Advice Please

[mobile armchair]

Advice fellow members please.

 

Just spent nearly the value of my Galaxy in repairs in last 3 months. It's had 2 new front tyres, (fine) front pads ( no problems now, o/s drop link arm (again, no problems now), and new auxiliary belt tensioner after mechanical noise and groaning from power steering.

 

This has been OK for about a month, now a little groaning - though no stiffness - when steering on full lock parking at low speed. Is this same, or new problem?

 

Then auto box failed, recon unit fitted. All OK till this week, now when engine started from cold, D (drive) does not engage first time. Once it engages, no further problems in motion, till next cold start. Is this an electronic problem, or has garage put linkage back together slightly wrongly? Again, new problem, or linked to previous?

 

Then back brakes wore out, necessitating new pads and disks. New pads are only cleaning top half of new disks, rusting disks a bit obvious ... is this just a bedding in phase, or do I need to take it back saying pads or disks faulty?? Or is this caliper problem not 'squeezing' evenly?

 

And then, guess what, the air con stopped cooling. Re-gassed, and car returned. Immediately I got it back, when AC switched on, engine revs dropped intermittently as though something on auxiliary drive is starting to seize - is this the garage's fault caused by the repair, or is the clutch mechanism on compressor failed? (No cooling by the way)

 

I am spent up, and need some help arguing the case with garage. Unfortunately, this car DOES genuinely seem to keep coming up with new problems, but surely they shouldn't start the minute I get it back from the garage (local, and NOT Ford dealer, by the way - once bitten twice shy) who have looked after my cars fairly carefully for 10 years now, but having spent

[sepulchrave]

Jeez,

 

New front tyres - fair enough, you should have spotted this and negotiated the price to reflect the wear.

 

New Front Discs and Pads - ditto.

 

New Rear Discs and Pads - ditto, sounds like you're a light braker and often lightly loaded since they're not bedded in.

 

New Drop Links - Known issue commonly reported here.

 

Auxiliary Belt Tensioner - ditto.

 

Aircon - ditto, and they may possibly have overfilled the system.

 

Auto Box - Bad luck, but they're known to be unreliable and VERY expensive to repair.

 

It's very simple, if they fix something and it doesn't work then you return it to them under warranty, I'd be careful with the aircon btw since that can get expensive too!

 

Most of what you have listed is what I would classify as part of the normal running costs of Galaxy ownership except you've had to play 'catch up' and shell out for it all at once because the previous owner didn't bother and got rid of it first.

 

I would try not to fall out with your garage with whom you have a longstanding good relationship because your wallet is sore, it's not their fault after all!

[mobile armchair]

Thanks for reply ...

"Most of what you have listed is what I would classify as part of the normal running costs of Galaxy ownership except you've had to play 'catch up' and shell out for it all at once because the previous owner didn't bother and got rid of it first."

I should have made clear I have owned Gal for over 4 years, so have not been stung by seller, just unlucky with everything going wrong at once!

 

Front tyres and pads were known to be coming up, as were rear discs and pads

"sounds like you're a light braker and often lightly loaded since they're not bedded in"

Yes - only third set of pads and first disc replacements after 80K. Looks like this will rectify itself then.

 

"New Drop Links - Known issue commonly reported here."

n/s replaced at 35K, so o/s has outlived expectation, no problem with this ...

 

"Auxiliary Belt Tensioner - ditto."

Didn't know this - so wlll it just keep working fine and be a bit noisy?

 

"Aircon - ditto, and they may possibly have overfilled the system."

I'll ask them to have another look at this then.

 

"Auto Box - Bad luck, but they're known to be unreliable and VERY expensive to repair."

I've reported full story in reply to another person who has just bought Sharan tiptronic with what sounds like a similar problem. Apparently and briefly engine and autobox combo used in boats and gear 4 inner casing cracks. Apparently I did well to get 7 years out of it rather than usual 3.

 

"It's very simple, if they fix something and it doesn't work then you return it to them under warranty, I'd be careful with the aircon btw since that can get expensive too!"

I know ... corroded pipes 2 years ago. Garage enlisted help of aircon heating engineer (rather than Frord) who remade it for

[sepulchrave]

I thought the same really, but am known for being far too soft. Think it's because years ago I used to work on FIATs in a mate's dealership, and keeping customers happy was a nightmare because the cars were so poor.

Thanks.

 

Hey, think how much worse it would be if you had a Fiat Ulysse, Peugeot 806, Renault Espace, Toyota Previa, etc. etc.

 

The Shalaxy is by far the best of a very bad lot of MPVs which isn't really that much consolation I know... :(

[big_kev]

Hey, think how much worse it would be if you had a Fiat Ulysse, Peugeot 806, Renault Espace, Toyota Previa, etc. etc.

 

Isn't the Previa also known as an Estima ......cause they're crap as well :(

[gregers]

estigma mmmmmmm now theres a name.reminds me of the comma van. ;)

[mobile armchair]

;) Well the mention of all those other vehicles has made me feel better. Shalambraxy clones have no competition from others. Lucida Estima is auto version of Previa apparently ... a mate just waited 3 weeks to get a rear suspension part! I nearly test drove a Fiat Ulysse before buying my first Galaxy, but couldn't twist my body enough to line feet up with pedals. And when I have been in Previa / Ulysse vehicles, they are like vans for passengers. Almost as awful as my memories of rolling around corners in friends' Comma van motorhome in the 1970s. Why on earth were the front wheels closer together on those things than the rear wheels? They'd scrape their knees round every bend ... you're right it could be worse. I've been looking considering other vehicles and have come to the conclusion money better spent on repairing my comfy old mobile armchair. Even thought about a Zafira, but outside can't hear myself think for rattling rear suspensions

[sepulchrave]

Almost forgot the Chrysler Voyager, now there's a gas guzzling, agricultural, badly built POS if I ever saw one!

 

See how much worse it could be? And you even have access to the best free advice on the net right here in these hallowed pages, so if you wanna get your hands dirty you'll save an absolute fortune.

[gregers]

i had a mk1 zafira not a bad car all in all,had it nearly 2 years and had to do nothing to it,just the space was a bit cramped for me and it wouldnt take all my tools with all the family in,unlike the galaxy which swallows the lot,i could add a bit here but i wont.............................. :ph34r:

[mobile armchair]

:wacko: Think we've only left that big lump Kia Sedan ? Sedona? out of the conversation. Honestly know nothing about them.

 

Garage came back by email today promising to come and get it and sort out any problems and leave me with another car. Think I'm very lucky considering sort of things I sometimes read on here.

 

As for getting my hands dirty, I do simple stuff now like checking bolts tight, changing wipers and bulbs, cleaning brakes and checking for leaks. Used to service my own, but that was nearly 20 years ago before 3 children and a demanding job came along - last time I serviced my own I set the tappets on 1.3 Escort, replaced a rear drum wheel cylinder, gapped the plugs and points, cleaned the carburettor jets and timed the engine with some crocodile clips a headlamp bulb and a bit of wire - so you can guess I'm a bit out of practice and my era has gone. And no they weren't the good old days because you had to fix the car so often, although I do hanker after a bit of mechanical simplicity sometimes. Good to hear from you all, this IS :ph34r: an excellent forum

[Lyle Waters]

I remember tem days, change a ford escort engine in 30 minutes....

 

Despite everything you read on here, not every galaxy has problems.

 

I have had mine over 5 years now and suddenly the remote locking, passenger mirror motor and the aircon finally packed up. Quite happy considering the milage and abuse it gets....

[srafferty]

"Despite everything you read on here, not every galaxy has problems."

 

 

I wonder what colour that one is :ph34r:

Edited May 27, 2009 by srafferty

[seatkid]

"Despite everything you read on here, not every galaxy has problems."

 

 

I wonder what colour that one is :wacko:

Its a dark metallic blue.

 

Its mine..... :ph34r: