Ivor_E_Tower

Fitting roof rails has been covered before - it can be done, is quite simple but takes ages as much work is involved including taking down the headlining and most of the interior trim panels. The rubber strips in the roof will need cutting with a sharp knife, and you need a good sharp drill (and courage) to make the holes in the roof.

Strange but true - there are a few W-reg facelifted models about - the change must have occurred just before the plate-change so most will probably be ex-Ford or dealer demo cars.

...or run a cable back to battery negative? I must say, VR6, with that current avatar perhaps it should be "Boob's your uncle" rather than "Bob's your uncle" ;)

2003.5 cars are stilll available as "new" from some dealers (54-plate) - I've seen at least 3 on the road already !!!

Yes - do a search on the forum for instructions if you want to have a go yourself. A garage should charge under 1 hour's labour to change both sides, and IIRC the parts are around

..check out the insurance quotes first; many companies sting you for the VR6. On the info given, hard to choose - look at depth of tread remaining on tyres, condition of wheels and interior, number of service receipts, old MOT certificates etc. By the time you factor the cost of servicing the VR6 into the purchase, and the potential of having to pay to sort a few things out, there is little to choose. Both will probably return similar mpg figures....

...because modern batteries give up in the most strange ways.

Spend

Facelifted models don't beep when the alarm is set. Is the red light on the driver's door flashing when you lock? If not, then one or more sensors is telling the alarm system that something is still open - a door, tailgate or bonnet. Make sure that the bonnet and tailgate really are properly closed.

You're going to drive them, not us. Take each for a drive and see which you prefer. The 807 is possibly going to suffer electrical glitches, particularly if it has the powered sliding doors. The Galaxy will probably suffer from aircon system faults in due course. The Grandis is Japanese so is bland but will probably run for ever; it will need infrequent spares, but they will be exhorbitantly priced on the few occasions when you need to buy them..... How long are you planning to keep the car for? How many miles per year are you expecting to do, and on long or short journeys?

Misfires are bad news on modern engines - can cause unburnt petrol to do strange things to O2 sensor and catalyst. Other problem of chugging may well be covered by various recent posts ref cleaning of various valves in inlet/EGR system.

There will be a new Kia Sedona soon but it is unlikely to make the UK until next year apparently (mentioned in this week's Autocar magazine). It is supposedly a vast improvement; long wheelbase version is going to the USA but not the UK and it looks like it's gone into production first, ahead of the shorter European version :P

Dally's was done under warranty but I can assure you that they don't come cheap !

Take it back - it's not been wired up correctly if the light on the dash doesn't show when it's open - do you get the warning message "Luggage compartment open" or similar? Can you get it to lock/unlock with the central locking, then turn the key so it stays locked?

First - check your brake lights are working (strange but true) Second - mine did this on Sunday (flashing of glow-plug coil lamp) - I put it down to starting up too quickly and not leaving key in position "2" with warning lamps on for a couple of seconds before turning all the way to start the engine. I stopped at the end of my road, switched off and re-started (pausing in position "2") and all was fine :P

The Galaxy was not designed for the factory-fit aircon system to be retro-fitted (unlike some other vehicles....). You could try independent specialists - eg used to be Alpine-air. WIth sunroof fitted, may just be cheaper to always park in the shade if you can, then open all windows and the 'roof for a couple of minutes after returning to parked car, to allow worst of heat to escpae before you get in. Welcome on board, anyway, and hope you enjoy your Gal !

Woolworths have probably discontinued them - they were selling them off at half-price last autumn. Argos also used to sell them, but if they are not in the new catalogue (out about 3 weeks ago) then they must have discontinued them too. A bit scandalous to read that some manufacturers charge up to

How close to Blackbushe market are you?

Anyone know for sure what gearbox is in the 2.3 version? The diesels use a Jatco (japanese) built gearbox designed to VW specs for the TDI engine - it appears that some of the design parameters may be marginal. IIRC the first generation Galaxys used a Ford unit (A4LD ?) with the 2.0 litre engine, but I've lost track of what happened after the facelift.

Get your son to go into VW dealer in Cyprus and find out if a radiator is available fairly cheaply. If so, no problem. Export car and if you do have a problem, simple job to change the radiator. There can be quite a difference in radiators depending on where the car is sold !

Remote locking - Galaxy is fitted with a VW system; almost certainly not compatible with Scorpio.

Are you in USA then? How did the car get there?

Sorry - don't have schematic but it should be possible to disable the interior sensors somehow. Maybe there is a trick to doing it (involving cutting wires with pliers?) Have you asked a dealer (maybe better to ask VW rather than Ford, and by phone rather than in person - maybe even VW UK) ?

You could try phoning a place that does proper 4-wheel alignment, telling them that you know you have a problem, and can they help?

I regret to inform you that I have not managed to make a DVD player out of wood yet but I'm still trying :(