GingerMonster

Joseph is definitely still at Topsham Cars. We bought our Alphie from him in June last year and he is the one who organized the replacement radiator last week. He definitely knows his stuff!

No it’s opposite Darts Farm. According to google they do have a place in Honiton too.

Thanks everyone for your hints and tips. Turns out the radiator had a large crack in it. We have had a new rad put in (for anyone around East Devon: at Topsham Cars) but there is a risk we already did some damage to the head gasket. All seems fine at the moment but we shall see….

Nice! And jealous you got some decent bars to fit. We have some third party bars from Japan on our 2007/petrol. They are ex-ski racks that we stripped and painted to try and make look good. Yours look much better!

Hello knowledgable folk. I had a problem with my Alphie a couple of months ago. It overheated on the motorway and steam was coming out of the bonnet. I pulled over immediatly and had to call out the AA. The in-car heating didnt work at this time either. The radiator had burst in several places, leaking out the coolant. Turns out this was due to a faulty thermostat which meant the cooling fans didnt switch on, and the coolant wasnt released around the engine resulting in the water heating up, expanding and bursting its way out of the radiator. I used some liquid metal on the radiator, replaced the thermostat and et viola - good as new. Problem solved, or so I thought... On Thursday, driving home from work, the temperature shot up again. That morning I thought I saw a little steam coming from the bonnet - but it had been raining so (now I realise incorrectly) presumed it was just rain water evaporating. I had not been paying attention to the temperature that morning. On the way home, the temperature shot up. I pulled over (conveniently next to a pub where I sat and had a Guiness waiting for the engine to cool down) and topped up the coolant. Then managed to get back home (fortunately only 10 mins away) with a normal temperature (it nudged its way up and then went back down again?!). The heating was also not working again. I popped over to a garage yesterday and the dude there said the dreaded words: it sounds like the head gasket had gone and it wasnt worth repairing. Queue the sicky feeling in my tummy. I am going to another garage on Monday who are Alphie specialists (where I bought it from) hoping they give a different diagnosis. Has anyone else had an experience like this and can share any advice/recommendations? Could it be the thermostat again, and if so, what would cause it to fail twice?

Thanks so much for the uber helpful information Geralt. The thermostat is changes and Alphie is running smoothly once again. 🙂

WU57 EUB

Can anyone advise what the part number is for Alphie 2007 2.4 2WD coolant thermostat? The internet is giving me two different options. Also any guides on how to fit it would be helpful (currently running without the thermostat as it failed and AA took it out). Thanks!

It’s so you can see how close you are to the kerb.

There is a chap called Steve who does the DAB installations at Topsham car sales (where we bought our Alphie from). He is ever so helpful and I have no doubt he will be able to sort it for you.

Hi there - I’ve had my Alphard insured by Admiral the last 6 or so months. I’ve just had a small conversion (back seats removed, rock n roll bed fitted) and now they’ve asked if it’s a van or car. I said car?! No details under section J of the VC5 doc, and guidance online very grey. What have others insured there’s as please?

Hi there, I’ve rather inconveniently lost one of the screws to fix my roof bars to my 2007 Alphie. Please can anyone tell me the correct spec for the screw so I can replace it? Thanks in advance!