Very odd problem with Electric Windows....

[Kevinb]

Hi everyone,

I would really appreciate any advice anyone can give about the electrics on the Ford Galaxy Mk1.

This last weekend I locked the car at the drivers side front door. It suddenly "gave" and didn't lock. This was followed by the ominous tinkling of metal falling down the inside of the door. Without thinking, I tried unlocking it and this resulted in the windows all dropping down as part of the auto-open process. Got into the car and turned the engine on (all good there) and close the windows. Nope, nada, nothing. In desperation, I tried locking it from the passengers side and use the auto-close. This works!

So, the lock will swivel 90 degrees left and right, but no locking/unlocking occurs. Broken lock mechanism inside methinks. What worries me more is that the interior switches can lower the windows just fine but they won't raise them.

Is there just the one fuse for electric windows, or is there one for lowering and one for raising (although there is power to raise them from the passenger's side door lock). Also, is there some kind of cut off that requires the driver's door electrics to be working (through the door lock) in order to allow the windows to work?

I don't think the door cabling has failed as I can lower the windows using the switch.

Any ideas anyone?

Many thanks,

Kevin

[Chrispb]

Sounds like the door lock paddle has failed.
What you need to do is remove the outer door handle.
To do this open the door, look down the edge of the door level with the outer handle, you will see a single torx headed screw, remove this screw then slide the handle towards the front of the car, you should then be able to pull the handle outward and remove.
There may be more bits that drop off.
You can now test the locking/global closing by passing a flat blade screwdriver though the hole in the door into the slot on the lock.
Turn the screwdriver either way but allways returning to the central position.
New paddles spring and clip kits available on ebay like the one in this link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-GENUINE-GALAXY-SHARAN-ALHAMBRA-DOOR-LOCK-REPAIR-KIT-/140480264308?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20b546b874

be sure it's the right one for your car.

[Kevinb]

Chris,

Cheers for your help. I went by Autoelectrix in Swindon on the way home and they gave that exact same advice. Yep, once placed back to the neutral position, all the windows worked again (very loud sigh of relief at that point!!!!). They only got wrong the bit about relocating the door handle without taking off the internal card. Just impossible to do! Unless anyone has any ideas???

As a result of Autoelectrix's advice ("Don't buy the ebay stuff, go for the main dealership parts"), I spoke with the Ford Dealership in Swindon this morning. Ã,£14.03 all in so I'll be popping by there later on today....!

Just need to convince my other half to let me fit some new speakers in the front while the door card's off!

Kevin

[Chrispb]

Hi Kevin

Can assure you the handle can be refitted without removing door card, have done this several times on both MK 1&2 albeit a bit fiddly, slackening  the remaining lock screws does help.

As for the ebay paddles again not had a problem only to say there are different length paddles iirc 3 different lengths so you need the measure the old paddle first.

[Mirez]

I can confirm its possible as I've also done it a number of times - the key is the positioning of the bar, it needs to be as far over as possible as there is a little play on them.