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2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - John Finn

I have a frustrating issue with my wife's Galaxy. When we bought the car at the beginning of the year the Auto Lock feature was activated. We have 3 kids with the youngest only 18 months old so Auto Lock is not good for the family.

I eventually found the correct process for deactivating it. The problem we have now is that after a while (approx a week) the Auto Lock reactivates uncommanded.

Any ideas? Is there a way to permanently disable this feature?

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - elekie&a/c doctor

Not to sure what you mean by auto lock?Do you mean locking on drive away?

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - John Finn

Not to sure what you mean by auto lock?Do you mean locking on drive away?

Apologies. No. I am referring to the central locking and alarm activating after the vehicle has been left after a minute or so...

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - jc2

This normally only works if a door is not physically opened after unlocking.

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - SLO76
Why would you want this disabled?
2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - elekie&a/c doctor

Does the car lock soon after removal of the ignition key?Can't recall ever seeing this function activated on this model.I would think the only way to disable this is through the diagnostic system.

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - John Finn

As previously stated, my youngest child is only 18 months old. I dislike the automatic locking feature.

I'm not sure I am making myself clear. I have gone through the process to deactive the automatic locking feature so the vehicle now only locks when I command it using the key fob. My problem is this unwanted feature switches back on uncommanded.

It is quite a process to change the feature using the key in the ignition so how can it change back uncommanded. I stress uncommanded...

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - John Finn

It sounds like I need to get a diagnosis but I was hoping to hear if anyone had come across this problem before. BTW this feature seems to be common source of problems on internet forums for 21st century cars.

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - SLO76
"As previously stated, my youngest child is only 18 months old. I dislike the automatic locking feature."

No offence John but I have a 23mth old son and a car that has this feature but I'd never leave him alone in the car so it just isn't an issue.
2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - gordonbennet

I suspect the OP is concerned that say for instance at the supermarket, loaded up the shopping slip off for 20 seconds to return the trolley and hey presto the doors are locked with youngster strapped into child seat? or a variety of other scenarios, yes?

The obvious one is to not shut the doors with the keys in the car, but in the rush and flap we find ourselves we all make mistakes, so i woudn't dream of suggesting that other than as a passing obvious comment.

I suggest getting a spare key cut but not chipped, so only of use in physically (un)locking the doors but unable to start the car, and find a convenient accessable but well hidden place where this key could be cable tied on, inside a waterproof bag or wrapped in cling film if its likely to rust, at least if the doors do lock it will be a minor inconvenience grabbing the spare key and not a window smashing drama.

Alternatively, i keep a spare unchipped key on my main keyring and keep the ignition plipper on its own keyring, this separate set of keys is handy for locking our doors, driveway gates etc, you soon get used to having the ignition key on its own, plus as a bonus no rattling jingling keys on the road.

Edited by gordonbennet on 22/12/2016 at 23:54

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - SLO76
Get your thinking gordonbennet. Unless it's freezing cold I usually unload the trolley, return it then load junior into the motor but yes I do sometimes do as you suggest and make a dash with it but even if the car has locked itself you'd always have the key with you surely? I can't think of a single time I've thought this feature was an issue for me. I certainly wouldn't ever leave a child in the car with the keys in it. I might be missing the reasoning here though.
2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - John Finn

Guys. It's not just about me. I am sure that every parent that has had this happen to them didn't do it intentionally but in my case there is also the wife to consider. Unless I am there, I have no control of the situation. This is the source of my concern regarding the automatic locking feature.

Disabling the automatic locking feature is a lot less complicated and very straight forward. You don't have to explain to the car why you are doing something and you don't have say sorry. Intervention now can save a lot of aggrevation later (keys can get lost). Happy wife. Happy life.

Obviously no one has experience with this feature activating uncommanded.

Oh well, let's see what the diagnostics say.

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - SLO76

Guys. It's not just about me. I am sure that every parent that has had this happen to them didn't do it intentionally but in my case there is also the wife to consider. Unless I am there, I have no control of the situation. This is the source of my concern regarding the automatic locking feature.

Disabling the automatic locking feature is a lot less complicated and very straight forward. You don't have to explain to the car why you are doing something and you don't have say sorry. Intervention now can save a lot of aggrevation later (keys can get lost). Happy wife. Happy life.

Obviously no one has experience with this feature activating uncommanded.

Oh well, let's see what the diagnostics say.

Sorry John but both of our cars that we use to transport our 2yr old son in have this feature and it's never been an issue. I can't see any reason why a young child would be alone in the car along with the keys and yes I have popped the wee fella in his car seat, returned the trolley then found the car locked but I always keep the keys with me. Certain any half decent auto electrician can disable this for you but please don't leave young children alone in the motor.
2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - elekie&a/c doctor

I have driven hundreds of different cars and can't think of any model that auto locks when the key removed.You may be better off to take it to a Volkswagen specialist as most of the electonics are Vw based.

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - gordonbennet

Its a glitch, even if you get to the root of it which might cost more than the problem is worth you'll never trust it again.

As for never leaving the keys in the car (even on the seat, or dropped on the carpet by accident) whilst we sort something out after bolting young Jimmy into his safety seat, well, last time i looked in the mirror an ugly old very imperfect feller looked back, we arn't androids programmed to perfection in the image of our betters such as celebs and politicians and journalists, so we make the odd mistake in he chaos of the day.

Simple answer, keep the ignition plipper key separate from the rest of the bunch (incl spare key for opening doors manually) which is always safely in your pocket, or stash a non programmed copy key which can't start the car somewhere only you know where to find it on the outside, wrapped in cling film and cable tied behind a bumper for example.

Some car glitches you just have to live with.

Edited by gordonbennet on 30/12/2016 at 10:25

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - Big John

Are the carpets dry?

If you get leaks in these the electronic control modules are very prone to being affected

2003 Ford Galaxy 1.9TD - Auto Lock on Central Locking - SLO76
It's not a glitch, it's a feature on many modern cars and the Galaxy has it. I've had it on several cars and vans over the years. If left unlocked the car will lock itself within around 45s or so unless it senses someone sitting in it or the key is in the ignition or a door is open. It's possible there's a fault if it's not picking up the weight of someone sitting on one of the seats, even a child should trigger it. If I sit my shopping on the passenger seat of our Polo it sets off the seatbelt alarm when driving along. If the child is in an isofix seat it won't sense it though.

Edited by SLO76 on 31/12/2016 at 11:32