Alphie

Yes, you're right that's where my batteries are too. No i haven't boosted the charge voltage & it seems to cope with 13.9, though i suspect it is not reaching full charge. I have also installed a solar panel so this also contributes & through a solar controller (they are both LiFepo's & manually linked most of the time).

I have 2003 hybrid (camper conversion) & have changed the 'ignition' battery twice in 5 years 1st with a cheap lead acid, now for the last year with a LiFepo4 & have had no problems. Remember, as has been said by others in threads on this topic - this battery on the hybrid does not do the engine cranking (this is done by the main hybrid battery) it merely supplies power to the computer(s). I don't have a battery temp sensor. Maybe it was removed or overridden by the importer/camper converter. My battery is mounted under the drivers seat which may not be the manufactures original location. To be clear I am not confusing this (ignition/vehicle) battery with the leisure battery.

Are they perhaps running all the time & you just notice when you turn off & get out? looks like temp sensor fault or wiring short as someone has said then.

Many thanks for sharing 🙂

Ok. The Prins button only displays the gas level as far as I know (5 greens then a red & finally beeping when the gas runs out), so maybe worth just topping up the VSF reservoir just to check. Also maybe the sensor has developed a fault. If your van was converted by Campers Scotland I suspect it is identical to mine. Do you know where the VSF low level warning light has been put on your van, if not this light. I can only suggest giving them a call just to confirm its whereabouts.

Do you have an LPG conversion only that is where my valve saver fluid level warning light is & it looks just like that.

Mine is on a swivel adaptor plate but is just bolted front and back of the rails (4 bolts). Then there may be a cable for seatbelt warning/seat motors if you have them, this has a plug/socket.

Have you spotted this one a little way north of you https://www.whocanfixmycar.com/garage/cambridge-hybrid-vehicle-specialists, might be able to provide a 2nd opinion/confirmation of the fault if nothing else. This is the battery guy in Exeter I believe https://www.hybridrepairservice.co.uk/ all said haven't needed to call on either yet. Good luck

Do you mean it wont move off when in drive? because I don't think they do respond to the throttle like a normal car when in neutral ie you can't rev the engine when in park/neutral.

It seems to have original looking plain (single) coil springs (i don't know what 'coil overs' are however) and I know it hasn't been lowered since import and conversion (4 years ago). I've always just accepted that its down to the extra weight of conversion but now I've seen other camper versions I can see there is a difference. thanks for your reply Lee.

Hi. The ride height / ground clearance of my conversion (with no extra load added) has always been quite poor, causing regular grounding in camping fields. I have noticed (at the club meet) that it sits a good inch or two lower than most other vans. My question is, has anyone sought to improve a situation like this with new or uprated rear springs? Thanks Chris.

Probs depends on who did the conversion. Silly question perhaps, but are you sure it does not drain directly to the floor & if you need to collect it you put collector tank under the vehicle. Mine is like this & is a Campervan Co conversion. My friend has a Wellhouse conversion which does have a built in collector tank beneath the floor in the sink are I think.

Hi Helen, I had a new key (Central locking & engine immobiliser) made a couple of weeks ago by Martyn https://www.autolockmaster.co.uk/toyota-alphard/, in my case he was able to copy the one I still had. He seemed incredibly resourceful & knowledgeable and told me he could if necessary have started from scratch, however it would have been a much bigger job. Though he may be based in Worcester, I met him in Gloucester & he advertises a nationwide service. Best of luck, Chris

Mark, can I just check that you are talking about the surging under load issue, which on the face of it might seem to be a CVT problem, and that this has been solved by replacing the MAF sensor. I ask because I too am starting to notice this uneven drive when the vehicle is heavily loaded and accelerating/climbing. I had though it was some sort of slippage in the drive train. So far it has not raised any fault codes. Thanks Chris

Have you tried this guy, he was recommended to me by someone in the club who had used him & he was lined up to attend the club meet last year, but had to withdraw just before the event. https://www.autolockmaster.co.uk/toyota-alphard/

Hi Paul, I'm running a 2003 Hybrid and changed the Ignition battery (just provides ancillary supplies but not cranking) about 6 months ago, I just used a cheap lead acid (LP063 Lucas Premium Car Battery 12V 44Ah) as its duty is very limited & so far its all good. Maybe I'm talking about the wrong battery but (apart from the Leisure battery on my camper conversion) I'm not aware of any others on the vehicle. I do agree however that the battery does seem to loose charge over time on this vehicle (partly why I changed this one), that said, the new one hasn't let me down yet and sometimes it stands for 2 or 3 weeks between runs. The charge voltage is 13.8 when the engine is 'on'.

Sorry, being reverse lamp bulbs they will be 16W not 5W (as in tail) ie W16W, but check what you take out before you buy.

Hi, I changed a tail light bulb on my 2003 recently. You might find these pictures useful for location of trim buttons, there are also 2 bolts in the handle & 2 small screws in the panel left & right just below the window (highlighted). Also highlighted what I think will be the reversing lamps, they are probably glass wedge bulbs (W5W), the holders just twist out. Cheers, Chris

Great idea, many thanks for the hard work Steve (and others I'm sure). It was great to meet & talk to owners & see such a range of different models. Just waiting for the next one 🙂

Hi Paul, thanks for doing this. I will definitely have a key for my 2003 Hybrid, it has just 2 buttons.

Thanks Jordan, that's good to know. It's the fact that when the AC is off it idles perfectly and gives the charging/engine running display but no displays & poor idle when AC selected. It normally runs on LPG so I'll try it on petrol & also mention it at the next service.

Many thanks John31, I hadn't realised quite how local he was to me & the recommendation is very helpful. Ill give him a call independently unless anyone else thinks its a good idea to sound him out for attending the meet.

Hi, just wondering if anyone has noticed that when the aircon is selected, the engine runs when the car is stationary. The graphic display shows that the engine is stopped but it is running very erratically/lumpy sometimes almost stalling. Do we think this is normal, I appreciate that the aircon compressor is electrically driven so presents a significant battery load and in turn a need for the engine to start periodically but I'm concerned that this running is not displayed on the graphic and that it is so erratic. Without the aircon selected normal idle/ engine start/stop is fine. Thanks

Hi, Somebody recommended "a garage in Exeter" to me recently, I've had a look and think it may be this one https://www.hybridrepairservices.co.uk/contact , however I haven't had a need to check them out yet. Regards Chris, (2003 Hybrid)

Hi, I was wondering whether we should sound out someone who does duplicate remote keys to come along. I'm guessing, like me some people only have the one key. I have a non remote key with immobiliser chip that opens and starts the vehicle but would feel more secure if I had a spare remote key. I imagine if you don't have a remote key it could be very expensive to start from scratch. I did once get hold of someone who produced keys but he wanted to set up a meet in a service station & so far I haven't got around to it. [This is the Guy I was thinking of & he just happens to be very local - https://www.autolockmaster.co.uk/toyota-alphard/]