Ask The Guide

If the problem is caused by the change in oil, as the VW technician is purported to have said, then there’s no much you can do about it. If you feel strongly enough about it, and feel you can’t live with it, talk to VW head office, or contact your state consumer affairs office for advice on how you might seek compensation from VW.

Could be a problem with the glow plugs. If the glow plug light doesn’t light up when you turn the ignition on it could be a problem with the glow plugs or the control unit.

It’s a problem believed caused by the incorrect location of the main bearing shells during assembly, or through rotation of the shells in normal use blocking off the oil supply. I would contact Land Rover without delay, do it before you have the engine replaced if you can, so you can establish how helpful the company will be before you spend your money. With the low kilometres I think you have a good case for compensation, even though your car is 9 years old. Hopefully you have a good record of regular servicing.

That’s the problem with VWs, you can get six good ones in a row, but the next one could be a lemon. Rather than a wagon you’re probably looking at an SUV. I would suggest a Kia Sorento, Subaru Outback, or Toyota RAV4.

The capacity is 65 litres, but you won't be able to get 65 litres into it when refuelling, as there will always be a reserve, even when the low fuel warning light comes on. Toyota suggested: “the fuel warning light could be coming on prior to the tank being completely empty. The "low fuel" warning lamp setting might err towards the conservative, however this ensures our customers have ample time to refill their tanks before running dry and minimising the possibility that they'd ever run out of fuel.”

They’re generally sound, but there are a couple of things to be aware of. If it’s a manual, look for a worn clutch. They are expensive to replace. Check for shuddering, hesitations, or a reluctance to drive if it’s got a CVT. Diesels are prone to blocking of the DPF filter if they’re only driven short distances and don’t get a chance to regenerate the way they are designed to do.

It’s likely that the lock-up convertor is not unlocking as it should when it comes out of top gear. Take it to an automatic transmission specialist to check.

I’m guessing you’ve got second-rate imported tyres. Conti, Dunlop and Pirelli have 20-inch tyres for the Tiguan, and any of the three brands would be far superior to those I guess are fitted to your car.

Both are perfect for what you want to do. The LandCruiser has a well-proven record, but it’s heavy and can be costly to run. The Defender, while also a proven off-roader, is more expensive the service and repair and there aren’t Land Rover dealers everywhere, like there are Toyota dealers.

Disconnect the battery and reconnect it again. If it doesn’t take it to a mechanic who should be able to sort it out for you.