Rant alert wtf? Who is right? Who is wrong?

ScouseMouse

So......

Have an 03 Ford Galaxy 1.9 TDI. Its the mark 2, galaxy/sharan/alhamra version. Mainly VW hardware.

Nothing wrong with it since I got it. Well maintained, timing belt, clutch, everything done.

Going to France on friday. Big mileage 1000km +

Couple of weeks ago had the NCT. Lashed it in as-is, see whats wrong with. Perfect he says, nothing at all he says. I mentioned french trip. Anything you would do ? Nope says he. Its perfect.

I asked about the knocking sound from suspension. "I didn't hear anything" says he. GREAT!

Week later, ABS light comes on. My mechanic did fluids and filters, service, and fitted a new ABS sensor on front right. Light now off. Checks car over, its perfect he says.

Driving down the road last week, ABS light comes on, red (!) light starts flashing, fuel gauge hits zero, PLEASE REFUEL flashes up. Then gauge comes back, then goes again. WTF? Leave it switched off for a while. All sorted, just ABS light on.

Back into garage but my mechanics on holidays. Went to another well know independent garage I used to deal with. It seems the ABS sensor is throwing out errors at 60km per hour and above. May be the ABS "ring", have to check it. Advised ABS not a massive issue, we drove for years without it. Again, asked is car ok for France. Hang on, the drop links are "hanging out of it"

Is that the noise? Probably he says. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHH !:mad:

So, NCT says its perfect, my mechanic says its perfect, noise is top shock mount thingy, don't worry. New indy garage says drop links hanging out of it. What the hell is going on here. I even consulted with the Ford Galaxy Owners Club. Nice guy in Longford suggested getting the drop links done.

So car back in again in the morning to get drop links done just in case.

Am I wrong in thinking this is fecking ridiculous ?

Paddy@CIRL

Sorry, I've nothing helpful to add but to express my surprise that there's a Ford Galaxy Owners Club.

ScouseMouse

Paddy@CIRL wrote: »

Sorry, I've nothing helpful to add but to express my surprise that there's a Ford Galaxy Owners Club.

http://fgoc.co.uk/

colm_mcm

I'd be a bit suspicious of the whole ABS light, fuel gauge thing happening, is there any chance its an electrical fault or a fault in the cluster?

Droplinks or shock mount concerning but not really massive issues.

ScouseMouse

Its a known issue with the galaxy that wiring causes weird dashboard issues although its normally from wire breakage at boot lid or doors.

Whats getting me is 2 mechanics say its perfect but 3rd says noise is drop links AND NCT said it was perfect.

AND why this week. I dont fancy breaking down in France.

Get the idea I'm a bit freaked out ???

Paddy@CIRL

It'd surely be worth the few quid for peace of mind for AA / ADAC cover whilst you're on the continent?

obezyana

Regarding drop links, I had a knocking coming from the front of my car I had 3 different garages who had a look and said nope all suspension parts are solid. So I had a look with mate of mine I shook the car side to side he watched the links and low and behold the drivers side link was hopping like mad, I just changed them today and the noise is gone. I'm delighted but it goes to show not all things are diagnosed correctly even by multiple people looking at it.

pred racer

The thing will go to the moon and back with knackered drop links, it'll just rattle;)

ScouseMouse

pred racer wrote: »

The thing will go to the moon and back with knackered drop links, it'll just rattle;)

I appreciate the comments folks. I am getting the drop links done anyway. I dont want any trouble. I see the AA is looking for silly money for european cover. Roadrescue.ie looks ok. Anyone got any other suggestions.

I am sure the car is fine, but it just a pain in the ass.

Paddy@CIRL

superscouse wrote: »

I appreciate the comments folks. I am getting the drop links done anyway. I dont want any trouble. I see the AA is looking for silly money for european cover. Roadrescue.ie looks ok. Anyone got any other suggestions.

I am sure the car is fine, but it just a pain in the ass.

Try ADAC, think they come in cheaper than the AA.

ianobrien

OP, a lot of comprehensive insurances include breakdown cover as part of the package. If you have comprehensive insurance it's worth talking to your insurance company.

If not, I'm another that recommends ADAC. It's cheaper than the AA and will cover you while you are at home also.

ScouseMouse

I have comp FBD but they dont offer continental recovery.

I have looked at that german one but it seems you must live in germany. You can ring them if you are elsewhere. Roadrescue.ie seems to be ok. Much more reasonable.

Zubeneschamali

superscouse wrote: »

Couple of weeks ago had the NCT. Lashed it in as-is, see whats wrong with. Perfect he says, nothing at all he says.

The NCT is a really basic test, and a pass says very little.

It's the fails that are interesting.

bear1

Did the car lose power when the electrical glitch happened?
If yeah I'd be wondering if the alternator is charging the battery. Usually though the whole speedo bonicle will fail and the light back up.

ianobrien

superscouse wrote: »

I have comp FBD but they dont offer continental recovery.

I have looked at that german one but it seems you must live in germany. You can ring them if you are elsewhere. Roadrescue.ie seems to be ok. Much more reasonable.

That's unusual for FBD as the FBD covered my trip to Scotland two years ago as part of the european breakdown add-on.

As for ADAC, I know my parents have ADAC European Breakdown cover. To get it they rang and asked for an English speaking operator. They have used it with no problems in Spain

ScouseMouse

FBD offer Uk and Ireland. France is not on it and they said it was not available when I spoke to them.

The car was ok when the lights came on. No loss of power at all. This would happen to me. Oh well, its up on the ramp at the moment for the drop links and an aircon pipe. I just dont fancy the car going into limp home mode with 500 km to go.

I have been advised that it wont do that with this issue.