xavier

That's a lotta oil Bigjeeze!

Hello, I'm due an oil change and wondered what the recommendations were regarding oil and viscosity etc. I know the mark 2 TDi's were very particular about oil, are the mark 3 TDCi's more acommodating? I have a 2.0l but feel free to post suggestions for the other engine variants as I think this could be a useful post to have in the FAQ. Also on the subject of oil changes, can a pump be used to extract the oil as with the mk2's or is it an undertray off - sump bolt out job?

:D only a few! > but found it to be disconnected when we left it in to be sorted out So did you put it into a garage to be fixed, and their solution was to disconnect it? If so, how much did they charge you for this "service"?

You should be able to find out on line. I suspect that the most expensive bit is the oil change, the rest is likely to be top up washer fluid / check tyre pressures etc. I have the feeling you're a new galaxy owner so save the money for the cam belt change, or whatever else needs done in the interim. I was quoted around £350 for cam belt and water pump when I asked about mine last time it was in getting some work done. I thought that was pricey to be honest. Another option is a mobile mechanic, as the cam belt change is something that can be done on your drive.

I had a new heated screen fitted in a ford focus, autoglass quoted £650, as I was fully comp paid the £80 excess. Autoglass are expensive I have a colleague who was 3rd party and needed a new screen and managed to get one a lot cheaper by shopping around. However, as the screen is fine, I'd be wheeling it into an autoglass or somewhere and ask them if they could help, they may have stuff that will fill the gap better than silicone - or they may just say use silicone, but at least you'll know that's your best option! If you could post a pic we may be able to suggest alternatives, I'm surprised a small hole is allowing more than a few drips in, it sounds as if the water may be also getting directed to the hole causing the torrents. In the mean time could you run a line of gaffa tape covering the windscreen join right across the top of the windscreen? I.e. 1/2 on body, 1/2 on windscreen, across the full width? This should cut down the amount of water getting near the hole in the first place. My experience of drying out cars (own an MGF) is you need to get the carpets out and the thick sound deadening underlay (sponge) underneath to dry it properly. Dry sunny day on the washing line, don't put it back in the car until it's dry and you've fixed the leak. Might need some rubber mats for the driver's side rather than having your feet on bare metal.

When you have the blowers up full, does it sound like an athsmatic trying to run for a bus? Could just be you need to change the pollen filter.

As above I found mine was better with more than 1/2 a tank of diesel. Low diesel caused a lot of my smoking issues. When you get fog do you get any noises? I would sometimes get a noise suggesting a bearing needed lubricated.

The engine doesn't kick out much heat, if you stick the heaters on full on a cold day, the temp guage will drop. I found mine was better when I fixed the aux heater pump (even though my aux heater was broken). But a working aux heater really kicks out the heat, and you can pretend to be a jet fighter pilot at the same time!

Did you just get a new gasket fitted? If you find the heater is still poor in cold weather, your aux heater is likely to be not working. There is an additional pump for the heater in the engine bay - look for aux heater pump in the faq. The brushes in the pump wear out at about 80K miles, you can remove the pump and strip it down and replace with new brushes (£5 or so), I found when I did this heat would get from the engine to the cabin a lot quicker than it did before.

If you don't feel up to doing it yourself, try and source a local garage that specialises in german / VW cars, rather than a Ford specialist. Shop around for a good price, for a 13 year old car I wouldn't be using a main dealer. Though would be interesting to know what VW would quote!

Was going to say I don't get the minor features with my Y reg, but do with my mk3

> but because of the cost Tesco insurance wouldn't pay Marina, what do you mean by this, did they refuse to pay for the windscreen and you had to pay for it yourself?

I got a new screen on my 02 Focus, it's OK compared to the original but there's a band down the middle that doesn't clear as quick as the other areas. Given the car isn't worth much more than the windscreen I was just happy they replaced it rather than writing the car off!

Mine does the side lights thing. Doesn't do the random indicator thing though.

I'm not sure the sensor's can be cleaned. If you have a lap top you can get a cable and VCDS Lite (shareware) software that'll give you more diagnostics than a generic OBDII reader could give you. You could then scan the engine for fault codes. My local garage couldn't see the overboost code when my turbo was stuck, but I could see it on VCDS with the cable. If you can get the car up on a ramp or on a high kerb you can check the VNT mechanism. I think you can get an arm in over the top, use a 14mm spanner on the actuator and see if it'll move. One of these jobs that's easy to do when you know where it is. Do a search in the Mk2 forum.

12 - I "separated" the inlet pipe from the air box. This required a bit of brute force. And I broke the clip (I did open it first, honest!). So hot glued it back on. http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2349.jpg 13 - Then I loosely re-installed air inlet pipe http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2350.jpg 14 - I put the battery cables into their grommets, and put the cover back on the battery http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2351.jpg 15 - Nearly done. I then put the air box back in. It's a bit of a fiddle to get the intake pipe lined up and in as there's not a lot of space there. Here's a shot of the intake pipe clipped back on. http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2353.jpg 16 - and the airbox http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2354.jpg 17 - just need to re-connect the airbox to engine air feed pipe and the maf sensor cable http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2355.jpg 18 - and I'm done! http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2356.jpg

10 - Installation is the reverse of removal (or so they say!). I smeared some petroleum jelly on the new battery's terminals before fitting the connectors. http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2342.jpg 11 - I then bolted the battery clamp down - new battery bigger than the old one! http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2343.jpg Will finish this off in the next post, still have images loading!

Ok, some pics. This is how I did it. 1 - dog / rabbit http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2328.jpg 2 - I disconnect MAF sensor cable and undo jubilee clip. Apparently you don't normally need to remove the sensor cable but I had to remove more air box than expected! http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2329.jpg 3 - my clip + air hose disconnected http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2333.jpg 4 - after I removed airbox http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2334.jpg Ok, that's not how I should have removed the airbox. what I should have done is pull this clip back and disconnect the airbox from the inlet pipe. I couldn't see it, and so removed the entire box. http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2345.jpg 5 - Inow have clearance to remove the battery. First, I removed the plastic cover over the front of the battery. It seems to want to pivot, but it doesn't, I just pulled it off from the "hinges" either side. http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2335.jpg 6 - Cover removed http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2337.jpg 7 - I then undid the battery clamp (8mm) http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2339.jpg 8 - Then pulled the battery forward until I could undo rear clamp. Then I undid the front clamp. http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2340.jpg 9 - new vs old. The old one looks pretty good, and I'm just replacing it as I had assumed it was an original. Doh! http://googledrive.com/host/0B0JQ9-v286HrMXd3MHJZUlJ0ZVU/IMAG2341.jpg

Yeah, that's not surprising. Do a search for limp mode in the mk2 forum. To summarise, check whether the actuator on the turbo is seized. If not, there's probably a leak in the vaccum piping somewhere. If it's seized, you can either replace the turbo, remove turbo and send it away to get refurbished, remove the turbo and strip it down and clean yourself, or use innotec cleaner to try and clean the turbo. I use the innotec, have had mixed results with it but it's cheap and I can do it myself.

Which means it's the turbo vanes. And a 1.9 tdi. So VCDS would work. Does it have roof rails and seats that come out, or do the seats fold into the floor?

Yes, though getting them back on the bracket on the caliper was another matter! I have pics from when I did the job, just need to figure out how to get them on here!

I didn't think she had wear indicators until I changed the rear pads and had to connect them up! But deffo no missing engine management light then?

Managed to get the battery changed today. Needless to say I should have done some googling before starting but never mind. Once I figure out how to post images I'll add some!

Are you pressing the recirc button to get the change in sound? To be honest does the heater seem to work and blow where you want it to blow? If so then leave it be. If you really want to fix it, have a look and see if any of the fault codes have returned. Re the cable, you should find a list of detailed fault codes on the vcds website, I don't think they're very printable though. Where did you get the cable in the end?

That's next week, looking at the weather forecast! Mine fired up the other day, bit smokey but then seemed fine. Aux heater, not air con. Have yet to sit in a mk2 where it works.