Mk3 Electrical Gremlins

[julesbyghia]

Hello, ive been on here a few times as the Galaxy we bought to ferry the kids around has given us a little bit of grief over the last 14 months. Just thought I'd post this topic to see if any one else has experience the same and has had the issues resolved.

 

1. the alarm goes off on its own, fords keep changing the module as its under the wheel arch and gets wet then shorts out. 2 replacements so far.

2. Heated window front comes on, on its own.

3. Front windows wont close, stops at about 5mm from closed.

4. Climate control crashes and doesnt work (7" touch screen system)

5. Music mutes on own accord and then wont come back on for a day or two.

6. Voice command freezes and locks up for 1-2 days.

7. Climate turns completely off and you need to stop the engine, lock and unlock to get the system to come on again.

8. EGR valve keeps clogging causing low power and appr 22mpg

9. Plastic panels are black instead of metallic, fords have now accepted they are wrong and are going to repsray.

10. Fords dented the car in may when servicing, going back for repair attempt number 3 next week, really bad workmanship.

11. Windscreen wipers come on, on their own even when parked up and locked! sometimes I drive home with them on and its not raining but cant turn them off!

12. roof lockers rattle like made and the interior lights are loose and rattle, apparently fords now have an anti rattle kit for this! we will see.

 

Fords have told me items 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,11 are a software issue and for 14 months now i am waitng for these to be fixed, apparently Blaupunkt are writing an updated disk to solve the issues which are bespoke to each car and still they cannot tell me when its coming.

 

Any comments????

 

Jules

[Mirez]

2. Heated window front comes on, on its own.

 

Is this randomly or just in the mornings? My focus used to do the same thing, took quite a few trips to dealers and phone calls before it was finally concluded that its normal behaviour. I did see the paperwork from ford germany confirming the point - its apparently to do with loading the diesel engine to get it to temperature quicker. Strange but true, that said it only did it when started from cold in low temperatures or very rarely if there was a sudden temperature drop. It is linked to the climate system though so the problems you have with that could also be related.

 

3. Front windows wont close, stops at about 5mm from closed.

 

Anti-trap feature activated? There should be details in the handbook on how to reset this - it would also need resetting if they have disconnect the battery at some point.

[clockworkfrog]

I also had the problem with the wipers coming on and staying on whatever. I took it back to the dealer and it was a known fault. They said it was a short in the secondary alarm horn due to water ingress. They replaced the unit, resealed and the problem went away.

 

Shortly after, the info display on the dash started to go wrong. many lines across the screen. They fixed that with a software download.

 

Any idea why front fog lights have stopped working? Rear ones seem to be okay.

 

Good luck with your list.

[7up]

A good place to find the answers to your questions is the smax owners club as they are very much like the galaxy hope this helps. As yet i have had no problems with my Galaxy...fingers x

[63machine]

Hello, ive been on here a few times as the Galaxy we bought to ferry the kids around has given us a little bit of grief over the last 14 months. Just thought I'd post this topic to see if any one else has experience the same and has had the issues resolved.

 

1. the alarm goes off on its own, fords keep changing the module as its under the wheel arch and gets wet then shorts out. 2 replacements so far.

2. Heated window front comes on, on its own.

3. Front windows wont close, stops at about 5mm from closed.

4. Climate control crashes and doesnt work (7" touch screen system)

5. Music mutes on own accord and then wont come back on for a day or two.

6. Voice command freezes and locks up for 1-2 days.

7. Climate turns completely off and you need to stop the engine, lock and unlock to get the system to come on again.

8. EGR valve keeps clogging causing low power and appr 22mpg

9. Plastic panels are black instead of metallic, fords have now accepted they are wrong and are going to repsray.

10. Fords dented the car in may when servicing, going back for repair attempt number 3 next week, really bad workmanship.

11. Windscreen wipers come on, on their own even when parked up and locked! sometimes I drive home with them on and its not raining but cant turn them off!

12. roof lockers rattle like made and the interior lights are loose and rattle, apparently fords now have an anti rattle kit for this! we will see.

 

Fords have told me items 2,3,4,5,6,7,8,11 are a software issue and for 14 months now i am waitng for these to be fixed, apparently Blaupunkt are writing an updated disk to solve the issues which are bespoke to each car and still they cannot tell me when its coming.

 

Any comments????

 

Jules

Hello Jules,

Compared to your experiences my Galaxy to date has been extremely well behaved. On Christmas Eve my story began. The problem originally presented with the wipers going even with the key out of the ignition. Setting the alarm and locking the car stopped the wipers for a while but then that hazards started flashing, the alarm went off and the wipers started again. Initially opening the car lock to switch off the alarm had no effect. Neither did turning the engine over. Alarm,hazards and wipers were all going, even with keys in my hand standing beside the vehicle. A passing Garda didn't know whether to arrest or help me. In the end he just kept going but I'm sure he pitied me. Eventually fiddling with the central locking and turning the engine over a few times the alarm siren stayed off, however the management system said the "Intruder alarm required a service". The wipers stopped and won't work at all now. Possibly a fuse but I don't know whch one?

 

 

 

The situation at present is the Galaxy is open in my driveway. If I lock it, seconds later the hazards start flashing and is soon acccompaied by the alarm. Turning it off is difficult. It won't stop with the car locked but even with it open I'm not sure if its me or if it just stops itself.

 

I hope Ford manages to sort the problems you've been having. I'd appreciate hearing if you've achieved success at this stage. I must say I've never heard of a bespoke software solution for an assembly line product. I would ask them if they persist with such outrageous treatment would they care to be introduced to your solicitor. The threat seldom works but the effect of an actual solicitors letter can be magical?

 

regards

 

63

[63machine]

Hello Jules, Clock work frog is spot on

The wiper fault is caused by your alarm sounder unit. If you release the passenger side front wheel arch liner you will see the unit in the two O'clock position above the wheel. Don't try to remove the liner completely because you probably won't get it back in properly. There is a 3-pin plug which is inserted into the alarm sounder. Its awkward but it just pulls straight out. If you disconnect this your wipers will be restored. No fuse changes required. You will get an intruder alarm message on your management system and your alarm won't work but it will get you out of a hole until you can get the unit replaced. This unit will send messages to the management system and can effect a number of devices that are connected to the management system not just the wipers. I was told it can effect climate control, radio, lights(not sure how). One chap described it as a virus on the management system. Good luck, 63.