Michael Brown

Someone is trying to get hold of me, but I cannot open the message ? Its as if its not there. I have clicked and double clicked on everything and nothing happens. So if you ? sent me a message and had not had a reply, that is why you have not received a reply Apologies

Thanks for that input Alex. Its finding the time to get mine fitted, thats the problem, something always comes up and I have to delay doing it yet again. With the lighter evenings I must have a crack at it.

Just about anything could go wrong as by the time they leave the roads of Japan, they will have had a life. You may just be lucky and get a few years use from it before anything could go wrong. They are lovely comfortable vehicles to drive and fitted out well. So good luck and fingers crossed, you get a good one.

Thanks Roger, No I have not tried them, I may try them in future, or maybe the NFU (National Farmers Union) you don't have to be a farmer to use them

No Roger the claims were not with Aviva, but apparently Aviva were the only company that would insure me this time with the Alphard. I went for at least 20 years without a bump, then a few together, unfortunate it maybe. I consider myself a good driver, but fault is not always mine. I have been with the same insurance broker since 1975 and from time to time I have tried others only to find the difference in cost is only £5. Not worth changing companies for that. I was told if I changed my vehicle to one made for the UK market the cost would be be considerably less. I intend to keep the Alphard for a few more years yet. As yet I have not found a vehicle that I'd like to drive better than Alfie.

So you think £1,700. is bad, I am now 72 and had the misfortune to have made 3 claims within a 5 year period. Not had a accident since June 2022. Bought my Alphard on 27th August 2022 and my insurance was £1,600. on top of the £560. I'd already paid on my Estima 2.4 04 plate. When insurance came due in 2023 it was over £4,000. This year around £3,600. Considering I had already forked out £5,600. including fitting for a new Inverter imported from Japan, I wanted to get my monies worth. The new Inverter was my best investment yet and not had a problem with it since. I have it regually serviced and drive with more care. I am with Aviva.

I apologise for that, I can't remember where I found the direct info you want, as when I was looking for a solution I stumbled on someone who said by removing the radiator caps and running the engine till the air bubble stopped rising and topping the radiator up with water solution it would fix the problem and it did, a lot easier than trying to get to the heater fuse location. I check the radiator more often now

"Look up Heater not working", by Michael Brown Explains what I did, not where I found the info Good Luck

Loose wire somewhere ?

I never thought of asking the dealer, thanks for that

Thank you Roger, I am not looking to buy or import another. It was out of curiosity what it might say about my Alphard thats all. I just find it harder to do these things these days, setting up accounts just to view, perhaps I better not in future and try the BIMTA method.

In trying the CarVX site, one has to sign in to use it and its quite a cafuffle putting in passwords, I gave up. I am finding some of these situations more difficult as I get older.

Thanks for that Paul. On my previous Estima's I screwed a multi socket cigarrette block under the steering wheel so I could plug in sat nav and dash cam. Taking off the cover off the offside window pillars to hide the cable and feeding the cable under roof lining near top of windscreen. I have some light weight scew together rods for feeding cable behind the dashboard to hide the cable. At the same time I intend to stick a digital aerial to the windscreen when door pillar cover is off too. I am not going to change my head unit. The digital car radio transmits the signal on to a free FM channel, sound comes out of car radio speakers. I too have a Nextbase dash cam to install.

Has anyone fitted a forward facing dash cam and where do you run the cabling.

Back in August 2022 when I bought Alfie, I was told to drive with the gear lever over to the right. I must have filled up around 3 times before I realised my mistake. Looking back on it an easy mistake to make.

So what whee,l tyre, sizes are standard to the Alphard

215/65/16 Gives a good ride and you don't feel the bumps as much

So what are the standard fit tyres reccommended for our Alphards ?

Best way to test this is to carry a jerry can of petrol and a spout or funnel and run out of petrol making a note for future how far you drove with the orange light on. about 3 months ago my Alfie was 60 miles into the orange light zone and the fuel gauge was showing empty, I eventually got to the regular BP filling station I use on A272/A32 crossroads and filled her up, 65 litres were put in, tank holds 70. 65 litres so far is the most I have put in. I don't as yet carry a can.

Does one need a certificate to carry and use the aerosol type of gas can, as I would do any cooking or heating of kettle on a portable stove in the drive away awning and not in the vehicle ?

Before the Alphard I had several mk2 Estima's, My local mechanic Colin Cambell at CMC Autos in Sidlesham, mobile no 07970 072239 or work no 01243 641134 has looked after all my needs. Sometimes I got the parts, most times he got and fitted them. I don't concider him expensive. Been using him since 2011. He services my Alphard and reccommended Peter Holland for the electrics. He was the chap who imported a new Inverter from Japan for me and fitted it. Not had a problem since.

It also depends on one's age and if you have had a few accidents in the last 5 years, be it your fault or not

I tend to put my hand up to other Alphard drivers as a mark of respect that they have one. I have had a few drivers putting a hand up and I acknowledge them. I am seeing fewer and fewer Alphards on the roads I am using. I display a club badge front and back.

Heaters now working, I was looking at a similiar thread to mine here, that by taking off the radiator caps, starting the engine, then topping up with water with an antifreeze solution in, one could just wait for the air bubbles to come out. It took a little time, but a lot of air bubbles came out. I was shocked that I put in 2 Litres of fluid in. When the bubbles stopped I put the radiator caps back on and after the engine warmed up I tried the heater and lovely war air came through, Magic. Thank you Richard, Roger and others for your help, This forum is a mind of information.

Thank you Richard, I will give it a try. Also I will check the radiator, open the caps, start her up and see if any air bleeds out, top up if neccesary and replace the caps