Ford Galaxy Owner - Lots Of Advice Needed

[sudonim]

I bought my galaxy in december last year from a small local garage... they gave me a good trade in price on my Ford Focus Estate ghia - 50% more than the local Ford dealer offered....but lets not talk about how much they ripped me off.... lets leave it with the comment that no money of mine will ever pass the door of their second hand car portacabin ever again....

 

anyway, the car has some broken bits which the local car company fixed for me...but its still in quite bad condition, and ias it is a workhorse for a family of three i need to find out and learn how to look after it.

 

I have read on here people mentioning an Owners manual. nothing came with the car i bought, no manual, service history.. not even a remote key-fob... so can any-one help me with these questions, notably what order should i approach them

 

Should i seperate these out into different topics? I have had a good read around the forum but would like some more advice / clarification of some issues.

 

1) i have a warning light on the dash - looks like the fog light icon, and upon checking it seems the reverse lights are not working... i am going to check the boot with the cables in to the tailgate tonight having read this site...thanks for that gem of info, then off to halfords for some new bulbs. Not spotted anything in the FAQ yet about wether i have to take the "tailgate card" off to get to the reverse light bulbs, or wether i have to do someting to remove the whole rear lighting modules.

 

2) whats the most important servicing issues i should immediately undertake - considering it was re-posessed before i bought it - and was in a state, and has probably not been looked after

 

3) should i be worried about the previous owner tracking it down and nicking it - based on the fact that they might still have the remote key and i have never bothered to get a new one or find out how to re-programme the car.

 

4) whats the owners manual - where can i get one from for my 03 galaxy zetec 2.3 petrol?

 

5) rear wiper has siezed in up position... going to get wd40 tonight and give it a little bath.

 

6) i have bought off amazon the Galaxy haynes manual, not arrived yet, but its not for my model - it seems that the haynes gave up on galaxy around 1999... will the book be any good.

 

7) I am a database /web programmer. I have very little mechanical knowledge, and a family of 3 and wife and big mortgage on just my income - so money is an issue... what advice do the forum members have about getting stuff fixed in small garages rather than expensive local ford main dealer?

 

8) How can i find out which Mark of galaxy i have? Mines an 03 plate - does that mean its a Mark II?

 

If anybody has any needs of any help with MS Access, Excel, Website or Database design i am happy to offer my services to assist this community in a barter type payment to pay back for all the good help and advice i have already absorbed just from reading throughj the FAQ!

 

cheers

 

Simon (Sudonim)

[bj2004]

ok whats your real name ?

if it was me my first job would be to buy a couple of remote keys off e bay and get them programmed how many keys have you ? if you have 2 then you can program the new ones yourself for pats saving a fortune although not sure if you can disable existing keys without using vag-com or a dealer next would be to confirm all oil and filters were changed when you bought it then check brake pads and disks if you stick around here you will soon see what else can go wrong and check how your bits are

[mumof4]

1. Tailgate, should be two square thingies on the inside of the tailgate which you can pull off and access the bulbs.

 

3. No, ther is no way the previous owners can find it. My last Galaxy had to be repossessed because of marital breakdown and the ex numpty refuseing to pay for it anymore.

 

2.Change oil and oil filter, check all fluid levels, power steering, brake fluid. As was said before, check the brakes also.

 

4. Ebay or ask Ford.

 

6. No it wont help you im afraid. You need a TIS disc from either one of us or fleabay.

 

7.Shop around, also word of mouth is very powerful. Get quotes from different garages, and ask them what they think is the prob.. stay away from ford unless you know they are good, but remember they are expensive.

 

8.You have a MKII

 

9.Thank you :rolleyes:

[mumof4]

oo..one other thing..ask us lot on here.... some, like me will source the parts and do the work with the help of peeps on here. shudda see me do my wiper linkage and MAF.... my keyboard was a right mess.lol.

[sudonim]

bj2004 -

ok whats your real name ?

if it was me my first job would be to buy a couple of remote keys off e bay and get them programmed how many keys have you ? if you have 2 then you can program the new ones yourself for pats saving a fortune although not sure if you can disable existing keys without using vag-com or a dealer next would be to confirm all oil and filters were changed when you bought it then check brake pads and disks if you stick around here you will soon see what else can go wrong and check how your bits are

 

 

my name is Simon. I'll have a look on ebay for glaxay remote keys. I have got 2 keys with the car ( a seat italian replacement one and an original galaxy one), so i should be able to do that fun thing with the key in the column and one in the door and the unlock, lock unlock, walk slowly in a circle 13 times etc etc. cool.

 

They said when i bought it they'd do a service on it, and the garage i got it from seemed nice ( same not true of sales woman in the used car part who lied about remote key and a few other things...). but that was 9 months ago and winter is coming so i assume i need to do some stuff about plugs and oil and filters etc... and brakes...eep. this is a whole new world of DIY motor maintenance opening up before me.

 

Mumof4 - 1. Tailgate, should be two square thingies on the inside of the tailgate which you can pull off and access the bulbs.

 

Cool i took them off but i had a 2 year old and a 6 year old bothering me and i couldn't see the reverse parts, but i'll have a look in peace tonight

 

Mumof4 - 3. No, ther is no way the previous owners can find it. My last Galaxy had to be repossessed because of marital breakdown and the ex numpty refuseing to pay for it anymore.

 

cool. that has been bugging me - i'll get some remote keys off ebay ( if i can find any) and reprogramme it as discussed above.

 

Mumof4 - 2.Change oil and oil filter, check all fluid levels, power steering, brake fluid. As was said before, check the brakes also.

 

time to get my hands dirty, printing off the FAQ!

 

 

Mumof4 - 4. Ebay or ask Ford.

 

Cool.

 

Mumof4 - 6. No it wont help you im afraid. You need a TIS disc from either one of us or fleabay.

 

COOL. whats TIS? is there somewhere you've listed all the abbreviations used in the site - like a glossary for non mechanical / novices.

 

Mumof4 - 7.Shop around, also word of mouth is very powerful. Get quotes from different garages, and ask them what they think is the prob.. stay away from ford unless you know they are good, but remember they are expensive.

 

OK thanks.. the guys at the garage from the dealer where i brought the car were very friendly. My local ford place does a Direct debi deal where you pay them omnthly and get cheaper mot and service...but i can;t help thinking i should be able to find it cheaper elsewhere. i do live in a city after all - albiet a small one.

 

Mumof4 - 8.You have a MKII

 

many thanks. thought so. i love it, its ace! :rolleyes:

 

Mumof4 - 9.Thank you :lol:

 

no, Thankyou! and apologies, as I say "Cool" too much in real-life as well.

Edited September 16, 2008 by sudonim

[mumof4]

TIS = TECHNICAL UMMMM... bugger..forgetton!

 

whack in TIS in the search engine.... also in ebay search..will find what you need.

 

its basically a manual on disc..which ermm...the ford technicians use when thinking abiut which parts they can get away with replaceing before they ask you to sell your soul, kids, everything really to fix the car.

 

technical information something.... buggeration....... services? rats..its on the tip of my tongue and i cant remember.

 

so whats the rate of interest that ford charge you?

 

to be honest... i wouldnt do it... source the parts and fix yourself if you can, ort go to a smaller independant garage as some of them know that word of mouth is more powerful than thousands on advertiseing.

[sudonim]

more questions.

 

how can i find out wether i need a radio or infra-red key fob for the car? there seems to be 3 button ones ( 3rd for opening boot?) like my old ford focus keys, or 2 button ones... and some seem to come withough the actual key.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-GENUINE-FORD-REM...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

my key appears to be a "blade" type... not a column key like my focus or my m-in-laws mondeo.

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GENUINE-VW-SHARAN-FO...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

this looks like my non remote keys. so its the right style of physical key - but will it be the right remote type?

 

its a whole new world of ignorance and indecisiveness opening up before me.

[sudonim]

technical information service/system

 

found a place where you can download one but its not for galaxy's it says. :rolleyes:

 

it was a huge download and works firewall did not approve....

 

then i found this:

 

http://www.classic-spares.net/CD%20Info/Fo...0Jan%202004.htm

 

http://www.classic-spares.net/CD%20Info/Ford%20TIS.htm

 

 

Edited September 16, 2008 by sudonim

[sudonim]

oo..one other thing..ask us lot on here.... some, like me will source the parts and do the work with the help of peeps on here. shudda see me do my wiper linkage and MAF.... my keyboard was a right mess.lol.

 

 

must have missed this. nice one.

 

am hoping i can find out if the reverselights are the wiring Boot / loom thingy... and get the rear wiper in-seized myself.

[mumof4]

[bj2004]

pm me i think i may have a spare copy

[gregers]

when you finally obtain another key you will need it to be cut,timpsons will be able to do it for about 7 quid,compared to fords who wanted 25 robbing barstewards.

[sudonim]

when you finally obtain another key you will need it to be cut,timpsons will be able to do it for about 7 quid,compared to fords who wanted 25 robbing barstewards.

 

indeed. there are severa\l in my town. one even apprently sources remote key fobs so i will call them about the price.

 

not sure how to send PM's on this forum. its unlike any of the PHPBB ones i am familiar with.

 

Update on fault-mobile. whilst on the way home from band practice practice i was closing the boot after dropping the drummer off, and for a second the lights for the number plate actually came on when the boot was about 70% closed. i assume this is a symptom of the bad boots to the "tailgate". when i got home i checked them and the passenger side one is actually hanging down, in no way held in place in the actual roof part. there is a sad flappy looking piece of electrical tape in the opening... presumably left there when this was previously jerry-rigged. so i think i am going to need to replace the actuall boot thing.

 

am hoping i can read up how to get it off and sort all this out at the weekend... inbetween helping wife with 3 kids and laying the slab front drive before uk planning regs change...

[mumof4]

to send a messge to someone, click on the persons name, and if the person is on this thread, in the drop down box you will see the option to send a messge.

 

to reply toa messege, click quote at the bottom of any messege you recieve.

[stevie m]

Hi simon and welcome. If you are after parts it is not always best to go to fords. If you have a VW near you sometimes you can get the same parts cheaper. Try gsf (german, swedish, french) they are very helpful too. Oh and Maz if you wanna keep you keyboard cleaner next time wear LATEX GLOVES when fixing your gal lol..... :) ;)

[sudonim]

drivers side boot to tailgate.

 

horror

 

http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y195/AOCChip/Image005.jpg

 

help!

 

what do i do!

 

sorry that photo is aweful!

 

5 of the wires are completely severed... hence no rear wiper...reverse lights, or number plate lights? the wiring is so tight there is no leeway to re-connect them by splicing and wrapping with electrical tape.

 

Am I going to have to add in some new wire in between each split to extend the wire to enable me to fix and to give a bit more leeway so this doesn;t happen again in future?

Edited September 20, 2008 by sudonim

[mk2vr6]

Am I going to have to add in some new wire in between each split to extend the wire to enable me to fix and to give a bit more leeway so this doesn;t happen again in future?

 

 

yes, and then tuck the jonts out the way where you can get to them later if needed

[marcr]

I had to do much the same thing. 7 wires IIRC. I removed the pillar cover inside - just pulls off - to get to the wires. So if you make a long piece onto the tailgate side of the broken wires, pass that through the rubber boot then make a new joint somewhere handy inside. My advice would be to stagger the joints otherwise it gets quite bulky if you're using bullet connectors or similar. :)

[sudonim]

i jerry rigged the 5 for now... spliced new wiring into all the broken ones and wrapped up with electrical tape. thats fixed the reverse lights, the numberplate lights and the locked rear wiper - and the warning light is gone from the dash.

 

got to get some new tires for it next, and find out how to do the service... its approaching 50k - but i'll probably need to find out everything it should have had done in the last 3 years as i doubt any of it was done...

 

brake disks for sure... the poor beast appears to have been hammered by its previous owners.

 

watching on EBAY for a remote fob, and going to try and find where i can get a new relay27/30 cheap because it has occasionally refused to react at all to turning the key when the car is hot...e.g. when my missus picks me up from work, specifiacally on very hot days.

[stevie m]

i jerry rigged the 5 for now... spliced new wiring into all the broken ones and wrapped up with electrical tape. thats fixed the reverse lights, the numberplate lights and the locked rear wiper - and the warning light is gone from the dash.

 

got to get some new tires for it next, and find out how to do the service... its approaching 50k - but i'll probably need to find out everything it should have had done in the last 3 years as i doubt any of it was done...

 

brake disks for sure... the poor beast appears to have been hammered by its previous owners.

 

watching on EBAY for a remote fob, and going to try and find where i can get a new relay27/30 cheap because it has occasionally refused to react at all to turning the key when the car is hot...e.g. when my missus picks me up from work, specifiacally on very hot days.

 

 

Try GSF you might be able to get a relay from there.

Edited September 21, 2008 by stevie m

[sudonim]

many thanks.

 

where do i locate contact for this elusive gsf?

 

also i sw this today:

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/L-K-Galaxy-Alhambra-...id=p3286.c0.m14

 

could be it was ripped from the FAQ on this site. how rude!

[sudonim]

yay me - i finally finished the front dirve, laid new slabs where the raised bed used to be, as my neighbouyrs are renting and seem to have about 6 cars, thought it would be useful to fit 2 cars on my front - in case friends ever come over...

 

anyway.. lovely shiney new slabs laid... and i have immediately noticed every morning there is a small oily deposit on the slabs coming from the drivers side rear wheel petrol cap vacinity.

 

I am panicking as my missus is doing a lot of miles in it this week. i am hoping its not vital fluid.

 

any guesess?

[sudonim]

looks like its coming from the shock absorber.

 

is it bad?

[insider]

Not too bad but sounds like the rear shock absorber will need replacing.