Masked Marauder

I had a spider in the sensor pod giving me similar symptoms!

Behind the driver's side front indicator

OK, this is really important. Your car is showing symptoms of the crankshaft timing sprocket slipping. Have your static timing checked ASAP. http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...wtopic=4839&hl= http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...hl=timing+pully http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...5&hl=timing+out

Is it cold at first then seems to loose efficency? If so check the de-icing system. I would have the suction side pressure checked anyway as a drop of a few PSI can make all the difference.

Yes it would. You should be able to hear the clutch click as it engages. Your first task should be to see if your getting 12v to the clutch connection on the compressor.

The sensors are a closed loop, when the loop wears through the circut is broken and the warning comes on. So you most likely have either a broken wire (most likely at the pad) or a bad connection between the loom and the sensor.

I will be doing mine on Thursday. I have had the parts for a few weeks now, but just getting round to it :P I feel cheated though, I got mine from GSF and they did not come in plastic bags....

lol, I am glad you spotted my mistake, because I never! Thats what happens when you make a post about topping up aircon, and then cruise control straight after...

The sensor you talk of, where on the engine is it?

When I bought my Alhambra 2nd hand I saw the mountings for it and insisted the seller put it back or the deal was off! It has been fitted about 95% of the time we have had the car.

The timing sprockets on this engine type are tapered and can slip causing the problems you describe.

The trip computer uses a permanent live feed, you can check that is working by looking at the instuments when you switch on the ignition. If the needles go all the way up and then drop back down then the permanent live feed is lost. Check your fuses if this is the case.

It has a clear tube. Look under the beautification cover, the tube goes into the pump. If it is drawing air then check the pipes where they go into the filter. If it is not that, have the valve timing checked, the crank sprocket is known to slip.

First place to check is the pump which is behind the driver's side front indicator

Yes, as Steve has said above. For reference purposes the radio connectors in VAG produced cars have the "Positive Permanent Live" connection and the "Positive Live with Ignition" connection the opposite way to the DIN standard, so you will need converter leads or to swap the leads as above.

Yep, the project is temporarily shelved but will resume in the Autumn.

Is there some suspicion that the engine has been changed at some time then? Look on the plate on the A pillar of the front passenger door, 2nd small box from the top left, whats written in there? Does it have a screw on cartridge oil filter that hangs down or a drop in one that sticks up? If you look at the timing belt, does it have another pulley in addition to the camshaft pulley?

We use the aircon with the air set to recircled to demist the car in the winter, so ours gets used almost every day.

Is this just a Ford thing? When I go to my local Vee Dub dealer I get free tea, coffee, coke, Perrier Water, a paper to read, comfy chair to sit in, and the manager takes the time to stop and ask if everything is alright. And that is just whilst I am waiting for the surfer dude parts guy! Sandals, Bermuda Shorts and a Hawaiian shirt go a long way in his domain!

a CGI error? :blink: :blink: :unsure:

Jack the car up and check for movement at the top of the strut, a little is fine, thats how they are designed, but anything more than about 6mm side to side or front to rear is bad. http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...9&hl=top+mounts

Well as you have changed the links then it points to the suspension top-mounts.

I got a stalk for

Go and stand in the corner facing the wall........ ;) ;)