starider

Has anyone tried to fit new Parking Brake shoes to the rear inner parking brakes. It all starts very simple until you have to remove/replace the pins,springs and retaining washers which hold the shoes against the back plate.Each shoe is held against back plate with a pin which looks like a nail with a flattened end.This pin is fitted from the back of the back plate,through a hole in the back plate,through a hole in the shoe,the small[very strong] small coil spring is placed over the protruding pin,pushed on through the slot in the retaining washer and turned through 90 degrees to hold the spring in place, to hold the the bottom of each shoe against the back plate. I have found this virtually impossible. As you push the cap onto the pin against the strong pressure of the spring and try to turn the washer 90 degrees, there is no way to keep the pin in place and it just drops out of the hole[s]. Has anyone had success in reassembling the rear brakes? I have spent hours and all sorts of methods to refit these parts. Thanks.

Hi, interesting conversions. They look good. You must have 2 reflectors otherwise it will fail the next MOT.

Hi, I have just fitted rear fog lights to my 2007 Alphard, When I purchased the vehicle it had been fitted with the obligatory rear fog light bolted to the underside of the rear valance/bumper.As this looked somewhat "naff",I made up two brackets fitted with a fog light in each. These looked reasonably OK but didn't look quite right.Recently I found 2 flush fitting chrome elliptical LED lights. It was quite a long job as holes had to be cut in the bumper. Now they are fitted and working I must admit they look more a part of the rear light clusters and in keeping with the "look". If anyone is interested I will happily post pictures. It is quite involved to fit the lights as measurements need to be accurate before cutting the elliptical holes. Connection is simply by using the existing wires.

You should be able to find the correct sensor with the correct plug. The number for my 2007 was the part number that Picasso gave me. The ones with bare wires are for the sensor after the Cat.The wiring for that is quite long and needs to be connected to the old plug and wiring. I had purchased a new after Cat sensor prior to having the stainless exhaust system, but the wiring was too short and I had to purchase the one with bare ends and fit myself[the new sensor included wire connectors and connected colour to colour using to original plug. I hope this makes sense!!

Hi, I have rear mud flaps, so just bolted a reflector on each.

Agreed, but you will need to fit reflectors.

Hi,sorry to bring up this topic,but I recently found rear fog lights to replace the ones I fitted several years ago. They fit in the rear"bumper" panel,a bit of work needed, but look nicer than hanging on the bottom of the rear bumper. The Ebay number is:- 167207466429. A reasonable price for 2.

Hi, I agree with Picasso, it's unlikely you have done any damage. I agree a new tank is the way forward.Don't run the engine until you have replaced the tank.

Hi, I only removed the cable from the Left hand door.The mechanism still completes the un-locking cycle,then the door can be opened manually. Hope this helps.

Hi, Had mine replaced last year as part of the MOT Test[I had previously purchased the new bushes]. Labour cost sensible as always. Red Post Garage, Bude, Cornwall.

Whoops sorry!! The front sensor should read 89467B. EVERY ONE PLEASE note my mistake!!

Hi, the numbers I used are: Front Sensor[font of engine on heat shield R/H--89465. After cat.[next to mounting bracket]- 89465. Check the length of the wiring. When I received the new sensor the cables were too short.A set of longer wires are available with heat shrink joiners.

Hi, A few months ago someone was trying to be helpful and tried to force the sliding door shut. I managed to close the door to get home. Had a real problem re-opening the door. When eventually opened, the operating cable had "jumped" the pulleys and damaged the whole mechanism and cable. We made the decision not to spend hours of time and large expense to replace all the components,so I removed all the mechanism and cables and we now have a manual sliding door,which to be honest is no problem to use.

Can't remember, but if the battery is disconnected then re-connected aren't there "things" you have to do to get things like door locks and windows etc. to work??

I have found a simple and cheap way of making my speedo compliant.. For just over £12, I purchased a sheet of self adhesive white stick on numbers[you cut from a sheet] and stick on the outside of the speedo head where the white marks are between the KPH numbers[Make sure you use the correct white marks] There are also stickers to add MPH onto the centre of the speedo face. The seller sends an extra set of numbers in case any mistakes are made. EBAY Number286074653037

PS The stalk with wiring was at the time under £15. There are several online fitting videos.

Can't believe how many posts have been written about rear fog lights/switches,since a couple of us began a discussion in October 2021! There still doesn't appear to be a simple ,cheap way of fitting, other than complicated switching/wiring. I still use the dashboard illuminating rocker switch that was fitted after export. In all that time I've only had to use the fogs twice. The best and easiest addition was fitting and connecting a Cruise Control stalk onto the steering column,wiring as described and being able to use the Cruise Control already in place. Read posts from several years ago

Sorry forgot to say, I have the numbers of both sensors if required. Ours is a 2007. 2.4.

Hi, Read somewhere that these cleaners are a waste of time and money. Obviously it's everyones choice, but I seem to remember questioning on Google some time ago and the comments were not very favourable. I just changed the sensor [pre- before the front cat.and about to change the after cat.

Anyone interested in an Alphard model to grace your shelves,one can be purchased from the company below.It has many features as described including opening and sliding doors etc. They only seem to have black in colour although the one I have is in white. They are MSZ Die-cast models. The company who sell these is :- Coolbe

PS. TOOLSTATION product code 17423. Forgot to say you will need a cigarette lighter plug to fit instead of the crocodile clips provided. A Happy Christmas and Prosperous New Year to all Alphardians!

Hi, as your Alphard is a camper. the answer could be what I use,we have a camper conversion which has a 12volt hook up point and a 12v cigarette lighter socket.The socket and the cigarette socket can be used to charge each battery in turn using either socket with a 12v trickle charger[mine were purchased from Toolstation].These can be left on and once the batteries are charged will trickle charge as and when. If you have a 230volt hook up you can use that to charge the leisure battery via the 12v socket I can only speak from my experience as I have,besides the camper,2 tractors,a Quad bike a lawn mower and shredder, each connected to one of these chargers and I haven't had a flat battery since using this method.I am now going to run leads via fuses from the main battery to an extra lighter socket in the dashboard area for trickle charging the main battery. Hope this helps and your time in hospital was successful.

Hi,There has recently be quite a discussion on this very subject.If you look through posts in the last couple of weeks under the same headings as yourself[including my comments], you may find some help.

I recently posted details and pictures of the stainless steel exhaust I had fitted by a National chain of "agents" called Powerflow the work was beautifully done with all components in stainless steel.Have a look at the picture my wife took.I have been in and around the motor trade and eventually became a Secondary School teacher teaching 11 to 18 year olds Technology and Motor Vehicle Studies for many years. I been involved with motor vehicles for over 60years and now spend my retirement restoring classic cars[very slowly now a days].

Sorry forgot to ask, have you got a copy of the driver/owner hand book.In English and very informative, especially when looking for fuses! Look on forum for where to buy from.