Car Servicing

I was reading about a person who wrote to you about a whine in his 2013 Toyota Atara SL that it comes in at 1900-2000 rpm. My Camry has a similar whine and it's very annoying. It is due for 15,000 km service next week, what can I do about it?

I picked up a new Holden Cruze in early December and to my regret there has been a number of problems with it. To start with the gearbox was noisy and was replaced, but the new one is worse. Then it needed a new computer, new seat belt anchors, and there's an intermittent fault in the rear reversing sensors and a bizarre noise coming through the driver's side air vent after the gearbox was replaced. As you can imagine I am not happy.

At the last service we were advised that our much-loved 1998 Nissan Patrol GU 2.8-litre six-cylinder, turbocharged diesel, which has done 139,700 km on the clock was becoming hard to start and it was recommended in writing that we replace all the glow plugs at next scheduled service. We booked it in for the work to be done, but were told when we arrived to pick it up that the 'hard start' remained and we were handed an account for $560 account for the glow plug replacement, and a flat battery because the mechanics could not start it. We were advised by the dealer that in their opinion the fuel pump and the injectors were the problem, and we were given an estimate of $6000-$7000 for the work. We do not want to outlay this amount of cash if it is not warranted, and if after the work we still have a 'hard start' problem. We were offered a jump-start to leave their premises, but I told them I could start the vehicle first time every time, you just need to wait a couple of seconds longer than normal. Sure enough I turned the ignition, waited, started the vehicle and drove home. Thinking about their proposal, it appears to me that it could possibly be a timing problem, but I am not a diesel mechanic.

With the number of diesels now appearing on our roads, do you have any information on which, if any, manufacturer has the longest lifespan on their injectors. I have heard that some of the replacement injectors cost up to $1000 each. That sort of expense is a bit hard to swallow if it happens every 100,000 km. Or are the injectors now listed as 'consumables', and not covered by warranties, like brakes, clutches, etc.? ? ?The extra fuel efficiency of the new CRDs is negated if you have to pay a few grand extra to buy the diesel in the first place, and then have to buy new injectors every few years on top of that. Not to mention that the diesels seem to cost a bit more to service as well. How many kilometers could we drive our petrol guzzlers on the $6000 or more it costs us to drive these new 'fuel efficient' diesels? ? Motoring writers are pushing the move to diesels, but at what cost to the average driver? I am trying to work out if it's worth getting a diesel SUV, or sticking with a petrol-powered one. Any advice?

My 2004 BA Falcon MK2 ute shakes and shudders while at idle. It comes and goes intermittently when underway, but it's worse under braking. This has been happening for the last few months and is progressively getting worse. I have had it serviced without any success. Any suggestions?

About three weeks ago our 2007 Nissan Navara D40 broke down and we had to have it towed to our mechanic. He told us that the timing chain had snapped, so I contacted Nissan to ask them what the life span of the timing chain was. The response was the life span of the motor. The motor was running well before this happened. The Nissan guy was unhappy that we didn't take the car to them first, so they could assess it themselves, but said they might help us on the basis of goodwill. They advised that under that arrangement we would pay for the labour and Nissan would pay for the parts. He wanted us to have the ute sent to Nissan so we had it towed to a Nissan dealer where it was assessed. But we were then advised that they would not help due to the age and the kilometres of the ute. Can you please help?

With reference to Manfred Hansen's concerns about the failed oil line on his Toyota Aurion, it seems that Toyota and Lexus owners in the USA have experienced repeat failures when the rubber hoses are replaced with the same part.

My 2003 VY Holden Commodore Series I V6 Auto has now travelled 279,000 km. It has been driven carefully and responsibly, and serviced every 15,000 km. Now, the gearbox goes through first, second and third perfectly and smoothly, but not fourth. When checked a 'Pressure Control Solenoid Error' was detected on a diagnostic test. The ECU was cleared and reset, and as a result it is now going into top gear. Why would this have fixed itself?

Just a couple of months after forking out a ludicrous $1220 for the 60,000 km service on my 2007 VW EOS - which I was told must be done by my dealer as no-one else had the diagnostic equipment to carry out this service, which I later found out not to be true - and another $2018 to replace the disintegrating flywheel a light came on to indicate a particulate filter problem. I then spoke to a lady at VW head office in Sydney who told me to drive the car at around 2000/2500 rpm for 20 minutes and it should clear it. I tried this on numerous occasions and thinking I would have to replace the particulate filter I rang the dealer and asked for a quote. I was shocked to hear that it would cost $5737, and as there were none in stock in Australia it would have to be brought from Germany. I then called in on my local mechanic who brought in a guy with a diagnostic device and within half an hour he found that it wasn't a blocked particulate filter at all, but a faulty sensor, which cost $162. Total cost was $398.20 including GST! I have had no problem since but won't be going back to the dealer.

I have owned a Grand Cherokee for 18 months and following one of your articles about a front-end knock I went to my dealer and the shocks were replaced without hesitation. So far, so good. But then I noticed what felt like running over a small bump when the vehicle was changing from first to second gear. After three visits to the dealer it was traced to the transfer case, which was replaced along with the tail shaft. The transfer case noise was not unlike the rumble of the shocks, and from what I understand the dealer has replaced more than mine, so be aware. I must say through all of this the dealer has excelled in hearing and acting on my concerns.