2000 Galaxy 2.3 petrol. Speedo, fuel gauge, radio, & other faulty electrics -

[RossT]

We have a 2000 Galaxy 2.3.  The speedo has stopped working completely, along with the trip meter and the mileage meter.  The fuel gauge is totally erratic and bleeps every ten seconds or so if there is less than half a tank of fuel (even if it's not actually anywhere close to empty).  The radio has stopped working.  The yellow engine shaped light on the dashboard stays on constantly.  And the car has started stalling erratically, most usually at slow speed when going down through the gears to approach a junction.  Just cuts out with no warning - otherwise the car is running and firing smoothly.  We understand that this MAY be a cluster fault - but don't want to spend several hundred pounds on a replacement cluster which would cost more than the car is worth.  If it comes to that - then the car will be scrapped.  But we'd rather not scrap it if we can fix it ourselves first, as otherwise it's a fantastic car.  So my partner is hoping for some tips on what if anything he can do himself  to rectify the situation.  He wants to check the earthing points - and he understands there are 4 of these, but he can only find 2 of them.  Can anyone advise/provide a diagram showing where the 4 earthing points are please?  Also, are there any other tips/advice/things we can take a look at and investigate ourselves please?

[Mirez]

Well hello and welcome! I just want to clarify this is a manual car?

The 2.3 is a bit of an anomaly in the Mk2 Galaxy because VW basically make the rest of the car and whereas the TDI and 2.8 are VW engines the 2.3 is a Ford engine so wiring had to be adapted to get it to work. Therefore whilst the issues you have should all be rectifiable without spending a fortune, just be careful when researching them that you don't get led down the wrong path; for example the earth fault seen on the cluster nearly always effects the TDI & V6.

The 2.3 uses a VSS (Vehicle Speed Signal) which it takes direct from the gearbox, the TDI and V6 use the ABS system to provide this signal. Given the faults you describe I would be highly suspicious of the VSS sensor having packed up (or the wiring around it). ALL of the faults you currently have would be consistent with that sensor giving implausible signals.

The attached may be of help as although its for a Ford Scorpio (same engine) it shows, to some degree, the location of the VSS Sensor.

[RossT]

Thanks Mirez.  I'll get my other half to take a look at this tonight.  It's a manual car by the way.

[PCastle]

Hi guys, just to add onto this Recently the handbrake light on the dash of my 04 Ford galaxy 2.8 V6 started flashing while driving and then the speedo stopped working, also please Refuel message also starts flashing. Mechanic said it might be the ABS pump and module. I have purchased a like for like complete ABS PUMP which he has put in the car but the same issues remain (changed twice now). Any suggestions?  All other ABS sensors are new. The sump was removed and cleaned and fuel pump replaced too. Your help is appreciated. Likewise I have spent more on this than i should have and don't want to scrap it. Thanks.

[brianh]

I can't see how he is working out the ABS pump to be the source of your fault personally but he can see the car, I can't so maybe theres something to that.

I'd suggest looking into the following bits to be your best bet

Battery fusebox - the plastic one with the fusable links on the lead from the positive battery terminal, pop the top open and see if its started melting inside (common issue and fairly sure that can cause the instrument panel issues) I think the V6 still has that fusebox, not sure as I've only had the 2.0 and 2.3 petrols.

There is a wire joint in the passenger side footwell alongside the seat - basically its a load of red wires twisted together. If the washer pipe has seperated in the passenger footwell and not been fixed, it will soak the carpet and that joint can start corroding. This may have happened sometime prior to your ownership and slowly rotted away, that can cause odd problems. Its known as services 32 - see https://www.bigcarclub.com/ford-galaxy-common-faults-and-problems/splice-joint-32/ This may be your issue, not sure.

The handbrake light may also be down to a faulty level switch on the reservoir cap and may have nothing to do with the other issues. Seeing as the ABS module has been replaced, I'd take it the fluid level to be ok as your Mechanic would have refilled the reservoir afterwards. Should be possible to test that with a multimeter, or bridge the connection to bypass it and see if it still comes up (obivously if that does fix it, then fix it properly so you know if the fluid does get too low, likely a new level switch needed). The handbrake switch may also be at fault, though I think if that was the case you get a different message, when I've not fully released the lever and tried to pull away I'm fairly sure you get a specific message of handbrake on and beeping to tell you.

If you can get hold of VCDS that may help to see if any codes can be read to give an idea of whats going on - a cheap lead off ebay and a copy of VCDS lite from Ross-Tech would be enough for what you need at this point such at this one https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304602504580

I've picked that one as its a UK seller so you shouldn't be waiting too long for it. Others are cheaper, but at that sort of price (£9.49) its not worth the extra hassle and delay to me. The download you need is free from Ross-Tech website. https://www.ross-tech.com/vcds-lite/index.php

I'd think its unlikely to be the cluster itself at fault, though its possible I guess. Seems more like a wiring issue to me though.

As Mirez says above, the 2.8 is different to the 2.3 in respect of where it gets its speed info from, but VCDS may indicate if your seeing problems with the sensor or elsehwere.

[PCastle]

Thanks Brian, will look into all the points you suggested. I don't know if it is purely coincidence but all this started happening a short time after i had a massive coolant leak (a few times before finding the source of the problem) due to a pin prick hole in one of the main coolant pipes so very hot liquid poured into the engine bay. I wonder if that somehow affected any of the earthing points etc or connectors.

[PCastle]

Dear Brian and chaps,

Hope you all had a nice weekend. I disconnected the brake fluid level sensor cable and tried to bridge it with a paper clip. The brake fluid level was full btw. When i started the car again I got a big "STOP"- BRAKE FAULT message, however removing the paper clip stopped the message appearing even when the cable was left unplugged. Is this normal or did i do something wrong with the bridging? Also I have noticed that the handbrake is a little loose when released and is easy to lift with the tiniest force whilst driving compared to my other galaxy.Also with the brake a quarter on the car moves easily but eventually does beep "handbrake on" message.  This suggests the handbrake sensor is working Ok right?  I will try to to look for the wires you mentioned for fuse 32 sometime this week.also notched now every time i start the car i get 4 beeps but don't know what they relate to.Thanks for reading.

[brianh]

I'd agree the handbrake switch seems to be working based on what you've said above.

The 4 beeps should be indicating some sort of problem - Things that make mine beep that I'm aware of are
Low washer Fluid
Doors/bonnet/tailgate open
Low coolant level (in the unlikely event the float swtich still works in the bottle)
Low brake fluid maybe - not 100% sure on that one
Service due message

All of those only generate one beep as far as I'm aware though.

The only thing I can think of that beeps 4 times on mine is the lpg system if its swtiched to petrol operation - You haven't mentioned yours being on gas so I'd assume it isn't?

Think its more likely the cluster is getting upset due to not seeing what it expects - Check the wiring in doors/tailgate/services joint I'd suggest is your next step.

The coolant leak in engine bay - where exactly did it leak and what got covered? i wouldn't expect coolant to do anything much to earth points (and if it did it would take quite some time to do so, given the coolant has corrosion inhibitors in it anyway?) but it might cause problems if it got into other bits (battery fusebox for example?)

[PCastle]

Hi Brian and all,
Thee 4 beeps you are indeed correct is for the LPG system, mine is on gas but i disconnected it recently just to rule out that wasn't causing the issues. So I still haven't managed to get anywhere with this issue. everything I have checked as recommended seems to be ok. Do you know any forum member on here based in the midlands or close by that has a full VCDS version that might be willing to plug it in to see what comes up?
Thanks.

[SirDavidAlhambra]

I wonder what VCDS stands for. Possibly something like "Volkswagen Computer Diagnostic System"?

Similarly, for VAG-COM.

I wonder what the difference is. I used VCDS-Lite to fix my parking sensors. Was handy, but it would be nice if there were more settings you could change (like enabling auto-honk when the car is locked successfully, or auto-folding of the wing mirrors when you lock up).

[JustanotherDave]

I don't know if this will be of any help, my MK1 TDI had the Speedo stop working,this persisted until the battery was disconnected for an unrelated issue,once the battery was reconnected it started to work normally again.this problem has reoccurred since and the Solution remains the same.
Similarly I had a flashing glow plug light, indicating break light failure, whilst investigating I inadvertently blew the fuse, upon fitting a replacement fuse the light stopped blinking

[SirDavidAlhambra]

Hehe, the good old "turn it off then back on again" technique ;-)

[PCastle]

Hi Chaps,

Good weekend? I tried the battery disconnect but still the same issue. managed to get it onto a fault reader today and it returned the 3 following codes:

00285 - ABS wheel speed sensor, front Right -G45 mechanical malfunction-intermittent
00283 - ABS wheel speed sensor, front left -G47 mechanical malfunction-intermittent
00778 - steering angle sensor - G85 No or Wrong Adaptation

Any thoughts? I did look at the speed sensor on both front wheels and they looked brand new but will check again. the steering angle sensor did fail on my other 2.8 V6 when the horn stopped working, everything else was fine.  I do have replacement sensor i could swap in this car to see if that sorts the issue but the G85 code suggests it has lost its steering settings and so this might be sorted through software? I'm not sure i can do this with the Ross-Tec lite software? Anyone on this forum who has experience in this? Do  you think these faults might be the cause of my issues or is this leading down another wrong path? Thanks.   

[johnnyroper]

Not saying there isn't an issue there but can't see they will be causing the fault you have as abs doesn't have an effect on speedo.
There will be a transducer in the gearbox for speedo reading.

If there was an issue with front sensors and angle sensor I would expect a fault on dash,they might be old codes. Can you check live data and see what speed sensors are reading and angle sensor feedback?

Clear codes and see if they return

[PCastle]

Hi,

I cleared the codes and did a live wheel speed reading and the front drivers wheel was not registering any speed while the other 3 did. I changed the sensor but still no speed register. Will look at the speed sensor disc and the cabling that the ABS sensor plugs into when i get a weekend free.

[PCastle]

Hi All,
so after all this pain the problem is fixed, no more beeping to refuel and speedo not working etc. The fault was indeed with the cabling from the connecter (that the abs sensor plugs into) up to the loom side. Once this was fixed on both the front drivers and passenger sides then the car is back to normal. I hope this helps others.