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

B) Brilliant JB. If I were you I'd try and extract as much as possible out of them! A class act mate.....those sufferers of this problem should do the same, otherwise these guys would never take the problem seriously. Mine is in the workshop for a new booster heater, replaced under warranty. This is after I threathened them with legal action as the white smoke was getting so bad, it was coming into the cabin and I have two young daughters!

:( Gordon, cheers about your tip about replacing the pollen filter. I am getting hardly warm air on speed 1 and 2! JT

JB: Thanks for your logical input which makes every sense to me. I think that it was you who mentioned that your mate with a similar problem had the fanbelt "re-routed". The dealer (Brownes of London) did this after speaking to the supplying dealer Bristol Street Motors Birmingham who did receive some sort of techincal bulletin from Ford about this problem. After this re-routing, the car ran for several months without any problem, only for the problem to return in January. It is becoming a real farce as I was in the workshop the other morning with the dealer engineer and one of Ford's own technicians. You would have thought this bloke would have a clue or two but he seemed clueless! I did put forward Masked's suggestion about a faulty battery. Various checks were done but they said that it wasn't the battery. I am having a new booster heater fitted anyway under warranty which I don't believe will cure this problem. But it might cure the white smoke problem which strangely I haven't had this winter. I'll put forward JB's suggestion about the fanbelt. So hecked off with this problem which is driving me mental that I am prepared to pay someone privately (one of you guys maybe) to get it sorted. How easy is it for a novice like me change the fanbelt? Thanks alot for all your inputs!

:blink: Guys, the dealer will be fitting a new booster heater this week to the car which they think will sort out this annoying "alternator workshop" bleeping saga. They said that the heater is lukewarm whereas it should be red hot after starting the car up. I've had this problem on and off since new (2003) and despite about 15 attempts by 2 different dealers, the problem is still there and the message flashes many times (always preceded by the battery warning light) when it is cold and damp, only to disappear after a few minutes down the road. Ford sent one of their technicians and he reckons the fault is the booster heater. I would have thought this is more of an electrical gremlin and wonder why it is related to this heater. Any ideas? Incidentally, Ford Customer Service rejected my claim for an extended warranty (worth a try) given the aggravation I've had and this seems to be a winter problem (this will mysteriously disappear when the weather becomes warmer and I am out of warranty in June!). :huh: Also the hot air from the 4-speed fan when it is on 1 or 2 feels as though there is hardly anything coming through. I can hear the fan motor going in the background but very little hot air. Speed 3 and 4 is fine with plenty of hot air blowing. But switch to cold air on the same speed (1 and 2), there is plenty coming through. I don't have climate control on the Zetec! Any ideas. Thanks alot! JT

:blink: Leon, not sure about whether the mechanic checked it when it was cold or/& cold. It will be my 5th trip to the dealer since November last year and I'd been there 3 times previously. Can't fault him on not trying as he has almost done a forensic job on this "alternator workshop" problem. I suspect that it is something quite simple. I might try to get Ford to send one of their engineers. Judging by the comments of some members this seems to be a common problem if only someone knows where and what to look! By the way, I too had the white smoke problem and the dealer has now replaced the whole heater, not just a new glowplug. Haven't been cold enough in South London to see whether this has any effect or not! Cheers! Jim

:P Denis, sorry to hear you have the same problem as I have. Like you said, the problem is intermitten and for me, when it is cold and damp! It is a frustrating problem and like on yours, the dealer has checked everything although he seems to be at a lost! I have got Ford Customer Service on the case although not sure as to what help (if any) they can provide. The car goes in again next Monday so I'll let you know how I can get on! Cheers! Jim

Thanks MM but the battery has been given a clean bill of health by the dealer (if you take what he says to be correct!). He is taking the car in next Monday for the 5th time in the space of 3 months all to do with this problem! After this and if it persists, I will try to get Ford to send of their engineers to sort it out! It's probably a small thing but no one knows what?

:ph34r: Our galaxy has been plagued by this annoying "Alternator Workshop" on and off since new, resulting in numerous visits to different dealers. It seems to be a winter phenomenon.That is when it's cold and damp (especially damp), the warning message flashes for 10 to 20 times, only to disappear when the engine arms up. The flashing of the battery light usually precedes the warning message. The dealer, Browne's of London, has checked the alternator, the connections, the battery to be ok - "re-routed" fanbelt (as suggested by one owner on this website), changed the pulleys. The problem went away for a few weeks and has now come back with a vengeance! I have got Ford Customer Service involved (been no help so far). Has anybody out there had this problem and have a step by step solution to solving it? Cheers! JT

My 2003 Zetec model also claimed to have illumination lights for cupholders in the brochure. But when I finally got it, there were no lights. When I queried this with the dealer he was just as puzzled as I was. He did suggest that he would chase up with Ford but in the end I couldn't be bothered as I didn't consider it to be a significant point! Not sure about the Ghia model - I thought it had all the trimmings!

:ph34r: Blatters Thanks very much for the information. I will speak to my dealer asap so they can liaise with David Harrison! The white smoke is a big problem, too much in fact and while it happened a couple of times last year, it has come back with a vengence this year. With two young kids and the smoke coming into the cabin, I need to have it sorted asap and before my warranty runs out next June! Whilst I am not exactly an expert on the technical side of things it is good to know that I can always count on members like yourself (and John80 who gave sound advice on solution to my problem with the "Alternator Workshop" warning) for great advice! Many thanks! Jimmy