Xenonman

Yes, I was thinking of doing that, however it is so intermittent they probably wouldn't catch it. I went to work this morning, it was freezing cold and snowing, thought it might play up again but it didn't. Probably won't do it now untill next week. When the battery icon came on, it was bright and didn't dim when i revved the engine, this must be the alternator at fault, diodes or something but why so intermittent?

The alternator workshop warning light is flashing again, this is after i took it in the dealer on friday. The dealer checked the alternator and the wiring but no error codes were registered in the ECU but i have found that it only does this from cold start up. I just nipped out 10 mins ago, it's about 1 deg outside, Started the car drove about 100yds then beep beep beep "ALTERNATOR WORKSHOP" It did it for about another 100yds then stopped, all fine. The battery lamp was also flashing at this point and the trip computer display was also dimming with loss of charging power, i dont think the belt is slipping, if anything it will be tighter with being cold. If the alternator is on its way out, how can i convince Ford to put a new one in if they can't find nothing wrong with it, have i got to break down whilst my wife and kids are in the car before they will fix it? What next???

Know the area well, i live only a few miles away, between Preston & Chorley when I am actually there.

Just been out testing the battery with the voltmeter, with no consumables turned on and the engine running the voltage was 14.3v, with headlights on, fogs, HRW, blowers turned up full, 13.9v so i think eveything is ok. However when the front heated screen is turned on it knocks the voltage down to 12.6v, I didn't realise that it was so power hungry, suppose thats why it turns off automatically. I guess if the warning computer wasn't installed I would have never noticed a small slip in the alternator drive belt, i think these gadgets can cause more hassle sometimes than needed. Anyhow thanks for your help. By the way SA where are you from in Lancs if you don't mind me asking?? Ian

I had the acrid smell in the car but not the burning rubber smell, that was outside when i got out, forgot to mention that but it only seems to happen when it is very cold and the aux heater is on full. Seems like problem week.

I have noticed recently, very acrid fumes coming from the aux heater. The fumes range from a burning rubber smell to something which really gets right up your nose giving it a burning sensation. I know from other posts that bad fumes come from the heater but i had this in the cabin whilst driving, when i turned the rear blower down it seemed to disapear. Look like ford are going to be busy on Monday!! Ian

Thanks for all the info, I took the connection off the alternator put a bit of WD40 in and around it, not all over the alternator and certainly not on the belt. Took it for a spin 5 miles or so up the road and all seems to be ok, haven't checked the battery with the multimeter yet but when i start it up with the interior lights on they definetly get brighter, so i suppose that is a good sign. I will check the battery tomorrow and if it is low, ford can sort the bloody thing out monday. thanks Ian

Cheers SA, thanks for the speedy reply. i'll go and have a look at it now then cover the thing in WD40 round the connections, the weather has been crap this week. oh is there a way i can check its charging with a multimeter just in case?? thanks Ian

I just started the thing this afternoon, drove 200yds up the road then the alternator workshop warning started beeping with the battery lamp flashing very briefly. It did this about 12 times then stopped, it hasn't done it since. Could there be a genuine fault with the alternator or could it have just been damp, the weather here has been very damp all week and i have had a lot of short journeys on cold mornings, apart from thursday when i did a 150 mile round trip to the airport. I may have to take a trip to the dealer on monday but i was curious to find out what the prob may be by the bright sparks on the forum. Cheers Ian

Oh I tried that, mats in the washing machine, they come up a treat. Just get a tea towel so you don't burn the mats & give them an iron, come up like new.

I reckon these "Ballbars" sorry bullbars should be banned and the people who want them be put in the middle of the road and run over by a car that has them. Then see what happens!!!

Might be ok on a Pajero, looks w**k on a Galaxy!!

Just check to see if you have water leaking in under the passenger seat. I believe there is a central locking and electric windows module in there, if water has leaked in and got to the electrics, it could play havoc and lock the car. I had a lot of water ingress on mine but i took it to the dealer, under warranty and they seem to have fixed it but i haven't taken any chances. I have raised the metal plate that this module is on by 3/4" and also made a hole through the big grommet that is under there, so if any great amount of water gets in, it just runs out through the hole.

Wasn't there a problem with these in the outset, something to do with electronic steering, if the engine stopped while you were driving you had no steering?

Yes I had one of these, got it new in 2001 for

You will find that the majority of Galaxys are in Germany, a lot of members of the Army (British) have bought them, including me. On the road where i live there are 12, plates from 02, 52, 03 & 53, Mostly Ghia spec but a few Zetecs are around. Wait until next year you will have plenty to choose from on the UK market when we export them. Only speculation but I reckon there must be nearly 1000 of them over here.

After my first post about water ingress, I have now spotted water leaking in from the passenger door fascia, water coming in this way bypasses the door seal. This is so annoying, I have paid

Well Mick I haven't sold any fords to CD Bramhall as of yet but they do a buyback on the Galaxy. As far as i know it is a good deal, a few lads have done this for years now and their Galaxy's are now paid for just with the buyback on them. There are tax free dealers in UK that we sell back to but i'm sure i'd get a better deal selling private, better for the seller & the buyer. I don't get ripped off at trade in value and the buyer doesn't pay dealer prices, cutting out the middle man is a good move as far as im concerned, I bet we would both save a grand each without a dealer. B)

Like I said, I live in germany, the amount of new galaxys over here is unreal, we get them at rock bottom prices from uk tax free dealers, export them over here, for 6 months or 12 then take them back to uk and sell them at tax paid prices to get another. A 115 ghia with metallic paint, standard car would be around

Thanks for quite a comprehesive list, i forgot to mention that the carpets don't get wet, so it may be leaking down one of the pillars As i currently live in Germany with HM Forces, it is Galaxy central, on my road alone there are 12 of them, all of them post 2000. Nobody else seems to have this problem. However the ford dealer seems to be quite helpful, so i'm sure it will be fixed but still a pain in the arse. Oh, no sun roof to worry about.

Honest not a wind up, just the advantage of being in Germany with HM Forces, Oh not certain but with the tuning box it must push 150 to 160 BHP and why not put the box on a new not run in 130, its totaly within the limits of the engine!! I only bought it to sell at a profit in 6 months, what do i care.

well the washers seem to be working ok, i have the headlight washer system hence a 7 litre capacity so i can't really tell if it goes down quick, the rear washer seems to be functioning ok as well, the water does smell stale though. At one point it was so bad i had to remove the metal plate under the seat, the one which the parking beeper & some module is attached to, to get a knife through the big grommet so the water could drain away. The grommet needs replacing & the dealer is quite happy that i put a hole into it but i'm not going to replace it untill the leak is fixed

I recently got my 130 ghia on a 53 plate, after doing about 1000 miles i noticed that my front parking sensor beeper went very quiet, when i actually found it under the passenger seat it was full of water. The well under the seat was swimming in water, it has been into the dealer & after keeping it for a whole morning, they said the had found the leak in the B pillar and fixed it. I took it to the car wash but hey hey!! its got water in again. Anyone had the same trouble? Its under warranty obviously but its still a pain going to the garage trying to get it sorted.

:blink: Got my 53 plate 130 TDI with technology pack, leather, satin silver & MF steering wheel for