El Dingo

... and they tell me diesels don't smoke... :huh:

I didn't say it was sensible :D Rattly nasty diesels that don't rev! :huh: And the 2.3 is much more economical than the 2.8 (with auto box), but to be honest I'd have preferred a 2.8. (he he he)

I can't resist... Rant starts>>>> Because Diesels are crap? I have a Audi A4 diesel (as well as the Galaxy petrol) and when I pull away there's a whole cloud of smoke/particulates. Our Government is sitting waiting for everyone to switch over to diesel when suddenly they will pretend to suddenly realise the pollution caused and whack the tax right up (to be fair, they already tax diesel higher - see below). My A4 averages around 40 mpg (1,400kg) so if you are running around town, 30 mpg (nearly 2,000kg) isn't so bad. And it's no fun either - I look forward to driving the Galaxy at the weekend (if I can prise the keys out of my wife's hands) - even when the Galaxy shows an average 20 mpg or worse. At least petrol is cheaper than diesel (but not, curiously, in Germany, for example, where the tax is less). <<<<Rant stops. I think that your mpg sounds normal for a Galaxy used around town. :huh:

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?showtopic=6299

Personally, I would stay with the same rolling diameter. I have previously changed 195/65 x 15 for 205/60 x 15 on an Audi, but this is a standard tyre option on that car anyway, and the rolling diameter is the same for these tyres. If you go too large on diameter you risk hitting something with the tyre - like a brake line or bodywork. Same goes for a wide tyre. You might find this page interesting, especially the calculator about halfway down the page... http://www.max-boost.co.uk/max-boost/inter.../tyre_bible.htm Cheers,

Wierd... got any other symptoms? Such as vibration, clunking, knocking noise on full lock, etc? Is yours a 2.3? These are prone to engine mount problems. :(

My engine sounds 'boomy' around 2,500 to 3,000 rpm especially when the engine is cold. :o Any thoughts? Is this just a generic Ford-engined-Galaxy thing, or should I be looking for a leaky exhaust manifold/joint, for example? Cheers,

If you can find a good engineering shop, they can sometimes put in a solid thread insert (NOT a helicoil), however, these can only be fitted if there is enough solid metal to cut the bigger thread for the insert. I doubt that this is possible with a sump. I bet the bit of swarf was the stripped thread! :o The only thing I can think of is to try a parts specialist or hunt around the breakers yards. If yours is a VW based engine (Ghia X 110 - is that a 110 BHP TDi?), try Garrett Wright in Slough. In my experience with VW/Audi, the only decent sump gasket to fit is an original part - usually solid moulded rubber - the OEM gaskets are IMHO a load of rubbish, often two or more pieces and bits of cork, etc. Cheers,

Before I take the wheels off... Under light braking - an annoying squeal. :angry: Is this a generic Galaxy thing, or did the mechanics forget to put the shims (are there anti-squeal shims?) back in when they changed the pads/discs when I bought the car? Any other ideas? :( Cheers.

I'm gonna put my head over the parapet... :angry: My Galaxy is a 2.3 - there is a small electric pump above the engine at the rear of the engine bay, which I assume pumps coolant around after turning the engine off. It will run for 5 mins. or so even if you only turn the ignition on/off. If the motor bearing or impeller failed, I can imagine that this would get noisier than the normal humming that I can hear with my car. Try turning the ignition on/off and put your hand on the unit - if it vibrates gently it's probably OK. Is that what's making the noise? Pic attached...

I voted no, but then we've only had ours 3 weeks. I asked our local taxi firm what to buy and they said: Toyota Previa, Toyota Previa and Toyota Previa. NOT Galaxy/Al/Sha or Renault and especially not PSA/Fiat. However, I just like the Galaxy, and I'm familiar with VW products so I'm ready to take a chance! :lol:

Energy cannot be created or destroyed... Yer kinetic energy is converted into heat when you brake... :(

Fitted a Sony Ericsson HCB-700 bluetooth kit today, with a mute kit - well pleased with it, and I highly recommend it (especially if you use a Sony Ericsson 'phone). Took power from the radio feed, as the unit is low power and mutes the radio anyway. (There really aren't any good places to run a cable from the engine bay to the cabin, are there? :( ) Had to remove the ISO connectors from the mute kit and soldered on some LSUK supplied connectors - and thanks again to Ivor_E_Tower for supplying the radio wiring diagram. Fitted the display above the rear view mirror, the control unit to the left of the Tiptronic lever and the main control unit inside the centre console. Pics available if anyone wants...

Thank you Ivor_E_Tower. :o

Hi, Can anyone supply (or point a link to) a diagram for the connectors on the back of the 5000 RDS? I'm going to fit a Sony-Ericsson HCB-700 bluetooth hands-free kit with Advanced audio mute HCE-16 and need to identify the radio mute pin as well as speaker pins so that I can make a converter from Ford to ISO and back for the audio mute. Thanks in advance,

Pferde Staerke... :rolleyes:

Thanks Peter. :huh:

That's excellent - thanks very much. Next question (pushing my luck I know :D ) The cap and sealing plug look like a 'tamper proof' fitting - is that right? Or is this a pressure release valve? :D Is the oil filled/topped up here? Cheers, El Dingo.

I've done a search... maybe I'm using the wrong criteria.... Quote>>>Correct no dip stick but a level plug on the gear box the reason for the dealer is because they plug the car into their version of vagcom and read the auto fluids temperature via it and then pull the level plug out! hit the search engine for more details on how to do it <<<Unquote. I'm really sorry - can you point me towards this info... Thanks.

Thanks vr6galaxy!

Hi - newby here... We just bought a 2001 Ghia 2.3 tip. Anyone know how to check the Autobox levels? Manual says 'leave it to the dealer' so I assume that there's no dipstick. Is it simply a 'fill up till the oil spills out the filler plug' like a manual box? Secondly, I have VAG-COM with a 'dumb' interface cable. Any advice before I plug it in??? Do I select 'VW Sharan chassis'? Thanks. :huh: