10 NT NEWS. CARSguide Saturday, March 10, 2012 www.ntnews.com.au www.ntnews.com.au NT NEWS. CARSguide Saturday, March 10, 2012. 11

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Suncream sinksinto car panels

It seems the company iswashing its hands

of the problem, saying in effect that it’s not

theirs alone, that it affects other carmakers

andmakers of other products aswell

Send your questions to asksmithy@carsguide.com.au

Q: BOTH rear panels of my2010 VW Tiguan TDI havedeveloped large whitepatches and several smal-ler ones. When I reportedthis to VW, I was told that itwas caused by suncreamand there was nothing thatthey could do about it. Ihave since reported it againand written to the managerof my dealership, but againnothing has been done. VWhas put out the followingstatement: ‘‘The marks,sometimes with swellingsof the paint/clear coat sur-face, have occurred morefrequently since summer2007. All manufacturersare affected. They are cau-sed by suncream. Since2007 suncream has addit-ional chemical componentsfor better protection again-st the sun. This makes iteasier for sweat from thehands to penetrate into thepaint surface and leads towhite marks.’’ Have youhad any other reports ofthis problem?

Brian Wakelin, email.

A: We received the same re-sponse when we approachedVW on the matter. It seemsthe company is washing itshands of the problem, sayingin effect that it’s not theirsalone, that it affects other carmakers and makers of otherproducts as well. From whatwe understand, the marks area result of titanium dioxidethat has been used in sun-screens over the last fewyears. It’s uncertain which isthe best way to fix it once it’soccurred. Some say buff itout, others say use a citrus-based cleaner. I would consulta detailer near you or youcould contact our paint expertGraeme Cuthbert on 0422 444335. This should also serve asa warning for everyone with acar built after about 2007.Wash your hands, and yourkids’ hands, after using sun-cream and before touchingthe paintwork on your car.

Q: My partner’s Golf GT,which she bought new, hadits first engine replacementunder warranty, and thenat 68,000km it showed the

same symptoms — engineshuddering, engine lightcoming on, and loss ofpower. After pulling themotor apart, the dealershipfound cracked pistons andevidence of the block over-heating. We have only everrun it on premium, butthey have tried to attributethe problems to being runon incorrect fuel and won’tcover the engine. We nowhave a practically new carsitting in the shed with noengine in it and we don’tknow what to do. Couldsomeone contact Volks-wagen. We are sick of beingpalmed off on to the next

person. No one at VWwants to know about it.

Tim Maybury, email.A: We contacted VW on be-

half of Tim and his girlfriendand they told us that they be-lieve the car had been run-ning on regular unleadedwhen it needs 98-octane, asspecified. A visual check bythe dealer of the fuel in thecar indicated that it was91-octane — being pink incolour. VW also claimed thatTim and his girlfriend weretold to use the high-grade fuelwhen they bought the car. De-spite VW’s assertion that thecar has been run on the incor-rect fuel in the vehicle, they

One reader has had problems with large white patches on his VW Tiguan TDI

offered to discount the costof a replacement engine.Tim’s girlfriend disputesVW’s claims. She says shewas told her car could runon 95-octane fuel if she used98-octane fuel on long trips,and that’s what she hasdone. What’s more, she hastaken her own sample of thefuel and claims that it is thecorrect fuel, not the low oc-tane fuel VW say it is.Clearly, this has reached animpasse and needs a moder-ator to settle the issue. Onething that other VW ownersshould take out of it is thatyou must run your cars onthe recommended fuel, nomatter what. If it says98-octane fuel, run it on thatfuel, even if it is more ex-pensive, don’t bear thinkingabout the potential problemsof not doing so.

Q: I was recently drivingmy 2010 Ford Focus LVDiesel when the ESC andABS warning lights cameon and the car startedbraking. I pulled over, res-tarted the car, and thelights went off. I knew thissituation wasn’t normal,so I fully pressed the gaspedal for about twoseconds, the lights cameon and the car braked andthe engine raced withoutmy foot on the pedal. I pul-led up, restarted it and allwas normal. What couldbe the problem — will itcost me a fortune?

Furkan Sahin, email.A: It’s impossible to say

what’s wrong with the carwithout running a diagnos-tic check on it, so get it to a

dealer to have that done. Idoubt that it would cost youanything as the car is stillunder warranty.

Q: I have just had90,000km service done onmy 2003 Hyundai Sonatafour-cylinder, which in-cludes changing the tim-ing belt and fan belts.Eight kilometres afterleaving the mechanic’sworkshop the new fanbelts broke. The mechanicsaid they broke becausethe power steer belt ten-sioner bearing seized, andreplaced them, but sixkilometres later the carwas running rough at idle.The problem was a bentvalve, which was blamedon a seized/blocked hy-draulic lash adjuster.What could bend a valve?

Doug Jefcoate, email.A: Valves bend as they

come into contact with pis-tons. It could be that the beltwasn’t installed correctlyand the cam timing is out, itcould be that the belt tension-er has failed and the belt hasjumped a couple of teeth as aresult, or it could be a prob-lem with the lash adjuster.

Q: My 2003 Falcon has adedicated LPG system andis slow off the mark. Howcan the pick-up be im-proved, would a chip do it?

John Anderson, email.A: A recalibration using a

chip would probably help,but I don’t believe there isone available for your car. Iwould give it a tune-up, serv-ice the LPG system, and rep-lace the spark plugs andleads to make sure the car is

running at its best.Q: My 2005 Ford Fairlane

regularly stalls and surgeslike it is going to stall.When it does stall, I turn itoff, restart it, and all is nor-mal again. I will take it tothe Ford dealer, but whatcould I be looking at?

Ford Fanatic, email.

A: It could be anythingfrom a faulty computer to asensor malfunction or evena dodgy wiring connector.It’s best to get it checked by adealer as you plan to do..

Q: My 2010 D22 Nissanblows a lot of black smoke,but my dealer said it wasnormal. I don’t believe

him. What do you think?Steve Paton, email.A: No, it’s not normal for a

modern diesel to blow a lot ofsmoke. It sounds like it’s toorich. Check the fuel pump.

Q: A tyre dealer has toldme to increase my in-flation pressure on myHonda CRV to 280kpa

(40psi) when the recom-mended pressure is200kpa. Who is correct?

Ian Munro, email.A: The correct inflation

pressure is contained on thesticker attached to the carand in the owner’s manual.

I would think 280kpa is toohigh.

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