Car Servicing

I have recently brought a 2009 Holden Captiva 4-cyl turbo-diesel auto with 250,000 km on the clock. It appears to have been well maintained, but it has an intermittent fault and I am wondering if this is an easy fix or not. On about one in four occasions, as you slow the car to a stop the auto transmission still tries to drive. As the footbrake is pressed, the gearbox loads up and starts to shudder, until you put it into neutral. I have no lights coming up on the dash, but as it is intermittent, I think it may be electrical. Is this a known problem and/or easily fixed?

The negative battery terminal came loose on my 2015 Foton Tunland, but after I tightened it and started the car the engine light came on. Is there an easy way to reset the computer to see if goes out?

My 2011 Holden Cruze SRi V has transmission issues and Holden is changing it as it has 68,000 km on odometer, the service history was all-good, and Cruze's transmission issues were recognized. But is the new one improved over the old transmission?

I have just read a review about the 2011 Holden Cruze CD regarding the automatic transmission. The same thing has happened to my Cruze where the engine over-revved and the transmission went into low gear and then all but stopped with no power. The car is presently with a motor mechanic to have the transmission fixed at a cost of $5000. Am I entitled to compensation from Holden seeing that the car has done only 97,000 km since new? It appears that Holden knew all about the transmission problem, but didn't do anything about it. This has let a lot of people down. The mechanic informed me that there has always been a problem with the auto transmission on the Cruze models. Where do I go from here?

I have a 2016 Ford Ranger, it’s only done 24,000 km. There have been issues with engine, the tacho fluctuates at idle and at low speed, and the engine shakes excessively while this is happening. It has been taken back to Ford five times with no fix as yet. What is Ford’s responsibility and process from here?

We were told originally that the auto transmission in our 2001 Mazda 3 was sealed and not to change fluid. Is this true? It has done 270,000kms with no problems.

The transmission malfunction alert comes on all the time in the 2010 Ford Focus I bought secondhand two years ago. I've seen a few people have had this issue and I would like some advice on what to do about it.

Our 2016 Hyundai Santa Fe SR, which is eight months old and has done 15,000 km, is fitted with the Brembo brakes and it already needs new rotors and pads. We have never towed and the wife doesn't drive or brake hard. Have you heard of this happening to any other SR Santa Fe?

I have a 2009 Audi S5 cabriolet and riding down the road one day a warning light came on showing "EPC" error. I have taken it to two different mechanics to basically be told to take the car to an Audi centre. I have done that and they have now charged me $1800 in labour to tell me they can't specifically locate the problem, but they think I need a new engine, which they insist is very rare in Australia. Do you have any advice for me?

I have had my VS Commodore V6 wagon for two years now and have tried everything I can think of to lower the fuel consumption from the 20 L/100 km I get. I’ve changed the throttle body, the idle air control valve, coolant temp sensor, throttle position sensor, and both oxygen sensors. None have had any effect, so last week I replaced the injectors. I thought this would do the trick, but after I filled up this morning, I calculated my fuel usage and I’m now getting an unbelievable 23 L/100 km. The car starts first time every time and runs really well. I don't know what else to do, so if you can help, please do.