Rojie

On 4/23/2022 at 4:03 PM, Rojie said:

 

Hello Bouncy,

 

Welcome to the Forum.

 

Are you sure your Alphie doesn't have curtains (or at least the rails for them) as most do.

Most curtains are manual but some are electrically operated.

 

Worth checking with your supplier.

 

Even if the curtains have been removed the (tie back) popper studs should still be present.

 

You may be able to source the correct curtains from a breakers yard.

 

Good Luck, and Happy Vanning.

On 4/23/2022 at 12:36 PM, Bouncy4 said:

Hi, I will be collecting my new Alphard in the next couple of weeks and looking to have curtains fitted. Does anyone have any suggestions. Ideally would like them secure and on runners rather than the stick on option if possible. Is this an option? Do you think I could fit them myself? Hopefully you guys can help. 😁 thank you 

Take a look at ebay 154201036503

2 hours ago, Coxy1960 said:

Managed to get to the fuse board. It is underneath the big plug in area. It is not the meter fuse as that is OK.

Good to know.

Thinking cap back on.

Hopefully Chris.ac will read this. He is a technical whiz with electrics

1 hour ago, Oddcouple said:

Messaged you!

ben hau on youtube.

He is mainly known for upgrades to Alphard / Vellfire head units.

Has a workshop in Birmingham.

2 hours ago, Oddcouple said:

Our beast exists and currently is sitting about 25 miles from us! We’re just in the process of securing final funds and hopefully within the next two weeks she’ll be ours. Plan from then is around a 4 week turnaround for a basic side conversion. I never get excited to be honest, 26 years military service kind of gave me adrenaline overload, but for the first time in a long time, I’m actually buzzing! Already bought an awning, spoken to Ben Hau about the radio, planned a CB fit, got the insurance lined up. All ready to go!

Great to hear you are making so much progress.

Four weeks is a very good leadtime for a rear conversion.

Happy Advanturing 

2 hours ago, Oddcouple said:

Yet another potentially stupid question. Looking for thermal blinds, when searching seems that most of the search returns are Alphard, can someone please confirm if the window configuration is the same on both vehicles?

Yes.

For the same model year.

1 hour ago, Coxy1960 said:

Hi Rojie.

I will have another look tomorrow. I did take the bottom glove box off but all I found was the air conditioner filter and a bank of plugs. Are the fuses behind the plugs? The horn works by the way.

I confess, I have never looked for the fuse box.

Starider has; you'll probably need a mirror. I believe it is behind a bunch of wiring.

He has a lot of threads. Below is a copy of one of them from 21 March.

Quote

 

Hi, I agree the glovebox and trim are easily removed and replaced, but easy access to the fuses is greatly impaired by the mass of wiring which crosses under the fuses, this is so bulky and inflexible that you can't move it aside, the little plastic removing tool is totally inadequate and impossible to use and the fuses having been undisturbed since manufacture, are extremely difficult to pull out, Let' hope we all do not have to change fuses. I certainly made sure which fuse I needed to remove, the diagrams of each numbered fuse  it's location, it's value and which circuit it protects, are excellent in the Owners Handbook.

One bonus with having to remove the glovebox was that I was able to inspect the Aircon filter on the fan, which was absolutely filthy and certainly needs replacing. If anyone knows of a supplier I would appreciate details.

 

Be careful.

3 hours ago, Coxy1960 said:

The lights on the dashboard and outside when the indicator switch is put up or down. Hazards work inside and out. No fuses inside the cab but only under the bonnet and they are all OK. Funnily the illuminated display on the dashboard is not working either , or the reversing beeps.

Hi Coxy,

There are fuses on the inside of the vehicle.

One fuse box is behind the passenger size lower glove box.

The glove box is very easy to remove (and replace) but the fuse box is a pig to get to.

Fuse 23 is for the "Meter" which is the Dash lighting.

I would check that one.

Is the horn working ?

There is another fuse box inside on the driver's side.

Hello Coxy,

Welcome to the Forum.

Do you mean the external indicators are not working, or the tell tale lights in the dash ?

3 hours ago, Bouncy4 said:

Hi, I will be collecting my new Alphard in the next couple of weeks and looking to have curtains fitted. Does anyone have any suggestions. Ideally would like them secure and on runners rather than the stick on option if possible. Is this an option? Do you think I could fit them myself? Hopefully you guys can help. 😁 thank you 

Hello Bouncy,

Welcome to the Forum.

Are you sure your Alphie doesn't have curtains (or at least the rails for them) as most do.

Most curtains are manual but some are electrically operated.

Worth checking with your supplier.

Even if the curtains have been removed the (tie back) popper studs should still be present.

You may be able to source the correct curtains from a breakers yard.

Good Luck, and Happy Vanning.

2 hours ago, Dave Firth said:

Looking for recommendations for seat covers and floor mats for 2005 8 seater please!

 

Hi Dave

There is a guy in Southampton, or nearabouts that does tailored carpet sets for Alphies.

You should be able to find him on ebay. odyssecarpets.

His carpets are less luxurious, but more rugged, that the Toyota options.

Check ebay, there are plenty of options.

I went with some rubber / PVC ones, in beige from Spain. 

About £30 and very well made. Odour free, thick, durable.

Plenty of choice for covers, especially from Japan.

Many are garish, but some are great.

Good Luck

4 hours ago, Oddcouple said:

Seems the insurance comes under LV, so at £285 fully comp seems a fairly good deal for a start point.

Strange. LV wouldn't cover my conversion. Does seem a decent price too.

It certainly seems that Insurance Companies can be quite inconsistent when offering cover.

My driving record is fine, and my NCB maximum. Odd.

However, you got yourself sorted with a decent company. I'm glad.

4 hours ago, Oddcouple said:

Has anyone fitted a CB radio? If so, where did you take power from. I’ve always piggy backed from the 12v socket fuse in the past, don’t have the van yet so not been able to investigate yet!

Good Morning,

I thought CB radio was illegal in the UK.

It was.

Legal now though; not only that, no licence required.

10 - 7

10 hours ago, V8Mark said:

Hello everybody,  my Name is Mark located near Witney Oxon.

I just joined yesterday afternoon after joining the Elgrand Club in the morning.

I know this sounds odd but in the morning i was test driving a top of the range Elgrand which i was smitten with until i said to the chap where is the Cruise Control.

I was informed that they don't have it due to a conflict with the auto brake system.

Then after a few phone calls i was devistated to find out that you also can not retro fit Cruise either. 

So yesterday i called my good friend David at Valley Cars and Classics and begged for help.

He obliged and i have just ordered a 2009 Alphard 3.5 7 speed with 55k grade 4.5 with a grade A interior. 

But i must wait until early July for it to arrive.

I know that there are plenty of Alphards out there but i am fussy after being in the car trade for Donkey's years and David at Valley Cars and Classics is as fussy as me so i know it will be a lovely car.

So now i am going to work out how everything works on here for now.

Back soon and thank you. 

 

Not all Alphards have cruise control. 

Some can have it retro fitted.

More on that topic contained herein.

12 minutes ago, Oddcouple said:

Secured £285 with Adrian Flux, happier now!

Hi again,

AF is a broker, not an insurer.

It may be worth your while understanding which company is insuring your vehicle.

1 hour ago, Oddcouple said:

Yeh, it’s already registered and the conversion going in is being done by Adrian Bristow but he doesn’t normally do them as an advertised service. I’m feeling this is starting to become an issue lol.

I don't understand why you think you have an issue.

Did you phone Scenic yet.

There are, of course, other Insurance companies as per the list; but the situation does seem to change quite frequently.

Hello again,

Just to be clear about this, less ambiguous.

The DVD player will still operate correctly.

I play my concert DVDs whilst driving.

They work fine, if you don't want to skip tracks etc..

But you cannot watch them while the parking foot brake is not in the park position.

I am struggling to understand why you would want to, and the Traffic Police .....

Hope I have not confused anyone !

45 minutes ago, Sparkie19 said:

Does anyone know how to go about removing the mirror from the rear spoilers?

 

It's the last thing on my to-do list for the Alphard now the roof, rock and roll bed and floors all done.

 

Cheers in advance!

Hi Sparkie,

I have no experience of this, but have read on this Forum that it is not easy, and best left alone.

What year is your Alphie ?

19 minutes ago, Ian24 said:

All sorted. It's linked to the head unit to fool it into playing a dvd when park break is off.👍🐉

Hi Ian,

Should not be necessary, but why not. Is yours Gen 1 or Gen 2 ?

I don't have one (on my Gen1 facelift) and my DVD works fine.

I'll check mine because I don't always put the foot brake on.

It is best practice to use it, but auto gearboxes have a locking pin that locks the transmission.

The gear shift does need to be in Park though.

Glad it's sorted.

Hello Mark,

Welcome to the Forum

3 hours ago, Ian24 said:

Hi all, does any of you lovely people know what this is for?

Is it probably your rear fog light switch.

Test it. Make sure your lights are on when you do.

Lots of Alphards received modifications / personalisations in Japan.

So I guess it could be anything !

Good Luck.

3 hours ago, Oddcouple said:

Had a look at scenic online. One question….as I can’t register the vellfire as a campervan after conversion I’m guessing they won’t insure it as a campervan? It will still be MPV on documents which may be an issue? Please tell me it’s not!

They are insuring my Alphard, 2006, MZ G, with rear conversion by a professional specialist.

Nowadays it is near impossible to reclassify a vehicle. Why do you want to reclassify ?

DVLA only approve about 5% of all applications. You can read about it on the DVLA website.

Phone Scenic directly.

If they still won't; ask them who their sister company is (Safeguard at a guess) that will, although you converted will need to be approved/recognised as a professional outfit.

Many conversions involve what were commercial vans, and many won't meet the DVLA requirements anyway.

Is the Vellfire registered in the UK yet ?

Hi Charlie,

You have the Theatre System, don't you ?

You sure you haven't blown a speaker ?

They emit a buzzing sound, which can be very quiet to very loud depending on any damage.

Too much bass might sound good, but it is a speaker killer.

If it is a plastic panel (why start now) but it could be caused by resonance.

It could be harmonic vibration where the bass speaker is actually causing the plastic panel to vibrate and behave like a speaker.

Try a piece of tape across the seat back panel to test if that prevents and or dampens it.

Otherwise, turn down the volume !!

Good Luck.

1 hour ago, Geralt said:

I Googled around and bought the Ancel JP700 reader. This works for my 2.4L 2003 in as much as it seems to connect at least and offers to Read and Erase codes which is the most I can expect I think. Note that I don't have the MIL illuminated right now so I don't have any codes to read or erase but I'm 99% confident this will work if I do.

 

I think what might be useful is a compatibility table (MY and engine against OBD hardware) to help others in future. I guess only admins can set that up.

We could probably set it up, if someone provides us with the (correct) data tables.

5 minutes ago, wjvh said:

My Aviva quote went up …. By £10! And then I added Euro cover for £28, so £288 total. I didn’t even bother shopping around and took that. It even offers ‘business use’ as standard, not that I need it. That’s on 8000 miles per annum.

You may see quite an increase if you convert to LPG; or they may ask you to find another insurer as they did with me.

..... And I only have a small Campingaz 907 bottle

Just be careful if you want to use the Chunnel.

With LPG you can't !

1 hour ago, ALSALPHARD said:

Hi, I'm in need of a pair of struts  for ANH20R manual rear door, I tried sgs engineering  but  couldnt find the strut dia (guess 12mm) plus  need bespoke brackets on ends.

only place I could find something that might fit was Amazon at £93

Please could I have a link to your purchase site.

.

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005002900173406.html?spm=a2g0o.order_list.0.0.61511802DUcvXV

You could PM me an offer for my unused new ones, as they can take quite a while to deliver !

They are plain black.

Via PM I could send you dimensions, may be a photo.