Did you know that the user's handbook for the Skoda Fabia advises drivers to allow the turbo to cool down?

I have just bought a Skoda Fabia, which uses the same turbo-diesel engines as the Octavia. You may be interested to know that your advice is strengthened in the owner's handbook, which instructs (not advises)...

How can I eliminate a bad smell from my Fiat 500?

I bought a January 2009 Fiat 500 and have had it for nearly four months. However, recently there has been a bad smell inside. It is not a petrol or oil smell. Could the cause be attributed to the cold,...

Why does my Volvo V70 use so much oil?

We bought a used 2006 Volvo V70 T5SE in April 2011 with 59,000 miles on the clock that continues to consume about a litre of engine oil every 2000 miles. We took the car to the dealership that supplied...

How can I avoid excessive wear to the insides of the front tyres on my Lexus 200 Sport?

I have a Lexus 200 Sport that has been extremely reliable. The only problem that I have with the car is excessive wear on the inside edges of the front tyres. The car is on 215/45ZR 17 tyres. I have had...

Should we replace our 2005 Corolla now before any expensive faults develop?

My wife's car is a 2005 Toyota Corolla. It has done 54,000 miles, but in the last two or three years it has been used mostly for local driving with one long run every few weeks. It was serviced recently...

How can I ensure my wheel bolts are properly tightened, but not over-tightened?

After a few scary moments on alpine roads I bought a set of winter tyres on steel wheels for my Chrysler Grand Voyager, which I put on in December and take off in March. I invested in a three-tonne trolley...

This is why you should always idle your turbocharged engine after use.

RC of Brentwood is indeed wise to idle his turbocharged engine before shut-down. He will extend the life of the turbo, and save himself a lot of expense. Any turbocharged engined engine should be run at...

What is the lifespan of a shock absorber?

What is the typical lifespan of a shock absorber (to the point of MoT failure)? Most people I know have only had to replace them at high mileages, but I hear manufacturers claim they should be changed...

How accurate do factories set tracking at the point of manufacture?

Over the last 25 years or so, we have had a long series of Volkswagen Auto Group cars (three Passats, three Mk IV Golfs, a Leon, four Octavias and a Fabia). All have been bought direct from the original...

Should I buy this used Citroen C4?

I have seen a 2006 Citroen C4 1.6i 16v SX 5-door automatic at JCS Kegworth used cars and really just fancied it. It is a petrol auto with 51,400 miles on the clock, full service history from new, alloys...