DaveM

Had my 2.8 V6 services and MOT'd last week only problem was a slight blow in the exhaust, but as the exhaust was 20 months old and the guarantee was 24 months, I got it replaced free of charge.... result, I knew it was worth keeping all those receipts !) anyway, the garage did tell me that there is a very slight rattle when ticking over, "nothing to worry about just yet" he said, "probably the hydraulic valve lifters" (I suppose the equivalent of tapits from the good old days!) I didn't really notice it until he told me, (but I do have a rather noisy AC compressor which I run on auto all the time !!) Is this correct ? is there really nothing to worry about ? (and how much for a garage to repair ?) 2.8 V6 1998 with 60k miles, (genuine, as I'm the only owner)

Good luck ! if it's any use, my 2.8 V6 developed a misfire immediately after a service. I went back 'banging the table' and they replaced all HT leads for me free of charge ! But, it still misfired ! went back again, this time they checked the coil pack and there was some arcing across a couple of the pots. He did point out the slight discolouration on the black plastic, but you needed bloody good eyes to see it !! drove away happily with no misfire, but on checking, I noticed that they had put my old HT leads back on, (bugger !) They only charged me for the coil pack, (no labour charge for install or diagnostics)

My comp's gone too. However, with the electric heated front screen I don't think you really need the air-con over the winter. Just get someone to drop the gas so the aircon clutch stays out, then save up over the winter! it's climate control, so just sticking it on 'econ' should do the trick

looks dodgy states climate control, but it's not broken speaker grilles looks generally tatty all round.

passed the mot with a minor break pipe change, but a list of advice notes. discs low but ok exhaust badly corroded but ok slight rattle up top, possibly valve lifters ? but "nothing to worry about" So a bit of expense over the next twelve months or so. As for the air con.... mmm... the quote was

Took the Galaxy in for a service and MOT today. I asked the garage to have a look at the aircon as I suspected a dodgy compressor Symptoms are : Even after a gas re-charge, it didn't work very well, (not even cool enough to form any condensate on the evapourator) No flashing display Compressor, (or pump), engages, i.e click and hum but then followed by a terrible grinding noise The verdict from the garage concurred with my fears.... quote "the compressor sounds like a bag of spanners" a quote for replacement will be waiting for me when I pick the car up tomorrow morning. any ideas what I should expect cost wise ? I've looked online and found compressors at about 300 quid, (did find one site at 76.66 ! but didn't really trust it as it quoted the same pump for the entire Galaxy range ! that can't be right, surely) What sort of job is it ? heavy labour charge ? thanks in advance PS Galaxy 2.8 V6 1998, (climate control)

might be 'very usefull' but also a bit dangerous. I've stepped into my 98 V6 several times to see 0 (zero) on the miles remaining. (automatically switches to this function at 40 miles remaining). The response from the wife is normally something like "well it said i had 2 miles remaining when I left work" (about 4 mile journey) !! Did once though do 10 miles on 0 (zero) hunting for a garage late at night !! I think it can encourage some to suck up the sh1t from dregs of the tank (or is that an old wives tail ?!)

same here, no need for the bonnet to be opened. sometimes need to do it once, twice or three times on mine. it depends on where it is in the service type loop. i.e. LN1 service, LN2 service or OIL if it's time for them all, then you need to repeat three times

very funny.... one bit of duff info though V6 ? 2.3 ? mmmm... Is there such a unit ? I don't think so Dare not send a query, I don't know what sort of reply i'd get ! :D

similar problem. my hoses were ok, but the pump was full of water ! replaced pump job done

30 quid is too cheap to do it properly. (in my opinion), I doubt whether that would pay for the gas, lube and dye !, let alone the half hour it takes for a vac down, pressure test, charge. The cheapest i've found is between 50-60 quid. But that also includes a antibacterial purge ps. R134A and the earlier R22 refrigerants are prone to moisture, more sophisticated systems have sight glasses in the fridge lines to make it easier to check. Remember it's the expansion of the liquified compressed gas that gives the cooling effect. (the same effect an aerosole deoderant has when sprayed under your pits ! cold yeah ? well it's a similar concept !) personally i wouldn't try using the top up cans.... the refrigerant quantity is critical, yet there is no way of telling how much is in there... it's not like topping up a coolant bottle with a water level on it. you need pressure gages and scales to measure what comes out in order to guarantee what should go back in. (hence the requirement for a vac down)

I think a lot of people get confused about the term 'air con'.... thinking that it means cooling only. a climate control system heats as well. putting it very simply, the system works in reverse when heating is called for. (in that the evaporator coil gets hot instead of cold) either way, by having it on 'auto' all year round, you are circulating the all important compressor oil and so keeping the system happy. admitedly the galaxy air con is not a great system in the first place, but apart from a couple of vacs and charges, mine has been fine for over five years, (famous last words) and forget about the eco warriors who say it drinks more fuel...... the cost of a compressor change will probably take 50 years to re-coupe in fuel saving. ?!?! (and probably is cheaper than the drag of an open window in the summer..(me ?trolling ?! haha)

from your post, it sounds as though you have climate control and not basic air con, (you mention temperature buttons, not a dial) I'm sure there must be a way of replacing the bulb. i'll watch with interest for when mine goes !

I had a servo pipe crack once. result ? stalling at low revs/idle, loss of assisted steering and braking ! nightmare. 20 quid fix, but scary what can happen for what sounds like a minor fault.

where are you reading the temperature from ?

Sorry, i'll explian further..... if you can read a temperature of 103 i assume it's on the digital trip computer. if so, this is the engine oil temperature. The manual states you should stop the engine if the oil temp exceeds 145 degrees. I can't see where else you'll be getting such an accurate reading from unless you stick a thermometer in the coolant ! as the 97 v6 has a coolant gauge only. (mines a 98 v6)

Is this reading off of the trip computer ?..... sounds pretty normal to me... my v6 ghia x runs at a similar temp. Infact i'm sure i remember reading in the manual somewhere that you shouldn't 'boot it' until the engine was warmed up to a temp of 100

15k ?..... Iwish ! I recon i get 10k out of the front if i'm lucky. (V6 though)

further to my earlier post...... mines a manual, so can expect a bit more

round town 16 long run 26-30 managed 33 on a long run lightly loaded once. (but only for a couple of miles) had a roof box on last week that knocked about 8mpg off !!

After leaving the Galaxy in the long stay car park at Stansted for a week over christmas, we returned to the car, stepped in, belted up and started the engine. The misses then pulled the sun visor down and got a lap full of water that had collected within the mirror recess. The roof lining appears completely dry, the seat was dry, (before the sun visor was moved !) and the carpet is also dry. Surely this can't be condensation build up ?! it was left over the cold snap, but every where else was bone dry. (including the driver side, but that's got the vanity light and mirror. The passenger one disintergrated and it was cheaper to repplace with normal mirror) oh, the heated seat was also on, so that's now buggered.... hopefully it's just a fuse.

I had the same.... random bleeps or single bleep on start up.... couldn't figure it out, but a week later the battery packed up completely. After changing the battery, the bleeps are no more ! :(

Oh, they also swapped front pair to back for me whilst it was on the ramp (two rear needed replacing, so new ones went on the front and existing front ones moved to the back) all for 175 quid When i first got the galaxy 5 years ago, it cost me that for ONE tyre !