JToh

I am after some advice from your experts as we seldom use the Galaxy (2003 TDi 115bhp auto) and the car has only done 27k miles since new. I use a company car, but love the practicality of the Galaxy so kept it all these years. I stopped going to Ford garages and recently privately been using a VW mechanic to do servicing. Last weekend, he changed the EGR valve (which was leaking), the front brakes and both anti roll links (as one of them was knackered and making knocking noise). All seem well until I drove 3/4 miles into a journey when the car started to juddered, engine noise was like a jet and clouds of smoke came out at the back. I stopped the car, lifted up bonnet and rang the mechanic. Found out the large hose on the right of engine came loose cos he forgot to put the clip back on (he clipped it further down in order to replace the EGR valve). I reconnected the hose and it drove "normally" home. He came next morning to put the clip back to where it should be, saying it should be fine. However, after the incident, the engine now seems nosier, car slower to respond and fuel consumption seemed up. Added to this, the temperature gauge moves erractically (never done this before) before settling at 90c He asked me to run it for a few days to see any changes. None I have noticed. Also, the front brakes are squeaking which the mechanic says it's down to not genuine VW/Ford parts and may go once the brakes settled in, which seem strange. Anyone got any suggestions as to what the problems might be. Many thanks

1. Jimmy (Jim) 2. Tooting, South London 3. Galaxy 1.9 TDi Zetec auto (2003) in Pepper red with biege cloth (lovely & light colour) 4. Since new, so 3 years - done under 8k miles (second car) 5. Might look at the new Sharan instead 6. Not much so far, around

:lol: Paul, thanks for the advice. The problem has come back again to haunt me like a ghost. Started the car up the other day after a morning downpour ie, damp and wet conditions. The "aternator workshop" light appeared, went on a few times as I drove down the road and gone again. Like you, my South London dealer told me he had checked everything (changed the pulleys - checked the fanbelt, battery and alternator) and even had the Ford technician down to check and confirm all was well. The problem miraculously disappeared from February (even when it was wet and cold) after it had been in the workshop for a day until last week when it started driving me bad (again). The car starts first time every time and everything seems to be working fine except my remote door key which works intermittently despite changing the batteries. Like you, I had the car since new (June 03). I will be out of warranty near end of June, so I need to book it in again to have the dealer look at it as well as having the third annual service and MOT. Maybe the dealer is simply incompetent like most dealers it seems. Let me know if and when you have successfully cured this niggling fault! Cheers Jim

Dipso, thanks for the comments....will check it out with the dealer!

:D My remote door key struggles to work every so often, despite the light flashing on the key and having the batteries replaced. The problem appears to be sporadic and a real pain when carrying shopping back to the car! On occasions when it refuses to work, I tried shaking the key a few times and bang, it then manages to work. However, I tried this trick this morning and the sodding thing didn't work so I had to unlock by inserting the key! I looked inside the key and it seems everything is fine apart from that bit (size of a SIM card) which is bit loose. I am sure that I didn't damage anything while replacing the batteries. Is it a case the key itself needs replacing or I did damage something? If it is the key that needs replacing, would I be able to do it under warranty before it expires in June? Appreciate any advice! JT

:rolleyes: Actually I bought my galaxy through Dealthedrive - they simply offered the best deal and the car was transported from Bristol Street Birmingham to South London without hidden extras although the driver had a problem finding Streatham. My mate's XC90 was also bought via them, delivered in the same way - not sure about the supplying dealer though. About the cost just for printing the quote, I agree that this is a bit of a robbery but I guess they are trying to ensure you buy the car from them at the end of the day, rather than use it for bargaining purposes. Don't misunderstand I have no connection with the broker but would not hesitate in going back to them (if their price is sensible) for my next car! JT

:lol: The XC90 does look the part. I suppose it should given the dosh involved. My mate's one just been returned after spending a day in the workshop for repairs to a fault with some warning light and the car was collected, cleaned and valeted and returned to his drive on the same day. Also, the dealer offered another XC90 as a courtesy car. Strange I don't get this service from Ford! His only gripe is lack of space at the back row. All the best! JT

:lol: Blatters Just read about your new capture! My neighbour recently bought a new XC90 SE diesel via Drive the deal for under

Blatters Sounds like a nightmare! I recently had my booster heater (complete unit and not just the glow plug cos Ford doesn't just do the glow plug) replaced under warranty which seems to have sorted the white smoke problem as well as (strangely) my previous on-going gripe with the "Alternator Workshop" message. But still not 100% sure whether the new unit is working as it should as I haven't heard the jet engine noise for a while! You should be able to get some goodwill gesture from Ford UK, as when I spoke to them, they were acutely aware of the heater problem! Good luck! JT

:( You need to do a search or some searches in order to find answers to your questions, especially the one about windows fogging up or having excessive condensation! A number of owners have had this problem and provide excellent solutions. Good luck! JT

:( Looks like a bigger C-Max to me which is a very ordinary car. The C-Max is the car Ford introduced when it said that families normally do not use all 7 seats whilst others stretched their respective versions to offer a 7-seat option. To fill this void, Ford is bringing out the D Max, leaving the C-max a bit like the Fusion ie, no one knows what is intended market is! The new galaxy is supposed to be bigger, taller and wider and prices start around 21k which is steep! I am going to take a closer look once it is in the showroom but the new Sharan seems a better bet! JT

;) Not sure about the metering pump but the engineer told me all the parts have been replaced. Mind you, despite the cold I haven't heard the jet engine noise nor seen any white smoke since I picked it up last week. Does this mean it's not working?

;) Blatters, the two pictures you posted, one has standard ghia alloys (the one at Dover) while the other has what seems to be LX wheel covers (the one in the snow) - are they snow tyres or were you driving a different vehicle at the time? JT I'll take a picture of mine once the white smoke clears!

:huh: Well MM, Fraud left the car overnight (after fitting the new booster heater) outside the workshop and they said it started without the warning message. No sign of the "Alternator Workshop" bleeping over the weekend and this morning taking my daughter to school which, in similar conditions, would have given me plenty of grief! I am still not convinced - that they say the two events are related - booster heater failing to ignite causing "Alternator Workshop" message flashing up! One member (Denis) who has this problem drives a V6 and doesn't have a booster heater! It seems more logical that it is the fanbelt (as JB suggested) &/or the battery (as you pointed out). They say that it will also sort out the white smoke problem I have been having on and off. Mind you, only had this once this year! The dealer even suggested that some owners have had the booster heater disconnected to cure the white smoke problem. Surely this can't be sensible! Watch this space! regards JT

:D Well done! 2 free services, christ...that's generous of them! Picking mine up tonight. The mechanic reckons that he has sorted out my "Alternator Workshop" bleeping headache and that this is related to the booster heater not igniting properly and this in turn, triggers the bleeping. It doesn't sound that logical to me! They rather replace the whole unit than changing the glow plug which is alot cheaper. Mind you, Ford doesn't sell the glow plug individually! They kept the car overnight and they said that it started without this bleeping this morning! We'll just have to wait and see, I guess! I did point out, as you so logically suggested, that it is most likely to be the fan belt but they thought otherwise! regards JT