Your fleet running reports

[DeskJockey]

Turns out Galaxy is not fixed. Issue seems to occur only when it is near or below freezing. I'm confused. Auto sparky is asking people he knows for ideas.

[evostick]

Turns out Galaxy is not fixed. Issue seems to occur only when it is near or below freezing. I'm confused. Auto sparky is asking people he knows for ideas.

Dodgy solder on the circuit board. Contraction due to low temp.

[jamcg]

Turns out Galaxy is not fixed. Issue seems to occur only when it is near or below freezing. I'm confused. Auto sparky is asking people he knows for ideas.

Heat it up with some fire?

[DeskJockey]

Turns out Galaxy is not fixed. Issue seems to occur only when it is near or below freezing. I'm confused. Auto sparky is asking people he knows for ideas.

Dodgy solder on the circuit board. Contraction due to low temp.

That sounds plausible. I'll suggest that to him, see what he thinks.

[Beany]

Turns out Galaxy is not fixed. Issue seems to occur only when it is near or below freezing. I'm confused. Auto sparky is asking people he knows for ideas.

Dodgy solder on the circuit board. Contraction due to low temp.

That sounds plausible. I'll suggest that to him, see what he thinks.

If it's just the audio/connection, I'm pretty sure the Mondeo had a similar issue that was fixed by a head unit/dash update and was covered as a 'hoi, this shit don't work, fucking sort it you cunts' type update.

Gimme the full symptoms and I'll try to find the stuff I found a year ago relating to it.

[DeskJockey]

Dodgy solder on the circuit board. Contraction due to low temp.

That sounds plausible. I'll suggest that to him, see what he thinks.

If it's just the audio/connection, I'm pretty sure the Mondeo had a similar issue that was fixed by a head unit/dash update and was covered as a 'hoi, this shit don't work, fucking sort it you cunts' type update.

Gimme the full symptoms and I'll try to find the stuff I found a year ago relating to it.

It randomly reboots (LCD goes black) then comes back on with volume at default and tuned to preset 1 on FM. It does that any number of times. This while driving/engine on.

With the ignition off and car locked, it randomly turns on and off. While it is in a mood (engine on or off), the on/off button doesn't work, everything else does.

[Simon]

DJ, from someone who spent far too long with similar issues on my Mk4 Mondeo, please take on board what I'm saying as I fixed them (Remember, your Galaxy and my Mondeo are based on the same platform).

1) The Canbus controller is built into the binnacle. There is a known issue with these on the Mondeo and Mk2 Focus where the solder joints dry out on the board connector to the multiplug - I had to reflow mine. This fixed half the issue. It's easy enough to remove the binnacle. The only faff with this fix is that you have to remove the needs from the dials to remove the binnacle 'facia' to gain access to the solder joints.

2) Similarly, the quadlock connector solder joints in the radio suffered a similar fault. Taking the radio out and reflowing those joints fixed the other half. For the sake of sanity I reflowed all the joints I could get to in the radio whilst it was apart.

Both these jobs should take about half a day. I'm not saying your's is definitely gonna be fixed by them, but there's a strong likelihood that it's a similar issue.

[Beany]

Radio in the Galaxy has decided that doing a reboot every 30 or so seconds is the way forward. Was fine when I was running errands this morning, then an hour later it was playing up. All buttons except on/off seem to work.

Will try to pull the fuse later to see if it makes any difference. If it doesn't, I'll leave the fuse out.

Need to figure out if it is known/fixable issue.

Anyone experience similar? It is the Sony DAB unit, 12 plate car.

Think this is covered by TSB 33/2008, in a kind of 'fixes more than it claims' sense.
https://talkford.com/community/topic/37 ... o-problem/

That might not be the exact one, but I only stopped working an hour ago and I'm a bit flaky.

Either way, there's definitely a TSB for it and I'm sure it's fixed by updating the firmware on the head unit and dash to the latest version - but only if you have Convers+

Otherwise, it may not be the same issue.

Worth blagging it though

Edit: Also take what Simon says as worth noting too - again, especially if the car doesn't have Convers+, which in case you didn't know, is the fancy pants colour LCD in the instrument binnacles.

[DeskJockey]

DJ, from someone who spent far too long with similar issues on my Mk4 Mondeo, please take on board what I'm saying as I fixed them (Remember, your Galaxy and my Mondeo are based on the same platform).

1) The Canbus controller is built into the binnacle. There is a known issue with these on the Mondeo and Mk2 Focus where the solder joints dry out on the board connector to the multiplug - I had to reflow mine. This fixed half the issue. It's easy enough to remove the binnacle. The only faff with this fix is that you have to remove the needs from the dials to remove the binnacle 'facia' to gain access to the solder joints.

2) Similarly, the quadlock connector solder joints in the radio suffered a similar fault. Taking the radio out and reflowing those joints fixed the other half. For the sake of sanity I reflowed all the joints I could get to in the radio whilst it was apart.

Both these jobs should take about half a day. I'm not saying your's is definitely gonna be fixed by them, but there's a strong likelihood that it's a similar issue.

He checked the quadlock connector, but I hadn't caught that it could be on the binnacle end too. I'll ask about that. Also see about getting the firmware updated.

Much appreciated (Beany too)!

[Simon]

DJ, from someone who spent far too long with similar issues on my Mk4 Mondeo, please take on board what I'm saying as I fixed them (Remember, your Galaxy and my Mondeo are based on the same platform).

1) The Canbus controller is built into the binnacle. There is a known issue with these on the Mondeo and Mk2 Focus where the solder joints dry out on the board connector to the multiplug - I had to reflow mine. This fixed half the issue. It's easy enough to remove the binnacle. The only faff with this fix is that you have to remove the needs from the dials to remove the binnacle 'facia' to gain access to the solder joints.

2) Similarly, the quadlock connector solder joints in the radio suffered a similar fault. Taking the radio out and reflowing those joints fixed the other half. For the sake of sanity I reflowed all the joints I could get to in the radio whilst it was apart.

Both these jobs should take about half a day. I'm not saying your's is definitely gonna be fixed by them, but there's a strong likelihood that it's a similar issue.

He checked the quadlock connector, but I hadn't caught that it could be on the binnacle end too. I'll ask about that. Also see about getting the firmware updated.

Much appreciated (Beany too)!

It's not the quadlock connector itself (which is just a glorified 2xISO connector and a few other plugs in one big block), but in the solder connections to the board of the socket that the quadlock connector goes into.

If the worst comes to the worst I'm only down near Gatwick so about 30 minutes from you? Could always have a look at it one weekend...

[DeskJockey]

DJ, from someone who spent far too long with similar issues on my Mk4 Mondeo, please take on board what I'm saying as I fixed them (Remember, your Galaxy and my Mondeo are based on the same platform).

1) The Canbus controller is built into the binnacle. There is a known issue with these on the Mondeo and Mk2 Focus where the solder joints dry out on the board connector to the multiplug - I had to reflow mine. This fixed half the issue. It's easy enough to remove the binnacle. The only faff with this fix is that you have to remove the needs from the dials to remove the binnacle 'facia' to gain access to the solder joints.

2) Similarly, the quadlock connector solder joints in the radio suffered a similar fault. Taking the radio out and reflowing those joints fixed the other half. For the sake of sanity I reflowed all the joints I could get to in the radio whilst it was apart.

Both these jobs should take about half a day. I'm not saying your's is definitely gonna be fixed by them, but there's a strong likelihood that it's a similar issue.

He checked the quadlock connector, but I hadn't caught that it could be on the binnacle end too. I'll ask about that. Also see about getting the firmware updated.

Much appreciated (Beany too)!

It's not the quadlock connector itself (which is just a glorified 2xISO connector and a few other plugs in one big block), but in the solder connections to the board of the socket that the quadlock connector goes into.

If the worst comes to the worst I'm only down near Gatwick so about 30 minutes from you? Could always have a look at it one weekend...

I see! That makes sense. Let me see what the sparky says, but I might well take you up on that. Thanks!

[GG.]

Seems logical that if it’s turning the power on and off and the in/off switch isn’t working whilst that happens that it’s the on/off switch in the head unit itself has failed?

The only thing that would make me question that is you saying it switches back to default setting when it switches back on which i wouldn’t expect to happen from just toggling the unit on and off...

[NotoriousREV]

Seems logical that if it’s turning the power on and off and the in/off switch isn’t working whilst that happens that it’s the on/off switch in the head unit itself has failed?

The only thing that would make me question that is you saying it switches back to default setting when it switches back on which i wouldn’t expect to happen from just toggling the unit on and off...

To me that makes it more likely to be the power feed to the board: no power means the button won’t work but also resets everything because nothing is powering the chip that stores the last settings.

[integrale_evo]

Means it's either losing the permenant feed ( which retains memory and settings ) probably due to a dodgy joint on the input connector as mentioned above if it's not a supply or wiring issue, or some sort of internal gremlin in the switching circuit which is less likely and would probably need a new radio to fix.

[GG.]

Seems logical that if it’s turning the power on and off and the in/off switch isn’t working whilst that happens that it’s the on/off switch in the head unit itself has failed?

The only thing that would make me question that is you saying it switches back to default setting when it switches back on which i wouldn’t expect to happen from just toggling the unit on and off...

To me that makes it more likely to be the power feed to the board: no power means the button won’t work but also resets everything because nothing is powering the chip that stores the last settings.

I was reading DJ's posts as saying when it was going through its phase or switching on and off randomly you couldn't use the power button and I assumed that meant you couldn't turn it off when it was on (as well as on when it was off) which made me suspect the contacts in the button, but maybe that's not what he meant.

Anyway, 2nd hand head units are £45 with free delivery on eBay (and he could offer less) so I'd not be inclined to spend much on an autoelectrician before just swapping our for another head unit. If that doesn't fix it he can stick it back on eBay.

[unzippy]

Is it actual paint or some sort of special light paint? Both are stupid but one is slightly more forgivable than the other.

Don't forget a decent denier tight, that's really stupid!

[Mito Man]

I unfolded the third row seating on the Defender for the first time. For reasons I cannot fathom the third row seats have more lateral support and feel more comfortable after a short sit than the front row seats (or maybe it’s just because they’ve never been used and the foam is still new). And being independent seats they’re much more comfortable than the middle row bench. Also I’m surprised that they can fit an adult in the back - ok getting in and out isn’t graceful but it’s genuinely usable.

[integrale_evo]

I've been car hunting again.

Not for me but the step daughter. Quite a tight brief which really limited choice and excluded a number of cars I would have chosen for myself.

Bigger than her lupo but not too big, not significantly slower than her (1.4 ) lupo, not significantly more expensive to insure than the lupo, manual, less than 12 years old, less than 80k miles, not too oap, no minis, no fiat 500s, nothing red, nothing black, no diesels, within 50 miles as I'm not traveling around the country looking at boring cars for someone else

Lots of cars which initially look nice until you see they're 1.0 or 1.2 engines and sloth slow, lots which sound decent until you take a good look at the pics or do an mot history check.

Was beginning to give up hope until a tidy looking blue polo popped up 3 miles away, 08, 1.4, 3 door, 71k miles. Had the typical cheap car dealer prep but could see that underneath it was straight and tidy and more importantly drove really nicely. Job done. Has been named bob the blob.

[mr_jon]

Good MOT history, looks alright. Lucky to have a stepdad who's not a car numpty

[integrale_evo]

We were going to look at one 20 miles away which had only done 50k, but it was only motd every other year and if they can't be bothered to do that how well looked after / serviced was it likely to have been? Plus it was a 5 door which makes them look a lot more grandad spec.