PalePisces90

Thank you for taking the time to reply and providing the amount of detailed information that you have.

😀

Further to my earlier post, I have rooted around on the forum and found the following link:

http://www.jltechno.com/en/alignment_specs.php?brand=Toyota&ModelName=Alphard/Vellfire:H10 Series:MNH15W&ModelID=610366

This looks to be the info I am after but would just like some reassurance from others in the know if possible, please.

If this is right, I can refer this info to my local garage and see what they say.

Thanks again.

Afternoon everyone!

Just had 4 new tyres fitted to my 2007 AWD Alphard and now it needs to be re-tracked.

Unfortunately, the place which previously carried out a re-alignment of the front wheels only, are now saying that they do not have sufficient info to carry out full four wheel tracking on this particular vehicle.  It's an MNH15W (model code).

Does anybody know of somewhere relatively close to Cheltenham where I can get this carried out, please?

Just an added wrinkle on top,  my car is lowered and has trouble getting onto some garage ramps. Ideally it needs one the ground level turntable types, but any recommendations are welcome and I can make inquiries.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Are the good folks from Autojapspares going to be there this time?

I am after a pair of tie rod ends for the suspension on my 2007 Alphard (had trouble getting the right ones).

3 hours ago, Torq2u said:

I'm going to stop at the Southbound Services about 9.30.

If I remember correctly we all set off at about 10.00. So I'll either meet folk there or make it a convoy of a single van 😁

Me too! The convoy last year was great fun!

Hope to see yourself (and others) at M40 southbound services tomorrow circa 9-9.30am.

On 4/21/2023 at 12:22 PM, Picasso said:

Its a quick drain valve the idea is you press the lever to drain the sump with out needing a spanner 

Problem was it was steadily draining all the time!

Problem solved!

It was indeed a decidedly non-standard sump plug, featuring a bleed tap/nipple, that was letting engine oil slip through (to the tune of a couple of litres over 3.5 months!)

It appeared to have been fitted without any sort of washer, but to be safe it has now been replaced with a standard factory approved example and the oil brimmed up!

Pictures enclosed for those curious. The aftermarket plug is marked with the maker's name 'Fumoto'.

Hello all!

Have noticed a pooling of oil/lubricants on my driveway where my Alphard (2007 4wd) is normally parked.

Further investigation under the vehicle seems to show the source of the leak as indicated in attached pictures. Is this engine or gearbox/transmission oil? A mechanical ignoramus here!! 

Thank you in advance for your help!

Sorry to hear that you still have not received your cover, Nigel.

When/if it does appear, it would be great to get your feedback on the product.

I hope it is worth the wait!

Happy new year everyone!

Some of the miserable weather that wracked the UK at the tail end of 2022, the harsh frosts in particular, prompted me to enter the market for a car cover for my Alphard (dwelling as it does on the driveway due to the 'garage' being full of assorted tat!)

I reviewed a number of rather expensive options at the following links:

I then trawled the Alphard club forums here, noting that one user had an unhappy customer service experience with Autocovers.co.uk, but after finding no recommendations for products on any of the above sites, I went for a much more affordable option from the link below:

https://gbr.grandado.com/products/cawanerl-outdoor-car-cover-anti-uv-sun-shade-rain-snow-scratch-protector-mpv-cover-windproof-for-toyota-alphard-2002?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIzOnW-pHe-wIVh7TtCh19bgEXEAQYBCABEgKKp_D_BwE

The manufacturer lists the specification as the following:

• Special Features: Dustproof, Anti-UV, All Weather Suitable
• Origin: CN(Origin)
• Material Type: Polyester Taffeta
• Item Width: 2m
• Item Weight: 1.5kg
• Item Type: Car Covers
• Item Length: 5.2m
• Item Height: 1.9m
• Car Model: For Toyota Alphard 2002
• Brand Name: cawanerl

It is also described as '95% waterproof'.

The product is manufactured and dispatched from China ( my example took approx 30 days to arrive from point of order.)

I attach some images below for others' reference. Having fitted the cover for the first time I have a few observations and minor criticisms:

• The cover has one zip to allow front door access but it was clearly designed for a left-hand drive vehicle, so it is on the passenger side!
• Perhaps reflecting its price, this cover does not have the multi-layer quilted padding that might protect the bodywork from damage caused by modest wind-borne debris (branches, smaller roof tiles etc). 
• The cover I received did not have the 'wind-proof buckle' fixing shown in the website images, though the elastic suspended hooks present on my example are perfectly serviceable in securing the cover on all four wheels.
• It also required the addition of short bungees, one either side of the vehicle, to anchor the cover amid-ships to underneath the chassis (the cover does have small metal rings on either side to facilitate this as pictured below).   
• The overall fit is pretty good and the elasticated elements around the 'hem' really help secure the cover under the front & rear bumpers. 

I hope this post is useful to others interested in purchasing car covers and that it will be the basis of a discussion whereby other members can put forward their own experiences/product recommendations.

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for the response!

I purchased a 2007 3.0 4WD/AWD Alphie in August this year.

Thoroughly enjoying the car so far but despite it being relatively low mileage (approx 37000 miles) I am planning to have a comprehensive service carried out. 

I appreciate that there are additional aspects of maintenance to consider with a 4WD compared to a 2WD model. Though I am aware of certain quirks such as the heightened importance of monitoring relative tyre wear across the four wheels, I am essentially approaching this from a mechanically ignorant perspective and would appreciate any advice/product recommendations from fellow members!

In particular, I was after advice/thoughts on the the drive-train elements and their separate lubrication. How frequently should this be drained/re-oiled?   

Thank you in advance for your help.

I

On 9/23/2022 at 12:29 PM, Paul D said:

Hi all, I've just had a chat with Martyn at Autolock and he will attend the meet next Sunday if he can get 5 people who want additional Alphard keys. Price is £140 for an ignition switch type or £160 for proximity type. If more than 5 people buy then he can do a bit cheaper.

Please reply to me here if you want a key and I'll let him know if sufficient business for him to attend. Thanks all.

I would definitely be interested in one of these keys for a 2007 Alphard.

I have one of the four button keys and would want one of the proximity types, please.

Thanks

On 9/16/2022 at 12:10 PM, ThuMentaliss said:

From your photos it appears that you have the early model HKs' coilovers which had a limited adjustment , if you would like to know what the vehicles current standing height is (ground clearance) take it to your 'friendly' garage who if possible has an old fashioned service pit and explain to them that you wish to know the ground clearance if they know what they are doing 15 minutes later they should have the answer .....the other way is for you to measure it yourself which is difficult as you need to know the fixed point of where toyota measures from floor to underside of the chassis...sorry I cant remember where that location is but you should find it by browsing the net.....question is have you got the problem of pot-hole bottoming out ?🤕

Very useful info.

Thank you for the response.

I too can count myself part of the 'lowered' club.

At least I think so. My Alphard has aftermarket HKS suspension components that were presumably fitted by the vehicle's Japanese owner, though the UK dealer were not able give exact details of the spec beyond putting the car up on the ramp for me to look underneath (see attached images).

Out of interest (and from a mechanically naive perspective), is there a straightforward way for an owner like myself to gauge how much a vehicle's ride height has been lowered from factory standard, or should I be consulting a professional to assess it?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice.

Thank you for all the responses so far.

Lots of food for thought on driving technique as well as vehicle maintenance.

Rojie, in particular, I appreciate you taking the time to give such a comprehensive response.

Apologies in advance if this question demonstrates my ignorance (I have only owned an Alphie for a few weeks).

Recently, I stopped at a set of traffic lights on a gentle incline/slope.

Having slipped the gearbox into neutral, I applied the parking brake only to find that when I took my other foot off the general brake pedal, the car was no longer secured and started to roll backwards immediately.

The car had been MOT'd after being imported earlier in the summer this year and there no were advisories of any kind. With my other vehicle, a manual 09 Toyota Yaris, any maladjustment of the handbrake is always picked up on.  

Having only driven manual transmissions previously, have I misunderstood the function of the Alphard's parking brake? Is it only intended to be used in conjunction with gearbox being in 'Park' and not to secure the car in place on its own? 

Any help much appreciated! 🤪

Just wondered what the situation was with bringing friends/family along (a relative of mine had expressed interest in coming with me to the event). Are they covered by the member's attendance fee for the meet?

Considering that Alphies hold up to 8 persons, I thought it a worthwhile query!

Sorry if this question has already been asked/answered.

Thank you for your ongoing efforts. Should be a bonanza!

Excited at the prospect of attending!

The convoys of Alphies should be a sight to behold!