Ivor_E_Tower

If it's been steam-cleaned I'd get the belt changed and the tensioner checked at the same time - steaming may have stretched the belt and/or affected the bearings in the tensioner (and other bits....)

IIRC the latest advice we had was turn the wheel onto full lock (rh lock to do rh link, lh lock to do lh link), undo the lower-end bolt first, then the upper one. No need to remove roadwheel or undertray and no need to jack it up. Bolts are quite tight though.....

Putting oil on it is a good way to ruin it. It should be handled with kid-gloves and kept as clean and dry as possible.

mrandmrsh - my parents are collecting their new V70 D5 next Saturday; whilst I love Volvo estates, I prefer my Galaxy. I don't like steping down into the seats of "ordinary" cars these days, but my parents don't like stepping up into the Galaxy. We'll see how they get on tomorrow on our run to Paris 6-up! That's something you cannot do in a Volvo, 6 adults plus luggage.

..and plenty of discounts or cash-back, which is why it's the best-selling midi-MPV in the UK. (But I still wouldn't buy one).

The C8 and its Peugeot/Fiat sisters suffer from a range of electronics problems, including windows that can open of their own accord when the vehicle is parked (check back-issues of Top Gear magazine for starters). Almost every car has its own problem areas. FWIW I've sat in the C8 but not driven one; seemed better for rear seal legroom to me than the Galaxy, but it still looks like a van with windows whereas the Galaxy has style. :D

Over-priced - not much more than a higher-roofed Focus but the premium to pay for this is excessive. Renault have a similar problem with the Scenic but its sells, possibly due to the fact that it was the first "midi-MPV" and looks completely different from the Megane hatch on which it is based - that and good discounts!

Are you sure it is the clutch, and not the mechanism that needs adjusting? Try "Mr Clutch" centres around the country (yellow pages?) IIRC, around

Is it audible at idle (engine on, but car stationary)?

There blooming well ought to be! Isn't there something behind the pulley to wedge a tommy bar or bracing strut against (assuming that the pulley has holes in it)? Maybe you need a length of scaffolding pole welded to your socket spanner!

Have you got a manual? I remember reading something about having to reset the electric window control system when you change batteries - if yours went completely flat, then you may need to reset the system. If it's not working from the switch in the passenger dorr though, it does suggest that a fuse or wire has gone. As the door was closed when it happened, more likely to be a fuse.

You're making me envious now.... :D

The "point" of bumpers is defeated by painting them, though. Any slight mishap results in a scrape or chip, which is so noticeable. Unpainted grey or black is much more serviceable but doesn't look as good when the car is new.

Tried using araldite or something similar? Trip to B&Q and buy a pop-rivet gun?

Take a tip from Ivor - if you want to upgrade, fit a Blaupunkt (especially the Woodstock DAB unit) and not another Ford-badged unit. Oh how I wish I could afford to get one for my Galaxy! You can get a neat infra-red controller that clips to the steering wheel too. Either that or go the whole hog and get a unit with in-dash DVD player, satnav, touch-sensitive screen etc etc......

For facelifted models, SEAT accessories list a black plastic thing that sticks to the rear bumper, but I don't know if the rear bumper moulding is the same on the Alhambra, Sharan and Galaxy. Obviously the front bumpers are different.... It's quite expensive IIRC at about

...and yes, the aircleaner box, intake piping and MAF sensor should be identical for all PD TDI engines, whether for Galaxy or Sharan (or Alhambra). Finding a breakers with the bits may be a bit of a challenge though.... Good luck. Let us know how you get on (photos would be nice when it's all finished too). Wll you have to get SVA to register it, or can you just change the V5 details for different engine spec/power output?

Are you an opera fan, Barry? :unsure:

Started getting mine ready for the trip to Eurodisney yesterday. Hope it doesn't rain too much this coming week, or next Sunday when we head for the tunnel...

Try to find the extra money to get a Ghia instead of a Zetec :D

FYI - open the bonnet and stand in front of car looking towards windscreen; air filter is the large black box to the extreme left of the under-bonnet area; the MAf is just to the rear of it IIRC

The 2 dash-top storage bins come out easily so long as you have a set of Torx drivers (just undo the screws in the base of the bins, IIRC 4 or 5 in each), and you may be able to twist your head (or look through the wiundscreen) to see into the voids as what may have become loose - could also try removing the glove box assembly and having a look there as well.

Welcome Steel - this has been covered before, with photos. Try a search. It's dead easy to sort out fitting a new bulb.

Have you degreased properly before applying glue? If so, where did the glue not stick - to the door or to the rubbing strip?

Have you tried taking it to a garage for a pressure test? They attach something to the expansion tank and pump the pressure in the system up until either a leak appears or they reach so high a pressure that they confirm that there is no leak - in which case it could be a head gasket problem (did you want to know that?) Should be done for under an hour's labour charge.