bushm

True, I'm one your side, but if it came to an investigation I still think they'd find any excuse not to pay out if they can. Whenever I phone around for insurance quotes I'm always asked if the car has been modified and your valve is a post-production modification, albeit one that doesn't affect performance.

Hi Lucky-charmer, before we got our Galaxy we were thinking of buying a Peugeot 805 90bhp on the cheap. I phoned van Aaken about the possibility of getting the power increased to 110 bhp, they said no problem and would need the car for an afternoon (can't remember exact cost, but it probably varies with engine). Churchill Insurance refused to give me a quotation on such a modified engine, so check your company will insure you if you get it chipped. Of course if you don't tell them and have an accident, you're up that creek without a paddle!

Call me cynical but I bet you're insurance company won't like this engine modification and will use it as an excuse not to pay out on any claim you make; unless of course you've informed them already. :D

Got the maf sensor fixed yesterday under warranty and what a difference it makes accelerating through the gears. Shouldn't have any trouble driving fast through Germany now! Thanks to all of you and this forum for bring the problem to our attention. Max. :D

Well it looks as if the moral to the story is to shop around for the best price. Anyone not prepared to do so will pay the price.

Thanks Guys that was very informative. Glad to know I won't need that pick up point which is destroyed anyway. I'll take the car to the dealer tomorrow and arrange a time for it to be fixed. Let you know how the stroy develops, hope it will be short and dull...ie took car back, they fixed it, car now ok!

Thanks for your reply Tony. It's still under warranty, so it should be fixed without any cost to me. A neighbour who used to be a mechanic also has a Galaxy TDi and said 9 times out of 10 the sensor is at fault. Does this mean that every X thousand miles we all have to get our MAF sensor changed? Have Ford changed the sensor type for a more reliable one or are they still replacing like with like? It seems as if the Galaxy owners on this forum are not very confident in Ford dealer's servicing. I've got a 60,000 mile service approaching at the end of the year. Do I go to Ford or an independent garage? I'll be interested to hear what people think. Thanks again, Max.

I hope someone out there can help me with this problem. I took our Galaxy (2000, TDi 110bhp) out for a spin to test it at high speeds for the first time (we will be driving through Germany at the end of July with our 7 & 5 yr olds and 4 month old baby, so we want to get to our destination as quickly as possible!!). The car stormed effortlessly to 70 mph in 5 th gear, but then I noticed it ran out of ooomph at 80 mph (at 3000 rpm), I had to floor the accelerator (until it hit the rubber stop on the floor) to get it up to 90 mph and it was very unresponsive. Not what I would have expected from an engine that's only done 52,000 miles. I've been following the MAF sensor story in the technical section and decided to venture under the bonnet, hoping there might be a loose connecter or something equally simple to fix. I think I found the sensor (attached to the big black pipe heading rearwards from the air filter box) the connecter seemed firmly attached so I followed the cable back and found a branch about 2" back from the sensor. This branch (a black/yellow and a brown wire inside a heat-proof sheath) was hanging loose behind the engine cover, it ended in a black plastic connecter with 2 terminals, it was burnt and carbonised. Should this cable be connected to anything or is it there for an accessory to plug into? Also if I unclip the connector going to the MAF sensor and drive the car to see if it makes a difference (if the sensor is bust then it should n't) will this damage the engine? Or is this lack of high speed performance due to something else? The car has a full Ford service history (for what that's worth). I'd like to be armed with some knowledge before I take it back to the independent dealer who sold me the car. Thanks, Max.

Thanks Howard, my last car was a diesel too but an old Peugeot 90 bhp version, it warmed up quicker so I suppose it was less efficient than the one in the galaxy.

Since I've had my Galaxy (Zetec 2000 V TD1 110bhp) I've noticed the engine temp gauge takes quite a while to register a reading in the "normal" range, it takes far longer than my previous car even in this recent hot weather. When I switch on the heater though, the air coming through the vents is warm. Can anyone tell me if this is normal?

As a new owner I've yet to find major fault with my Galaxy, but I'd agreed that one remote key for a car of this price is very mean. I'd replace the feeble plastic speaker covers and front cup holders that keep breaking, whoever designed them didn't have kids that's for sure, and it would hardly take much effort for Ford to implement it. Luggage nets sound like a very good idea too.