Remote Control Problems - Secure Locking?

[Guest lesmon]

This is my first post to this forum (and its a long one) - have only had a 1998/R Galaxy 2.8 Ghia X V6 4x4 Auto for 6 weeks and have already changed the Air Con compressor. Here is my latest problem (I will try to give as much info as possible, and appologies in advance for the long post):

 

After the rains on Thursday, had the flooded passenger footwell due to a clogged drain hole under the wiper area. The alarm control unit from under the passenger seat was soaked. Took everything (mats, underlay, seats, etc) apart, clean and dried up everything (even opened the alarm/immobiliser control box and ensured everthing was clean and dry. Put everything back together- nice and dry, reconnected the battery, etc

 

Immediately I had the following problems:

1: the curtesy lights (the ones under the drivers and passenger dash) and lights up when the keys are taken out shut off when the car is locked and comes on when the car is opened.

2: The light by the interior review mirror does not come on when the doors are open (linked to 1 above) I think.

3: The remote key opened and closed the vehicle but it would not put the windows up and down (as it did before - when you press the open/close buttons for a few seconds). By turning the key in the lock I can still open/close the windows.

4: The interior alarm stopped working - basically if I locked the car with any windows down, about 30 secs later the alarm would sound - this does not happen any more.

 

Today, trying to fix the above problems I decided to try to re-code the car to the key following the instructions on this forum by turning key X 3 in drivers door lock, holding for 0.5 secs each, then remove key, point key to rear view mirror and press lock button, then press unlock 3 time, all in less than 20 sec, etc.

When I did this I noticed that on removing the key from the drivers door lock the led control light on the drivers did not light up at all. I tried this at least 10 times to no avail. However, when I opened the car door the alarm was set off, and even after I started the vehicle (which I was surprised it did) it did not go off for a couple seconds after. This happened twice.

Now I had a different set of problems:

a: The Remote key fob will no longer open or close the car. I need to use the key directly in the door, and it will still start the vehicle and allow me to drive it. Is the immobiliser deactivated permanently?

b: The control light on the drivers door no longer flashes or illuminate when I lock the vehicle with the key - indicating that the alarm is not working? althought the Central Locking is working fine.

 

So far I have tried, disconnecting for 20 mins and reconnecting the battery. I have also unplugged the connectors from the control box (under the passenger seat) and re-connected it. Checked all fuses in the fuse box by the steering wheel.

 

So it seems now that I have no alarm (no flashing led), possibly no immobiliser, and the remote key-fob does not work with the vehicle unless it is in the door. All problems 1-4 and a,b still all exist.

Note: I know that the control light is working as it lights up for 3 secs when the ignition is switched on.

 

Anyone know what I can do next? Is there a set of fuses I have missed? Does it need to go to Ford? anybody knows a good auto leccy (Basingstoke)? HELP?

 

rgds

Les

[Guest fredt]

The alarm, the curtesy lights, the global closure and the remote locking are all controlled by the drowned unit from under the passenger seat :lol: its either still wet or totalled! :o or the connectors that plug into it are still wet and are causing your problems?

the immobilser (PAT's system) is controlled by a chip in the key and will still work wether or not the alarm is switched on, the LED in the door is linked to both the PAT's system and the alarm, the PAT's system has priority control of the LED hence it flashing when the ignition is switched off

personally I think it was a bad idea to try and reprogram the the remotes when the control unit is playing up you have most likely added to the list of of problems :o never mind though if the control unit has to be replaced they will need reprograming into the system

 

best also to remove it as it can open all the windows and unlock the doors while the cars unattended in its present condition!

 

ps. do a search on scuttle drains! bit late but ................

[Guest lesmon]

THanks for Info - kinda glad to know that all the problems are linked back to the single unit (and not another problem somewhere).

 

It's weird though that by trying to reprogram it caused everything to go pear-shaped when most things were working before that except the courtesy lights & the window control from the remote fob (I could have lived with it - if you know what I mean).

 

Now, not even the alarms seem to work.

 

Questions:

1: What's involved in the 'reprogramming'? Is it difficult, or has to be done by Ford, or can a leccy sort this out?

 

2: What happens if the unit is removed? Will I still have things such as Central locking and control of the windows, etc?

 

3: Can the unit be replaced by an after-market alarm/imob system - or is it best to stay with the original?

 

4: Ideas of costs for the original unit?

 

rgds

Les

[Guest fredt]

1: What's involved in the 'reprogramming'? Is it difficult, or has to be done by Ford, or can a leccy sort this out?

 

when or if the ECU is replaced the remote key fobs will have to be programmed into the system, this can be done by you or by who ever does the job

 

 

2: What happens if the unit is removed? Will I still have things such as Central locking and control of the windows, etc?

 

with the unit unplugged or removed you loose the electric windows, the central locking and the alarm, but the vehicle is still fairly secure as the PAT's system will not allow the car to start unless you have the correct key

 

 

3: Can the unit be replaced by an after-market alarm/imob system - or is it best to stay with the original?

 

no you need the original unit to power the central locking, global closure and electric windows, an after market unit can how ever be added to provide remote locking ie an after market alarm

 

 

4: Ideas of costs for the original unit?

 

IIRC yours is the most expensive unit of the three available :lol: as yours has the alarm incorporated into it, ring you local dealers spares dept and qoute the code number off the unit, they should be able to give you a price

[Ivor_E_Tower]

If you don't mind driving 2 jcts up the M3, can I recommend Premier Car Care in Camberley (formerly something like Auto Electric Centre) with whom I have no connections other than as a satisfied customer.

[Guest lesmon]

Do you have a number or URL for these guys in Camberley?

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Premier Car Care

Unit 19, St Georges Industrial Estate, Camberley GU15 2QW (use Multimap to find it!) They are walking distance from my home.

01276 64212

[Guest lesmon]

The alarm, the curtesy lights, the global closure and the remote locking are all controlled by the drowned unit from under the passenger seat  its either still wet or totalled!  or the connectors that plug into it are still wet and are causing your problems?

 

I have called Fraud and the cost for just the box under the passenger seat is 279.80 + Vat = ~

[Guest jamesneesam1]

Hi, Im new to this site, but a few weeks ago when we got all the rain ( well actully weve had rain all summer!? ) my central locking unit under the seat got really wet, and after drying it out (which diddn't work) I decided that i needed to buy a new one.....the price from ford and vw put me off abit :) though ! well to cut a long story short.....i found a vw parts company on the web www.vagcomponents.co.uk there prices were cheapest i could find and i got it about 9.30 the next day B) , and ive had no problems since then! might save some others a few

[Guest lesmon]

hi Jamesneesam1,

 

Do you remember the price you paid? and the part number for your part?

[Guest jamesneesam1]

Hi Lesmon,

 

I paid around

[Guest edwards57]

Thanks for the info James, just ordered one from www.vagcomponents.co.uk part number 7M0862257H / 95VW15K600BC ......should hopefully see it on wednesday, ive had it not working for ages!, glad to finally get one over on the Ford dealer :) good price saying its a new one, will let you know when i get it. Thanks again!

 

Just as added info for other people these are the prices for brand new central locking units at www.vagcomponents.co.uk -

 

95VW15K600BB

[Guest jamesneesam1]

No problem mate, glad i could help, we all need to help each other get the best deal i think

[Guest lawton]

Global closure? I thought you could only do that from the lock - not from the key remote? Am I missing something?

[Guest fredt]

Global closure can be controlled from the remote, simply press and hold the locking button, any windows and sun roof (if fitted?) will close as long as the button is held

[Guest lucya]

Does anyone know if the T-99 Galaxy was ever fitted with Wireless Remote as standard rather than Infrared? My keyfob is wireless and I have no Ir receiver, yet the instructions from the TIS CD for recoding appears to work (up to the point where I point the key at the reciever, ie all the lights flash in the right sequence).

 

Andy

[Guest edwards57]

Well i got my central locking unit first thing this morning, about 8.30! its new and at a good price so im happy! They seem to do quite a few other parts as well....so well worth keeping www.vagcomponents.co.uk / 01949 838755 or 836362 in mind. Hopefully i can stop water getting onto this control unit, has anyone any ideas how to stop this happeneing? :rolleyes:

[Guest fredt]

Hopefully i can stop water getting onto this control unit, has anyone any ideas how to stop this happeneing?

 

 

keep the scuttle drains clear, lift the unit up off the floor by using spacers, make sure the joint in the rear washer pipe is secure, or just move to Arizona :rolleyes:

[Guest edwards57]

Thanks Fredt for the info, i dont think im going to move to Arizona though! Will do the other suggestions though! :lol:

[Guest edwards57]

Well i've finally spent a few mins putting some spacers under the central locking unit, its just lifted abit, so hopefully if i ever get the water problem again it might survive! time will tell.....hopefully it wont rain much this winter!!! :unsure:

[Guest lesmon]

After I get Fraud to re-program the remote and in addtition to raising the unit on spacers - I think I might use some clear silicone (bathroom) sealant around the joint of the unit and some grease round the connectors.

I was even contemplating wrapping it with some cling-film and put the heat-gun to it to make it waterproof - but don't know how the elecrtronics will react to heat.

 

Hopefully, this will be sufficient to keep the water out.

 

rgds

Les

[Andrew T]

Is the blackbox under the passenger seat the Central locking control unit or the ECU or both ? I'm confused, brcause after it went for a swim the other night the Engine fault light came on.

[Guest lesmon]

Its your alarm and central locking controller. Depends on what options are on your vehicle it will control C/L, remote C/L, Global closure, Secure Locking, some elements of electric windows, courtesy lights, etc.

 

Not sure about the engine fault light though - but check that all the above still works - if not then that coule be the cause.

[Guest Josh]

Andrew, i dont know when yours went swimming this week but mine went swimming wednesday night! what a pleasent suprise to wake upto on thursday morning.....not :unsure: , well after a few comments on this site I have just ordered a replacement central locking unit from www.vagcomponents.co.uk so hopefully i can get everything dry before that arrives! il have to get some silicone over the weekend and do the same as what lesmon was planning! :angry: :huh:

[Guest NicolaBaxter]

I had always escaped this problem of water in the foot well, well my luck ran out on thrusday night with all the rain from this week! im moving to somewhere hot and dry :( ! i started the process of cleaning and drying it out before work on friday and soon realised that the central locking unit was full of water :D I went back to the company i bought a MAF from earlier this year http://www.vagcomponents.co.uk so I emailed Andy @ vagcomponents and he gave me a good price again so I ordered one on friday afternoon and got it hear first thing on saturday morning! Very helpful as always and offers good free advice, people can contact him on 01949 838755 / 01949 8363632. Hopefully I will escape the rest of the winter with no water problems, i have drilled the floor panel, and put the control unit on spacers so hopefully that will be the end of this problem! someone should write a book on "problems with Galaxy's" I have had aircon problems, MAF problems, now this ect... Nicola.x