Why does the DVLA erroneously remove motorcycling entitlement from driving licences?

It may be no consolation to JH of London (6/10/12) to know that the DVLA has form when it comes to removing motorcycling entitlement from licences, normally when it is sent to them for some reason. Not...

Why does Volkswagen sell cars with known faults, like the DMF in my Eos Sport?

I now know why Volkswagen Group is the world’s most profitable car company: it makes cars with cheap components that fail after 32,000 miles and then sells replacement parts at high prices for its dealers...

Does this sound like a wheel bearing failure?

My 2004 Honda Jazz, with full Honda service history and 52,000 miles, has developed a rotating rumbling noise which sounds as if a bearing may be wearing. I understand that the Jazz has a known problem...

Choice of three executive saloons - which would you recommend?

I have a budget of around £25k to buy an executive saloon. My criteria are as follows: - Diesel, over 45 combined mpg - Auto preferable but manual okay - Extras to include sat-nav, leather, heated seats -...

Car insurance claim for a minor scratch!

My firend who is insured used my car and while opening the door, bumped the door into someone else's car. The driver was apparently furious, insisting on how expensive his car was, that it was going to...

Number of Real MPGs submitted, by engine option

While we can see the total number of Real MPG submissions for a given car model, we can't see what portion of that total make up the individual engine choices for that car. EG: 2011 Ford Focus has 256...

Ford S-MAX low profile tyre problem

Having experienced too many punctures and splits with my Ford S Max 235/45 tyres I wish to replace the wheels and tyres with something more appropriate and long lasting. Could you recommend a wheel size...

I bought car 12 days ago, it has broken down, and now I can't get refund

I bought an R-reg Peugeot 106 12 days ago. Yesterday I took it to a garage as the oil was incredibly low, he filled it up for me - and noticed I had an oil leak and that there was oil in the water resevoir....

Auris failure to proceed

Oil warnings in my 2007 Toyota Auris TR VVT-1-S-A 1600cc Auto. The car has been regularly serviced by Toyota Mail Dealer. Without any "warnings" the car failed to start. We called the breakdown service,...

Alternative Wheel Sizes

In August I bought a (new to me) three year old (59 Reg) Skoda Fabia 3 Automatic 1.6 Estate car. It is fitted with 205/45/R16 Bridgestone "Turanga" tyres. Inside the petrol filler flap there is a sticker...

An unpleasant noise is coming from beaneath my car

My 1998 Audi A3 Turbo has loud rattle under middle; exhaust checked, worse downhill and even worse with clutch depressed, gone going up hill. Engine is fine. Had to go over speed bumps recently! Any...

Excel parking services ticket

Two days ago I received a Parking Charge Notice from Excel Parking on my vehicle after parking at Meole Brace retail park in Shrewsbury. I am not the registered owner of this vehicle, it is my girlfriend's....

Fixed-price servicing - is it really fixed-price?

I took my wife's Seat Altea 2.0 TDI DSG for a special offer £129.00 service. The service was completed, but at the service desk, I was informed that the fronts pads were 80% worn. I was fine with that,...

Can I transfer my warranty?

I bought a 2009 Q5 in August 2012, and took out a Platinum two-year contract with Warranties 2000. Have changed the car in the last 10 days - to an Audi Allroad (2009). Before I did the deal, I asked Warranty...

Money-back on a non-starting 206?

I bought a V-registered Peugeot 206 a week ago for my daughter from a local garage - I paid £500 cash, and now the car will not start or drive. Can I ask for my money back?

Road tax - the bands seem unfair for two similarly-engined cars?

I have just retaxed my wife's Volkswagen Golf Mark 5 Bluemotion, and my own 1997 Audi A4 TDI 110, both of which we've owned from new. Despite the fact that they run on similar 1.9-litre TDI engines, I...

Driving through deep flood water - what is safe depth?

I've just spent six hours driving a motorway route (A55), which normally takes two. The motorway was closed by the Police due to floods, and we were diverted onto the A470 to Betws-y-Coed and A5 to Bangor....

My engine's making a tapping noise

I have a 1.6-litre Renault Megane Coupe, which lost power recently while I was driving. When i started it back up, there was a knocking noise from the rocker cover, and it sounds like it now has an exhaust...

Car hire fiasco in Portugal - what should I do next?

I hired a car in Portugal via a UK-based broker with prepayment voucher. Reported within 24 hours that car seemed to be low on oil. Local firm refused to collect car and replace. Told me to buy oil and...

Tyre Fitters - they put an odd tyre on my Honda

I had a new tyre fitted yesterday and the garage told me that, although it was a different make (ToyotaR1) it would be fine with my other three existing Bridgestone tyres. It was fitted on the back...

Winter tyres

My new BMW 3-Series has R18 run-flat tyres fitted as standard. BMW offers R17 run-flat winter tyres and wheels; would that be better than an independent supplier fitting R18 run-flat winter tyres only...

My Fiesta's whining

When cold, there is a pronounced transmission whine in first and to a lesser extent second gear; this reduces considerably to just noticeable when warm. Mileage is 32,000...

ABS failure - and why I'm hoping it won't also be an MoT failure

My Jaguar XK8 has a disable ABS button. The manual says it is okay to drive without ABS. In particular if ABS fails. As this warning appears even if ABS is turned off, the EU MoT rule that a warning will...

Vehicle caught in floods - what water damage is likely?

My van was parked in lane outside my home, and was caught in flood water running down the road. It was washed several meters along the lane ending against a clump of trees facing into the torrent. Water...

Used Car Warranty Issue

My 2003 Volkswagen Golf is currently in the garage awaiting repair. The problem I'm told is that the Camshaft has failed and damaged the Cam Followers. As a result a new shaft, eight new followers, etc....

APCOA Parking Fine - unfair tactics...

I received a ticket from APCOA for illegal parking - the only thing is, I didn't know I couldn't park there. The ticket was some time ago, and since then, I have received a letter from their debt collectors...

Volkswagen DPF issue

I've been advised to replace the DPF filter on my 2006 Passat by Volkswagen for a price of £1850 - but I am not convinced that this will improve matters. The car went into limp-home mode in July, and...

Kia warranty - does it cover DPF?

After much thought I've decided to buy a secondhand Kia-approved Cee'd Ecodynamics for just over £10,000. The brand new seven-year warranty is obviously tempting, but does it cover the DPF/injection issues...

Should the turbo be whistling on a five month old car?

One month ago I bought a three month old Ford Grand C-MAX Powershift. I didn't notice anything during the test drive, which was driven in a busy city location. Subsequently there is a substantial whining...

Downsizing wheels for comfort

Is it feasible to change the wheels and tyres from the standard 6.5 x 16 running 195/45s to the base models 5.5 x 14 running 175 x 65s? If so, will I have to have the engine remapped and will there be...

Kia Venga: Stop start not stop starting...

My wife owns a 2011 Kia Venga, which has been back to the garage three times, as the ISG stop-start isn't working properly. The garage keeps giving her what appear silly reasons - the first was not enough...

Private property parking fine...

A friend recently dropped off her family at Stansted airport. She went to the new express drop off area, and on to the pay station to find out how to get her ticket. While reading the numerous notices,...

What does this ECN code mean?

For several weeks, I've had an intermitent hesitation under acceleration on my Vauxhall Zafira B 1.8-litre petrol. I have been told to perform a pedal test and I have the ECN code of 036504 come up. What...

What is my car's engine number?

I don't have owner's manual for my 2002 1.3-litre litre petrol Volkswagen Lupo. I need to identify the engine number of my car - where do I find it on the engine block?

No-fault accident claim seems to be going wrong

I assisted a colleague of mine a few months ago after a no-fault accident he was involved in. He was T-boned by a young motorcyclist as he turned right into a side road, the motorcyclist had overtaken...

Cambelt or Camchain?

At what point did the Vauxhall Corsa CDTi engine switch from a cambelt to a cam chain, as some forums say they're chain drive, while I've seen an advert advising that a car has had its cambelt replaced. I'm...

What small economical 4WD do you suggest?

We've just moved to a rural area, where the twice daily school run involves 6-8 miles - each way - of narrow lanes, which are sometimes flooded and muddy. And they will be soon be icy and snowy too! We're...

Selling a Mini classic - are we asking too much for it?

My daughter has been trying to sell her Mini Cooper for some time without any luck. I suspect she is asking too much for it, at around £5000. It is in very good condition having been resprayed (original...

My BMX X5 sat-nav only accepts four- or five-digit postcodes

My sat-nav on my BMW X5 SE 2009 model only accepts four- or five-digit postcodes in the UK. Works superbly in France, but useless in the UK. Is there an upgrade that I can load to bring it up to the latest...

Shoddy garage work - am I entitled to compensation?

A wheel bolt has been cross-threaded into the rear hub of my 2001 VW Polo SDI. My local garage has advised that, as a result of this, the rear hub will need to be replaced at a cost of £138. A new tyre...

What's the best tyre for my Citroen?

Any advice on tyres for Citroen Picasso - it's an '04-reg with around 110,000 miles on the clock?

Is buying an extended warranty on a Honda Jazz worthwhile?

I'm buying a pre-registered (June 2012) Honda Jazz 1.4 EX with 2000 miles on the clock. Honda dealer has offered a three-year warranty to begin in June 2015 for £700, including full breakdown cover. Worth...

Mercedes CLK winter tyres - what advice do you have?

My 2005 Mercedes-Benz CLK200 has 225x45/17 on the front and 245/40R on the rear. I can't source any of the rear tyres, and have been advised by my local Mercedes-Benz dealer to change the rear wheels....

Can I fit winter tyres to alloys?

I am looking to buy winter tyres for my daughters Puegeot Partner Combi(03) which is fitted with alloy wheels 185/65/15. I do not wish to buy steel wheels. Can they be fitted to alloys? What would you...

UKPC fined me for parking at my place of work

I have just received a letter from UKPC 'inviting' me to pay a Parking Charge for £90.00, stating that "if after a period of 28 days, the amount requested in this Notice has not been paid in full you,...

Engine light on, so the dealer drained fuel!

I purchased a four-month old Venture edition Mazda MX-5 with 1050 miles on clock. Test drive was okay a week before. After buying car (empty fuel directed to shell garage down road) Filled up with Unleaded...

What's the correct wheel size for my Honda CRV?

I have a query on wheel sizes for my 2002 Honda CR-V. I bought the car with a set of four 16-inch alloys, fitted with 205/55-16 Michelins. From a technical standpoint, these are the wrong size as they...

Opinions on the Honda Civic?

My daughter and son in-law are looking to buy a Honda Civic, as it lots of room for the bits needed travelling with their young baby. They have around £8000 to spend - anything you would recommend or watch...

My son was sold a car with worn tyres

My son bought a one-year old Volkswagen Scirocco a few days ago, and when we got it home, we found the centres of the front tyres were badly worn down to the wear indicators. The garage claims that cars...

Is it okay to use fuel additives?

Over the years I've used Miller's Diesel Plus in our diesel cars, mainly to lubricate the injector pump rather than seeking extra performance. We have just bought a Kia Cee'd 1.6 CRDi, and the handbook...