AndyBee

Hi Huw I have the same "steering clunk" on a 2006 2.0 Tdci. Sometimes it is there and sometimes it isn't, and there seems no consistency or corelation with anything else. It can certainly be felt through the steering and feels very mechanical ie like something heavy moving. I haven't raised this with my dealer yet, but I would be interested to hear how you, or anyone else with the same experience, gets on. On the subject of steering, I do find it to be quite vague around the straight ahead position (almost like there is a degree of free play) and I also notice the vibration of a rough road surface through the wheel. Any similar thoughts ? Andy

I queried exactly the same question with Ford and Thule and the only option seems to be a tow bar mounted carrier. The rear door on the MK 3 is a different construction to previous versions (probably lighter weight and bonded edge to edge glass) and is not up to carrying a door mounted bike carrier. We used to have a Thule 973 which is great for a Mk 1 or 2, but we have now sold it as no good on the Mk3 (Thule will not recommend it). We are doing without at the moment as the cost of a tow bar + carrier is going to be a few hundered quid. Please let me know if you find a good solution !

Sorry to keep on the head gasket failure theme, but the symptons do suggest this and it's something to try and rule out. Here's a few further checks : 1. Has the expansion bottle filled up (above the "Max" indicator) with water ? As others have said, the coolant water may be leaking into the combustion chambers - and in that case air is likely to also be leaking into the coolant. The coolant will then become pressurised, fill the expansion bottle and probably blow excess coolant out of the expansion bottle cap (check for signs of splashes/stains in the surrounding area). 2. For the same reason, take the expansion cap off (very slowly and carefully and ONLY with a cold engine) - you may detect a smell of exhaust fumes or fuel. 3. It is likely that the engine will run hot as the water gradually gets replaced by air, to the point of overheating - ie water temp gauge pointing to the red section. The temp may be stable on tickover, but would climb quickly as the car is driven and the engine is put under load. 4. Final check would be to watch the exhaust after starting - it is likely to contain a lot of moisture even in otherwise dry conditions and emit steam and water drips (this is where the coolant is going). Any or all of the above symptoms would suggest head gasket failure, I'm afraid. Not terminal, but a few hundrew pounds to fix (mainly for labour so a mechanic friend would be useful). If engine has been running like this for a while, the cylinder head could have been damaged and need skimming or replacing. I really hope it is something simpler, but can't avoid the obvious signs. Good luck !

Solo Did you resolve this ? I suspect you were/are in for any expensive job here and a stand alone unit will be the way to go. By the way, the small side window (in front of the side door) is an ideal place to site a "sucker-mounted" self contained sat-nav - not in the way of vision, but actually easier to see that the built in unit.

Of course, the current Alhambra is effectively a Mk2 Galaxy, so if you prefer an Alhambra, why not also consider a used Galaxy - same car, but cheaper still. We have had a Mk3 Galaxy now for 11 months and previously had several Mk2s (at least 6 of them !). I would say the biggest benefits of the MK3 are the way it drives and the overall space. To respond to oo7fair's original comments: In particular the The MK3 handles FAR better than the MK2 - take the Alhambra and Galaxy 3 for a test drive on a twisty road and you'll know what I mean. The new Galaxy is also far more stable and refined at motorway speeds. I used to find the relative instability of the MK2 at higher speeds made for a more tiring experience - at 70mph (or maybe a little higher :lol: ) I was always having to correct the steering slightly, whereas the MK3 is completely stable at those speeds and beyond. In terms of space, I find we can get as much luggage in the MK3 with all seats occupied as we did in the MK2 with one seat completely taken out. I agree with the comment about load space height with the fold flat seats (although I haven't measured it to confirm the actual difference), and this is really a personal decision - on balance I very rarely use the Galaxy as a van with all seats folded, but do regularly fold say one of the back seats down for a short time to make more luggage space and the fold flat versions are obviously much much better in this respect. The MK2 seats always bugged me by taking up a huge chunck of space in the car when folded, or, if they were removed it was a hassle, clogged up the garage or hall, and then when I needed the seat away from home, it was probably not in the car anyway :lol: I also found the rear seat space in the Mk2 to be quite limited, and headroom in particular made it only an option for adults over short journeys, but I actually think the MK 3 is better - don't forget that the seats slide backwards quite a way to increase legroom. I agree with your point about not being able to get in to the back seats on the Mk3 from the boot (although it doesn't stop my kids !), but having lived with this, I find it a huge benefit when loading up the boot with holiday gear - you can securely and safely pack bags, etc against the solid seat back without them falling forward between the seats or onto the heads/backs of the rear passengers ! I think the sliding 2nd row seats make access to the rear seats from the side door better anyway, so access overall is better in my view. We have 5 children so need every inch of space, and regularly do longer motorway journeys, so, for us, the MK III is a much better car. However, if you don't need the extra space, can live with the seats and generally just drive around town, the MKII/Alhambra is still a good choice. By the way, make sure you research prices - there are big discounts available on the new Galaxy, and presumably the Alhambra, so don't use the brochure price for price comparisons purposes. Good luck !

Sorry if I am a bit late coming back on this one, but the reasons for my question are as follows : A the handbook says there is a an option for a dealer fit key operated switch. With this I presume the airbag is still live and activated but with the option to switch it off temporarily if necessary. B we have a young baby in a rear facing seat (along with 4 older children.. in their own seats!). There is a possibility that having the baby in the front seat would be useful eg if others want to sit together in the back or all the rear seats are folded for carrying something. C in truth, we can probably manage without it if we have to, but it intrigues me (and annoys me if I am honest) that 2 dealers don't have a clue how to carry out this modification, and more importantly, prefer to fob off a customer with an insincere "I'll find out and call you back". D I was interested to hear if anyone else has had the same experience with dealers, whether the modification has been carried out successfully by anyone at all, and if so, how much does it cost. By the way, the question obviously relates specifically to the Mk III version, so previous discussions I could find don't address this - although maybe the general principle of carrying a child in a front seat. In fact, I tend to agree with avoiding putting children in the front, although there are occasions where it is desirable or possibly the only option as I have mentioned above and of course if you have a 2 seater car- hence ROSPA references to "if possible", etc. All opinions and responses are very welcome :lol: Andy

Has anyone managed to deactivate the passenger airbag on a mk III yet. The manual says it can be done by a dealer, but I have asked 2 dealers and neither seemed to have a clue what I was talking about. Both promised to look into it and call me back - but neither did (sadly the outcome I expected). Andy

If you have electric rear quarter lights in a MkIII the switches are up on the headlining next to the front interior lights. I have a Sep 06 version and they weren't available as an option then, although I read at the time that they would be available later. When I picked the car up I got the same story that they were not included for security reasons (fair enough if it is true). However, the windows are in fact just fixed in a closed position. They are not sealed and as others have said they will move against the rubber seals if pushed. I assume therefore that they will be hinged at the front and just fixed at one point at the rear - I can't say I am fully convinced of the enhanced security ? Having said all that, I don't think opening rear quarter windows are worth worrying about - I very rarely used them in previous Galaxies I had. Andy

We have the bespoke Galaxy roof bars, mainly because they "park" together at the rear end of the fitting channels and look a bit like a spoiler. The key differences are that the Thule bars extend out over the feet on either side (maybe useful for wider loads but look less tidy) and of course the bars themselves can be reused on other cars by replacing the feet. The Ford and Thule bars fit in a very similar way by slotting into the built-in channels. On balance if you have Thule bars that can be reused, I would stick with them and get new feet. Bike carriers are a bit of a problem. We had a Thule 973 4-bike carrier for our Mk II Galaxy, but no rear door mounted carrier is recommended on the Mk III. The options are roof mounting (and its a long way up to lift a bike) or tow bar fitted (but this obvioulsy requires the added expense of a tow bar of you do not already have one). Good luck - let us know what you decide (or have already decided).