Dally

You guys are making me cry big time!! I have less than a quarter of a tank left at the moment and done just about 200 miles - This is about my usual lot from the V6. I sense some cognitive dissonance coming on.......

It's a really difficult one this is. I certainly felt that my previous 2.3 with 2020's was much quieter and the ride just seemed more fluid and supple. I always felt that there was plenty of grip - buts it's hard to tell because body roll prevents you from really pushing to anywhere near the limits of adhesion. My 2003 V6 certainly is louder and feels more course / less supple on the tarmac. I have put this down to the michelin's but it may be because of the firmer suspension in this vehicle. I also feel that the ride quality is poorer on the V6 - jolts and jitters are common (non existent on the 2.3) and this causes trim and the seats to shake and rattle somewhat. On my wife's fiesta, I moved away from michelins last year and put some P4000's on the front. My wife and I both noticed less loss of traction especially when pulling of in the wet. This was also the case in a previous escort Si that I had. It would appear that the harder compund of the michelin's does reduce traction. I can't confirm this with my V6 because it has traction control but I do feel it kicking in now and then.

I find the the ignition barrel a bit stiff and gritty. Obviously poorly designed - as this was the case on my 2002 model 2.3 galaxy as well.

Nobby Check this site out - they have some really nice brushed aluminium types. http://www.vagparts.com/pages/GolfBrushed.htm As Ivor says, ford will replace peeled handles under warranty - I've had to have some replaced on my previous and current galaxy. If they peel again, I might just consider those aluminium types - pricey tho they may be!

Nice to hear that you're liking the tiptronic Dave-G. Don't you find it annoying at times when it won't let you change up (or down) unless it (the auto box ecu) feels the revs, the rolling resistance etc etc are what it thinks are OK? I can understand the need to maintain some outer parameters for safety of the components but I just feel that it just doesn't give you the control you really want -and I thought that's why tiptronic was invented.

Ridway The warning does flash when the temp falls below 4 degrees or when I start the engine and the temp is already below 4 degrees - I just don't get a chime anymore like I used to!

Ivor Mine aint chiming at all now! The temps been ranging from about -2 degrees upwards.

Temperature was below 4 degrees all day today, but no chime whatsoever! -bloody electrics

1) I have the standard RNS sat nav system but no multifunction wheel. It's a real bugger to keep reaching out for the volume control and the next track buttons (on the left of the unit). Just wondering whether any one knows of an after market stalk add on for this. The RNS unit must support something because it is available on the multi function wheel. 2) Anyone with standard DVD multimedia - how far into the foot space of the middle 2nd row seat does the dvd housing stick out? 3) Has anyone fitted this housing afterwards - are all electrical connections available under the floor (eg additional power socket, dvd power etc)? Thanks for any help offered.

Hey Guys, I'm sure my frost warning indicator used to light up and ring whenever the temp fell below 4 degrees or when I started the engine and the temp was already below 4 degrees. Over the last couple of days, it seems to ring when I start 1st thing in the morning but everything else seems to be random now???? Any other experiences?

Dave Thanks for the info. I have already purchased the removal keys from a local vw dealer, I have purchased an HCB-30 Bluetooth kit plus HCE-16 advanced music mute - just not had the time to fix them in yet. I only got my galaxy back last week with new auto box - I want to see if all the problems aree cured before I invest in anything els such as multimedia but thanks for the german contact. Let me know how you get on with the m/m adaptor from naviys when you get it.

My 2002 2.3 ran on the Dunlops - reasonably quiet they were. My 2003 V6 has got Michelin Pilots on and they create much more noise! Haven't seen many Galaxy's with these on (Oh Why Ford?). Is it because it's a V6?? PS They cost more than the 2020's too!

Hope this helps!

It can be done. When running the sat nav with map displayed, enter the settings menu - there are options within to change from imperial to metric. It's a shame it can't mix and match as would like miles and metres!! The system will only allow miles and yards if imperial and km's and metres if set on metric.

SA Intruder That is exactly what I have been tryin to convey. This system is far more intelligent than we give credit to it and gathers information intelligently. It's just a shame that VW are the only ones ot of the bunch that allow this to be used to its full potential!

doubledutch I once owned a ford si with a 2007 system in it. I could not locate a mute pin and ford were very unhelpful. In the end I fitted an SPDT relay in the circuit. This only cost about a fiver. When the phone rang or I made a call, the power to the 2007 was cut by the relay and soon as the call was over, the power was restored to the unit. This worked very well but the downside was that it reverted to default volumes etc when it came back on again. It is relatively simple to fit. All you need is a permanent live feed, a switched live feed, the mute wire from the handsfree module and the live supply connecting to the unit.

The indiactor on the Sharan (and it's derivatives) can be set to operate in two ways. 1) To show after a set period ie 10,000 miles in the case of the galaxy. Ford offer no alternatives to this. They fix it and tie in their validity of warranty within this regime. 2) VW, however, offer the option of a fixed service regime like ford or you can have what they call a variable servicing regime according to intelligence gathered by the system. Their warranty remains valid regardless of the option the buyer chooses. There are pros and cons. If you drive in different ways, the time/length between services can vary above or below 10,000 miles. I know a someone who has chosen the variable option and went 16,000 miles to his service - though he knows some who have fallen short of the 10,000 mile figure. VW offer this choice when you buy new and they adjust the system accordingly. I assume that when cars are sold 2nd hand, buyers and non vw dealers have no knowledge or this is forgotten. Or so the theory goes.......

I agree with Ivor. The ford ones are really very good. They are not too big and ugly but do the job well. I fitted them myself on my 2002 2.3. They are a bit of a bugger because the clips that are used are very tight and once on, they are hard to remove. The job was made much easier by jacking the rear and taking of the rear wheels. This was when I found out that the ford wheel locking nuts were made of butter - so watch out if you have them. They just sheared away and I had to have them drilled out by ford and after much debate, they paid! Also make sure you align them well vertically, because as I have said, the clips are near impossible to remove once fitted. The mud flaps are quite supple and the clips tear them if you pull them to remove. Good luck!

I've purchased a sony ericcson HCB-30 and the optional HCE-16 - sound through your speaker attachment. The parrott ck3000 comes with the speaker attachment as part of the kit - I'm not sure about nokia. The tools to remove that sat nav unit are available from any vw dealer - I about some a couple of days ago for about

According to the ford technical helpline, the factory fir sat nav phone mute is pin 6 on the auxiliary connector. I have not tried it yet as my galaxies having a new gearbox fitted - should get it back next week and will get my sonyericcson car kit fitted then. Also FYI, the sat nav unit uses ISO connectors according to them, so you should be able to get phone audio through your speakers! Good luck.

Dave-G It's not that bad at all. I have changed my habits a bit though! In my zetec (and in my wifes car) I used to be extreme - put the heating on full then put it on cold - it was the extremes. However, with the CC, I have learnt to be more patient, but this has rewarded me with having to mess about a lot less! I really don't find demisting a problem - as along as you leave the ac on!

sirocoman, I have factory fit sat nav with factory six disc changer too. It is possible. With regards to your query on the dvd thru the front screen, you can buy a module that plugs into the back of the sat nav unit and gives you a composite video and L&R audio inputs. Once connected, you activate the option in your menu. I have read some posts on this forum by several people on this issue but jakey seems to be the fountain of knowledge on this. I can obtainthe device for about

what was the problem in the end? I've just been told I need a new autobox on my 6 month old 2.8 V6.

I'm not sure what these heaters are called but on petrol variants there is the additional rear compartment heater locating in the side NSR cowling. This has separate controls above the NSR passenger door and is independent from the from the front heating system though does use hot water(coolant) from the main system to provide the heat energy. With Dual AirCon , which all V6's have had since the face lift (not sure about your 1999 2.8 V6 Ghia X) this rear compartment heater is integrated and controlled by the climatronic system at the front. However, it does have the engine coolant and refridgerant piped to heat exchangers in that rear cavity and there is a separate blower also - hence dual air con system. If the rear blower has seized in the former scenario, it will have little impact on the rest of the vehicle other than the poor control of temperature. However, in the latter scenario, in theory there should be no real threat but as it is linked with the climatronic system, I fear that the front system may get 'overworked' if the rear one isn't working because it will have to work harder to cool or heat the vehicle. this is probably more true of cooling as opposed to heating as the aircon heat exchanger will have been divided for front and rear and sized accordingly.

Warnerj, I'm sorry that I can't help with your problem though agree wholeheartedly with johnb80 - I am about to add a sony erisson HCB-30 bluetooth car kit with the music mute plus I have been looking for the multimedia attachment so that I can have video on the screen but I am not so sure about whether I should do this now following your problem!! Seriously, I would be grateful if you could let me know where you got the multimedia video input device from and how much it was. Thanks