kester

Hi there I've got a 2006 Alhambra (same as galaxy MkII) with 2.0tdi and climatronic. Driving to south of France tomorrow, so thought i'd have a play with the aircon, leaving it rather late but at least having replaced the broken coil spring first! Have a Halfords aircon gas bottle, which i used to try and fill the system, it only seemed to take part of the gas (and i assumed it to be empty initially, although not certain), but surprisingly the compressor did run, however there is no cool air coming out. I dont see any fault codes, which i assume would be there if it were a pressure sensor, and i'd assume would stop the compressor running? Has anyone got any idea what to try next? Could it be the radiator/evaporator? or could it be anything else? thanks

Thank you, as always Brian. I replaced the 5A central locking fuse and unlocked it with key and that worked so alarm is disarmed :) I probably should have attempted this before bothering you all, but nowhere nearby to get fuses, so i had to wait for ebay post. Alarm siren and indicators were on different fuses (51 & 53 i think), but indicators were flashing with alarm when engine running, so had to disable them too! At least i know how to shut alarm up when it goes again. Just looked in rear door and many wires broken, cant believe anything works! i'll have to fix them and see what transpires, whether we still get locking clicking indicating faulty motor. When say check current across fuse, how do you do this, just tiny probes if i can get them onto fuse blades while its fitted, or some special technique? And when you say unplugging the doors, you mean by removing the door card and unplugging the connector on the locking motor? Cheers

Looked at the tailgate wires this morning, and at least visually it all looks perfect. However you are quite right, the 5A fuse (think fuse 31) that I think controls central locking is burnt again, so there is a slim chance that once I get a replacement for this, I MAY be able to properly unlock the central locking and disarm the alarm (not quite sure how they both work together). Also good news is that removing 2 of the mini fuses in vertical column on left stopped the siren and hazards, so I can at least work on it now in peace (and potentially drive it i think, minus indicators)! I assume door wires probably problem, so I'll investigate further. Brian, I forgot to confirm I did solder in a new piece of wire in door gaiter (albeit incorrect colour!), but there are at least 2 or 3 joins by previous owner that could be a culprit (albeit the heatshrink looks to be good/tight), but there are still two near side doors I've not yet investigated, so it could be one of them. cheers

thanks. Yeah i'd already tried removing the fuse, but no joy. Suspect wiring or locks, will check the boot gaiter in the morning,fortunately it's quiet when left, only sounds when doors open or engine running! cheers

cheers mate. So no instant way to disable the alarm, just got to do a wiring fix?

I have an mk2 03 Galaxy tdi (272k miles) , but this thread it about my almost identical mk2 2004 Alhambra tdi (178k miles), bought from ebay with no MOT and history, and windows don't open and doors didn't lock, although it seems to be going OK otherwise after some minor suspension fixing. I fixed the windows (except for one) by soldering the earth wire in the drivers door gaiter, and seemed to have fixed central locking by replacing a fuse (5A, think fuse 31 in bottom row above diagnostic connector). Central locking then worked using key in drivers door lock, and alarm was armed, but after removing key from ignition there seemed to be a clicking coming from drivers door (and possibly a rear one) that possibly could be a locking mechanism repeatedly trying to lock, and when locked red light in driver door flashed repeatedly every second or so [possibly implying there was some problem?]? Next day my wife unlocked it and alarm continually goes off, ignition starts but cant stop alarm, and central locking doesn't lock all doors any more. Any ideas, in particular is there a way of disabling the alarm so we can drive it temporarily until I get a chance to investigate further? I assume it is either more broken wires in door or possibly failed locking mechanism? Appreciate any suggestions, too cold and wet to spend too long on it this evening in the dark ;( !

apologies for the late update: it was me being stupid. It was the rear shocks that were gone, even when they were out they didnt seem too soft, but new ones cured the problem - i should have tried that before going for spring assisters. Tyres went bald awful quick, i think the front shock also needs doing, and potentially rear bushes - which might be a job beyond my skills. The Galaxy then got nicked over Christmas (hid keys while surfing, i have no clue who'd want to nick this!), then turned up again a day after i bought an Alhambra off ebay, so now i have too many cars to fix and no time to do any of it - roll on summer! cheers

Thanks for advice, sorry for delayed reply, been in sunny (?!) cornwall. I think it is purely due to overloading, possibly combined with cheap springs, and was def bottoming out rear springs due to overloading; bikes on back probably contribute as they are quite far back and act as a lever. I spoke to Graystone who were really helpful. Aux springs were probably best solution, around £100 but weren't in stock, so went for spring Assistors, £39 delivered next day, which seemed to improve matters. Big rubber bush that fits into spring. Only bottomed out occasionally in major dips or speed bumps, no noticeable negative effects. Will speak to my mechanic in autumn MOT time to check there ain't anything else wrong with suspension. Cheers

The other possibility is shocks, but they felt fairly stiff, and smooth, albeit are at least 4 years old, 50,000 miles, probably more.

I doubt the swinging arm bushes have ever been changed, but can't see that would affect this, and that doesn't look like an easy job!

Thanks for your reply Brian. Sorry, I wasn't clear: it is not bottoming out on the road, I'm pretty sure it is the rear swinging arm top stops hitting the bottom stops. I think they're both metal and designed to cope with occasional contact when springs fully compress, but sure it ain't supposed to happen often. When loaded, I could cause it to happen just by pressing my foot on rear bumper, i.e. It was already very compressed. And I don't think this didn't use to be the case, even when I had 8 people plus luggage in the galaxy to Gatwick, which is the most I've ever carried (well, sometimes a few tonnes of chopped oak etc for the log burner). Ive never towed anything and it doesn't have a tow hitch, although as I say it did have 3 bikes on rear rack. It's a mk2, it has cheap 17'' alloys on, but I don't think they're causing any problems, been on there at least 3 years. It had 18'' alloys when I bought it, but they cracked (it's pretty rough where we live on the Gower, and my wife don't like slowing down, so the near side does take a beating!) Can the springs be installed wrong? Possibly one of them needs to be turned 180 degrees as the pig tails on one side look like they may be facing opposite way currently, if you get me. But think it was bottoming out on the old original springs too. While I think if it, they had a blob of blue paint on each - does that signify the stiffness?

Or http://www.graystonengineering.com/spring%20assisters%20page.htm

Anyone have any experience of coils spring assistors? http://www.carparts-direct.co.uk/side-menu/coil-spring-assistors

Ps I've not bothers with the spring isolators, as I'm sceptical that they make much difference, or last long, and we're at least £25 from frauds.

Thanks both. The new rear springs did not cure the problem. We were bottoming out frequently on any unevenness on the French motorways :( It was not massively overloaded, only 1 child in rear most seats, although roof box and 3 lightish bikes on rear. . But I can't see anything other than springs that can stop it bottoming out?! Is there anything else I need to check? Or is it just a case of trying to find some heavy duty springs? Although loathe to spend this money after already buying new ones, particularly with no idea how much better heavy duty would be ...