Rojie

Ian, Welcome to the Forum

So it is a relative high miler, for its age. With such a mileage, I doubt changing the auto oil will do any harm. Its condition may be a pointer. I'll be interested to see what Picasso's view is.

Hi Wasi, Welcome to the Forum. If you can answer a few questions it may help members to help you. When wss the vehicle imported ? How long have you had the vehicle ? What is the current mileage ? What petrol are you using ? Is the gearbox 'hunting' between gears while cruising ?

Hi Tricky, Welcome to the Forum. So sorry to hear about your predicament. Won't the 'offenders' insurance company be paying for the damage repair. Hopefully you have it insured for a sensible value. You might want to start collecting some for sale adverts so you will be able to demonstrate its true value.

Welcome to the Forum Yes they are the same. Be aware that many vehicles are modified in Japan, or even on reaching these shores. Lowering of the vehicles is not uncommon. A problem ? No, unless you want to raise it again as it can be quite expensive.

Are you sure you have an alarm ? I don't think I have. I do have an immobiliser though. Any ideas ? Get a bigger dog !

I suspect not. Pop Top is extra ! Depends which convertor you use. The Pop Top kits are not cheap, and fitting them is quite major; chassis rigidity and strength etc, in an accident / rollover !

I don't have a side conversion. The quality of the conversion is key, but especially if having a pop top. Some conversion companies are far more competent that others. Do your homework.

Some Toyota Dealers will do this work for you (it's a Lexus engine after all). But some are huffy about grey imports, and won't be interested. My local (official) Toyota dealer quoted around £600 (inc VAT) for New Cam Belt and water pump. Not cheap, but genuine Toyota parts and a warranty. Whilst I recognise the Alphard Club view above, as the cam belt won't last forever (and nor will a chain) so it will need to be changed at some point. My Toyota dealer suggested they normally last at least 150km BUT should be replaced every 10 years; whatever the mileage. This may, or may not, be true; but the 1MZ FE engine is a non interference engine. What is a non interference engine ? With an interference engine if the cam belt fails it is almost certain the piston will hit the valves, or vice versa (depending on your viewpoint). This could result in minor damage to valves, and pistons, but is far more likely to result in MAJOR damage and expense. With a non interference engine, assuming there are no 'dropped' valves, the pistons and valves will not come into contact. MAJOR relief. A cam belt failure should not result in 'dropped' 'valves. Over revving abuse might ! If the cam belt fails, will you break down ? Yes. Will you have a wrecked motor ? No. Having said all this, there is no guarantee and cam belt replacement should be considered. In many vehicles the cam belt won't fail, but the tensioner will, and it can be the same with timing chains. Question. Are the timing chains on the 2.4 and 3.5 duplex or simplex ? Makes no difference if the tensioner fails but .....

So, the saga continues, for those not already bored senseless by this. There is a maximum height stipulated for reflectors, in fact there are several depending on other factors. For an Alphard, my interpretation is, 900mm. Reflectors, according to my reading, must carry certain approval marks. The approval mark should incorporate "I" or "IA". So my motorcycle stick on solution seems to be a non starter, although I will check if they carry the necessary markings. The aformentioned dimensional requirements, as supplied by Starider, are correct. So, yet again, I am back to Stariders approach of rear mudflaps with approved reflectors mounted on them.

The garage at the top of Haldon Hill has LPG. It is on the road to Torbay (A380), not Plymouth (A38). .Be careful not to drive by as you come upon the turn quite suddenly.

Welcome to the Forum, You will need a 'Tell Tale' illuminated light within reach, and visible, from the driving position for the rear fog light. Chris.ac is, or has, implemented / integrated his rear fog lights with the stalk control, as above.

Interesting point about the Insurance Inspectors.

Hi Ldrego, I have watched many of your Alphard / Vellfire videos (Cuttothechase), and promoted them on here in this Forum Do you have separate rear fog lights and reflectors ? There is an ongoing debate that many Alphards, on importation, have had their rear reflectors replaced with fog lights that are not reflective. Hence owners are now without rear reflectors, an MOT reuirement. I was wondering if you have had this problem and how you overcame it.

Yes it does help. Thank you. All a bit of a mess, isn't it ! i respect what you have advised, but, according to my reading of the instructions to MOT inspectors, those regulations are not part of the MOT inspection ! It would appear DVLA can't agree with itself ! I note you don't mention any requirement for the height of reflectors. So, I need to reread the DVLA info. Notwithstanding that, the motorcycle reflectors are so small as to be relatively unobtrusive, That is still my favourite solution as they can be positioned anywhere that complies with your advice. When the Inspector that does my cars returns from New Year i will speak with him. THANKS for doing all the research. It is appreciated. Solving this problem is easy, doing it aesthetically is proving more difficult ! As a wild afterthought whilst re reading this; as the size of fog lights is not specified, I could stick these small 20mm reflectors on my fog lights. Eureka ! I just need to ensure the fog lights are not largely obscured. If the 3M tape doesn't adhere well, the superglue will !

Hi Starider, I read the DVLA guidance to MOT inspectors just yesterday. There are no dimensional stipulations re reflector size or positioning other than symmetry across the vehicle and height The Inspectors are not obliged to measure any position just a visual check. If the reflectors have deteriorated, or are loose, that can be a failure. The motorcycle reflector vary in size from 20mm diameter upwards, and some are rectangular.

Try shining a torch on your rear bumper 'reflectors'. My guess is, if they are powered, they are not reflectors. If so, join the group of us trying to find an aesthetically pleasing solution ! This Forum will email you if you follow the thread. Select Follow at the top right of the page. It will also send you a copy if you answer someone, or they answer you, by using the quote function. I don't believe there is a brightness for fog lights anymore, About the same brightness as brake lights appears to be OK.

Hi Chris, Hi Starider, I think I may have found the solution, for me at least. I have been reviewing motorcycle rear reflectors on ebay. Many are made to stick onto rear number plates. There seems to be many that should fit my needs. Starider, Are these motorcycle reflectors OK for an Alphard? Also, when you reply to a topic you can 'drag and drop' a photo file to the area with the paperclip denoted. Or you can choose files. You can also copy a URL and paste it directly into your.

Just read the DVLA requirements again. Two rear reflectors are required. They must be mounted symmetrically on the vehicle at the same height. There does not appear to be a size requirement. Nor does there seem to be a requirement that they are mounted oriented horizontally. Reflective tape is not acceptable. So, methinks, maybe two small ones stuck (permanently) on the rear number plate. I did consider two rear fogs bolted to the outside of the tailgate, but then I still have the fog light feed issue. Before I do anything I will visit my MOT Inspector and discuss the problem with him.

I have not searched yet, but I may consider 'sticking' some reflectors on the tailgate or valance. Not very aesthetic. Of course, after all this trouble the MOT inspector might not have noticed the original reflectors are missing ! My thinking seems to get more outlandish as this saga continues. Can I fit reflectors to the tailgate spoiler somehow ? The search continues.

So if these are placed in the rear reversing lights I can replace the non reflecting fog lights in my bumper with reflectors. (Would this approach be MOT compliant ? I need to reread the requirement on DVLA) But then I need to reroute the fog light feed into the tail gate from the rear valance. I think that will be beyond my capabilities. I am still looking for a easier solution, reflectors on mud flaps is still my easiest option. I have requested a photo from Starider of his most recent implementation. Thanks for your suggestion, Chris, but I think it is a step too far for me. What I need is to find what I already have, but that does have a reflector. Trouble is, no (Alphard type) reflectors seem to have the correct combination !

Hi Nov, Thanks, But are you sure ? I typed in the link, then 2006 Alphard and the page said they would not fit.

Hi Chris, Be careful which reflector led lenses you fit; most are not reflectors. See my recent thread elsewhere. I think this rear reflector issue will be increasing soon as more owners realise they don't have any rear reflectors, me included. I need to understand what you have done check whether I ca achieve the same on my 2006. That is to use one of the rear tail lights as the rear fogs and reinstate the reflectors.

Well done Chris; you came up trumps again. Merry Christmas. TADAMS, I have removed my rear sets but I can tell you, there is very little room between the flat rear seat headrests and the tail gate when the middle seats are flat. Depending on where the mid seats are located on the rails you may even need to remove the headrests (which is very easy). With the rear seats lifted there is a lot of room. With the mid seats removed and the rear seats lifted some owners have managed to get a full size motor cycle in. May I respectfully suggest you visit a dealer and do some measuring. That is what I did. It took me four hours! Measure, check, measure check. Vehicle to vehicle. My dealer was very patient and did make a sale.

Are they H13 sides or headlights ?