Dodgy Aircon

[Guest michelleski]

We just had an AA inspection carried out on the Galaxy we are about to purchase. It was registered in Jan 2001 but had the aircon pumped up in September last year (2002). The AA chap said the air con was not pumping out as cold air as it should - yet it was only pumped up 6 months ago. Would this indicate that there is some type of leak? could this sort of leak be fixed - any idea what would be involved/cost etc? Would this be covered under Ford warranty?

 

Many thanks

Michelle.

[Guest Barrye]

Almost certainly a leak - mine hasn't needed any attention in 4 1/2 years. Get the dealer to fix it as a condition of sale.

 

 

Barry

[Guest michelleski]

thanks... the garage have offered to get in their aircon man who will regas the system and do the fluro dye thing. What I am concerned about tho is that the garage do actually repair the leak if found - or if they do repair it but the aircon man knows that really something needs replacing - they decide not to tell us as fixing the leak will solve the problem in the short term. How will we know? I guess we wont! and this is making us wonder whether or not to go ahead and purchase the vehicle. :o Fred - how much is 'a lot of money' by the way?!

[pj_andrew]

The good thing about getting a Galaxy is that there are a lot around on the 2nd hand market. If you've got doubts about a certain vehicle then walk away. If ones things not working then what about other stuff, has the car been mistreated? or badly serviced in the past?

There are lots of other Galaxys around. You may have to wait if you want advanced spec like DVD etc, but apart from that I'd advise looking around.

 

Ford dealers have access country wide if they can be bothered (!) and apart from that car supermarkets get lots e.g http://www.gtccar.co.uk/. Galaxys seem popular as hire cars and Ford Direct realease them after 6 months - 1 year. Lots around - be choosy !!

 

It took me 3 weeks to find one exactly as I wanted. Even down to the right colour.

 

PJ

[Guest michelleski]

Hi PJ - this particular Galaxy has a few minor problems that need sorting before we agree to buy it BUT its not been mistreated and the AA report states its fine re road worthyness (ie drives well/no problems). If we were to walk away from this car we would lose our deposit and the money spent on the AA report is wasted ie

[pj_andrew]

True, true. You don't want to lose what you've already spent, and if the garage fix anything the AA find then it all sounds fine. Any faults the AA find can be used as bargaining chips to get a better deal.

 

Good luck.

 

PJ

 

 

The Galaxy certainly is better than an estate for packing in children, childrens stuff, more childrens stuff, and oh, a tiny bit of stuff for yourself. :ph34r:

[Guest michelleski]

Fred - the 'ski' is part of my surname (husbands father was Polish) - have been skiing once but didnt really take to it - I expected to be much better at it than I was seeing as I can ice skate really well! Oh well :ph34r:

 

The aircon man will speak directly to my husband when he has had a look at the car. He isnt an employee at the garage where we are buying the car - but someone they call on who is alledgedly "A1". I suppose the quote you had of

[Guest n19erc]

My Galaxy was registered about the same time as the one you are looking at and has also had a leak cause by the bottom of the condensor rusting. Even though the car is a year out of warranty, the dealer who services the car (Lawtons of Tadcaster) has got Ford to pay for a replacement as it shouldn't have rusted after such a short time - maybe worth asking about.