Rojie

Magnum Motors of Farnborough have recently put up a video on youtube featuring a 2007 2.4 litre Alphard. In the commentary the host mentions that (not a quote) there should be no problems with the new fuel (E10).

I believe this unit can be bought from the UK; hence no import charges and taxes (although I have a vague recollection goods from Japan are tariff free due t some trade agreement). An all in price. The unit seems to have all the features I would like, and MORE. A must for me is the rear camera; I'm not too fussy about the steering wheel controls. I would prefer to keep my front cameras too. I am not a mobile phone person and suspect I need one to operate this properly. Maybe of interest to people, I understand the EU is about to force all mobile phone suppliers (manufacturers) to use the same charging connector. Apple users please note.

I am so glad you found the correct fuse box. I found the video helpful in so much as it showed me how to remove the lower glovebox. My car is a later model than yours, and I have twin rear fog lights installed in the rear valance in place of the standard reflectors. I suggest you check that both your rear lights are actually lights, and that the non functional one is not just a reflector. If you have the correct part number; Toyota Direct may be able to help you with the led. They may, even have it in stock. Similarly, if you have the part number (from the epc) any Toyota dealer may help you out. Good luck, nice to hear you are making progress. Well done.

Cannot find these fasteners on any epc sheet. They should be on every sheet as all Alphards have seat runners. What model do you have? MNH, ANH, etc. trim level AS AX MS etc. Do you know whether they are screw fit or push and twist ?

OK, we are making (slow) progress ! I found the clips on for my MH10 on the epc. 58595 Ivory. You need grey screws. The carpet page. No sign of the screw which is probably a "standard" Toyota part. I'll keep checking. Bfn

I think you are talking about the plastic screws that hold the plastic caps in place at the end of each seat rail. They have a flat blade screw head. About a cm in diameter (with measuring). Am I correct. I could not find any part numbers in the epc ! I will check with my friend, but don't hold your breath; he tends to throw out all the smaller parts as otherwise he will lose them anyway. I'll bet they are a standard metric size (although the finish won't be). Does anyone reading this know the size ?

Yet another helpful video. reassuring too. Firstly let me say I have watched a lot of videos by this guy; I rate him VERY highly. Secondly, unfortunately the study was done in 1981. (I previously published a study by NREL that looked at a Camry 1MZ 2FE as fitted to the 3 litre V6 Alphards (until the mk 2 version in 2008). The NREL study was much more recent (late 90's from memory). In exploring the E10 issues there seem to be two main concerns. Does E10 damage your engine ? Does E10 damage your fuel system ? Despite reading many differing opinions, and I am not asserting any of them are wrong, I have not seen any empirical evidence, yet, that E10 is damaging to non direct fuel injected vehicles. The 2002 to 2008 1mz FE engine is multi point fuel injected. The NREL study shows photos of the injectors. Therefore, we all seem to be faced with the decision to run E10 (and risk it) or run E5 and pay (in my area) a 10 percent premium to minimise the risks of E10 ; IF there are any. What am I going to do ? I will run E5 initially. WHY ? Because our Alphies are all imports, and not officially supported by Toyota UK, there are some questions about part availability. With all due respect to Murphy, he states that the one part I would need (especially in the fuel line) would not, imho, be easily or cheaply available. A year is a long time to wait, especially if your Alphie is your daily runner, mine isn't. Trust to our judgement, and good luck to us all.

Was the video below helpful ? According to my Owners Manual, it's the wrong vehicle and not the correct fusebox, but it does appear to be in the right position.

You can check out the Will They Fit website (by Driftworks) A VERY useful site for anyone contemplating wheel / tyre changes.

Hi again, I have written to the guy requesting wheel sizes and offsets. With those you can get under the car and make some measurements, if necessary! Don't worry, I will not be bidding against you. I guess you won't be visiting Elgin for a trial fit either; quite a round trip. The description says the rears have a nice concave shape. If the wheel sizes are the same, more or less concave suggests different wheel offsets. Which also (may) imply the wheels will not allow proper tyre wear rotation; if you care (I don't rotate for tyre wear; avoids replacing all tyres at the same time). BE CAREFUL.

Ok so (Alphie) standard tyre sizes are : 205 65 16 on a 6.5 JJ wheel with 39mm offset, or 225 55 17 on a 7 JJ wheel with 45mm offset PCD 114.3mm If the offsets are changed the wheel will move inward or outward relative to the car; known as "poke". Often a desirable effect until the clearances become critical while the suspension is under maximum deflection. With 35 profile tyres (and the same tyre pressures) your ride will harden considerably and your ride height will change too. I'll run the numbers and write again but really need those wheel sizes ( I assume front and back are different from what you said.

What size are the wheels ? 245 35 19 is the tyre size, not the wheel size. They will lower the car a little too. You need to know what size the wheel is. You need the J number of the new wheels AND the offset. Often marked on the inside of the wheel. Check that all five wheels have the same offset, or you will (may) be restricted on what wheels can be fitted to front and back. Don't assume the wheel clearances are the same front and back. What we do know is that a standard Alphie fitted with standard Alphie wheels and tyres there are no clearance issues. I'll check what the standard Alphard offset is, and let you know. If they are so nice, why are they being sold ? Can you trial fit them before you buy them. Make sure the tyres are not Run Flats.

Thanks wjvh. This has helped me too. I am more interested in the VTR input. I am hoping to connect a DVB T2 tuner to the HDD unit to get some TV for when parked up. I don't have a roof screen, but may get one. I am planning a proper TV as part of a rear conversion.

Looks like an auxiliary light; but is it attached to the sun roof glass ?

If the reversing camera is not aftermarket it won't be for that as that wiring is part of the tailgate wiring harness. I cannot believe Toyota would leave unbound wiring like that. I suppose it could be 'parallel' wiring if there was a problem with the original wiring.

There are some interesting facts emerging about this fuel debate. I strongly advise any Alphie users to watch the videos on youtube by "cuttothechase" regarding his ODB data. Among other things it does explain why some Alphies are (initially) running quite rough on E10. He advocates using E5; so watch his videos to find out why !

Interesting. BUT The Alphard V6 1MZ FE engine uses multipoint fuel injection, not direct injection !

It has just occurred to me that the VTR may be an output for the middle seat passengers, not an input !

Have you tried Toyota Direct ?

Japan quit Analogue TV slightly before the UK. (2011) Are you sure Naeem showed you English TV on your van; and not another van you considered. I ask because my reading on the DVB situation in Japan and the UK is getting VERY deep and VERY heavy ! It seems that Japan (ISDB) and the UK (DVB T2) use different systems (oh what a surprise). However, I have not established whether they are incompatible or not. Less than £100 for a DVB T2 tuner is looking more a 'bargain' the more I read. I do hope you discover your HDD unit is capable of providing UK Digital TV.

So, where do we go from here? I thought I'd do some research on this problem we both face, and, The key question seems to be Is the TV system in the early Alphards (until 2008) Analogue ? If it is we are in trouble ! The UK does not transmit any Analogue TV any more as it was switched off no later than October 2012 ! My guess is that the Alphard system is Analogue but I hope to discover I'm wrong. More reading needed ! I ; I'll try and discover when Japan went digital. Questions ? Will the head unit receive digital signals ? If so, are the UK frequencies covered ? Looks to me as though the DVB T2 route will be the cheapest / quickest route IF IT WORKS .

I managed to get the head unit to display the TV. I have no idea how !! Good news is there is capacity for 62 channels. Bad news is I have not yet discovered how to the tune in any yet ! I need to test that VTR input !!

Eschbacher diesel heater, maybe dometic/weaco too. Diesel heater needs separate small tank as no Alphards are diesel.

Grey ? OK. How many ? Just the screws or the rail end caps too ? I'll be speaking with my (potential) source on Tuesday Did you try Toyota Direct ? Do you have the parts numbers from the epc ? I can't find them !

I have only managed to get one UK radio station, and that is quite weak; but then I live in the 'sticks'. I don't have a frequency expander. I have not researched it yet, but the DVB TV tuner may bring me loads of radio stations. Like you, apart from the forced learning of Japanese, I am finding the 'voyage of discovery' very enjoyable. I am trying to discover whether I have radar or not. I have two sets of 'lights' in the lower front spoiler either side of the number plate. They are probably just running lights. I do not have the speedo bezel that goes with the radar, but then my speedo bezel has been changed to mph. My rear conversion will be done by a specialist. I have been waiting weeks for the special order maple veneered panels. Unfortunately, something went wrong and the wrong panels were ordered so I had to wait twice the normal leadtime. They were due yesterday. Birch ply is becoming quite difficult to obtain especially because of the recent upsurge in Alphard sales and further imports. Am looking forward to your video. Thanks.