sparky Paul

RAC selling sat nav systems? This made me chuckle... :( http://uk.news.yahoo.com/18022006/377/sat-...s-says-rac.html Sorry, no experience of the RAC satnavs and I'm not sure which software they use. I use an Acer N35 Pocket PC with integrated GPS, together with tomtom software - not the 'Destinator' software that comes with it. After using a few different systems, I can recommend tomtom. Speed camera database is available for most satnav systems and can be downloaded for

I've tried putting a few registrations of my old cars into that site, it always returns 31 December YYYY as the manufacture date... :angry:

My recovery stipulates that you must carry a 'serviceable' spare too. :ph34r:

Yeah, looks very nice - but I do like silver cars... :D Can't grumble for that money! ..and welcome to the forum! :D

Ford recommend 5W30 for all the petrols. I've read that it's very important that you use 5W30 in the 2.3 engine, but it's not so critical with the 2.0 litre - however, it's best to stick with the recommended oil in my opinion.

Used to keep a can for the trailer... never actually had to use it. All I know is that it makes an awful mess in the boot when hot weather causes the can to overheat and the valve lets rip... :)

I agree, and I too am surprised by the lack of a good online supplier for Ford parts, given the number of privately owned Fords in this country. The ones suggested are not great - fordpartsuk has an 'email for a price' approach, and I picked a random part (brake discs) on the RM site and was met with a 'This product is unavailable' message. The Euro and GSF sites (and Andyspares site which preceded it) are examples of a good online catalogue, and they both stock a good range for the makers they supply parts for - fortunately this does cover many Galaxy mechanical parts. I used the Andyspares site for many years to keep my beloved Citroen going, and subsequently the GSF shops when they merged. The online store was not only a shop, but a source of info - it's often easier to select parts given good descriptions of the various items with pics. I'm amazed there isn't something similar for all Fords, or indeed that no one has identified this as an opportunity. Nearest thing I've found is http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/ which covers all makes and models. :) There is a lot of parts on eBay, and I have had variable success with these - Mintex pads and discs were excellent and very cheap, but some of the generic service parts have been of dubious quality and have gone back to a trusted local (well, 15 miles away) motor factor for these.

www.mytyres.co.uk Don't forget to select 'reinforced' at the bottom when searching. ;) Not sure what size you're after, but my 215x55/16 cost me

Was on Dunlop SP2020E 215/55x16 reinforced all round, recently changed front two to Fortuna F2000. Dunlops very noisy indeed, Fortunas are every bit as grippy and much quieter - even the other half couldn't believe the difference. I would highly recommend them, especially at the price. Tread depth on a new tyre is generally 8mm.

Thanks for that, interesting to know! ;) It seems pretty conclusive that 94 is the minimum load index for Galaxy tyres.

It would be interesting to know what load index is specified for this size, generally the reinforced tyres of this size are 94 load index. I thought the minimum specified by Ford for Galaxys was 95 - I know 93 is definitely no good, but there aren't any 94 rated in the more common Galaxy sizes, so perhaps 94 rated just covers the weight. My cheap tyre experiment from mytyres is going well, I'm very happy with the Fortunas so far... ;)

My Galaxy is a mark 1 and there's absolutely nothing on my A pillar... :ph34r: The sticker on my filler flap is identical to the one on your A pillar, showing only the one tyre size that is fitted to the alloys.

Mine's also a '99 T, but a 2.3 petrol Zetec, i.e. a lower trim model than yours. I have the single tyre size sticker, it is inside the filler cap - the size stated is 215/55x16, which is what is fitted to the standard alloys. Hope this helps! :angry:

I've often been accused of being a nutcase, but here goes... :( I'm not sure about the heaters, but from what I've read the VW PD engine is one of the most reliable for running on biodiesel. As MM says, there are a lot of PD engines happily running on it on the continent. If you are going to use 100%, you might consider changing the fuel filters more often for a while - the biodiesel has a cleaning effect and will strip out any dirt that has accumulated in the fuel system while running on derv. Many attribute these problems to the biodiesel when switching, but it's often the dirt and residues already in the system that cause the teething problems. Rix produce a biodiesel mix, but it is clearly marked as such where sold.

As far as I am aware, the Dunlop Sports do not possess any special properties - they look like a pretty standard tyre casing construction, much the same as any other tyre - they certainly came off the rims easy enough on the tyre changer! :unsure: I'm not saying that the cheapest tyre you can find will be as good as the best - indeed some of the cheap tyres are really poor - but a carefully chosen, well reviewed budget tyre can be an excellent buy IMHO. Not sure if you have read the whole thread, but these tyres got good write ups and were purchased as a bit of an experiment. So far, I'm mighty impressed.

I would add a few tips for the 2.3 16V - mine's a '99 mk.1, but I expect yours is similar underneath... If you're doing it on the driveway, you will find that the splash guard will not come out from under the car - it's too big. You have to slide the oil tray on to the splash guard. Also, before removing the oil filter, stuff some absorbant rags under the filter to catch the bit of oil that runs out - otherwise it runs onto the convoluted part of the exhaust, and into the splash tray (which will be stuck under the car while you are oil changing). If you don't catch it with rags, the exhaust will smoke a bit when it next gets hot, and the oil in the splash guard will find its way on to your driveway/garage later. Make sure you use 5W-30, it's more expensive but I'm told the correct grade is important for this engine. Apart from that, it's all very easy. :unsure: Hope this helps!

There may be a resemblence to the Michelins, but I'm sure there's no connection - though the similar pattern may account for the similar results? At the top of the description on the mytyres site (in German!) that they are made by a Goodyear company, but I have not seen any evidence of this elsewhere - I would take that with a pinch of salt. What I do know is that they are made for a Belgian company with a rather unfortunate name, there's a bit of blurb about them here - http://www.deldo.com/en/hm_01_07.cfm#prog So far, with only about 300 miles on the Fortunas, I am very pleased with them. I was always happy with the Dunlops, but now the new tyres are bedded in I would say that they're every bit as grippy as the Dunlops. The one thing I am particularly pleased about is the noise levels - they are much quieter than the Dunlops, the OH even commented on this and says it's like a different car. I had always assumed the road noise was inherent with the Galaxy, but these tyres have made a big difference. As a visitor to Wales myself, I know what you mean about the rain. :blink: Unfortunately, we've not really had any rain to talk of since they were fitted, so I can't really comment on wet performance - but I generally like the tyres with the deep centre grooves around the circumference, they are supposed to disperse water better. If it rains, I'll nip out in it and report back if that's any help - being rural here there's lots of twisty lanes to test them out on. Here's a good general explanation of the different types of tread pattern - http://www.tyres-online.co.uk/techinfo/patterns.asp The Fortunas are assymetric.

I don't know who's told you that, but Dunlop 2020Es are definitely not 'run flats'. :blink: The Fortunas are higher speed rated and higher weight rating than the Dunlops, are quieter, and seem to drive just as well. Galaxys should never be fitted with 'run flats'. Run flat tyres should only ever be fitted to cars which are designed for them - it is essential that the vehicle is fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system. You can read about run-flats here http://www.etyres.co.uk/run-flat-tyres

Are these tyres directional or just the standard type?? If the website picture is accurate, they're directional. The Fortunas I had from mytyres last week are assymetrical - non-directional, but must be mounted with the wall marked 'OUTSIDE' to the outer rim, unlike the Dunlops which are symmetrical - which can be mounted either way.

Link takes you to www.mytyres.co.uk - I can also add my recommendation, they are an excellent supplier in my experience. :( The Fortunas are going well so far, no problems whatsoever that I can see, and quieter than the noisy Dunlops... :) Very happy for

That rating will be perfectly OK. <_<

There will be quite a difference fully laden as it's a seven seater, the tyres are rated for this gross weight. What matters is the load index - the tyres must be 95 rated or higher regardless of size. I suspect you will be unable to buy tyres, in the sizes quoted, rated high enough Li for the Galaxy.

The important thing to check is the Load index of the tyre. For the Galaxy, they must be rated 95 or higher, 93 rated should be a MOT fail. This means that most sizes have to be reinforced to achieve this rating. There is only one exception as far as I know, there are some 215/60x15 tyres fitted to Galaxys which are already 95 rated on the standard tyre, so they do not have to be reinforced or 'extra load'. You have to take care, however, as only a few of the non-reinforced 215/60/x15 tyres are 95 rated. There are quite a few 94 rated, but Ford spec seems to be 95 rated or higher. All other sizes must be reinforced or 'extra-load' on the Galaxy. Hope this helps :P The pair of Fortuna 215/55x16 97W XL I've just fitted seem absolutely fine so far,