Feedback: You win some . . .

We have received feedback from Ashton, the reader whose question about his Daewoo Lanos with the annoying habit of cutting out when he slows down for traffic lights, was discussed here on December 10.

We felt at the time that a clogged idle air control valve on the throttle body was the most likely culprit.

And we were right, because Ashton writes: " ... I visited Technocar Auto Services in City & Suburban, Johannesburg, where they still have the computer scanning system I once enjoyed with official Daewoo dealers.

A highly competent technician named Nunzio scanned the car for problems, replaced a breather pipe, cleaned the idle air control valve and got me on my way for just under R1000. I reckon I received great value for money and I owe it all to you."

Thanks for the feedback and good wishes, Ashton. I am glad we could help.

I don't deserve the credit, I will pass your sentiments on to the experienced mechanic who told me about this problem on Daewoos and some Opels.

Interestingly enough, we received a letter from a reader, Solly, in August last year, in which he tells of his problem with an Opel Corsa Lite, which switches itself off on the freeway when he has to slow down for a build-up of traffic ahead.

We discussed this problem intensively at the time, but couldn't come up with a satisfactory explanation.

When, three months later, we received Ashton's letter about his Daewoo, a close relative of the Opel, I failed to make the connection with Solly's problem.

But Solly didn't miss it - three days after our answer to Ashton's letter was published, he reported: "We have checked the problem in my vehicle; we found out that the problem is the idle air control valve.

I bought a new idle valve, my car does not switch itself off any more."