my car is difficult to start and sometimes needs bumping off.it has no power in acceleration.the battery on my car is new it has just been replaced.thanks.

jo no car, June 2007

The starting problem may be due to tired glow plugs. Get these checked by a garage if the air supply advice doesn't work. However, once the engine is warmed up these shouldn't affect performance.

Glow plugs cost around £15 each - you could replace them yourself but one of them is difficult to get at.

Dave, June 2007

Do you mean 1.8td (turbodiesel)? If so I would check the air supply to the engine. Is the air filter OK? Are there any air leaks on the engine side of the turbocharger? Are all the connections sound? If not, you may be turbocharging the engine bay and not the engine.

Remove the intercooler and check the seals where it pushes down into the engine - there are two large O rings that cost pennies to renew.

I had problems like yours twice, both times after the car was serviced. The first time I had to renew the O rings. The second I had to refit the semi-circular elbow joint at the other end of the intercooler and tighten the securing jubilee clip.

My father-in-law now has the car, still going strong with nearly 200k on the clock!

Dave, June 2007