2012 Alphard 3.5 V6 goes in gear but doesn't drive.

[Duke of Here]

Hi All,

 

I am new here and would really appreciate your help.

 

My Alphard just stopped driving with the engine light come on. I can move the gear stick from Park to Reverse and to Drive but the car will remain insitu - no movement.

The engine runs fine, starts first time but the only issue is it doesnt respond to gear.

Can someone please advise or recommend the best garage I can take it to in the Midlands area?

Thank you.

[Rojie]

1 hour ago, Duke of Here said:

Hi All,

 

I am new here and would really appreciate your help.

 

My Alphard just stopped driving with the engine light come on. I can move the gear stick from Park to Reverse and to Drive but the car will remain insitu - no movement.

The engine runs fine, starts first time but the only issue is it doesn't respond to gear.

Can someone please advise or recommend the best garage I can take it to in the Midlands area?

Thank you.

 

Hello Henry,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

Have you just bought this vehicle ? Private, or from a business ?

 

There is a section on garages within this forum.

[Duke of Here]

I bought the car privately 4 months ago. Shall I repost this in the garage section?

[Rojie]

1 hour ago, Duke of Here said:

I bought the car privately 4 months ago. Shall I repost this in the garage section?

 

No, not necessary. It's OK here.

 

I was suggesting you review the Garage Section for a recommended business near your location.

[Chris.ac]

Prior to this, did you make any modification involving wiring, even if not seemingly related? 

 

Does it have an aftermarket headunit fitted etc? 

 

Does the dash show the change in selected gear?

 

 

[Duke of Here]

15 hours ago, Chris.ac said:

Prior to this, did you make any modification involving wiring, even if not seemingly related? 

 

Does it have an aftermarket headunit fitted etc? 

 

Does the dash show the change in selected gear?

 

 

The previous owner installed an aftermarket head unit and a subwoofer. That was all. 

[Gamith]

When you move the gear selector is there any sort of resistance - I am wondering whether the link between the selector and the gearbox may have come loose. it looks like there should be a cable connecting the two. (this is for a 2005 model though - yours may be different).

[Chris.ac]

It's really hard without physically being there, but there are CANbus connections that are possible from the headunit, including sensing for speed, and parking brake/brake, which could create interference. 

 

As well as started previously, a physical issue of jamming/disconnecting the gear selector

 

Sorry, you didn't say if the gear selection is displayed correctly on the dashboard when you change through the gearbox.

[BigNev]

If the "engine light" is on, then there's something electrical gone South, probably, but by no means definitely,  related to the lack of gear selection.

 

A solenoid failure, not too likely as it won't do forward or reverse, or if you're lucky it could just simply be the plug connector to the gearbox! So the rest of the car can't "see" it.

 

So it needs code reading, and I know even a cheap one will see some codes, I have the Car Scanner app and ELM327 box. I've tried it on ours and it sees it. It had no current codes so therefore I can't know how deep it can read it.

If it comes up with really odd codes, then it could, as was said, be interference from dodgy wiring, or poor earth connections - as these are a communication path nowadays, not just electrical.

 

[Duke of Here]

On 2/5/2025 at 4:57 PM, Gamith said:

When you move the gear selector is there any sort of resistance - I am wondering whether the link between the selector and the gearbox may have come loose. it looks like there should be a cable connecting the two. (this is for a 2005 model though - yours may be different).

I won't say there is resistance but there seems to be some strange sound coming from under the car after this ugly incident. AA was called but the tech said he can't access the gear box to check whether there's enough gear oil. He also said their code reader can't give any clue because they don't have the software. His recommendation is recover it to a garage.