need a good match!

[giovanni_5060838]

We have just collected our 2003 burstner 500 ts.

the figures are 1250 u/l 1500 fully laden.

We actually bought a FORD GALAXY 115 tdi to tow it.

problem. it really seem to struggle, in my not to experienced

mind, to tow it.

It could be that i am used to driving diesels, without the need

to actually rev them to 3000 rpm, it could also be that the

galaxy is not given its all [MAF] springs to mind.

eitherway, i am not entirely happy with its towing abilities.

Assuming that technically the galaxy is 100% what is available

out there for under 7k. as the galaxy cost 6k and is on the

Y plate, do not really want anything much older.....

 

[cris_408518]

Can you not get the engine chipped Gio or find one of the more powerful Sharans or something.

 

[giovanni_5060838]

I am thinking that this perticular galaxy is not giving its all,

or rather i am hoping.

i mean its match of 84% would seem ok, and i was banking on the

vw's 1.9tdis ledgendary lowdown torque, which i believe is

around 225 ft/lbs at 1600 rpm giving me the power i needed.

just wondering what gear do most owners use once upto 50mph and

can they accelerate in that gear?

 

[Lutz]

Not to have to change down when accelerating from 50 to 60mph is a bit too much to expect of any car when towing.

 

[giovanni_5060838]

I was wondering more about the gear you would expect to be in?

in my case 5th and 6th gear are too high, as i sit at 50mph

using 4th gear. is this normal?

having towed, ok smaller van at around 900kg with a 100 bhp

vectra and found that i could get into 5th on a straight and

hold it, i would assume the vw's extra 50% of torque would

show similar resilience....

 

[Lutz]

I was wondering more about the gear you would expect to be in?

in my case 5th and 6th gear are too high, as i sit at 50mph

using 4th gear. is this normal?

having towed, ok smaller van at around 900kg with a 100 bhp

vectra and found that i could get into 5th on a straight and

hold it, i would assume the vw's extra 50% of torque would

show similar resilience....

For 10 years I towed a 1300kg caravan with various 90hp Vectras - never even got into 5th gear when towing but was still able to keep up with the flow of traffic. On steeper inclines I was doing 50mph in 2nd gear.

 

[Angus1]

Giovanni, I`ve had Passats with 110, 130 and now 140 BHP engines, and even the smallest of these was lively and could easily tow 1300kgs up hill and down dale with no hassle. With the 130 it`ll hit Windy Hill (J21, M62 to J22) at the bottom at 60 in 6th, and come out at the top still doing 55 without changing down.

I believe the gearing in the Galaxy/Alhambra/Sharon is lower, so should still pull your van without too much concern.

What I would do urgently is get the air-mass meter checked as they are not the most reliable and whilst the car will feel OK used gently, when you ask it to work it will feel flat and not want to rev. Easy for a dealer to check, simple to replace and will make a vast difference if its faulty. I`d do this before spending money anywhere else.

 

[giovanni_5060838]

thank you angus.. i will do that, as i do believe this should

have better lowdown grunt then i have at the moment

 

[seth1]

thank you angus.. i will do that, as i do believe this should

have better lowdown grunt then i have at the moment

hello giovanni,i think you should make sure its defenantly a 115 .if im right and i could be wrong its more like a 110 because the new 115 rating didnt come out till later on.also on that rating its not a PD which makes a hugh difference.and them torque figures are not for a 115.maybe your asking too much do you think?why not get it flashed.

 

[Angus1]

Hi Gio,

Did you get your Galaxy sorted?

 

[giovanni_5060838]

It is funny that you have asked today.

The straight answer is no, not yet. but on saturday phoned up

main ford dealer and was quoted

 

[giovanni_5060838]

seth. forgive the late reply.

the galaxy is indeed the 115bhp pd model. 6speed reg 23/5/2001.

the inlaws have a seat 110bhp, and that seems livlier to me than

mine...

 

[Angus1]

I think the problem tends to be electrical failure rather than a dirt issue, but best of luck anyway.

Have you not got a nice friendly local garage with the diagnstic equipment that can check it out in situ? If not, it could be worth finding one as they can be worth their weight in gold, particularly when you get a dealer telling you you need something you don`t!

 

[giovanni_5060838]

I agree a GOOD auto electrician is worth their weight in gold.

But from my understanding it is dificult to tell a good maf

from an old dirty one unless it has totally failed.

becides which a new one is

 

[Garfield]

Hi, the air mass meter went twice on our 110bhp sharan tdi, the most noticable effect is loss of mid range grunt, we used german swedish & french for a replacement. The 115 pd engine may only have 5 more hp @4000rpm but the mid range torque is up from 175lbft on the 110hp to 229lbft on the 115pd. the Shaz managed 5th up slight gradients with 1300kg on the back so with 30% more mid range power the 115 should be better than you are experiencing

 

[giovanni_5060838]

Hi, the air mass meter went twice on our 110bhp sharan tdi, the most noticable effect is loss of mid range grunt, we used german swedish & french for a replacement. The 115 pd engine may only have 5 more hp @4000rpm but the mid range torque is up from 175lbft on the 110hp to 229lbft on the 115pd. the Shaz managed 5th up slight gradients with 1300kg on the back so with 30% more mid range power the 115 should be better than you are experiencing

If indeed it turns out that i am missing what i believe to

be some lower end grunt, then i will look forward to taking

the caravan out, at the moment i dread the idea...

 

[seth1]

Hi, the air mass meter went twice on our 110bhp sharan tdi, the most noticable effect is loss of mid range grunt, we used german swedish & french for a replacement. The 115 pd engine may only have 5 more hp @4000rpm but the mid range torque is up from 175lbft on the 110hp to 229lbft on the 115pd. the Shaz managed 5th up slight gradients with 1300kg on the back so with 30% more mid range power the 115 should be better than you are experiencing

hello giovanni,would it have been a better bet to have it diagnoised properly by a vw agent,its only 1 hours labour.theres a few sensors that affect power not just the air flow meter.lack of midrange could be a boost sensor.

 

[seth1]

hello giovanni,you might have been better getting it diagnoised by vw or ford,they only charge 1 hours labour,after all there is other sensors that have a lot to do with power,lack of midrange may be a boost sensor,low fuel pressure,split intercooler/hose.the list is endless.a sensor check on the laptop will show it up. cheers seth.

 

[giovanni_5060838]

fitted a new MAF this morning, i am not going to start

shouting "what a difference its made"

Yet it most definately has made a difference. in 3rd gear you

can put your foot down from under 1500rpm, and feel her get up

and go.

Also tackled a local hill in 6th at 55mph, no loss of pace and

she felt like she could actually pick up a few mph.

Still not totally satisfied with its lowdown pull, but untill

i rehook the caravan to it, i will not know for sure, if its

just me wanting more than is available.

 

[Garfield]

Yes but only and hour's labour at VW is Still

 

[seth1]

thats a fair point gary ,

 

[MONKEY1]

Gio,

The PD engines don't have so many issues with MAF's as the older engine, have the car in to a Bosch specialist as it could also be a EGR valve that has stuck open and one of the pressure hoses of the turbo could have broken off their hook. If this happens they kink and again it feels low powered to drive. All 3 are similar and we;ve had all 3!!

regards mh

 

[Garfield]

Sorry seth but the lads at the independants are usually main dealer trained, the only difference is that they have wider experience, for instance our Sharan tdi110 started to overheat en route to Chatsworth, a call to our local garage with the syptoms was mte with the reply "VW? overheating? it's the head gasket"

The VW garage nearest Chatsworth Tested the header tank for combustion gasses which showed negative and i was told in no uncertain terms that it was not the head gasket

To cut the story short we limped home where the local guy replaced the leaking head gasket with the comment "Those guys at VW should know that that test almost never works on a diesel"

The car was fine with the new gasket fitted.

 

[seth1]

hello gary,i know the non dealer guys are just as good,im not doubting that,1.6 and 1.9 vw have always been common for head gaskets .thats common knoledge in the trade.what i mean is do the independants go on factory trained courses?theres a bit more to it than turning a laptop on. seth