John Harrison

Hi. 26" and 16" front. 16" rear.

You can't get them all the time, but the ones they sell in Lidl are good when in stock. I bought 2 sets last time they were in.

They are good quality. I can't remember the make at present, but a good make also much cheaper than car shops!

John Harrison. (2008, 20 series Vellfire).

5 hours ago, pipsyp said:

Ah interesting, probably the toll system then!  It has a little black receiver by the rear view mirror that is definitely part of it, then the other four are like the ones in the photo i posted...two front windscreen, two rear window.  If it wasnt TV related guess it can only be that!

 

I still have the little smartcard box for it in the centre console, guess the work involved to remove it the importers just dont bother?

My son removed mine when he fitted the new stereo head.

He had to take out most of the dashboard, steering wheel, and column covers!

He took out the lot!!!

John Harrison

Hi. My son put a new stereo in my 2008 Vellfire. There were two sensors for Japanese tolls, one for Japanese TV as well as an aerial for the radio. Mine also has aerial wires on the rear side windows which we still use.

The new stereo is only about 2" thick compared to the original 6" deep. The toll equipment has all been taken out, as well as the TV equipment (a box full altogether). The new stereo is digital, and has several new sensors. I have had to leave the old aerials on the windscreen, but the new system works very well.

About the keyless entry. The best advise I can give is have a word with your local TOYOTA dealer; they are very helpful.

Good look

John Harrison. Wallasey, Wirral

On 4/5/2021 at 3:02 PM, david said:

Sometimes my 2005 Alphard just will not start.

Ignition lights everything up and engine cranks and cranks but it just wont fire.

Go back 15 minutes later and she will start in an instant! That's if I haven't flattened the battery!

Have tried touching throttle and not touching throttle doesn't seem to make any difference. Can you still flood engines these days?

Could it be my battery? Even with the battery fully charged could it be lacking some punch?

Any ideas? 

 

I had this on an old Bedford Ambulance. It was the coil!!!

Fitted a new coil, no problems!!!

John Harrison (2008 Vellfire)

21 hours ago, Andy M said:

My rear seats keep falling down won't seem to lock in place any ideas 

Andy. Try buying new clips. You might be able to get them off ebay, or, the more expensive option, any TOYOTA dealer. You might have to order them.

John Harrison. (2008 Vellfire).

23 hours ago, Neil_c said:

Mine comes on if I drive round with the wing mirrors folded in, so could be all sorts of things...

 

Plugging an ecu scanner in should tell you more. On other cars I've used a cheap ODB to USB cable and a laptop but never managed to get it to work with the Alphard. Could be worth trying if you're reasonably IT savvy, or if not get a garage to run a diagnostic.

Most Toyota garages can do a diagnostic on Alphards and Vellfires. My local dealer(Johnstons Toyota, Wallasey) has been very helpful with all my enquiries.

John Harrison (2008 Vellfire), Wallasey, Wirral.

On 4/12/2023 at 5:42 AM, atlanticcobra2023 said:

If it only comes on when the headlights are switched on then it must have something to do with the lighting system, that's why I suggested the fog light.

so its just going to be either a case of illimitation or ignore. Sorry only thing I could suggest 

I have a 2008 Vellfire. Mine has one that is a rear fog light!

John Harrison. WALLASEY

On 3/16/2023 at 2:06 PM, Alasdair said:

Not picking up our Alphard until the 2nd April but wondering what this is circled in the photo.

Hi. I have a 2008 Vellfire with one of these mirrors. From the drivers seat the top half looks, believe it or not, down the front of the car. The bottom half looks down the side and at the kerb 

I doesntblook as though it should work, but it does!

John Harrison

3 hours ago, Mickw said:

Hi have had this too on a few cars ,vinegar mixed with warm water should help with wipers,but if they won't clean a new pair is the only answer even if a new pair got mucky,sometimes certain greases are really stubborn, a mucky screen can wreck new wipers, use house hold window cleaner it's great for internal and external glass of any type, works fine for me,and maybe change that water if it's been in there a while, I get sun glare from the dash to windscreen can't see a thing at times if sun is low,so fitted a dash cover from ebay or amazon a while ago,it's a matt black material shaped for dash ,doesn't reflect sun so helps keep the temperature down too on hot days,works a treat for me,hope this helps,if it happend suddenly like you said it may even be the lamination in the windscreen that has failed,really shouldn'thappen, if it won't come clear with glass cleaner take it down to your local car windscreen replacement centre they'll give you an answere definitely, my wife works for a windscreen replacement company she says if it needs replacing it will need ordering,an import car probably won't be in stock anyway in uk new,so could take 6 weeks to come from Japan, pilkingtons glass I believe make replacement glass that supplies industry but probably not make this as an import,also your insurance may not cover this as it is a fault not a crack or chip ,so comes under ware n tair, hope this helps ,bit long n windy but trying to cover all. 

In the very hot summer kast year my dash top on my 2008 Vellfire started getting sticky so I bought a dash cover.....Brilliant!!! Stops the dash getting too hot and also stops glare....Recommended!!!

John Harrison. Wallasey. Merseyside.

Hi. Ebay, or if all else fails (more expensive) Any Toyota dealer can get spares for them, usually within a couple of days to a week.

If they have to order from Japan, then it can take 2-3 weeks.

John Harrison. Wallasey, Wirral.

(2008 Velfire owner)

On 1/25/2023 at 10:40 AM, Maria J said:

I accidentally reversed into my own bin (which I'd just put in place) and broke the red plastic on one of my rear lights. Not a good morning 🤪Does anybody know of a good place to get spares?
Thank you!

0

5 hours ago, philip klein said:

Hi, new to forum,can anyone recommend an awning rail for my Alphard.Or a way to fix a drive away awning.Also can someone recomend a garage for servicing etc,.I live in Hainault Essex.Thank you.

Most Toyota Garages will service them as engines are in other Toyota cars that are sold here.

A lot of clips & parts on my Vellfire can be found on a Yaris!

Plugs filters etc can be ordered at Toyota dealers and usually arrive in a couple of days. The only bad thing is the service prices! I suppose they are similar to a lot of dealers but the bigger engines cost more to service. 

Best find a local garage that services/sells Toyotas.

Hope this is a helpful?

John Harrison. Wallasey, Wirral.

Sounds like it may be a faulty relay???

Quiet running ones!!!

Hi. Perhaps a small generator would be better. You can get small quit running ones for a reasonable price?

On 10/9/2022 at 6:50 AM, robert jackson said:

Hi can anyone help i put my key in turn it everything lights up but wont start nothing no clicks or anything it happened the other day i sat and just kept turning eventually it started any ideas to the problem just went out this morning again it took about 5 turns of the key to fire up

Hi. This has happened to me once or twice. I think it may be the switch on the gear selector.

If you press the release button next to the lever, slide it into Drive, then back to park and it should start ok.

On my Vellfire, the switch seems to stick sometimes. Mine has only done it twice though.

Possibly, before bought,they are sometimes stored in a yard, open to weather, and don't move for weeks on end. Could just be dirty contacts???

Good luck

John Harrison.Wallasey

The only trouble with the foam option is that once used, the tyre cannot be used again; so I have been told.

John H

On 10/4/2022 at 3:30 PM, Dick Powell said:

Hi, I have a 2004 3.0 Alphard with a gas conversion. 

I am about to fit a rear kitchen conversion. 

Has anyone any ideas on the best place to store the spare wheel. I have a towbar fitted, does anyone know of any carrier which can attach to this? 

Any ideas & suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

Just a thought. Possibly on the front or rear of your van?

I have seen American campers with a cover over the wheel and bolted onto a frame on the Rad grill frame or the bonnet, or on the back door. Would have to fit stronger struts or electric option though?

I think rad grill seems the best option though.

On 10/4/2022 at 3:30 PM, Dick Powell said:

Hi, I have a 2004 3.0 Alphard with a gas conversion. 

I am about to fit a rear kitchen conversion. 

Has anyone any ideas on the best place to store the spare wheel. I have a towbar fitted, does anyone know of any carrier which can attach to this? 

Any ideas & suggestions would be greatly appreciated. 

Hi. What do you need to retro fit my 2008 Vellfire 2.4G.

I believe most of the wiring is already in the wiring harness, so is it just the door motor and switch and the dash panel switch?

Thanks.

John Harrison. Wallasey, Merseyside.

Hi. What do you need to retro fit my 2008 Vellfire 2.4G.

I believe most of the wiring is already in the wiring harness, so is it just the door motor and switch and the dash panel switch?

Thanks.

John Harrison. Wallasey, Merseyside.

Hi. If there are any Aphard/Vellfire owners who are interested in other vehicles of different types, then the WIRRAL BUS & TRAM SHOW in Birkenhead is for you.

Birkenhead was the first town in Europe with trams, or horse drawn 'Street Cars' as they were then.

Although not stated in the name, there are all sorts of other vehicles there as well, including, cars, of all sorts, military vehicles, commercial vehicles, etc. There will be all sorts of stands from bric-a-brac, 2nd-hand, model trams and trains, model cars, food stalls, etc (usually in the museum buildings).

There are usually displays/groups all the way, down either side of the Birkenhead tramway and at Wooside.

The permanent model railway 'Mostyn Junction' (ex Chester Model Railway Society layout) will be in operation, as well as several vintage trams and buses giving rides. (Trams are £2 Adults, £1 Concessions. Buses are donations only) Trams run from Shore Rd to Wirral Transport Museum at Taylor Street. Buses drive round some of the old Birkenhead, and Wallasey Corporations routes.

There is a pub opposite the museum and at Shore Rd there is Anglinas Cafe and Woodside Ferry Terminal for the famous Ferry Across the Mersey.

If enough Alph's and Vell's turn up, then a position for them may by found, otherwise we might be able to arrange a procession sometime through the day?

The event is on the 1st Sunday of October every year from 10.00am until 16.00pm (this year it's the 2nd October!)

For more details please email me John Harrison at:

jbhtrams@hotmail.com

I will be there, but not sure what I will be doing yet (Could be on a tram, bus, or in the museum. Most volunteers know me, so if you need me, as one of them?

I hope some of you turn up; it will be well worth it

Sorry, they are 215/60R 17 96H, which is says in my Vellfire book,  so right for the car.

They work well 😁😁😁

Hi again. They are actually 17" rims with 55 low profile tyres.The suspension is perfect; not to hard, but not soft enough to wallow!

Went to my brothers in Wales yesterday and covered 114 miles.

Fitted a cruise control stalk a few weeks ago and as long as traffic is constant speed this makes a hell of a difference to the fuel consumption. Not checked today (filling up later) but had 7 people in the car and it ran beautifully!

Probably getting less mpg than normal, as we had cases in as well, but recon it was about 24-25mpg.

The suspension was down a little bit at the back, (a few larger people) but was extremely comfortable for all.

There were speed bumps in several places, but even with a load on, never caught one!!!

On the way back, with just myself and Erica, we went the scenic way back from Abergele to Wallasey.  We did between 40 to 60 mph all the way (67-68 on the M53; maximum speed of the cruise control!). On the windy roads it was brilliant; even when I took a tight bend too fast at 40mph. It leaned over a bit, but stuck to the road like glue!!!

Very pleased. It actually looks lower than it is. It is 61/2" from the road and only scraped one speed bump since I had it. I just have to take them a (little) bit slower. I have to watch when I gave to park nose in to a curb. It has to be standard curb height, also if someone opens the side doors wide and get in heavely; the door bottom edge will ground! Other than that, no problems with the height!

Would thoroughly recommend these vans to anybody (and do!!) 

John H

On 6/12/2022 at 9:41 PM, Oddcouple said:

Lush van by the way, we’re hitting the ferry on 04th July for our conversion!

Good luck. They are great vehicles and deserve everything you can put into them!

John Harrison. Wallasey.

Just found out my Vellfire details from the free CarVXjp source.

According them mine is a

Vellfire 2.4Z FF.

Thanks for everybody's help!

John Harrison. Wallasey Merseyside.