Dally

Richmond Seat kid is right, it has one compressor but separate (two) evaporators. The one in the back is part of the rear heater/blower mechanism and coolant is piped to the back through pipes under the near side of the vehicle. I was lucky to be able to compare performance of my previous zetec with single air con and my current v6 and in my experience, the overall cooling effect is much greater with the dual a/c. The CC panel actually only makes proper sense with dual aircon- I really don't know why they fit the same panel to non dual a/c galaxies knowing fair well that the rear temp adjustment doesn't really mean much - just adds to confusion!!

Why don't you guys consider using bluetooth kit. I keep my phone in my pocket and use a small rocker switch for all functions - works great!

Like that banter guys!! But Richmond I would disagree on the dual aircon bit. Even if you don't select a temperature gradient between back and front, I know that the whole vehicle cools down far more effectively. Also I think you agree that it's better but then deny this as you yourself find that it's good just to keep the back a little warmer to encourage the kids to nod off - this always works for me! Whilst 3 degrees is the maximum gradient, this is sufficient and in any case it would be very difficult to have any greater variance in such a confined space. New buyers of ghia specs (not just the V6) will also find that it's now included in the spec at no cost (extra cost I should say).

I'm not sure about this (I may be wrong). My experience leads me to believe that it should not run constantly. When I was having aircon problems with my previous 2002 model 2.3 zetec, I took it to the local VW dealership (my brother had just purchased a new polo for his wife and with familiarity I made enquiries) and was introduced to an aircon specialist. This guy sat in my vehicle and spent some 30 minutes or so and confirmed that there was a problem - I took it back to ford at this point. However, in between his checks, he mentioned that the 2.8 VR6 compressor was a variable output type and could, in conjunction with the CC increase or decrease output according to demand. More interestingly though, he mentioned that whilst my zetec looked as though it had manual aircon, with the mk 2 shalaxies, this became semi-automatic. This meant that the aircon would not remain full-on constantly unless in the most extreme of heat. He explained that the clicking noise was due to this on/off cycle - just like a thermostat. I decided to check this out and surely found this to be true. I purchased a probe thermometer and stuck it down the centre vent and put the aircon on max and surely there was a cycle of on and off - the temp would cool down to about 8 degrees and then following a click it would increase to about 12 degrees and then following a click it would cool again to about 8 degrees and the cycle would repeat at a constant rate. As has been posted elsewhere on the site by gazza007, Seat also confirm that the output temperature is dependent on the ambient temperature (even on the manual versions) - surely this can only be regulated by such a mechanism! .....Or maybe the VW expert was a fraud mechanic in disguise!!!!

Maplins do a good probe thermometer. I got one from there ages a go. I think they still carry them. Cost about

guv If you had bought a 2002 model 2.3 zetec, I would have sworn you'd bought my part exchange!! I had the exact same problem, only this behaviour started after ford had supposedly 'fixed' it. I've mentioned this in the past on this forum but for your benefit the output was poor on my 2.3 and ford took it in and after two visits they agreed that parts needed replacement. Approx

Guys, Don't forget to mention that the hole is somewhat off centre too!!

Mr T My previous 2.3 had these types. I had to have them drilled out and new ones fitted! (under warranty). New ones were of a different design - better than previous ones!!! Ps good job it happened whilst at home, what if I had a flat tyre with the kids on board, in the middle of the night etc, etc, etc....

Thanks for you efforts nimrod. Just find it abit frustrating that all references to the VR6 seem always to be referring to the 16v version - very little available re the 24v version. Will look at the vr6 forums you mention when I have a moment. Cheers

Snap! My v6 has been doing the last 4 or 5 times that I've filled up - gonna let the dealer look at it when I get time.

Tiggs If you've got the standard factory fit sat nav like mine (RNS4), you need to select the audio settings button (it's marked with a musical note IIRC - sorry can't be bothered to go down and out to check) You will enter a sub menu with all bass, treble etc. - you need to select the volume option and then in the next menu, select navigation volume. This has the effect of setting a differential volume between the sat b=nav and normal audio. When adjusting music volume, sat nav volume will alter in equivalent ratio - maintaining the differential..

Karl Get it - don't hesitate!!!!!

Nimrod Are you aware of any books on the 204 ps VR6? - everything seems to always cover just the old VR6.

Mr T The grinding noise definitely is not the brakes. If I let the car crawl under idle, the noise disappears - just seems to be there while stationary in drive.

Tiggs Excellent Chioce at very good price..Enjoy...........

MrT I get exactly the same thing but some mornings it seems fine. I have asked the garage to look at it twice but they say no faults are being logged. I also get what seems to be a miss fire when accelerating at motorway speeds on the odd occasion but again no fault is logged. Of more concern to me recently is when in Drive and the vehicle is stationary, I am getting a slight grating/grinding noise from the engine bay. If I take it out of drive and put it back in drive, the noise dissappears. However, if I move off again in drive and come to a standstill, the noise reappears. It can get intrusive at times. Have you experienced anything of this sort?

vodkas You may not have had a/c before, but I doubt you ever had a greenhouse on wheels either!!

My '7' leather seats do make the car look that much smarter but I am not sure that they are easier to keep clean. I find that my kids manage to fill all those blasted holes with biscuit crumbs and they can be a bugger to remove. I also think that the fabric seats of my previous galaxy were much more comfortable!

As Ivor says, the loom should be there but it will be the ford loom not the sony loom (you say you want to fit a T69 sony changer). Ford and sony looms are different. To fit a sony changer to a ford headunit, you will need to fit a converter box and in my previous 2.3 zetec, I had to install this at the head unit side and pass through a sony loom to the back regardless. I did try to see if i could connect the converter box at the back utilising the ford loom but was not possible.

I'll drink to that Ian!!! Cheers.

Ian By the time I come to sell it (ie after paying off the loan to buy and fit the kit) it probably won't be worth taking out - the pace of new technology is such that we'll probably have moved on to blue laser discs etc etc......

When my air con system in my previous galaxy was replaced I also noticed that the fans remained on all the time while the aircon was on. It was very disturbing because it was very loud and caused vibration through the car. Prior to new system, the fans did not come on even though the aircon worked but was not getting as cold as it should. I took it baxk to the dealer and two of the technicians had an argument as to whether the fans should run all the time - the concensus was that it was not so and the car was rebooked. Unfortunately, I swapped my galaxy before this was finally sorted!! Not wanting to tempt fate, My current V6 climate works well, it is always set on 21 or 22 degrees with the aircon on (I have never used the ECON mode), and I find that the fans only come on or spin fast enough to be noticed when it is working really hard but definately not all the time.

Ian (ALARM MAN) I do not question your choice of dvd equipment. What I am doing is highlighting, after much research and deliberation, the pros and cons. I do not think that you can simply rubbish the ford visteon system and that it offers value for money based on the objectives that it fulfils. More specifically on your points, I would say the following: - "Would you really trust a Ford workshop to fit this ( I would not ) Not only that it would be contracted out to a company and Ford would take a wopping profit off the top" -Probably not but I was talking about the factory fit system and if I go down a similar route, I will choose an independent. "Even at mp3store it has leather headrests with them built in to purchase Worth a look" -Yes, but these are in black leather only (mine is grey) and I have no choice as to the type and make of monitor I would want to use. "By the way even with dual aircon there will be a way to fit them" -Unforunately, a ceiling monitor will not locate at all well on the roof of a galaxy with dual aircon. In fact, two local specialists gave up. You either have to chop out the middle vent, have the monitor too far backwards blocking the vent and giving neck strain to my kids or mount it too far forward so that it hits the drivers or front passengers head on any movement. We tried out all the permutations holding monitors in place and sitting in the car to try them. "Dont forget you have two seats in the rear that cannot see anything ? When fitted into the headrests" -I sat in the 3rd row of a galaxy with a 9" roof monitor. I was shocked at how small the image was. I doubt whether a 7" or 5.6" roof mount will prove to be very useful at all in the third row. Again I would say that I respect the choice you and others have made and they do, no doubt, fulfil your requirements and provide value for money but this cannot in any way disprove the value that is gained by the functionality and quality of the factory fit system. Regards

Ivor, I know you and others here may not agree, but for what you get,

BMcn My '02 Galaxy did have the cable despite no CD changer. As nimrod says, it lies hidden in the compartment where the jack sits. Mine was hard to identify as it had been folded back on itself with some of that felt type sticky tape on it. At the front, it was already connected to my ford 6000 unit! Good luck.