Ask The Guide

The 2011 R-Line package for the Touareg included plenty of extra kit, so identifying one shouldn’t be a problem. Those extras started with a body kit with a deeper front spoiler, side skirts and a rear roof spoiler. The R-Line package also extended to 20-inch alloy wheels.

Inside, look for stainless-steel kick panels inside each door, a different steering wheel, lots of leather, aluminium gear-selector and pedals and a 12-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat.

On this series of LandCruiser, the fuse box you need to access is behind a plastic panel just to the side of the steering column, low down on the lower edge of the dashboard. Once you’ve removed the cover, there should be a legend printed on the inside of it that tells you which fuse is which. The fuse you need to check is fuse number 2 which controls all those circuits as well as the number-plate light, the glovebox light and the car’s clock. The replacement fuse you need is a 15Amp of the blade type.

If the fuse continues to blow, then you need to start looking for a short-circuit or other wiring problem that is forcing the fuse to blow to protect the vehicle’s wiring.

The first question many mechanics will ask you is when was the last time the car’s fuel pump was changed. Electric fuel pumps have a finite lifespan and if yours is the original one that came with the car in 1996, I’d say it’s well and truly past its use-by date. Even if the car is on its second or even third pump, it could well be due for a new one. Without a working fuel pump, you’ll get the exact symptoms you’re experiencing.

The best way to check (if you’re reasonably competent with tools) is to remove the engine’s air intake trunking and spray a small amount of starting fluid into the engine. If the engine then cranks and tries to splutter to life, even briefly, then a dud fuel pump is pretty much a certainty.

That said, there are literally hundreds of things that will also produce the same problem, so a scan of the vehicle might throw up a few clues as to what’s going on.

Any time a vehicle with the DOHC Holden V6 is mentioned as having a starting problem or check-engine light illuminated, mechanics will often go straight to the engine’s timing chain to check its wear. That’s because this engine is notorious for such antics and, when they occur, it can often mean poor starting and the dreaded check-engine light.

However, in this case, the engine in question was an Isuzu-designed unit that doesn’t seem to have the same rash of timing chain problems. Which means you need to go back to basics and have the vehicle scanned to see if the onboard computer has logged the root cause of any problems.

The fact that the check engine light is flickering and the starting problem is an intermittent one could mean anything, but a good place to start checking would be the various earthing points around the vehicle. Bad earths are a common cause for this sort of problem.

The condition of the car’s battery is also a smart place to begin investigations. A lack of power in the battery is enough to make a lot of electronically fuel-injected vehicles throw in the towel on a random basis.

First suspicions would be the body computer which controls all sorts of functions including central locking, indicators, dashboard, heating and central locking. The fact that two functions have disappeared together is what makes the body computer a great place to start.

An auto electrician should be able to diagnose the problem. The worst-case scenario is that you’ll need a new body computer model and will then have to re-sync the new computer to your existing keys. But don’t rule out a poor earth or even a battery that is starting to show its age.

According to website howsafeisyourcar.com.au, this version of the Triton has side air-bags in both the front and rear seats. Fitting side airbags was a great move by ute makers and reflects the fact that these vehicles are being used both as family cars and as company cars where OH and S requirements require a high safety rating.

The alarm you’re seeing is the car’s way of telling you that it’s been working hard and needs attention sooner rather than later. The on-board computer will be monitoring all sorts of parameters including the engine oil level and condition and the state of the air-filter element. Either of those things (and a large number of others) could be the trigger for the alarm you’re seeing. But it could also be due to the transmission being heated to a point where the computer says enough, or even an actual problem somewhere in the driveline such as a low coolant level.

The best thing to do is have the vehicle serviced as per its own request. The workshop might be able to tell you the cause of the alarm, but either way, maintenance is due. Towing a caravan places a lot of extra stress on the engine and transmission, while hot and dusty conditions also take their mechanical toll.

CarsGuide tested the Kona Hybrid late last year (you can check out the review and video here) and came to exactly the same conclusion: That the car was great around the city, but lacked a bit of overtaking oomph at highway speeds.

This will not be a problem for many owners who will possibly never need to overtake on a country road, but for those who do, perhaps there are better choices out there.

Your comparison with the petrol Captiva is a valid one, too. On paper, this car had plenty of urge, but the power was all stacked way up in the higher rev ranges and required some forward planning when overtaking.

This wouldn’t be the first time a brand new globe or fuse has been found to be faulty straight out of the packaging. It sounds like a very long shot, I know, but it happens more often than you think. With that in mind, try a second globe and a second fuse to see if you’ve been a victim of this cruel mechanical joke.

If both the globe and the fuse are good, then you have an electrical problem with either a broken wire, connector or the light switch itself. An auto electrician might be your best bet for a quick resolution.

The length of the cargo area from the base of the back seat to the tailgate ion the Skoda is 756mm. The width of the cargo floor varies from 1445mm (at the back seats) to 1003mm (at the tailgate opening). With the rear seat in place, the Karoq has a cargo volume of 521 litres and, with the rear seat folded down, that jumps to 1630 litres.