starider

Just had a thought, I hadn't seen one advert until 1st April, it has been suggested that Google has altered it's stratergy from 1/4/22 and that's why we are suddenly getting bombarded with adverts. It may be worth checking with the club's web space provider.

The banded adverts have gone, but now appear above the avatars. Latest addition:- VMware Cloud Universal : oldcreameryfurniture.com and Lucky Day Competitions. I will have to get my wife involved as she is the computor wiz. I could also send a screen shot.

These adverts have been appearing in the last few days, and now appear between each post! The common one is eBay advertising PRICE DROP. I find all unsolicited advertising extremely annoying. If I need anything from eBay, I will go to eBay.but I don't want to be forced into being reminded everytime I use the club forums!

A question, why do we suddenly have all the adverts?

Thanks Rojie, will save worrying.

The switch arrived yesterday and the video looks reasonably easy. One question, the method of fitting requires the battery negative terminal to be disconnected and the lights to be discharged, all understood, but when reconnected, is that a simple action or do any "funnies" happen?

As you may have seen in my previous post, once I had located the fuse box the problems were just as you describe.As I stated the fuse remover supplied is totally useless and long nose pliers were the only option. There is a small problem with the fuses being slightly smaller than the normal mini fuses available. If you go to my previous post I located the correct fuse size and listed the Ebay item number. It's OK, the stiff neck soon goes!!

Just a post script, the rear fogs should only come on when headlights are on dipped beam and there must be a warning light which is easily seen by the driver on the dash.

Sure is the longest thread!! It seems to go no and on. I'm trying to get my head round how wiring into the brake light produces an independant light which can still be seen when the brake light comes on. Unless of course the tester checks the rear lighting one circuit at a time.

Hi Ross, We're in Ashwater, Devon, a little village, 5 miles from Holsworthy and 11 miles from Bude. Welcome.

Thanks for all the effort you have all put into my question. I need to watch the video a few times to decide if my general vehicle wiring skills are good enough! Where can the relovent parts required be obtained? Again many thanks. Finally I am not sure which generation my 2007 Alphard is.

No problem, no rush,not holding out much hope! Thanks Rojie,

When the rear light fuse blew and I had located the fuses,the fuse was quite difficult to pull out, but as I had a quantity of mini fuses I quickly found a replacement with the correct value, but it would not push right into place,looking at the one which had blown it was slightly different in that the blades were shorter. I had a troll through ebay and found the same short bladed fuses. I have since ordered the correct size and when next needing to replace fuses in that particular fuse box I'll change the oversize one. So if anyone wants to carry spare fuses the Ebay number is:- 291079597267.

Hi, has anyone fitted Cruise control to their Alphard? If so where did they get the kit from?

Hi Chris, thanks for the info, but I've already wired in the socket and the trailer lights all work fine.

Belay the request for a filter supplier, our motor factor ran one over from Barnstaple. If anyone is interested the one supplied was a purflux cabin filter AHC210 and fitted easily.

Hi, I agree the glovebox and trim are easily removed and replaced, but easy access to the fuses is greatly impared 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,Lets 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.

The manual certainly shows the location of the various fuse boxes and the description of each location, but the sketches are very small and not cleary shown hence the time taken to even see the fuses. The two in the engine compartment are pretty standard and easily seen and checked, but both the ones in the cabin are difficult to find and even more difficult to see clearly, trim must be removed on both the one adjacent to the drivers seat and the one adjacent to the passenger seat. If I hadn't had the Owners Manual I would not of even found the two up under the dash let alone been able to see into them without a mirror. If anyone needs to replace the rear side light fuse,once you have found the rows of fuses you need to change fuse number 13.

At last managed to wire in the caravan/trailer socket. Firstly I worked out how to remove the rear light clusters, as the drivers hand book says:- the two hex.head self tapping bolts need to be removed[down the inner edge of the cluster],there is an open ended clip moulded into the plastic red part of the lens which when the lens is refitted, slides over a mushroom shaped clip on the bodywork to retain the rear of the lens. Pulling the lens rearward is a bit of a struggle but I overcame this by covering the blade off a large-ish flat screwdriver with the blade covered with cloth to prevent damage to the paintwork, then halfway between the top and bottom edge of the red part of the light cluster,very very carefully prised the cluster back and off. When I replaced the clusters I smeared Petroleum jelly around the clip to aid future removal. Make sure when the cluster is pushed back on: the peg on the bottom edge locates in its hole and the clip slides under the mushroom clip. It sound a little complicated, but once you see how it all works there should be no problem. A tip! if like I did you accidentally blow a fuse[in my case the sidelight circuit] be prepared for a major hunt for the fuse box! It took several hours of head scratching to locate the fuses I needed[There are 4 fuse boxes]. When I eventually found the correct f/box, my relief was short lived as it required the removal of the glovebox,the panel that used to hold a flare! I eventually managed ,using a mirror and moving huge bundles of wires to one side and some long nosed pliers to remove fuse 13 and replace it. The little plastic fuse remover supplied is pretty useless as it will not grip the mini fuses adequately. At least all is done and works as it should. Another tip, if you didn't know, all the light bulbs,sides,indicators,brake, are large CAPLESS.

Is'nt it amazing how one topic stirs up a lot of interest and comment,it only goes to show how useful, interesting and informative these club forums are for owners. Keep up the good work!!

Hi, I agree with Rojie, I'm afraid you will only know for certain if the lens is reflective is if you purchase one/pair. As I mentioned in a previous post, the reflector in the replacement rear lamp assembly I got for our Connect van has a reflector behind the red outer lens, but when a headlamp lights up the rear of the van, the fog lamp lens just looks red no bright reflected light at all. It would be great if you do take the plunge and they do reflect, it would remove all the speculation.

Hi, my wife has been researching the various awnings and her research seems to point to the Cayman Low having one of the best reviews We are going to have a chat with our converter in Barnstaple re the awning rail and perhaps getting them to fit a rail, unless they recommend the magnetic option. We're quite used to awnings from the many years of towing caravans, which of course had built in awning rails, . When we owned our VW Camper we bought a drive away awning for it, but it was never used before we sold the VW in favour of the Ford Freda.

Hi Rojie, been trying to find any firm recommendations or definitive comments on "inflatable drive away awnings". We are looking at the Outdoor Revolution Cayman Low. My main concern is the fitting of the awning rail, either a permenant or magnetic rail, any ideas or comments please. Thanks.

Brilliant, thanks for that will have a go on Saturday.

If you need to replace any of the rear light bulbs, the rear light assembly needs to be taken off ,which should be a reasonably easy job. As the operation is mentioned in the drivers handbook,it seems to describe a simple bulb replacement, so will have another look.