Errr Break Bulb Replacement O/s/r

[Guest JBrannan]

You are right its not - or seems not to be a major job, but dont you think this is really poor? No mention in the handbook about having to do this and the dealer wasnt much help either. Alarm bells rang for me when I saw a large black metal bar secured againt the side of the inner shell - at the time I did not know that the only purpose of this bar was to secure a rubber strap to hold a few items - over engineering??? I was hesitant to unscrew this as for all I could have known it could be some sort of tensioned side protection bar - now knowing what it is, my bulb can be replaced...woooo hooooo - surely wouldnt have hurt to mention this in the manual though.

 

Jeff

[Tigger]

Mate who works for a local tyre company. Not off the back of a lorry just trade!

My Webpage

 

I have used these before

Just booked in again Drop link rattle!??????????????

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Just got back from taking one of daughter's friends home; blown front offside sidelamp bulb; should be good for a laugh tomorrow if I can work out how to open that sliding hatch in the front wheel-arch! ....and the bulb integrity sensor hasn't reported it as a failure yet ....

[Guest JBrannan]

Good luck! Im with you man:)

[tim-spam]

I agree with the comments on the manual and dealers - both were very unhelpful (no surprise there!) and should have been better. But in general, these cars are fairly easy to work on (for a modern car that is), and much better than most. It's just that I have not come across having to remove 2 screws to change a bulb and being overcharged for tyres as a reason to sell a car before.

As regards things likely to go wrong, you would be very unlucky to experience all of the problems mentioned by Andrew T. For example, there is nothing fundamentally wrong with the scuttle drain design - it's just that the roof / windscreen has a much larger surface area than on smaller cars (allowing more water and contamination to flow into the scuttle area) and poor maintenance could result in the flooding problem. The scuttle area must be cleaned every time the pollen filter is changed, but I bet the dealers don't bother - hence the problem. By the way, later cars do not have an ECU under the seat. As regards the spare wheel carrier (as fitted also to Transits and some VW vans), it can be operated without removing all luggage, and if it is operated properly, should not fail - however, when the average 'professional' spanner monkey 'guns' it up .......

Anyway, all cars have some weaknesses (even the Japanese), and these cars are no exception, but there are many that cover very high mileages without serious problems.

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Well, changed the sidelight bulb, not too much trouble sliding the cover out of the way, but I think I have ruined my jacket :D

 

Next time, remind me to cut a polythene bag open at both ends, and slide it onto my sleeve first - and you dont't half need odd-shaped hands to do it - thin enough to get into the gap but strong enough to grip the holder and twist ......

[Guest JBrannan]

hey forget about the bag - i have a friend who is a local vet and can get them big gloves that they use for putting there hands/arms up a cows bum - perhaps theres a market here...anyone want to go into business??

 

Whilst Im here can anyone confirm that when i slow down the radio volume also decreases? Is it me going mad or has Ford really had a good idea????

 

Jeff

[Al J]

How I smirked about bulb changes until a guy in the office this morning said my offside brake light was out. Changed it this evening after undoing first aid kit bracket, replaced stop/tail bulb, tested all bulbs, put bulb holder back into place, tested again. Oldest son said "One of the side lights is not on". Took holder out again - no secondary tail light bulb in holder. Bulb found to have dropped out inside lens housing. Tried mechanical fingers, magnet pen but to no avail. Finally achieved success with a blob of blu-tac. All working now and bracket refitted - minus screw nearest bulb holder.

[delboyt]

[seatkid]

Whilst Im here can anyone confirm that when i slow down the radio volume also decreases? Is it me going mad or has Ford really had a good idea????

IIRC If u press MAN several times it goes through various options one of which is AVC - this is the volume v speed sensitivity. U can increase/decrease/turn it off.

[Lyle Waters]

I thought i was going barmy when the radio turned up by itself.

 

Then the wipers stopped when I pulled up at traffic lights.

 

Then the indicators would not turn off for 5 seconds, me sitting like a pratt at a roundabout shoving the stalk up n down trying to stop em flashing.

 

Worst was getting in the car at lunch time for a few minutes kip and the alarm going off 10 minutes later as it armed itself.....

 

Technology - wonderful...hn

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Almost unbelievable - got in the car on Friday night and the OTHER front sidelight bulb had gone. I know that they were both working after I changed the offside one that lunchtime because I switched them on to test them. Anyway, I changed the duff one this morning whilst having 2 new front tyres fitted - dead easy when there is no wheel and tyre in the way !

 

2 new Avon high-performance tyres fitted (ZV3 IIRC) 215/55 HR 16 RF (97 load rating) for

[italiastar]

Checked my 2003 Alhambra - will take about 20 secs to change bulbs, no tools or need to remove jack etc - what have Fraud done to the Galaxy ????

[Guest JBrannan]

Theve gone absolute barking eh! Im sure that on that particular design day it was bring your kid into the office day and let them have a go!

 

Still havnt changed the bulb - far to hot to do that. To cool down I thought I would sit in the car if the aircon was any good - im sure that a couple of ice cubes in front of a fan would do a better job - is it just me that thinks its naff or should i get it regassed?

 

Jeff

[Guest vr6galaxy]

far to hot to do that. To cool down I thought I would sit in the car if the aircon was any good - im sure that a couple of ice cubes in front of a fan would do a better job - is it just me that thinks its naff or should i get it regassed?

 

Jeff

Nah! much cooler if you stay under your bridge :lol: only the noise from those pesky goats that keep crossing it to annoy you :lol:

[Ivor_E_Tower]

Whilst Im here can anyone confirm that when i slow down the radio volume also decreases? Is it me going mad or has Ford really had a good idea????

Cars are getting too clever. Radio volume linked to speed is OK, but wipers that drop to intermittent when you stop, and indicators that flash for a minimum of 3 flashes is all getting a bit unnecessary.

[seatkid]

Cars are getting too clever. Radio volume linked to speed is OK, but wipers that drop to intermittent when you stop, and indicators that flash for a minimum of 3 flashes is all getting a bit unnecessary.

Whats wrong with that?

AFAIK Galaxies have always had a speed sensitive volume control. 3 flashes is Euro directive but sensible, how many times have you seen one flash followed by a hazardous manouver? I always seem to switch to intermittent when I stop anyway.

[Guest JBrannan]

:ph34r: Your right........damn pesky goats!

 

Yeah cleverness is good in the right places - seems Ford have not yet found that place! In todays world where technology is very cheap, wouldnt it be nice to fit as standard a control panel that told you when a bulb was out - electric windows all round - this is a huge bug bear for me. This car aimed at the family market where in most cases children would be carried in the back - so why have manual windows in the back - my kids drive me mad winding down the windows with there shoes, I have no control over it apart from barking like a dog at them.

 

I also thought that manufactures had to fit a safety cut out to electric windows now - perhaps I am wrong. I thought I would see if my windows would cut out or drop down if an object was in the way...ermmmm they dont and if you are inquisitive like me, please do not use a part of your body unless you are willing sacrifice it.

 

Jeff

[seatkid]

In todays world where technology is very cheap, wouldnt it be nice to fit as standard a control panel that told you when a bulb was out - electric windows all round -

You mean like my Seat ALhambra? [smug grin]

[Guest JBrannan]

Aint a Ford though - like Heinz to Tescos own - (even smugger grin) :ph34r:

[HJT]

Yeah cleverness is good in the right places - seems Ford have not yet found that place! In todays world where technology is very cheap, wouldnt it be nice to fit as standard a control panel that told you when a bulb was out - electric windows all round - this is a huge bug bear for me. This car aimed at the family market where in most cases children would be carried in the back - so why have manual windows in the back - my kids drive me mad winding down the windows with there shoes, I have no control over it apart from barking like a dog at them.

 

You shouldn't have been so cheap, and gone for the Ghia version then. That has bulb monitoring, electric windows all round and lots more besides. It's no good having a go at Ford for not putting everything on the cheaper version. Buy a Ghia or stop moaning!

 

Howard

[Guest JBrannan]

Point taken Howard - I will retreat tail between my legs - on the way I may even take the fork out of the sugar bowl.

 

Jeff