Q&A;: Wrong speedo reading

Number crunch: A Drive test has shown that 93 per-cent of new car speedometers are inaccurate.

Wayne's 2005 Toyota Tazz's speedo reads double the speed he is actually travelling.

Comments

The truth about car servicing costs

Money-go-round: Servicing cars is big business for car makers and dealers.

DAVID MCCOWEN Drive investigates the complicated world of maintaining your car in tip-top condition.

Comments 110

Q&A;: Winter tyres

Lambo in the snow
 

IMG_3169.JPG

Amanda wants to know what checks do she needs to do when it comes to tyres in the winter?

Comments

Q&A;: Uncomfortable car seat

Q&A thumbs

The car seat in Bob's 2009 Corolla hurts his back, can anything be done?

Comments 2

Q&A;: Kluger fuel use

Q&A thumbs

Phil thinks his 2004 Toyota Kluger is using too much fuel.

Comments 2

How to beat rising petrol prices

Fuel

DAVID MCCOWEN You don't have to be hostage to rising fuel costs.

Comments 68

Q&A;: Injector cleaner; does it work

A Mercedes Benz badge
FOR SMH DRIVE 060602
(NO CAPTION INFORMATION PROVIDED)

Mercedes-Benz put in an injector cleaner in at every service, is it necessary?

Comments 4

Q&A;: Prolonging the life of your car

OUTBACK 001017 AFR photo TAMARA VONINSKI
An abandoned car in the South Australian outback.
generic outback car auto automobile insurance economy holden rust steel metal industry rural lifestyle breakdown NRMA road service AAMI***afrphotos.com***

The basic things you can do to prolong the life of your car.

Comments 4

Q&A;: remote keys

Car Keys

Jayman is wondering why Honda only give one remote key.

Comments 1

Q&A;: Pedals too close

brake pedal

John finds that the accelerator and brake pedal are too close together.

Comments 2

Q&A;: SRS light off

Picture supplied - source unknown.   Picture shows a Mercedes-Benz E-Class on the road.

Singh is wondering why his SRS light has turned off in his 2001 Mercedes E240.

Comments

What you need to know about E10

Ethanol

STEPHEN OTTLEY We answer some common questions about Ethanol blended petrol.

Comments 18

Q&A;: Stop start teechnology

Audi RS Q3

Barry is wondering if stop start technology hurts the engine.

Comments 1

Q&A;: Problems maintaining speed

ZZZ970108 SUPPLIED MATERIAL
 FORD MONDEO

Alex's 1997 Ford Mondeo is having problems maintaining speed and shakes at high-speeds.

Comments 1

Q&A;: More power but less sporty?

VW Golf wagon

Colin's new Golf wagon has more kWs than his previous model but feels less sporty.

Comments 1

Q&A;: Streak free clean

Cleaning the Car -  waxing process

Ivan wants to know how he can avoid streaks on his window when cleaning.

Comments 1

Q&A;: Loose wheel nut

i30 wheel

RJ is wondering if he should take his i30 to an expert to see if there has been damage done to the car from the wheel nut coming loose.

Comments

Q&A;: Excessive use of oil

2003 Subaru Liberty wagon

Desiree's 2003 Subaru Liberty has recentlt been using a lot more oil than usual.

Comments

Q&A;: Cold air intakes

Honda Prelude

Elliot wants to know if cold air intake will make more power on his 1998 Honda Prelude.

Comments 3

Q&A;: Excess exhaust fumes

Kia Pregio.jpg 
image supplied by  Jonathan Hawley [mailto jhawley@bigpond.net.au] S
S

 
***FDCTRANSFER***

Nigel's 2002 Kia Pregio releases an excess amount of diesel fumes.

Comments 1

Q&A;: Rough idling

HOLDEN VECTRA .
Brown car . Tan car .

SUNDAY DRIVE

Martin's 2000 Holden Vectra idles rough when first started.

Q&A;: Broken air-conditioning

test car  Proton Gen 2  10th January 2005  NCH GOOD TAST Picture by JAMIE WICKS DIGICAM 035718

Drive Team Jarred's air-conditioning has broken and he believes it is a resistor problem.

Q&A;: Timing belt replacement

Toyota LandCruiser Prado Grande 2003.jpg 
Toyota LandCruiser Prado Grande 2003
Front / side exterior view of silver Toyota Prado
car / desert / 4WD

Barry is wondering whether he needs to replace his Hydraulic tensioning system on his 2003 Prado to extend the life of his timing belt.

Comments

Q&A;: Radio won't turn off

Commodore

The radio in Darren's Holden Commodore won't turn off even when the car is off.

Comments 1

Q&A;: CVT v DSG

dsg

Drive Team Kaushal is wondering if a CVT or DSG gearbox is more efficient.

Comments 1

Q&A;: Which tyres are best for my car?

AFR FIRST USE ONLY PLEASE    AURION AFR 060207 PIC BY JESSICA SHAPIRO...  Toyota is set to launch its new Australian built six cyclinder sedan, the Aurion, at the Melbourne International Motor Show on Thursday. Story by Peter Roberts. EMBARGOED until Thursday 9 February, 2006    GENERIC car market, performance, manufacture, auto, wheel, body, tyre, chunky, headlights, drive, travel, muscular, buy, export, sales, sell, local, industry, jobs.    AFR FIRST USE ONLY PLEASE SPECIALX 46882

Kevin is looking to reduce the road noise created by his Dunlop tyres.

Comments 1

Q&A;: HSV GTS suspension

2013 HSV GTS

Rodney wants to know what MRC suspension does.

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Q&A;: Am I being overcharged?

TOYOTA CAMRY FOR SUNDAY DRIVE.

(NO CAPTION INFORMATION PROVIDED)

Jim wants to know if he is paying the right price for a replacement drive shaft.

Comments 24

Q&A;: No reversing camera

Reversing camera

Martin has been waiting a month for Jeep to install a reversing camera which was supossed to come with his Grand Cherokee.

Comments 5

Q&A;: Correct wear-in of bores/piston rings

engine

Daniel is wondering which is the correct way to wear-in the bore/piston rings.

Comments 2

Q&A;: Engine knock?

Subaru Outbackl

Graham's 2000 Subaru Outback has developed a knock sound from the negine when free revving.

Comments

Q&A;: Territory rear suspension

SX Territory

Stephen's 2006 Territory has developed a rear thump, and he is wondering whether this is a common issue.

Comments 3

Q&A;: Brake light sensors?

brake light

John is wondering why brake light sensors aren't installed in all cars as standard.

Comments 14

Q&A;: RX-8 suspension?

Mazda RX-8

Darren is wondering if the 2003 Mazda RX-8s have any common suspension problems?

Comments

Q&A;: Engine noise?

BA Falcon

Peter's 2003 BA Falcon engine is making a strange sound and he thinks it might be the timing chain.

Comments 3

Q&A;: Engine 'ping'?

A customer holds a petrol pump nozzle providing biofuel E10 in Hamburg, northern Germany, on March 4, 2011. German government seeks a solution to buoy up the sale of Super E10 biofuel at a summit with oil economy, car industry and consumer protectors.   AFP PHOTO / ANGELIKA WARMUTH      GERMANY OUT

Jason is wondering why his Ford Mondeo EcoBoost "pings" when using E10.

Comments 3

Q&A;: Dirty transmission fluid?

Volkswagen Touareg  R50 6-speed tiptronic automatic gearbox 
SUPPLIED  PIC

Keith is wondering if he needs to change his transmission fluid.

Comments 3

Q&A;: Can I use E10?

A customer holds a petrol pump nozzle providing biofuel E10 in Hamburg, northern Germany, on March 4, 2011. German government seeks a solution to buoy up the sale of Super E10 biofuel at a summit with oil economy, car industry and consumer protectors.   AFP PHOTO / ANGELIKA WARMUTH      GERMANY OUT

Will is wondering whether he can use E10 in his 1995 Toyota Corolla.

Comments

Q&A;: Can I use E10?

WH series II Holden Statesman.

Kevin is wondering if he can put E10 in his 2001 Holden Statesman.

Comments 2

Do I need premium unleaded?

Fuel pumps / petrol pumps.

It's more expensive and claimed to keep your engine in better shape, but do you really need to put premium unleaded in your car? Got a question for Drive's experts? Email qa@drive.com.au

Comments 94

Q&A;: Vinyl wrapping

viynl wrapping

Darren is considering vinyl wrapping but is worried that it may damage his original paintwork.

Comments 3

Q&A;: Bird dropping stains

birds

Sue has noticed that her paint work seems to be damaged by bird droppings and is wondering if anything can be done.

Comments 12

Q&A;: Snow chains

snow chains

Drive Team Michaela is wondering whether she needs snow chains for her Subaru Impreza, and if so how to fit them.

Comments 3

Q&A;: Changing Insurance

insurance

Drive Team Pam is wondering whether it would be beneficial to shop around or stay with the same insurance company.

Comments 4

Q&A;: Steering pulling to the left

Hyundai steering wheel

Drive Team Is it true that right-hand drive cars are set-up to pull to the left for safety reasons?

Comments 5

Q&A;: Do airbags have a shelflife

Airbag

Drive Team Do airbags have an expiry date? Or do they need to be serviced?

Comments 25

How to add Bluetooth to older cars

Illustration: Jeff Durham.

MATT CAMPBELL You don't need to buy a new car to get the latest gizmos - here's how you can add in-car telephony to your car.

Comments 33

Should I disconnect my batteiy while I'm overseas?

Drive Team A reader asks if it is a good idea to disconnect his car battery while it sits in an airport car park for three-weeks.

Comments 1

Q&A;: Why so much oil?

Engine oil

Drive Team Golf GTI MK5 burns through a lot of petrol.

Comments 2

Q&A;: Worn CV joints

Wheels

How can I find out which CV joint is worn out?

Comments 1

Q&A;: Correct mirror positions

Rear-view mirror

Drive Team Answers on stagnant batteries and positioning mirrors.

Comments 57

Q&A;: E10 and vintage cars

E10 petrol

Could E10 ruin the injector pump on a 1969 Mercedes?

Comments 3

Q&A;: Lost reverse in 1996 Ssangyong Musso

Ssangyong Musso

What would be the probable cause and mode of repair?

Comments 4

E10 fuel a false economy

caltex-thumb

RICHARD BLACKBURN Promised cost savings don’t necessarily add up with ethanol-based fuels.

Comments 98

Q&A;: Engine Viscosity?

engine oil

Drive Team What is the recommended engine oil type and viscosity for the 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid 2010 in the Australian climate?

Comments

Q&A;: Is regular unleaded being phased out?

petrol pumps

Drive Team I have heard in various places that there are plans to phase out regular unleaded fuel, forcing motorists with cars not compatible with E10 (a blend of 10 per cent ethanol and 90 per cent petrol) to purchase the more expensive premium unleaded fuel.

Comments 2

Q&A;: Engine seal leak

engine oil

Drive Team Are there any additives from an automotive shop will help stem the leak?

Comments

The Drive team answers your questions

Ask the experts: Neutral shift

Gearstick

Q. I am driving a 2008 Mercedes-Benz C220 CDI sedan that I purchased brand new. It is my first automatic car.

Comments 5

The Drive team answers your questions

Ask the experts: Fuel injector flush

toyota badge

Q .I own a 2007 Toyota Corolla Hatchback. Recently, when I took my car in for a service at my dealership, they suggested I have my fuel injectors flushed out and cleaned on top of my normal car service.

Comments 6

The Drive team answers your questions

Ask the Experts: Petrol in a diesel tank

Expensive error ... petrol in a diesel engine. Photo: afrphotos.com

Q. Recently, I accidentally added 13 litres of petrol into my Mercedes-Benz E280 CDI and drove for two days before realising something had gone wrong.

Comments

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