Which oil should I use in my Volkswagen Polo to reduce start-up noise?

I have a W-reg Volkswagen Polo 1.4-litre automatic with 60,000 miles. Since I've owed it, I've been using 10w 40 semi synthetic oil (as recommended). It's now time to change the oil again and I've been...

Non-starter

My 2007 Mazda2 diesel normally runs very well. Recently, on odd occasions it turns over OK but will not start. The AA man squirts quick start and away it goes. The garage cannot find a problem when it’s...

Does my Citroen C2 HDI have air in the fuel line?

My Citroen C2 HDI would not start and I was having to self-prime it using the little hand pump on the fuel system. I have replaced a push-on connector that I thought was taking in the air, but that did...

Why did my husband's Renault Safrane produce a puff of smoke when he started it?

My huband is driving his ageing Renault Safrane in France at the moment and wrote "It was 42 degrees when I started the car, and I got a brief puff of smoke and a smell of burning when I started it. It...

Why is my car starting poorly from cold?

If the car is started from cold and moved a short distance, and then switched off and left for any amount of time, it won't start unless its towed. What's wrong?

Why is the immobiliser preventing my granddaughter's Renault Clio from starting?

My granddaughter's 1.2 Renault Clio fails to start at irregular intervals. The immobiliser light flashes and sometimes stays fully on. This can last up to 10 minutes before the car will start again. We...

Why does my Ford Mondeo 'splutter' when accelerating in higher gears?

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?

Why won't my Renault Megane turn over?

My Renault Megane 1.5DCi won't turn over. It's had a new ECU and has been coded and still won't turn over. I press the brake and the clutch, and press the start button, then it beeps twice and the fan...

Why is my Skoda Octavia TDI reluctant to start?

My 54-plate (2005) Skoda Octavia 2.0 TDI PD Elegance has developed a tendency not to start occasionally. It was checked by the Skoda agent, who found no fault when scanning it, however it behaved itself...

Does my 1998 Volkswagen Golf GTI have an electrical fault?

I have an R-reg 1998 Volkswagen Golf GTI. For a while now it has been cutting out a few times a week whilst stationary or going at speed, whether the car is hot or cold. Then it won't start for a few minutes,...