Alarm / Electrics Gone Mad

[cmorgan]

Hi (first post please be gentle!)

 

I have a P reg Galaxy GLX TDI. I was on holiday and my son called me to say the alarm was going off and the car was leaking water in the passenger side glove box. This was at the time of the heavy rain so I assumed the movement of the water inside the car was setting off the alarm. Anyway my son disconnected the battery to stop the alarm going off. When I got back I reconnected the battery and the electrics went mad the central locking went on and off the alarm was sounding, all the lights kept flashing on and off and various clicking noises. Anyway to my surprise the car started first time but the noise and electrical problems continued. Anyway I disconnected the battery and proceeded to fix the leak which I put down to a blocked scuttle drain which I read about on this site (I must remember to thank the poster). Sure enough this was blocked. I lifted the carpet which is absolutely soaked along with the insulation underneath. I mopped it up as best as I could but given the other problems this can now wait. Reconnected the battery again and same mad electrical problems.

 

What do I do now? I would imagine the problem is down to one of the following;

[*]Battery low causing electrical problems (but the car wouldn't start so easily if this was the case?). Can't currently find my battery charger to test it (must sort out that shed).

[*]Water in the car has caused a short. So as the car dries out this should remedy itself?

[*]The problem is disconnected with the leak. I have recently had a fuel pump / ECU problem which resulted in me having to have the pump, ECU unit and the electrical loom replaced. Because of the age of the car the dealers quoted me a fortune to undertake this work so I had it done much cheaper (still cost me

[Guest wolfie]

look under the front passenger seat :unsure: all will be explained!

[cmorgan]

look under the front passenger seat :unsure: all will be explained!

 

 

Thanks Wolfie. Presumably you mean that some water may have got into the electrics under the seat, possibly in the underseat storage? I am not with the car at the moment as I have come to work in my other car so can't check this out. When I briefly felt under the seat last night that area felt dry but I will recheck tonight.

 

In the meantime thanks

[cmorgan]

Wolfie - just searched the site and found this article;

 

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.ph...=passenger+seat

 

Is this what you think might be going wrong with mine. Thanks for the lead. I will have a look tonight (not that technically minded especially with electrics but I will give it a go).

 

Once again many thanks until I found this site I was giving up hope of getting by Galaxy on the road again now I can see light at the end of the tunnel.

 

regards

Colin

[cmorgan]

Just a quick update. Have found the pool in the passenger side storage compartment and removed the ECU unit. On taking off the plastic cover the board has some mould on it and some of the contacts look rusty. Therefore I do not hold much hope that it is going to work again. I am also worried that the rear storage is going to re flood with water contained within the sound proofing foam from the front passenger floor pan. I have read on here that you can cut this foam out and dry it out but not sure that I am willing to go that far. Is it possible that this will dry out eventually assuming I have stopped the leak? I have read on here that you can run the car with some of the ECU plugs detached. Does anyone know if you can run the car without the Central locking ECU altogether? If you can I am inclined to run it and keep mopping up the storage container until it all dries out before trying to replacing the ECU unit again.

 

Does anyone know if what I am suggesting might work?

[seatkid]

1.) Clean the Central Locking Control Unit (with washing up liquid and a toothbrush if you can't afford PCB Cleaner (aka Brake/Clutch Cleaner)) - then run under clean water and dry out thoroughly (use a hair dryer if you're in a hurry but don't cook it)

 

2.) Drill a hole in the floor......to drain the water now and in the future

 

3.) fix your leaking windscreen washer pipe.... :)

 

4. Refit the unit.... :ph34r:

[cmorgan]

Thanks Seatkid

 

I will take the circuit board to my friend who works with computers who could probably clean it up better than anybody. If I am going to drill a hole in the floor pan do you suggest this to be in the centre of the passenger seat storage unit or somewhere else? Will have a look at the rear windscreen wash pipe but I know the car was completely dry before our monsoon season so suspect this is ok.

 

In the meantime can I drive the car to work tomorrow without the ECU unit in situ?

 

thanks once again

 

Colin