Jim

I've only just got the car, so will query the dealer about this one. How much did it cost for the unit?

As SA says.... I bought a pollen filter for my VW Passat from GSF for

Looks like they are gonna sort the timing belt out for me. :rolleyes: I will also make sure they change the tensioner. I would have thought not doing so was a false economy as if the tensioner goes, you may as well have a belt failure? Thanks for the bulletin btw - nice to be able to quote these things.

Today on my trip home from work (33 miles), I noticed some strange goings on with the temperature on the engine. After quite a few miles, I noticed the temperature was sitting at 50. Then the temperature decided to pop up to 90 - this happened very quickly - with a second or two. It stayed at 90 for a while then suddenly dropped back to 50. Again it stayed at 50 for quite a few miles, before heading quicky back to 90. This really puzzled me, so I played about with the cabin heater to see if this was possibly sucking all the heat from the engine, but the drops were so sudden, I cannot believe this was the case. Any ideas, or has the alcohol in the antifreeze went to my temperature sensor's head? :rolleyes: :unsure:

I pay just under 60 pence per litre. On my last fill up I managed to get over 100 litres of diesel in the car - and the tank was half full. The three jerry cans in the car helped to accomdate the extra fuel. That's the least fuel I have bought for a while from my trips abroad (ROI). Hate buying fuel in the UK - can Gordon Brown sleep OK at night? At least Dick Turpin wore a mask. :)

Hi Ivor, I'm hoping the dealer will honour the FSH and do the belt as they should have done 5,000 miles ago - I assume it was an oversight on their behalf, given the change from 60K to 40K in/around the time my car was built. Also I will not be bothering with the MOT on my car until October 2004 - an advantage of living in NI as opposed to the rest of the UK is that cars do not have their 1st MOT until they are 4 years old. :D Oh, and just to confirm all the info previously given, build date on my car is 30/09/00 and cambelt change at 40K - from Ford Customer Care. Top marks to the detective team involved. :)

Thanks again seatkid, I was assured the vehicle had a FSH, but it would now appear not! At least they didn't leave out something important like filling up with window washer, it was only the timing belt <_< . I shall be contacting them on Monday to see what can be done - I will obviously be looking the belt to be done FOC - not a good start, but lets see what Monday brings. Regards, Jim

Thanks for checking seatkid, Will try Customer Care later today (look at the time, I should be asleep|) and see what they come uo with. I will report back what they say. Regards, Jim

Hi fredt, Reading the table was not a problem - thanks. Seatkid - did you get my email regarding my chasis number?

HI fredt, The 11th and 12th characters of my chasis number are Y and Y again. From your info, it looks like the build date of my car is then October 2000? Nice to know that crazy string of numbers actually mean something. Thanks, Jim

I tried Ford customer case first thing this morning, but they were closed - I assume for the new year holiday. Will try tomorrow or failing that on Monday. I like the sound of a 50,000 km service though. <_<

Thanks Dave, My car was first registered at the end of October 2000, but I don't know what the build date was - will check with Ford. In your last sentnce should the mileage be 40,000, as I am confused by the reply. I am even more confused though, by why Ford say the belt can last for an extra 20,000 miles if the car was built after a certain date - unless it is a different belt of course. Jim

Apologies if this has already been answered, but I have searched thorugh the posts and cannot find a definitive answer. How often should the timing/camshaft belt be changed on my Galaxy - a 2000 Zetec 115 BHP TDi with auto box? I thought it was every 60,000 miles, but after reading the "Warranty and Service Guide" it looks like every 40,00 miles from the camshaft section on page 19. I have just bought the car from a Ford dealer and it came with "Full Service History" and all services were done with the dealer I bought it from. The car has 45,000 miles and I was given duplicate receipts for the services, so I know the belt was NOT changed at 40K. Should it have been done at 40K, or is it not due until 60K? Thanks for your help. Jim

Reading this thread has eased my worries about what the racket (jet engine noise decribes it well) coming from underneath my Galaxy. Produces a very audible drone when running, even noticable within the car without the CD player on. I guess you put up with it or move to a warmer climate!

I have just got a 115BHP Auto Galaxy and have to say I am really impressed with engine performance for a car that size. Anyway, my MAF is abviously fine, but I also have a 110BHP Passat and it has been suffering for a while with loss of power (actually about 12 months). This is most noticable going up hills and when accelerating hard - car will still do 80+mph on flat without too much problem. My questions is, can I swap the MAF from the Galaxy into the Passat to test if it is the MAF that's at fault? Will the MAF in the 1998 110BHP engine, be the same as the MAF in the 115BHP engine? Is GSF the cheapest place to buy a new MAF sensor? Thanks for your help.

Hey Martin, You're 20 miles south of Belfast in farming country(?), so I'm guessing around Dromore/Ballynahinch. Anyway, from South Belfast myself and shocked at what some of the folks on the forum are paying for insurance, If you don't mind me asking, what the insurance like on the Alhambra? My

I think I'd be happy with