big wheel

Nice one, but how can spraying the belt have anything to do with a bearing on the back of an alternator. Maybe I am loosing the plot, but thanks for the reply anyway. Any idea is better than none.

Well done Phil. Thanks for the reply, they say sometimes you don't see the wood for the trees. All these mechanics have been looking for the most expensive repair, not one even said take the belt off and see what happens. Last year I had the usual Galaxy electrical problems, but that's another story, and they said an Alt' was

I need help with this engine noise. It's an 05, 1.9 tdi with only 28,000 on the clock. It's hard to discribe a noise because it's not a knock or banging noise. It started 10 days ago and is getting slightly louder every day. When you pull away (forgot to say it's an auto box) you get a whirring noise like a dry bearing. It doesn't increase with road speed, only with engine speed. If you stop and gently press the throttle you can hear it from tickover up to about 1800 revs, where it stays constant. When you open the bonnet and listen, it sounds like the right hand side of the engine. A few mechanics have listened to it and nobody seems to agree, we have had turbo bearing, but it's not a whine and does not seem that fast. I have had cambelt tensioner and idlers, and the noise transmits to the other end of the engine. It sounds like a dry bearing/ clutch noise. Is there an air/con drive that might make that noise, any ideas would be welcome. If I can't pin it down, I think I will go for the cambelt tensioner idea to be on the safe side and change them this weekend. Come on lads, any ideas are better than none. Any idea how much a full belt kit costs and how bad it is to do.

That was a good desciption word for word of the same thing mine does. I have an 05 tdi Galaxy and will be very interested in any reply you get. I think modern cars are like computers, you fix one problem and the next time you start it up, there's another problem for you to fix. Bring back the simple cars like the old Cortina, no electric windows or door mirrors, a timing chain you never replaced, a fan belt for two quid, a set of plugs and points, and would run on any old oil. Have we gone forward or backward in the car industry, when was the last time you adjusted you 200 quid electric door mirror, mine was 2005 when I first sat in the car.

Hi Maz, Nice to see you back, I have also been missing for a while. I love these "love spammers", I can just picture this guy sitting in his mud hut in Africa, thinking up sad stories about his or her life. Well he has come to the right site for that. We should all send him our sad stories about owning a ford Galaxy, tell him how we have been mistreated by main ford dealers, how we get ripped off for spare parts and how much we pay for diesel. Tell him our cars need a major operation and could he please send some money, or my poor old ganny won't be able to put her wheelchair in the back of the Galaxy and go out to the seaside. We could send him pictures of our rusty old cars and he could send us a picture of his new BMW he bought with the money he ripped off from some poor lonely heart in Scotland. This could be fun, let's all give it ago, his mail box would be jammed with crap, just like he is sending us. Big wheel.

Thank you seatkid, but none of those photos look like this plate. It's a flat plate about 4 by 3 with 6 bolts holding it on. It's on the near side and you can just see it though the gap in the sump guard. It's dripping red fluid.

Can anybody help with this problem. I have a leak from the very bottom of the auto box, it's a plate about 4" by 3" and it was repaired under warranty because of an oil leak. The warranty has run out now, so it's now my problem. It looks simple enough to remove and replace the gasket, but in the mean time I'm buggered if I can find a way of checking the oil level. On cars I had years ago, it was a dip stick about 3 foot long, but I cant find one on this car. Has anybody had the same leak and can give any advice on why it leaks. Last time it was repaired in Frauds, they said something about a blocked breather pipe. When it's hot and ticking over, it's a constant drip.

Hi Emma, Welcome to the mad house, I've got a 2005 1.9 tdi Ghia. So anything you want too know, just ask. All the seats in the middle row and the back row all slide and tilt. You can remove the back two for holiday luggage or remove all five and the space is huge. On my Ghia model the two front seats swivel right around, so you can fold the middle seats down like a table, it's great when you go to race meetings. If you go looking for a Galaxy, try to get one with the highest spec's, mine has the swivel heated seats,climate control,sat/nav and chrome pack. They are out there, it just takes a bit of looking. Make sure you get it inspected by somebody like the AA, because like all modern cars they have their favourite problems. Make sure the air/con and electrics all work and the wipers move at all speeds, plus check under the passengers carpet for damp, some are prone to leaks and sometimes the rear screenwasher pipe disconnects, it run down that side.

If you look at one of my old posts, you will see I had a full hands free kit fitted when the car was new. I was told at the time that if you change the phone you just change the holder, Not true. Most new phones don't have any connection on the bottom, just a jack plug to charge it. Mine has got sat/nav, but it will still be the same problem with a standard radio. I rang around lots of people and one guy said, it will operate with bluetooth. So I got in the car, turned on the radio and the phone, went to phone settings, bluetooth, seach for devices and yahoo up came CF 1234 or some such number, press yes to pair with device, job done. Now when I get in the car you hear a beep and it works through all the speakers. Now I've got to find a cigarette lighter charger for long runs. I don't know If it will help with whatever you are trying to do, but it may help people who have the problem I had.

Hi Smokie, Sorry mate but it's lashing down with rain outside, so I'm not going outside in that. If you open the fuse box, you will see five inline thick metal fuses. What he has done is remove the top one, the one direct from the alternator, that blow up, and fitted a small fuse box next to it. It's exactly the same size and fuse, but it's well away from the rest. If you look on the Vospa website under recalls, you will also see an artical on loose fuel pipes and a small mention on the Alternator main cable that shorts out. Now there's a nice mixture, leaking fuel and a nice big spark, what more do you want to cheer your day. I've had this from new and nobody has sent me a letter to inform me I'm sitting on a fire hazard. Well done Fords.

The fun all started at 1am, I had just finished work and ready to go home. I tuned the key and the ABS light came on, but the car started, (Galaxy 1.9 Tdi Ghia auto. 05 plate) I put it in gear and it just about moved, felt like it was towing a 5 ton trailer. It moved about 10 feet and stopped dead and would not restart, the battery was dead. My friend gave me a jump start and we left it charging from his car for a while. As soon as my friend left, I thought I would run it for a while to charge the battery. That's when it all started to go wrong, first thing was, it would not select drive, it was stuck in park and would not move. Then all the lights started to flash on and off, including the lights on the inside of the doors, then they all went off. As a last resort I had to ring the AA, who said they would be 50 minutes, great service. 45 mins later they arrived and was told the battery was dead and the alternator was kaput. I was going to say to him, tow me to the Ford dealers a mile away and I will leave it there for them to fix in the morning. THANK GOD I NEVER. Instead I said, charge it up with your van, enough to drive it home and I'll sort it out tomorrow. In the morning I rang Frauds for a price for an alternator, wait for this...

Oh come on Maz take that well edited letter as a joke. At least it made me laugh. The way things are now,the price of gas,fuel and morgages,not a lot of people can find

I there anybody going to the Woodvale rally this year. It's on tomorrow and sunday 2nd & 3rd August. If you don't know what it is,look at my post in "meetings" for last year. There is also a link to the web site.

And dont forget Big Kev, come October,Mr Darling will be slapping another 2p a litre on our fuel. I really feel for these haulage companies now,one driver said it cost

Well done lads, you have just made my day. I have just found out my road tax for next year has rocketed from

Hi Maz, Nice to see you are still on the fags and enjoying the odd drink. It's a pity you can't do it in the same place any more. I'm sick of standing outside the pub in the p###ing rain to enjoy my night out. o.k. all you do gooders,we shouldn't smoke,but that's my choice in life. Why is it in places like Barcelona you walk down the street and pubs have red or green stickers in the windows for you to pick smoking or non smoking. They send young lads to the middle east to be killed in the name of freedom, I bet they can have a fag in their bars. Joining the UNITED STATES OF EUROPE was great way for our firms to move into Europe and make big bucks,that's why the car companies from the far east moved here,to get a back door into Europe. Now it's backfired and it's become a one way street,THE WRONG WAY. This is your fault Maz, you got me ranting too.

May I also say, that is a cracking letter to Fords. If it ever makes it to the boss,I doubt it. Some little middle manager will intercept it and send it back to service department again. I would send a copy to Watchdog and trading standards and tell them you are doing so, that might put the wind up their exhaust pipe. I have had my Galaxy for two years and for the last nine months they have been trying to cure an oil leak. They have replaced all sorts of gaskets,including the rocker cover gasket. So when it went in again last week for the oil leak,what did they find this time,the dick who replaced the rocker gasket left the breather pipe off. Also the boot was covered in 15 paper floor mats,when I asked what they were doing there,they said,to put the parts on so we don't loose them. Now this is a main Ford dealer and they can't repair an oil leak first time and return the car in a clean condition. One final point,when you spend 20+ thousand on a 7 seater car and it is in the garage for 4 days,why do they give you a hairdressers car (Ka) and you have to pay to insure it,while your car is off the road. Come on Frauds,get your act together. Free proper size replacement car and free insurance,while your approved mechanics practice on my car. Wake up to the fact that from the land of the rising Sun,they give 5 years parts and labour,because they know they make good cars and believe in their product.

Well done mate, Plenty of information and photos,that's just what we need on this site. If there is a way of saving money (99p cable from B&Q ) and a handful of bolts,I'm all for it. The money is better in our pocket than in Frauds. Let's see more like this and less about head lice and go faster stripes. :)

Hi Ted, Welcome to the mad house. I have an '05 Galaxy Ghia and the sharks fin is for the Sat/Nav. The aerial for you radio should be in your off side rear window.

Hi Teresa, Yes we did go,all 10 of us. We had a great time,pity we didn't see you. What we did see was a line of Mazdas and a bright yellow Eunos with a chrome roll over cage and yellow dials,so I presume it was yours. I think you were in the beer tent maybe ???? Every car club was there,Mazda,Toyota,Mini's,Triumph,Rolls,Rover,even the Focus club,but not one Galaxy,mine was in the car park. Never mind,there's always next year, maybe. :(

I'm in the n/w area...liverpool. There are a few of us meeting in Woodvale this Saturday.

Go on Maz,put this one up against the MK111. Now which one would you have?????

The only good thing about the MK111 is the massive front 1/4 lights,you can turn around corners without running some poor bugger over. Mine you it doesn't make up for the cheap looking rear seats and a garden spade for a handbrake. :rolleyes: