Galaxy Specialist Macclesfield? Coolant Issue - Maybe Aux Heater?

[Higs]

Recently, while on long motorway stretches our ('02 1.9 TDI) Galaxy loses water.

It's a bit of an odd one in that we can do hundreds of miles locally in it including motorway stuff and it's fine but if we do a long stretch on a French motorway and stop for a break it will give a low water light and take quite a bit of coolant when we start again. We've also noticed that when we went up hill the hot air went cold.

It's been into our local garage who I trust and they can't work out what's going on. There is no water in the oil or evidence of exhaust gas in the coolant and they can't reproduce the problem (without spanking it down an empty motorway for three hours). They've basically said there's not a lot more they can do until things get worse and there's something more obvious to fix.

When we first got the car we had problems with the aux heater. Shortly after this it went into another garage to have a windscreen wiper motor done under warranty and they 'helpfully' disconnected/disabled it for me as it filled their workshop with thick smoke every time they started the car. Maybe water's leaking out of the unused unit?

I didn't think too much of it at the time as it sorted out the smoke problem and this was a good two years before the coolant problems started but I do wonder if they're in some way connected.

I've also wondered if it's some sort of pressure relief thing - could it be that the car's OK when moving but overheating when we stop driving and spurting water out???

There's no water evident in the carpet on either side so I don't [i]think[/i] it's the heater matrix

Anyway... all I really want to know is whether there's a Galaxy specialist near me as it's stumped my normal garage and I don't have the time/energy to sort it out myself. Edited May 24, 2010 by Higs

[chrispb123456]

[quote name='Higs' post='154666' date='May 24 2010, 11:40:21']Recently, while on long motorway stretches our ('02 1.9 TDI) Galaxy loses water.

It's a bit of an odd one in that we can do hundreds of miles locally in it including motorway stuff and it's fine but if we do a long stretch on a French motorway and stop for a break it will give a low water light and take quite a bit of coolant when we start again. We've also noticed that when we went up hill the hot air went cold.

It's been into our local garage who I trust and they can't work out what's going on. There is no water in the oil or evidence of exhaust gas in the coolant and they can't reproduce the problem (without spanking it down an empty motorway for three hours). They've basically said there's not a lot more they can do until things get worse and there's something more obvious to fix.

When we first got the car we had problems with the aux heater. Shortly after this it went into another garage to have a windscreen wiper motor done under warranty and they 'helpfully' disconnected/disabled it for me as it filled their workshop with thick smoke every time they started the car. Maybe water's leaking out of the unused unit?

I didn't think too much of it at the time as it sorted out the smoke problem and this was a good two years before the coolant problems started but I do wonder if they're in some way connected.

I've also wondered if it's some sort of pressure relief thing - could it be that the car's OK when moving but overheating when we stop driving and spurting water out???

There's no water evident in the carpet on either side so I don't [i]think[/i] it's the heater matrix

Anyway... all I really want to know is whether there's a Galaxy specialist near me as it's stumped my normal garage and I don't have the time/energy to sort it out myself.[/quote]
Hi there A bit puzzled why you took the time to write out/tell us your problem and just going taking it to a garage!!

[Higs]

[quote name='chrispb123456' post='154668' date='May 24 2010, 14:40:56']Hi there A bit puzzled why you took the time to write out/tell us your problem and just going taking it to a garage!![/quote]


Coffee.

(also, it's good to 'share' sometimes)

[mk2vr6]

[quote name='Higs' post='154680' date='May 24 2010, 15:59:52'][quote name='chrispb123456' post='154668' date='May 24 2010, 14:40:56']Hi there A bit puzzled why you took the time to write out/tell us your problem and just going taking it to a garage!![/quote]


Coffee.

(also, it's good to 'share' sometimes)
[/quote]


sorry Higs unless but the answer to your problem is in the TIS and chris can copy the answer or quote you endlessly he's screwed

cant really see the coolant loss being due to the aux heater being unused? it will leak either way! tjhe only real difference is that if your like me you likely to really hammer it on the French motorways so your more liable to really put the coolant system under pressure! has it been pressure tested? has the water pump been changed? have you since had the aux heater re- commisioned?

[RADIOTWO]

[quote name='Higs' post='154666' date='May 24 2010, 10:40:21']Recently, while on long motorway stretches our ('02 1.9 TDI) Galaxy loses water.

It's a bit of an odd one in that we can do hundreds of miles locally in it including motorway stuff and it's fine but if we do a long stretch on a French motorway and stop for a break it will give a low water light and take quite a bit of coolant when we start again. We've also noticed that when we went up hill the hot air went cold.

It's been into our local garage who I trust and they can't work out what's going on. There is no water in the oil or evidence of exhaust gas in the coolant and they can't reproduce the problem (without spanking it down an empty motorway for three hours). They've basically said there's not a lot more they can do until things get worse and there's something more obvious to fix.

When we first got the car we had problems with the aux heater. Shortly after this it went into another garage to have a windscreen wiper motor done under warranty and they 'helpfully' disconnected/disabled it for me as it filled their workshop with thick smoke every time they started the car. Maybe water's leaking out of the unused unit?

I didn't think too much of it at the time as it sorted out the smoke problem and this was a good two years before the coolant problems started but I do wonder if they're in some way connected.

I've also wondered if it's some sort of pressure relief thing - could it be that the car's OK when moving but overheating when we stop driving and spurting water out???

There's no water evident in the carpet on either side so I don't [i]think[/i] it's the heater matrix

Anyway... all I really want to know is whether there's a Galaxy specialist near me as it's stumped my normal garage and I don't have the time/energy to sort it out myself.[/quote]

Hi Higgs

[b]Anyway... all I really want to know is whether there's a Galaxy specialist near me as it's stumped my normal garage and I don't have the time/energy to sort it out myself.[/b]

It would be nice to know where you are ? then we could tell you.

My money on the fault, is a cracked head/head gasket, My son had a similar problem, runs round town no problem but gives it a long blast up the
Motorway and looses water, (no drips) but has now found oil in the expansion tank

Radiotwo

[Higs]

[quote name='RADIOTWO' post='154697' date='May 24 2010, 22:39:49']It would be nice to know where you are ? then we could tell you.

Radiotwo[/quote]

Macclesfield.

There's a clue in the thread title but I could have been clearer in the question itself, I suppose - blame the coffee.

[RADIOTWO]

[quote name='Higs' post='154699' date='May 24 2010, 22:10:06'][quote name='RADIOTWO' post='154697' date='May 24 2010, 22:39:49']It would be nice to know where you are ? then we could tell you.

Radiotwo[/quote]

Macclesfield.

There's a clue in the thread title but I could have been clearer in the question itself, I suppose - blame the coffee.
[/quote]

The best ting to do is put your location in your profile.

Radiotwo

[big_kev]

[quote name='RADIOTWO' post='154700' date='May 24 2010, 23:47:05']The best ting to do is put your location in your profile.[/quote]

Be honest !....if you were from macclesfield would you tell everyone..

May just be a bit pressure loss through the relief valve in the header tank.....hopefully not the cylinder head gasket.

[Higs]

[quote name='RADIOTWO' post='154700' date='May 24 2010, 23:47:05']The best ting to do is put your location in your profile.

Radiotwo[/quote]

Done.



So..... anyone know a good Galaxy specialist near Macclesfield?

The coolant loss thing may or may not be connected to the aux heater but I think I want it reconnecting (and sorting out) anyway - it seems a shame to be dragging it around and not using it. I'd like to take it to someone who'll fix the existing unit rather than just swap it (at great cost?)

[chrispb123456]

Hi HIgs
I'm sorry must have misunderstood your thread yesterday, would just say there's a lot of alley tubing under the galaxy for the rear heater, with age this pipework can get corroded, you may have a pin hole in this tubing that only shows a leak under pressure, or of course it could simply be the pressure cap.
As for the booster heater smoking it's nearly always the glow plug needs changing fairly simple job to do, detailed instructions in FAQ section for changing the glow plug and cleaning out the soot.
Starting the heater this time of the year you would need to bridge the terminals in the plug of the thermal switch which you had disconnected once it's running OK the plug can be reconnected then you can enjoy quicker warm ups when weather gets cold again.
Part no. for the glow plug is Beru 0100,226,340 you can get these from GSF Europarts.

[Paddyman]

Hello Higs, did you manage to get to the bottom of this, as I have the same problem on my VW Sharan 1.9TDI.