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Showing 21 - 30 results (out of a total of 84) found for "failure" in Ask Us Anything

Any advice on 2007 Volkswagen Touareg?

Any advice when looking at a 2007 3.0-litre auto diesel Volkswagen Toureg with 150,000 miles on the clock?

Dan Haslam (Coleraine)

Nov 2015 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Dan,

To be honest, the Touareg is not the most reliable thing around. It suffers from electrical maladies and the air suspension is prone to failure. The timing chain on the V6 engines can also be fragile. The front brakes are a bit on the small side for a car that big and heavy so check under the front for damage too. Check for a thumping sensation from the automatic gearbox when changing gears and the centre differential can be weak so listen for whining or rattling noises. They chew through tyres as well, so check for uneven or excessive wear.


Will MINI pay to replace my power steering pump?

I have a 2004 MINI Cooper and the other day my car suffered sudden failure of the power steering. I believe in 2013 BMW released a letter stating they would extend the warranty coverage for the power assist steering pump and associated cooling fan for 13 years. My car is currently with my local garage and they informed me that the steering pump needs to be replaced and will cost nearly €800 to repair. I am wondering if my car is covered under warranty within Ireland?

Thanks

Catherine Flood (Dublin )

Oct 2015 Filed under: warranty

Expert answer

Hi Catherine,

Right, we've been on to MINI HQ about this, and here's the reply we've received:

"In order to review this query MINI Ireland would require the vehicle to be diagnosed by a MINI Retailer to confirm the exact cause of failure. Once the vehicle has been diagnosed the MINI Retailer can then apply for goodwill to be considered towards the repairs. The owner/driver would be required to have the vehicle recovered to a MINI Retailer for diagnosis at their own cost."

Hope that helps a bit?


Lexus GS 450h: how reliable?

Lexus GS 450h: how reliable? How good are they really? I have a 2006 GS 450h and the hybrid batteries failed. I was told by a Lexus garage they cost €4,500 approx to replace. Nice car to look at and drive but when they fail you won't buy another one - that's if you can sell it. It has 143k miles on the clock only. All I can say is don't buy one with over 70k on the clock. Maybe you have better ideas on this?

Laurence O Halloran (Rathdrum Co Wicklow)

May 2015 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi Laurence,

Well, to be honest, we don't often hear of any Lexus models suffering anything in the way of major component failure. Was there some major factor, such as physical damage to the batteries, or flooding or something like that? Batteries in hybrids and electric cars are always a concern when it comes to longevity, but Toyota has 15-year-old Prius still running around and their batteries are still working fine. Lexus claims that the batteries are designed to last the life of the car, so I'm suspecting that there's some other factor at play here.


Should all my tyres be the same?

Hi, I recently bought a second hand car and noticed one of my rear tyres is a slightly different size (245/45 R18) to the three other tyres (245/40 R18). I am due an NCT in March; can you tell me if this would contribute to a fail? Are there any other downsides to this? Car rides and handles perfectly.

Thanks, Andy K (Kildare)

Andy K (Kildare)

Mar 2015 Filed under: tyres

Expert answer

Hi Andy,

It's only a small difference but it could well be a reason for failure. The NCT says that having tyres of differing size or specification is a fail point.

It would be worth your while getting that odd tyre swapped out for one the same as the others. Even with that small difference in the sidewall, the way the tyre reacts and the way heat builds up in the tread is different so while the car might fee fine, its reactions in an emergency situation could be suspect.

I know it's an annoying expense, but honestly, tyres are pretty much the most important thing on the car. Better to make sure they're right. 


Will a diesel Nissan Qashqai be suitable for low mileage?

I want to buy a 2011 Nissan Qashqai 1.5 diesel, but I only do short journrys. Can these newer diesels handle the short journeys?

Aisling Finnegan (Kildare)

Feb 2015 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel

Expert answer

Hi Aisling,

Yes they can, but they may not be the most cost-effective. If you're worrying about the diesel particulate filter in the exhaust getting clogged with soot and causing an expensive failure (and that can happen) then don't worry - a quick spin up and back the nearest motorway in a low-ish gear will heat the system up enough to let it burn off the soot and all will be well. Do it once a week for 30 minutes or so and you'll be fine.

The other issue is simple one of cost though. You will spend more money to buy a diesel car than you will a petrol and when you're only doing low mileage it's hard to generate the savings from fuel burn to make up the extra you've spent up front. That's why petrol makes so much sense for lower mileage drivers.

The thing is that the Qashqai can be had with a petrol engine, but it suffers much harsher depreciation when you buy it - so you're in a bit of a catch 22. Petrol is better for your driving profile, but worse for retaining value in this particular model. You may need to expand your search out to some other cars to make your sums add up.


Why does my Rover 75 overheat?

My car is a Rover 75. Why does it overheat?

Solomon Kingz (Abuja Nigeria)

Dec 2014 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Solomon,

It depends. Have you serviced the car lately? Have you had the radiator inspected or have you made sure that the coolant levels are topped up  properly? The 75 does have a reputation for having faulty inlet manifolds that can cause overheating and head gasket failure, but regular maintenance can help you sidestep these issues.


Issue with timing chain in the Mazda CX-7?

Was there an issue with the timing chain in the Mazda CX-7? I have heard conflicting reports.

Thanks

John Cloonan (Athlone)

Nov 2014 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi John,

There does seem to have been an issue with the timing chain on CX-7s, which caused an irritating rattling or tinkling noise. Generally speaking, it’s more of an annoyance than a failure point, but it’s best to have the engine inspected by an expert if the noise is there.


What should I do about my faulty Meriva?

I bought a secondhand Opel Meriva (2005, 1.4) last year. Its history shows that, just before I bought it, the steering column had been replaced. There was a power steering "issue" last year (failure making turning impossible, EPS light flashing). Diagnostics were run and seemed to pass all, nothing more was done and the problem only appeared again over the past week with the power steering failing and the EPS light coming on.

When this happens on a motorway it's a very scary thing! The car is under warranty until end January 2015 so obviously I want to get everything done that's possible prior to that expiring (and the NCT will be due then too). Of course the dealer I bought this from is fobbing it off as not a big deal, but I can clearly see from wider reviews that this is a major problem in Merivas dating 2003-2008. In some cases I see that even when the steering column is replaced it doesn't solve the problem, but in any case I think better to do this anyway as a first step.

I will go to my garage about this on Monday but I need this to be taken seriously by them. The two things I have going against me here however is that A) I essentially know nothing about cars so can be easily hoodwinked by jargon and B) I'm a woman - so how could I possibly even understand? ;-)

Please help me out here would you - I've a baby due in about eight weeks and it won't be good if the power steering fails on the dash to the maternity ward!

Miriam Ryan (Dublin)

Nov 2014 Filed under: fault

Expert answer

Hi Mirian,

There's just nothing good about any of that. Bad enough that it happens at all, worse still that you're coming to the end of your pregnancy - as you say, you just don't need that kind of hassle.

The problem is a recurrent one on the Meriva, and seems to stem from a good old manufacturing fault. As far as I can tell it dates back to at least 2011, but in spite of repeated calls from owners and even a stinging piece on the BBC consumer show Watchdog, General Motors has failed to issue a recall for the problem.

For the moment, the best thing I can suggest is that you press your Opel dealer to give you a loan car, NOT A MERIVA, for the duration of the rest of your pregnancy, so at least you have peace of mind. Some car dealers like to try and duck the issue, but under the good old Sale Of Goods And Supply Of Services Act (otherwise known as your statutory rights) you're entitled to a repair, replacement or refund. Clearly, if the steering column has already been replaced, repairing it hasn't worked so you're looking for one of the other two.

If you feel up to tackling the dealer, then simply don't let yourself be fobbed off. Stand your ground in the dealership and don't be afraid to kick up a massive fuss. After all, can you imagine worse publicity for any business than to have a heavily pregnant woman, in tears, talking to local and national media about the issue? If they try spinning your head with tech-talk, just put your hand up and say "I don't care about the technicalities, I paid for a car that would work and I want this one to work, or a suitable replacement." Keep using that phrase and don't back down whatever you do.

In fact, let us know when you're planning to go in and perhaps one of the CompleteCar.ie team could come with you as backup. In a consumer-centric world, where recalls are in the news every day, this kind of behaviour is utterly unacceptable so don't you go accepting it.

Please do let us know how you get on.


Should I go for this automatic Peugeot?

Hello, I am looking at a 2006 Peugeot 307 Automatic and am wondering if you know much about their performance and reliability? I'm not looking for an automatic specifically but this car seems very clean and comfortable and is a high spec model. It only has 75k miles on the clock. I was planning on a 1.4 but this crossed my path and seems like a good car but I don't know much about automatics.

Many thanks, Sinead

Sinead McPhillips (Galway)

Nov 2014 Filed under: automatic

Expert answer

Hi Sinead,

To be honest, I'd avoid it. The 307 was never a great car to begin with and it was probably one of the lowest points for Peugeot build quality. They tend to suffer every electrical problem going, the cabins and interiors are very fragile and the suspension is prone to outright failure. 

If you still fancy a Peugeot, see if you can stretch your budget to a 308 - that was a much better built car, has decent reliability and if you get the 1.6 diesel then 65mpg in daily driving is a reality for you.


How reliable is a 2004 Peugeot 206?

How reliable is a 2004 Peugeot 206 with an automatic gearbox?

John Allen (Bray)

Oct 2014 Filed under: reliability

Expert answer

Hi John,

There are two schools of, quite influential, official thought on this. If you consult reliability expert JD Power, which conducts an annual vehicle reliability and customer satisfaction survey, the 206 is pretty dreadful. JD Power rates its reliability as below average, with poor interior quality, and it regularly finishes in the bottom ten of vehicles surveyed.

Over at Warranty Direct though, which independently insures vehicles against mechanical failure as part of its aftermarket warranty products, the picture is a little rosier. WD rates the 206's reliability as good, and certainly ahead of most of its French rivals. Problems tend to stem from the electrical system, and most of the time they're pretty cheap to fix.

To be honest though, in general, if you're looking at an older French car, you're looking at trouble.


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