:( Is My Galaxy Knackered?

[jvernon]

My 1999 2.8 Ghia X is giving me some real problems at the moment and I wondered if anybody actually new how to fix my problems as the ford dealers don't seem to know. I have tried an independant garage and the electrical specialist there said it was a fuel pump relay, and then he changed the engine immobilisasion relay costing me 28 quid B) (which seems a bit on the expensive side) for a relay i didn't even need.

 

My first problem is that it keeps on cutting out and then not starting. The engine cranks fine but it does not fire. Then, if you leave it for a while it will start. B)

I don't think it is the Crank Position Sensor because when it runs it runs perfect, there is no loss of power or anything.

 

My Second one is with the remote key locking. It will never open via the remote key first time, you have to press the button lots of times, but it always locks perfectly, i have tried to re-synchronise the key and the reciever with that method where you have to turn the key three times in the door and then press the buttons on your key, it never works!

 

My third problem is that whenever i am driving even with the aircon off i can smell a burning coming from the air vents. I think there is a relay not working properly causing my first problem and this one because the relays have got some sort of insulation inside them haven't they? and i think this is making the burning smell and the knackered relay is causing my engine stop problem.

 

Any thanks appreciated.

[charles]

dear jvernon

 

i had with my previous car a problem that the windings of a power relay where corroded. This caused high current and a smell of burning plastic of heated wiring. only after a few months the fuse of the relay blew out. it costed me a lot of time to find this out.

 

there are a lot of relays in your car, but only 2 or 3 are relays that are always on when driving and could be suspect. It can be felt, because these relays will become a little bit warm after driving a while. this is normal. you should check these by pushing off the plastic cap and inspect these. There are 2 fuse boxes, in the dash and under the bonnet. In your case i don not think the relay is the problem

 

the first thing you should check if you have a ignition or a fuel problem.

check the spark when the car won't start. than i can give you some tips.

you can leave the sparkplugs in. just pull off the cap of one of these and connect a spare sparkplug. make sure it contact the metal of the engine. One person start and the other looks if it sparks.

[seatkid]

My third problem is that whenever i am driving even with the aircon off i can smell a burning coming from the air vents. I think there is a relay not working properly causing my first problem and this one because the relays have got some sort of insulation inside them haven't they? and i think this is making the burning smell and the knackered relay is causing my engine stop problem.

Try and locate the source of the smell - 1st step - is it coming from the engine? - lift the bonnet when the smell starts and check near the pollen filter. Or is it coming from the Central Junction Box which is under the dash on the drivers side. Thats where most of the relays are.

 

My Second one is with the remote key locking.  It will never open via the remote key first time, you have to press the button lots of times, but it always locks perfectly, i have tried to re-synchronise the key and the reciever with that method where you have to turn the key three times in the door and then press the buttons on your key, it never works!

Try changing the battery in the key. Its a standard CR2016 lithium cell. Or if the open button is damaged and finger grease has got in you'll have to clean it out (not so easy)

[rwtomkins]

there's a brilliant website for batteries like this:

 

http://www.watchbattery.co.uk

 

they're very fast and very cheap. do all kinds of batteries for phones, cameras etc too at a fraction of normal prices.

[Taliska]

Thanks for that link - found a supplier for peculiar button batteries from their website - been looking for a couple of batteries for my bathroom scales for ages. :lol:

 

Taliska

[jvernon]

thanx for all the replies.

I have checked for a spark and there is no spark. Also I can't smeel the burning when i open the bonnet or near the central junction box. Could it be something to do with the air con? In my car i have VW Climatronic and the back air con is colder than the frontair con on LO setting(although the display doesn't indicate a fault) .

I have recently replaced the coil pack, so when it doesn't start i don't think it would be that.

I will try and fix my key this weekend.

Thanks for the help.

[seatkid]

If the battery is flat in your key, then maybe the immobiliser is preventing you starting, I don't really know how it works though....

 

Are you sure its a burning smell, maybe its the smell of coolant leaking from the heater matrix....

[Guest nimrod]

If the battery is flat in your key, then maybe the immobiliser is preventing you starting, I don't really know how it works though

 

 

IIRC the PAT's chip in the key is only powered up when its within range of the sensor ring around the ignition switch, the sensor ring emits a small field of DC current which then powers up the chip in the key enabling it to be read

[jvernon]

I have cleaned my key and it works perfectly now! Thanx for the advice! I didn't think it was the PATS when I break down because the light in the door doesn't indicate a fault. Could it still be the PATS?