Ivor_E_Tower

The PD system of the TDI engines places extreme pressures on the oil. You need to use the correct spec oil, so SD it is (or Millers 505.01, or Castrol 505.01 or the genuine VW-packaged stuff).

Mine says Galaxy Ghia TDI. As fredt stated, I think it depends on the dealer that supplies the initial info to DVLA when the car is first registered. Fuel type is listed as Heavy Oil (well, better than steam!)

So the seal failed under warranty and should be replaced under warranty as well as sorting out the consequential loss (ie aircon needs re-gasing). Suppose your oil filter seal failed under warranty and the engine seized as a result - an offer to replace the oil filter but leave you to pay for a replacement engine would not go down very well, I presume.

Don't worry, it is one and the same thing. You will soon be a happy bunny again ;)

...then you won't want an Alhambra as they do not come with Xenon headlamps, not even as an option. Beware also - Seat are just about to rename their trim levels to something like Stylance, Reference and Sport. Local dealer does not yet have any brochures with the new trim levels.

They are built in the same factory in Portugal so of course the VW is not worth the extra money! 2004MY Ford does have different rear lights - the rear indicators are now an orange circle within the cluster and not an orange lens as previously fitted - but side repeaters are still in the front wings not on the mirrors - and did you notice that VW just fit a nasty black plastic "plug" into the indicator repeater slots on the front wings?

It's not just the Galaxy paint that is the "problem" - it's all modern water-soluble paint which is just not as tough as the good old-fashioned cellulose based stuff. I always carry a tub of baby-wipes in the car to clean off bird cr@p etc as soon as I see it. Try cleaning the car with a good car shampoo, followed by a rinse with plenty of water then use a good polish, especially on the roof as it is so high that it probably does not get washed very often. I clean the car almost every week, from the tops of the doors downwards. The roof has only got done about 3 times in the last year.

Depends...last 2 cars I have traded in have been on the original clutch at around 130,000 miles and 115,000 miles

Glad that you got it sorted in the end. Interesting to note about the sensor though.

Also small GPS recevier under tax disc, thin aerial stuck to windscreen alongside passenger's pillar and small microphone fitted to headlining next to rear-view mirror. Amazing what you can win for free these days! Not sure how I'm going to afford the annual subscription when I have to start paying though.....

It will be clearly moulded on the tyre sidewall

Depends on what has broken. One of the projections against which the spring presses got broken by the ***##@ that fitted the smartnav system in my Gal, but 5 minutes' work with a drill and a spare nut and bolt fixed it so that it now works better than ever. Can you make a splint for your broken bit?

I take it you have the "doughnut" headrests - different ones are fitted if you have the factory-fit LCD screens in the headrests - and apparently these come with protective covers to hide the screens when parked etc. Could be worth trying scrapyards etc for some of these? Also try some other car multimedia specialists to see what they recommend.

Well, good luck! You will need new dashboard console surround and maybe new switch blanking plates too, possibly a speed sensor interface and GPS aerial. This topic has definitely beed covered at least a couple of times before. You may well find it cheaper to fit an after-market in-dash CD player with sat nav system requiring just the new console surround (possibly switch blanks) and the blank to close off the rest of the radio-CD "hole" in the console. ...or if you want, go for a smartnav system, just one button to be fitted, voice instructions for guidance but a fairly hefty annual charge of around

My rear brakes rusted on a couple of weeks ago after I washed the car - always best to go for a short run after washing, to ensure that all water is removed!

Just Tyres (GU15 area, and other branches) are advertising the 215-55 reinforced Dunlop 2020's for

You will need to improvise - a cheap, end-of-line reduced price king-size duvet cover tucked into the bottom edges of both rearmost windows to keep it in place, plus a mat or rug to go inside this on the floor area.

My 2001 TDI has not the best gearchange in the world, but "they are all like that". Sounds like yours is worse than usual though. Have you tried speaking to the dealer and comparing it with the change on any demonstrator or used TDI's that they may have?

Try the "Ford" breakers, Environ Sales? Usual question on this sort of query - in which part of the country are you?

..and if you cannot read the number on the block, look at your V5 document - it should be on there somewhere. HTH Ivor

The usual "crimes" - check aircon is working properly and that all electrical items work, check scuttle drains are not blocked :lol: 2.3 at least has chaindrive camshaft, so no belt to change every 40,000 miles :lol:

I think it's something to do with build dates - the 16" tyres fitted to post-facelift models DO need to be re-inforced, as stated in the handbook (well, it is in the handbook I have). Pre-facelift models - it seems to vary from what I have read/heard. Suppose that it should be on the tyre pressure sticker wherever that may be (B-pilar?)

Thanks fredt, got it sorted. It's still not quite right but at least it's secure again. Funny thing is that the same happened to the trim inside the tailgate on my parents' car last month - the first time that something like this has happened to either of us, ever!

Hmmm, personally I think that all standard wheelbraces supplied by manufacturers fall into this category, hence I carry a wheelnut spider in the car, now supplemented by one of thse extending arm things to enable you to get greater leverage when undoing the nuts. I bought the long arm thingy from Tesco IIRC for about

Premier Car Care Unit 19, St Georges Industrial Estate, Camberley GU15 2QW (use Multimap to find it!) They are walking distance from my home. 01276 64212