Alphard gen 1 2007 cutout while driving

[matmountain]

Hi Folks,

I’m new and trying to help my friend who has a 2007 2.4 Alphard.

 

She broke down on the way to a funeral, engine cut and she had to pull over. Would not restart.

 

I’ve checked ECU fuse in engine compartment fuse box, but not yet checked the ECU/airbag fuse under the passenger glove box fuse box. I live a few miles away. 

 

Ive charged the auxiliary battery, get a dashboard full of light but after a few seconds a couple of lights begin to flicker. the fuel gauge does not show anything and flickers, the usual fuel pump ‘ticking noise’ for the LPG unit doesn’t make a noise and the airbag light on the dash sort of flickers as well.

 

I suspect this fuse and thought might be good idea to change the fuel pump relay (assuming there is one?)

 

Any pointers to the relay location, suppliers and part number for a new one, and any other similar problems people have already resolved.

 

Is there a home diagnostic tool I can buy that anyone would recommend. I don’t have a windows laptop only mac.

 

Thanks for reading

[Rojie]

5 hours ago, matmountain said:

Hi Folks,

I’m new and trying to help my friend who has a 2007 2.4 Alphard.

 

She broke down on the way to a funeral, engine cut and she had to pull over. Would not restart.

 

I’ve checked ECU fuse in engine compartment fuse box, but not yet checked the ECU/airbag fuse under the passenger glove box fuse box. I live a few miles away. 

 

Ive charged the auxiliary battery, get a dashboard full of light but after a few seconds a couple of lights begin to flicker. the fuel gauge does not show anything and flickers, the usual fuel pump ‘ticking noise’ for the LPG unit doesn’t make a noise and the airbag light on the dash sort of flickers as well.

 

I suspect this fuse and thought might be good idea to change the fuel pump relay (assuming there is one?)

 

Any pointers to the relay location, suppliers and part number for a new one, and any other similar problems people have already resolved.

 

Is there a home diagnostic tool I can buy that anyone would recommend. I don’t have a windows laptop only mac.

 

Thanks for reading

 

Hello Mat,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

Is your friend's vehicle a Hybrid, or a camper conversion ?

If a Hybrid you need to change the vehicle in your profile.

 

If a non-Hybrid, I would be expecting the starter battery needs a very full charge, or even replacing.

Starter batteries take a real 'beating' in the current climate, especially if the vehicle is not driven regularly.

I am unsure what you mean by auxiliary battery.

 

Techstream is the Toyota tool, but I am unsure whether it runs on a Mac.

Ancel JP700 ? gets a mention too.

 

Search the forum for (much) more info.

[matmountain]

Appreciate that, yep, I’ve changed it to hybrid in my profile.

 

Ive charged the battery that’s under the centre console, it had taken a beating as you suggest in the past. I changed it when she bought it a year ago and yes it hadn’t been driven a hell of a lot.

 

It is a camper conversion and LPG conversion.  Both standard fuel tank and LPG were 3/4 full when it broke down.

 

I’m bothered that it just cut out while driving more than anything, I’d have thought even with a low battery it wouldn’t do that.

 

Having charged it and recovered it with my optímate it was showing correct voltage when I put it back in but we weren’t getting even a voltage drop turning the key as it just wouldn’t turn over.

 

Any thoughts on display flickering or fuel relay or fuse under the glove box as common culprits for this sort of symptom? 

[Rojie]

18 hours ago, matmountain said:

Appreciate that, yep, I’ve changed it to hybrid in my profile.

 

Ive charged the battery that’s under the centre console, it had taken a beating as you suggest in the past. I changed it when she bought it a year ago and yes it hadn’t been driven a hell of a lot.

 

It is a camper conversion and LPG conversion.  Both standard fuel tank and LPG were 3/4 full when it broke down.

 

I’m bothered that it just cut out while driving more than anything, I’d have thought even with a low battery it wouldn’t do that.

 

Having charged it and recovered it with my optímate it was showing correct voltage when I put it back in but we weren’t getting even a voltage drop turning the key as it just wouldn’t turn over.

 

Any thoughts on display flickering or fuel relay or fuse under the glove box as common culprits for this sort of symptom? 

 

I don't have a Hybrid so cannot suggest a course of action other than to search the Forum for Inverter issues, and the cooling fans associated with the battery you mention.

 

My guess is that invertor cooling 'system' should be looked at first.

 

A simple alternator check (if Hybrids have an alternator), starter battery connections.

 

How far had she progressed in her journey ?

[smurf]

Flickering dash lights suggests a problem with the 12V system. Obviously you have a 12V battery, but there is no alternator in the traditional sense on the hybrid. The battery is charged, and the 12V system is powered, by a DC to DC converter from the hybrid battery. Unlike a traditional 12V setup from an alternator, this means the 12V system has a constant voltage with the ignition on. If it is anything like mine, this will be 13.9V at all times.

 

The best way to be able to see what is going on is with techstream. If you can put a windows virtual machine on your Mac you can then put techstream on it. Failing that, an old laptop will run techstream easily. You will also need an mvci cable to interface between the laptop and the car. 

[matmountain]

thanks Smurf, that’s a helpful set of things to work through.

 

I’ll take a punt with a tech stream download and cable.

 

Best to see what fault codes come up and go from there.

 

I had wondered how the 12v system worked as when I’ve borrowed it the engine would happily cut in and out depending on the load the inverter was pulling for the fridge or induction hob. That was all working ok we’ll have to see if I can get her started again first. 

[matmountain]

can anyone tell me where this fuse box is located? 

 

I’ve taken the passenger side glove box out and the driver side pull out m, out as well. I can’t see anything that looks like it. 

 

I think it’s the one I have crudely circled in red but the location is unclear compared to the other 4 fuse boxes.

 

I just want to check the engine computer fuses 21/22.

 

I appreciate the help

[matmountain]

This is the passenger side area and it doesn’t like the drawing anyway…

[Rojie]

The fuse box you illustrate is on the passenger side interior firewall, behind the glove box.

 

The glove box is easy to remove.

 

Access to the fuse box is far from easy. It is heavily obscured buy a 'rats nest' of wiring.

 

Apart from being a gymnast, able to work on your back, you will need a mirror, torch and patience, and thin nosed pliers.

 

I would strongly advise you get replacement fuses (of the correct physical size before you even try to replace any.

 

Good Luck