MrT

Just go and download the older (311?) version from their site, it should work with limited functionallity such as reading the code numbers which may provide enough for what you need, it does for me. If you want full functionality you will either have to pay for it or steal the software. I have not seen a working stolen version since about V280 and the registration "cracks" for this are virus infected.

Sounds like Red-Ex. Sponge? Sponging off others?

out of interest what does it have - bus bars ?? It has 6 ignition coils, each one mounted directly on its own spark plug, with the wire windings actually placed around the ceramic of the plug. That way there are no HT leads and no HT distributor. Each coil is triggered electronically by the engine management system. I should also add that some of these coils made in early 2001 were of poor quality and as a result VW recalled all of them in the USA (they were across the VW range of cars) and replaced them with newer versions. In the UK Ford considered them good enough for Galaxy V6 drivers. The first sign of any problem is a slight misfire or rough running which when it gets worse puts the engine management warning light on and writes a fault code to the log of "misfire detected on cylinder X".

If this the Mk2 V6, it does not have HT leads.

The newer V6 galaxies don't have HT leads as the coils sit on each of the spark plugs. One less thing to go wrong or several more coils to go wrong depending on which way you look at it.

A glue that I have started using recently that has been very successful, although a little messy is "Araldite Extra Strength Super Glue +". This comes in a double syringe and mixes like the old Araldite, but it is hard in a few minutes, far faster than the old Araldite Rapid. It can build a bit of body where superglue normally does not. Also if you do not flex it whilst it is drying, it dries clear. It has stuck to most plastics and also glass. You can even sand it, but you lose the poured glass look when you do this. Got mine from B&Q. It is worth a try.

There are issues with the fitting if the vehicle has the dual air-con as the air pipes run up the back by one of the quarter lights meaning it cannot open.

The Halfords cans have a score cut in the bottom so if they do overpressure the can will split there. I think the main reason for this would be if someone was foolish enough to leave a tin in the sun.

Couldn't you overcome their uselessness by undoing the screw for them and showing the pipe? On my model both pipes/connectors are at the top front of the engine bay.

Are you sure it is a leak hiss you are hearing? There is normally a slight hiss like (gurgling) noise in the evaporator as the liquid boils into a gas.

There are many different combinations of wiper parts on the Mk2 gal. The simplest way to stop the wipers hitting but getting the full screen to clear is to shorten the blade on the passengers side by about 4cm at the top edge. This will not clean as far up the screen but this will not affect your visibility for driving and they won't bump. Some Galaxies come with 28+26 blades.

I am surprised that Ford are not open for action against them as they have internal (TSB) documents stating that this item is suspect. Maybe they are and there is a way open for some form of consumer action as goods have to be fit for purpose and have a reasonable life expectancy.

When you had your leak have you any idea how much was leaking? I have lost 100g over two weeks and that was with the air con going full belt for most of the time on a trip to France.

When I have used the top-ups there has been no hissing, just a very cold can that gradually gets lighter.

I have never actually seen it, but from the sounds it makes, it appears to be at the back top of the front passengers footwell.

After an alarm mine flashed on startup for about 10 seconds then went to the normal display. It would only not flash on startup after clearing the faults with VAG-COM. It has done this for both high and low pressure and also on a speed sensor fault. I don't know if it makes any difference but mine is the Mk2 with dual climate control.

The galaxy, after the ignition has been on, should allow you to open and shut the electric windows until you open a door.

A minor point is that the panel flashes once a fault has been logged, if the fault is fixed, the panel will still flash until the fault is cleared from the log with VAG-COM. This is certainly the case for the pressure alarm and I assume the same for the recirc falp.

Halfords

This specific area of failure in the condensor is mentioned in a Ford TSB relating to the early production runs of the Mk2 galaxy and recommends using a newer part where the design flaw has been overcome.

The rate of acceleration is decided by power rather than by torque. It takes approximately 600KJ of energy to accelerate the mass of an unladen Galaxy to 60mph (there is additionally the work to overcome all the rolling friction and the air resistance which is a far more complicated calculation). Power is the rate at which you energy is used, so to get ther mass of a Galaxy to 60mph in 10 secs (without friction) requires 600KJ/10s = 60KJ/s or 60KW (80hp) average power over that time. Double the power, half the acceleration time. With resistance it will take over double the power calculated above to reach 60mph in the same time. Additionally it is the average power shown above, as conventional engines and gearboxes cannot run the engine constantly at maximum power whilst accelerating. Diesels will usually produce a slightly higher average power across the rpm range as a proportion of their maximum power than petrol engines due to their flatter torque curve.

Whilst "playing" with VAG-COM on the engine management system I found I could read the air parameters which I assume were taken from the MAF sensor. What I found odd was that the readings were all over the place when the engine running at a constant idle. I would have expected them to be constant, perhaps drifting a little over time. My thoughts were that my MAF is on the way out, but I have none of the symptoms that normally go with this. Any thoughts on this?

Maybe I am a cynic, but I fail to see how the performance of a vehicle with a remapped engine, even if it is to 165bhp, is so much faster than the model with the standard 204bhp engine. Laws of physics and all that.

You do not need to put a roof rack on, but all boxes have to fit to two traverse roof bars which either fit to the roof or to the rails in the case of the Galaxy. You can get many roof bars and boxes that come in black. Take a look at Roofbox as one supplier.

I have often wondered about top up kits in that if you are continually topping up you are also adding oil and sealer every time. When the system slowly loses pressure, does the oil escape as well as the gas as if it does not, you will end up with a system full of oil and sealer?