage to our car was far more apparent than any...
I want to replace my 2006 Renault Megane DCI 106 Dynamique. Is there a comparable car that has the size, economy, road tax at £30?
I actually know an automatic right foot only driver. Although she didn't kill or injure anyone, she managed to create mayhem and damage six other cars in the Co-op Supermarket car park in Penistone, W....
In a response to a letter published on 5 January you say that VAG will meet 100 percent of replacement cost if a Touran has been VAG maintained and has a faulty ABS control unit. Our Touran is 5 years...
You should be aware that the passing on of confidential information to ‘accident management’ specialists is rife amongst insurers and garages. As soon as the accident comes in the staff pass the info...
Being short, my wife has to have the driver's seat of her 04 Fiesta 1.4 Ghia fully forward when driving, for comfort and safety. For ease of entry and exit, she slides the seat back at the end of each...
I have a 2002 Toyota Previa, purchased through, and regularly serviced by my local Toyota dealer. The car and the dealer have been excellent so far and the car is now in its 3rd and final year of extended...
I'm on my second Mondeo 2.5V6. I've run them both on ordinary unleaded but at about 68k miles (now 72k miles) my car developed a misfire at low revs when the engine is under load. The car still starts...
Many years ago I bought a new SAAB with a Ford V4 engine. I had once been told that when starting with a cold engine you should drive as if you were 'running in' until the engine reached the normal working...
Three weeks ago I bought from a main Land Rover dealership, 150 miles away from where I live, a 3-year-old, 22k mile, one owner Range Rover, for a fair market price. The car had been supplied new by the...
I know this is not really your department, but being honest is. I get the feeling we are being railroaded into having lower drink drive limits. The constant reference to lower levels in Europe, although...
I have always driven petrol manual cars and am aged 71. My last three cars have been 1.6 Honda Civics and I have always been pleased with them apart from the fact that I am a little disappointed with the...
Why are hybrid cars petrol and electric? Would it not make it more economical on fuel to have diesel/electric hybrids?
I’m struggling to get any enthusiasm over my next car, can you help? My current car is a BMW 330CD M-Sport, two-door coupe, which is nearly five years old. The car has been brilliant, but it has only 2...
I am a 74-year old woman, owner of a 1998 Vauxhall Corsa manual 1.4 bought new, which has done about 40,000 miles of trouble-free motoring. I foresee the time when I will need to replace it, and would...
I own a 1997 W202 Mercedes-Benz C180 Elegance Automatic, which has covered 115,085 miles since new, and has a Full MBSH, and is shortly due in 3,000 miles to have the large ‘B’ Service carried out by Mercedes-Benz...
Having read your page today, I wonder at the intelligence of people who can drive a car for five years without noticing that it doesn't have a spare wheel. You must bite back the appropriate pithy thoughts...
I believe I have to disengage my Hyundai Santa Fe's ESP if I decide to use locked four-wheel drive. Does this mean that if the car decides to engage four-wheel drive itself, it automatically disengages...
My 52 plate Suzuki Ignis has covered just over 50,000 miles and is regularly maintained. Yesterday my wife was driving the car when the ESP light came on. There was no obvious effect on the steering and...
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