Car has lost power to starter

Sounds like g/box inhibitor switch / reverse light switch is needing adjusted .

ok thanks whittingehame it does sound like your right where would i find the switch do you know? is it something i can clean up or would i need to replace it?

Switch maybe only needing adjusted , quite common .Or possibly switch faulty / wiring connection fault .Location varies from car to car but this from Galaxy forum on same subject may help .Normally it's just adjustment needed especially if someone has been messing about with g/box .

#1 galaxychap

Advanced Member

Group: Members Posts: 213 Joined: 07-November 04 Gender:Male Location:Havant,Hampshire Posted 08 March 2007 - 11:42 PM

Hiya Guys

On my way home from work i stopped at the co-op on my return i put key in ignition to start but nothing except dash lights would not turn over checked she was in park still no turn over gave the gear lever a shake then started home i went which is no further than 1/2 mile once home turned her off then tried to start same problem my immedeiate thought is the gear box inhibitor swich you know the one that stops you starting in gear. Anyone have any other ideas as to the problem and how do i check if it is this switch and where is it inside the car or underneath. she is a ford galaxy 2.8 ghia auto



Super Member

Group: Members Posts: 535 Joined: 25-February 04 Location:Gloucestershire Posted 09 March 2007 - 07:55 AM

almost certainly inhibitor switch. it is located under the trim at the base of the gear lever. remove the screw which secures the gear knob and slide the shroud off. you should then be able to prise off the trim.

Hope this helps .

Hi again ,

i took of all the trim around the gearstick and i think i found the switch there isnt anything to adjust really just an orange painted screw in the unit so i removed and checked all the wires but no change. can you tell me how to adjust/check it pls also Do you know where the reverse light switch is?

Thanks in advance

I have never had any experience of that car and the set up of inhibitor switch so only going on what I can dig up to help . Here is some more suggestions from same forum on switch .


Denis

Advanced Member

Group: Members Posts: 185 Joined: 15-August 03 Posted 25 November 2005 - 06:54 PM

I used to have a problem starting my T reg auto, sometimes the selector lever needed pushing sideways to make it start. The cure was slight up/ down adjustment if the inhibitor sensor. It's not a switch but an infra red emitter and receiver that detects the position of the selector- this has a slotted plate at the bottom that blocks the beam in certain positions.

The worst problem misalignment or failure of the inhibitor sensor could cause is failure to start or allowing you to turn the starter over when in gear, once you've started the car everything should be normal.

also

Denis

Advanced Member

Group: Members Posts: 185 Joined: 15-August 03 Posted 10 September 2004 - 08:36 AM

Jerry you don't say what year your car is but I can confirm from experience with my T reg 2.3, as Ivor and Fredt have pointed out, the inhibitor switch does cause problems. Though I'm petty sure it's not a switch but an optical sensor (led and photodiode) in a plastic housing so it's difficult to 'short out' as such.

In my case, pressing the gear selector sideways would make the fault come and go and adjusting the inhibitor 'switch' screw (locked with an orange sealant) cured the problem.

Well i tried that and the inhibeter switch seems ok as when you manually move it something trips off under the dash so i would guess its working im a bit worried that i dont know exactly where the adjuster screw was set though. Would there be somewhere under the bonnet to check? the reverse light is still on do you know where the switch for that is?

Can't help with reverse light switch location , thought both faults would be tied into inhibitor switch / sensor .On some manual boxes it is usually fitted on g/box casing with a couple of wires feeding it .Only other thing I have found which I don't know if it applies is this , which refers to another inhibitor switch at brake pedal .Maybe someone else on forum has experience of this fault on that car and will post solution .

Question
I have just brought a 1998 Ford Galaxy 2.3 Automatic, it seemed fine until I had to brake hard last Sunday, since then we've had problems getting the gear selector out of Park/Neutral and have to keep pressing the brake pedal and "playing" with the handbrake to get the selector button to depress. It sees to be getting harder to get the button to release. Have you any idea what the problem may be, and is it a job for a main dealer or could any auto expert solve it.
Submitted: 455 days and 6 hours ago.
Category: UK Ford Value: £12 Status: CLOSED
Accepted Answer
Hi

It sounds like the problem may be the inhibitor switch located at the brake pedal, it may have been knocked out of adjustment or the wires loosened when you braked suddenly, perhaps getting knocked with your foot.

Check the wire is secure, and that the switch is seated correctly.

This is a relatively simple job that you can do yourself if it is the switch, if you are unsure, any garage can fix it.

Regards

Trev
Expert: Trev
Pos. Feedback: 100.0 %
Accepts: 229
Answered: 4/18/2009
UK Ford Car Mechanic

NVQ 3, Modern Apprenticeship, MOT Tester, 15+ years

ok thanks a lot for your help so far ill let you know if i get it sorted

Still trying !! If you go here , there is reference to a relay 30 which seems to give problems. Again not sure if this applies to your fault .At bottom of page , the 3rd thread from FROGEYE gives a walkthrough with pics .

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?showtopic=18018

If no one else comes on with possible solution , you could maybe try that site for advice / help .

All the best .

Hi There i tried that link but it saying i dont have permission to view even though i registered but will check the relays now
Thanks

Link working o.k with me , just " Googled " it and checked again .First link on page that comes up .