Car Servicing

We bought a RWD Territory diesel in 2012 to tow a caravan. On the first week of owning it, it went into "limp mode."

The dealer said it was due to the radio not being programmed properly. Since then we have done 49,000 km without trouble until recently.

Whilst travelling at 90 km/h on the freeway it again entered "limp mode." We turned off the freeway and restarted it and it returned to normal. We took it back to the dealer again who 'fixed' it. 

Later this year we drove to Queensland without issue, but on the way back it again entered limp mode on four separate occasions. The screen also displayed a DSC fault.

The dealer said that they could not find an issue and that the computer only stores faults for 12 hours.

They want me to drive it until it happens again and bring it in the same day. However this is a frightening and dangerous experience if it happens on the freeway or in heavy traffic. Can you advise if there is anything else I can do?

I just drove a 2016 Mitsubishi Triton GLS automatic and noticed that when the boost comes on so does a shudder, which disappears a short time later. It does seem a bit disconcerting that a new car would do this. What is it going to be like as the kays mount or when towing a caravan? The sales manager reckoned all Tritons do it, but I would like your opinion/advice. Did I just get a car with a fault?

My son has had a 2009 2.3-litre Ford Mondeo for about two months, and two weeks ago it would not start. We took it to Ford and after a few arguments they agreed to replace the faulty fuel pump under warranty carried over from the previous owner who had the pump replaced by the dealer in July this year. Less than one week after having pump fitted it wouldn't start again. The symptoms were the same as previous. This time I investigated a little more and checked the level of fuel in the tank. By hitting underside of tank the car started. Could it have an earthing problem, or a blockage?

I have just replaced the fuel pump assembly in my 2004 Mazda3 for the second time in just over 12 months. It has done not much more than 100,000 km. My concern is the safety factor surrounding this failure. The assembly leaks fuel when it fails, and I am concerned of the potential for it to ignite should a spark or ignition source to be near the vehicle when it fails. I am going to take this issue up with Mazda Australia (my local Mazda dealer is not replacing the part under warranty), as I think two failures of this part is unacceptable, especially considering the time frame and low kilometres. Have you heard of this issue, and have you any suggestions on my approach to Mazda?

In June this year I put my 2007 Holden Astra twin-top in for its 105,000 km lifetime service.

Whilst it was being serviced they broke the booster vacuum hose in the brake system, which took them extra days to source the part and replace. They recommended that the crank seal leak should be fixed in the near future. I did not want to wait so I booked it in to do it about a week late and the quote was $420.

Within a week of getting car back I started to get a warning message saying to check the coolant levels. When I finally got the car back to Holden for the crank seal repair I had more than five to seven warning messages, which I told Holden about and they said they would look into it for me.

I think almost three or four weeks later the crank seal replacement charge was $50.48. As for coolant loss they removed the cam cover and intake manifold, exhaust and heat shields, dipstick tube, ECU, fuel lines, vac/purge/coolant lines, upper engine harness, front pulleys, alternator, belt, front cover, cylinder head, inspected and found the cylinder head was leaking. It was resurfaced and pressure tested ok, and was refitted with new seals and gaskets.

A new timing chain guide was fitted as it was worn, it was filled with coolant and oil and washed down and road tested ok. The cost was $2629.49, plus the car they lent me turned into a charge of $127.27. They also did a roof repair, which cost $74.59. Their recommendations were for a cost of $840, but the total cost was $3170.

Three days later the warning light came back on. The earliest appointment they could give me was a month later, so I was topping up the coolant every couple days.

A friend suggested I check the oil, which was contaminated with a white sludge. The head was gone. I took it back in September, the coolant was leaking, cylinder head was done, there was moisture in the oil, and the water pump was leaking.

They carried out their diagnosis, replaced the water pump and bled coolant, and road tested it. I was charged $615.35.

Got the car back two days ago and, guess what, the check coolant levels warning light came on again. I topped up the coolant and checked the oil cap, and it has white sludge again. Please someone help me...

We bought our 2010 Subaru Outback new and it's since done 204,000 km. It has been religiously serviced by the dealer, has never been in an accident, and never been off-road. But we have had five major component failures, two this year alone.

Each time we have been told that it is the only instance that Subaru is aware of happening in Australia.

A glow plug went eight months after purchase and all four had to be replaced under warranty. A steering arm snapped two years ago and the whole component had to be replaced. It was out of warranty but they helped us by not charging for parts. A year ago fifth gear would pop out into neutral under acceleration, and again they assisted with parts and we paid for labour.

A few months ago a ticking noise was noticed, Subaru has advised that injectors were faulty and all four require replacement at a cost of $8000-$10,000, and that there would be no assistance this time. Advised that parts are not even stored in Australia and they have never heard of this happening.

A second opinion from a mechanic that specializes in Subarus stated there was nothing wrong with the injectors, so we crossed our fingers and hoped he was right.

Two days ago the steering failed. There was a horrible grinding noise and the steering seized.

It was towed to Subaru and we were advised that the whole assembly requires replacing at $4000 for the part alone and the part doesn't exist in Australia and it will be a 6-8 week wait for the part to arrive.

I know there is mileage on the car, but are my expectations too high in thinking that these sort of major components of the car should last more than six years? Do I have any rights at all with Subaru coughing up the costs of repairs?

I have recently test driven a couple of Ford Territory diesels, one a 2014 model, the other a 2015, and have noticed a vibration in the steering wheel when in Drive and at the lights or parked. Vibration goes away when in Neutral or Park. It's fine when driving. I have a 2011 Territory diesel and it doesn't vibrate when it stops in Drive. Your thoughts?

Does a diesel car have a cam belt or is it chain driven?

All of a sudden a few months ago my 2010 Volvo S60 diesel automatic, which has done 55,000 km, developed an unwillingness to shift from neutral to drive and then did so with a clunk. My dealer did a software reset/upgrade and seems to have worked, but is it something that I should be aware of?

The fuel consumption of my 2016 BMW X3 20i is 13L/100km. I drive in Eco pro mode and urban and freeway. What is the usual fuel consumption? Do I have to get in more km for this to drop?