Rojie

Hi Steve, Welcome to the Forum.

Try eightseater.blog.com for exceptional info on the HDD unit.

Hello Theresa, Welcome to the Forum. Good to hear you are enjoying your Alpharding

I doubt it is a coolant issue, more like air in it. However, with winter approaching rebalancing the antifreeze is always a good plan.

Hello, Welcome home, safe and sound. Thanks for all your updates, not to forget the photos. I am hoping, when you get settled back into your usual routine, you can produce a synopsis for us all. I hope, if you are able, you can specify where your fuelling stations were. I feel sure this would benefit other members planning, or hoping, to make the same trip.

Hello Alan, I expect Picasso may answer this for you. Previously he has advised this can be air in the system. If it is, he is also able to provide a process to fill it properly. I feel sure the process is already on here; so if he doesn't reply you need to search the Forum thoroughly. Search box is on your home page.

Hello Frank, The real issue here is safety. Seats are crash tested in the location they are designed for; the seat chassis, I believe is part of the testing. I don't believe the middle seat will fit. I have an early swivel middle seat, don't ask why, and it is totally different to the Captains seat fitted to my facelifted Gen 1. Try North Star, IOW, for the seat swivel plate; although they may only fit, rather than supply. They are expensive. Some other companies offer universal swivel plates. Be cautious, it is my opinion that most are intended for VWs.

I now have several sets of Master keys, thanks to my auto lock smith. I don't mess with any of them. How my vendor managed to conceal the poor key from me I don't know; but there were no innards, nothing. Imagine my surprise when it worked, albeit with a smart remote attached for opening doors and the tail gate. The immobiliser chip is in the key blank. I bought mine from the internet, about £14. It MUST have the 4D67 chip in it. Your machine appears to be an early Gen 1; mine is the later Gen 1. My keys look similar to yours; but not identical. I'll send you a photo of my skeletal key ! The other recent thread that is on this subject has a photo of my complete key, the correct one from the internet.

As Chris.ac states, there are more than 1 ECU involved. It is the immobiliser bit that is tricky. I have a key without any buttons or innards, the 4D67 chip is included in the key blank (if you get the correct one) has been matched to the car. It starts the car; without ANY issues with the car. This is the key I use daily with the attached remote smart key. Timpsons did cut my key, but I had the car there to ensure the key fitted the ignition but It didn't start the car. Timpsons did not programme the immobiliser chip. I had to find an Auto Locksmith willing, and able, to do that part.

Hi Kevan, I don't have a tail gate mirror, and I understand they can be a real pig to remove ! In my limited experience of the tail gate mirror tends to be fitted to older vehicles, therefore they may be available from recyclers. I think you are the first person that I have come across that admits to using the tiny wing mounted mirror. Toyotaplhard.epc.com is the site to find your OEM parts. Or https://toyota.epc-data.com/alphard/ There is a good link to Amayama who can supply them. If you send your VIN to Picasso he will probably supply you with the correct part numbers

As Chris.ac states, there are more than 1 ECU involved. It is the immobiliser bit that is tricky. I have a key without any buttons or innards, the 4D67 chip is included in the key blank (if you get the correct one) has been matched to the car. It starts the car; without ANY issues with the car. This is the key I use daily with the attached remote smart key. Timpsons did cut my key, but I had the car there to ensure the key fitted the ignition but It didn't start the car. Timpsons did not programme the immobiliser chip. I had to find an Auto Locksmith willing, and able, to do that part.

Hello Alex, I travelled to Spain and back frequently for 15 years however not in my camper. At the time I took insurance from Saga. They were the only company that offered motor insurance for multiple visits, each of unlimited duration. The only condition was that my permanent residence was in the UK. Whether they offer it now, I don't know, as that time the UK was part of the EU !

Hi Kevan, Welcome to the Forum. Do you mean the wing mirrors, and rear view mirror; a tail gate mirror, or the small mirror on the front wing. Toyotalphardepc.com will get you the correct part numbers for OEM replacement parts.

Try Japanese MPV Specialists in Uxbridge. I believe they have an on site facility. Ask for Naeem, and mention the Alphard Club.

How much are you paying for insurance ? There is an Insurance Company thread on here, if you think you are paying too much. £350 as a ball park, a bit more for conversions.

Hello Will, Welcome to the Forum, I can't help you with the cover (you might try Fuel Lagoon) but I can help you with the dimensions. I think your machine is 4.84m long, and 1.925 high; and 1.805 high. Proceed with caution, good luck.

Hi Ramsey, Welcome to the Forum

If you search through Chris.ac, and there are a lot of threads from Chris, you should be able to identify which sockets do what on the rear of your head unit (depending on which one you have).

Hi Frank, My guess is almost certainly not. Think twice before attempting this modification. I doubt the single middle will match the front seat fixing points. If if they do, I would be very concerned about lack of crash tests, etc. Even if they do fit, your Insurance company may be very unhappy. What you can do is to get a mechanism that allows the front seat to swivel; if that helps. Be warned, though, they are not cheap. They also raise the front seat which may be a problem for tall passengers. Measure carefully. Unless the middle seat fit is exact, including the seat belt attachment points., you may be endangering your front seat passenger in an accident. Could you not not buy a correct front Captains seat (for your model) from a breakers / spare parts company ? I have a 2006 model, seven seater, with a Captains seat for the passenger; so they are available. The middle seats are both Captains too. (You cannot fit two Captains seats in your van as the seat rails are different (to accomodate the 'double' seat). Be cautious, be safe.

We are all glad you joined too.

Hi Andrew, I got the photo open. Thanks. Looks fine. Unfortunately, that is not the unit I have. As my van is the facelifted version I expect I have a later model HDD unit. Best I can offer is eightseater.blog.com I used that website to set up my Android phone, and I know there was an Apple option. As a postscript, the Gen 1 units (i am informed) cannot be changed to English; so that is not an avenue to pursue.

Hi Katt, I don't have a pop top. Just ideas. Try your local bed shop for a ladder for a bunk bed. Check it is suitable of course Or your nearest pop top installer.

Hi Mike, How far do they open ? I am wondering if this is some safety feature. I'll check mine asap; and let you know.

I am so sorry to hear your wife is (was) unwell. I sincerely wish her a speedy and complete recovery.

I'll be there.