Reliability Of Galaxy Aircon

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Before buying a used Galaxy, I realised from various sources that the aircon system of the pre-2000-facelifted models was prone to problems. I was however under the impression that this had changed with the facelift, and that newer models had a much more reliable system. In view of the problems that I am having with my car, though, I wonder what the "true" position is:

How many people with the facelifted car have had problems with aircon, or know of someone who has had problems? Also at what interval have people had the system re-gassed?

[pj_andrew]

Got a post 2002 model and haven't had any problems with the aircon. Blasts out plenty of cold air when its hot. No problem.

[Guest lynchy]

Got a 2001 Galaxy with duff Aircon,just had it checked and all out of gas.

Re-gassed now and nice cold air to keep the kids happy on those long journeys.

Bit poor for a 2 year old vehicle though.

[Guest rayman]

Hi Gang

 

My 2000 facelift Gal has just conked out of cold air, one of those gradual things!!

 

for a 2.5 motor, pretty poor.

 

Got it booked in with Ford for re-gas + check. will keep you posted regards any

 

anx I expect!!!

 

your pesimistically(!) ;)

Rayman

[Dally]

Mine's variable. Went to the local VW dealer who told me to go back to the Ford dealer and tell them that 1) the rheostat is dicky and 2) needs topping up with gas as there is slight vibration with the aircon on. The vibration can be felt because all the air con pipes are bolted to the body etc.

The chap was an ex Mercedes air con engineer and sounded as if he knew what he was talking about. He also mentioned that the air con on Sharans was also not as robust as it should be and VW are struggling to find out where the gas is escaping from. If you have a re-gas at a VW dealer, they are inserting a dye to try and identify the area of loss.

 

Well, lets try and convince the local Ford dealer!!!!

[Guest steven.tunnicliffe@lineone.net]

Had trouble with my 1999 pre face lift model where I had to have the air con unit changed.

It does say in the manual to run the air con summer and winter for 30 mins every month (?) which I have done since the new one was fitted.

They say the seals dry out if it isn't run regularily, hence the loss of gas, but how can you tell when buying 2nd hand if the air con has been looked after?

I am hoping the later models are better as I am upgrading mine soon.

[Guest Gav1968]

My May 2002 facelift model Air Con conked out just during the past 2 weeks. Fractured gas pipe, then knackered condenser.

 

Note that at our local dealer, they can only re gas the air con once a week, which has made this process less than ideal.

[Guest Daveb]

I have the new style 2001 gal, the air con was OK for 12 months then it lost its gas 4 times within a month, the garage told me I had a leak in the system which they couldnt find, so after changing the compressor unit it lost gas again over 7 months it was in and out of the workshop 9 times until they changed the evaporator /condenser which is somewhere inside under the dashboard in total in the first two years in went back to the dealer 19 times with all the usual faults you can read about on this site so I know Iam not alone with these problems But now its running perfect and I still love the Galaxy, But I hate Laidlaw Kent or as its known now as CD Bramell (Bexley)

When I contacted Ford UK all they could suggest was go to another of their Crooks sorry I ment Dealer

[charles]

'97 2.3 never had problems with aircon, still breazing cold air although it was outside 40 degrees (spain, august 2003)

[Guest JIMSTDI]

my 2002 with atc is working fine .car is 8 months old

[Guest Nik]

Got my Galaxy in april '01, was regassed first time in may '03, at about 90 000 kms. Now, the belt which drives the airco compressor, is broken. I thought a month ago that the airco was again losening some gas, but they checked and they measured a temperature of 6 degrees Celsius at te outlets. No problem they said. The problem was: I bought my wife a Volvo S40, wich have a much stronger airco. I referenced to it - not good huh.

[gazza007]

I've had various problems with my Alhambra Air Con losing gas during the last 6 months. Had about 6 visits to the dealer. They have done all the usual tests but never found where the leak is. Just returned from France and guess what! it's gone again, when I most needed it.

I have called Seat and the MD of the Dealership now. He has offered to take the car for a week and get an independant air con specialist to look at the problem.

Not going in till 15th so will report back.

[Guest rayman]

Had the air con re-gassed mid Aug '03. No problems in France, though the hot sun did battle with the cold air being circulated in the cabin.

 

Tried the re-circulate button for 10 mins, did the trick!!!

[Guest lynchy]

I have been through the aircon failure pain on my 2001 Galaxy and after the last regass in June all leaked out after 3-4 weeks I decided to try again.

Just had it looked at by the local Ford garage who said that it was the Air Dryer\Filter that was leaking which is fitted inside on the condenser on the left hand side as you look at the front of the car in a tube. Apparently it doesn't show up to well when they put the dye in as it can't get through the filter.

Anyway its been changed and regassed so heres keeping my fingers crossed,will probably know if its successfull in a months time if I still get chilled when I hit the button.

Keep you updated.

[Guest JIMSTDI]

that would be good.

no had any problems with the c/c on my 2002

but im starting to wonder when it will happen

[gazza007]

Just had a call from the Garage telling me that the Air-Con has been fixed and that they have replaced the compressor as a result of an electrical fault. Let's hope that it was the problem all along, it worries me that it may not be the cause because as we all know that compressors fail with no gas. Surly they would have spotted this on previous visits. Will just have to monitor the situation and hope for the best!!!

[gazza007]

Wife just came back with car after spending 2 hours on M60!!!

Put probe in vent and running at 8 degrees C.

From other post I guess this about right. Lets hope it stays that way.

Mind you they've bent the black window trim on rear OS door, god knows how.

So another visit back..

[Guest SA Intruder]

Give Lincoln a piece of your mind....I did.

 

Pityful really....

 

(Sympathise with M60 traffic - I got off M60 onto M61, traffic was backed up all over the place - prang near Cheadle?)

[Guest Nik]

Posted part of the story already on another topic. But here's the full one. After the regassing I mentioned before in this thread, the magnetic clutch failed and also the compressor. (I heared somewhere some squeezing noise and in a while I had no airco anymore).

 

They replaced the compressor and the clutch, but one week later, I felt some loss of power, repeatidly, each minute or so, one second or two loss of power. When I turned off the airco, it disappeared. Sunday, it was warm, put the airco on, with some loss of power. My wife put it off because of the comfortless ride, but I put it back on because I said that I paid for a car with airco, so I use airco :angry: ! (it's a company car but we have to pay a certain amount). And some minutes ater, it disappeared... but it went warm in the car :o . Again: no airco anymore!!!

So next thursday, this is my xx'st visit to the company garage, and we'll see what the problem is!

[Dally]

I've finally got a Ford garage to accept that my Air Con is naff!

Booked in again for Friday to have the the 3 C's changed ( That's Compressor, Condensor and Clutch).

 

I nearly collapsed when they told me it was about a grands worth of work. Good job warranty covers it.

 

All those of you out there with warranties - keep pestering till you get a result.

:angry:

[gazza007]

Just gave Sam on service desk at Bells a piece of my mind SA.

She claimed it must have been done with the pressure washer when they valeted the car. I said it was never valeted or cleaned!!

Told her that they would have to come & fit door/window trim at home as fed up of going up there. Anyway 3 years old at end of month so won't be going back unless the air-con fails again. My understanding is that parts and repairs carry a 2 year warranty. SEAT UK also called to confirm that repairs had taken place

Out of interest SA where do you reside.

[gazza007]

So that I can monitor my air-con performance I rang round several SEAT dealerships with various results. Eventually I managed to get a chart faxed to me with the recomended temps and test instructions.

Make sure Vehicle is out of sunlight. Set blower to No 4 and dial to coolest. Close all vents apart from centre 2 face vents. Run the Engine at 2000rpm. Insert thermometer in left centre vent and engage AC. Temps should be in following range.

Ambient temp Output temp

18 8-12

20 7-11

25 6-10

30 5-9

35 4.5-8.5

[Guest SA Intruder]

I live near Southport, but work in Manchester.

 

I used to live in Mellor, and before that Bredbury.

 

I still have chums (sounds a bit *ay?) in and around Stockport.

 

The car was bought new from David Cook, but they managed to pee me off in a BIG (threw a tant') way the first time I asked a simple question.

 

The two girls at Bells are cards aren't they?

[gazza007]

Well they've not asked me out yet....

Air Con holding out for now..

Did you know there is a SEAT dealer on Middleton road off Broadway.

Generally what I do is call round the dealers in the UK(Works phone!) and ask questions and see how many answers tie up.

One guy who seems to know is stuff is called Quillan(unusual name) at SEAT Stoke-on-Trent.

[Guest SA Intruder]

There's a new dealer in Preston (hooray!)

 

Try for next 20000 mile service.

 

Not holdiing my breath.