Clutha

25% on the gauge is going to be my fill up criteria in future 😂 The last time I experienced the squeaky b*m feeling was when the sun shining over my shoulder onto my m/ bike digital gauge hid the fact that it was flashing a low fuel warning. Passing through some shade & noticing it caused major alert. I was halfway between supplies, Inveraray to Arrochar. Press on or turn back? Onward, commanded the steed! Roads normally ridden at enthusiastic speeds became even more scenic. Arrochar reached & all was well. Inverary no longer has fuel station, nearest would be Loch Gilphead.

Great song, but I digress already! Had the new to me experience yesterday of bringing up the low fuel light. I blame the incident on me not having had a decent drive in the old bus due to other issues. Off I went with my £20 voucher for butcher meat from a known good butcher in the wilds of West Stirlingshire. After a few miles I realised tank was rather low but I knew where the only station for miles was so pressed on. Imagine my delight to find it closed for major refurb. I'm 13 miles from my nearest station so a very light footed journey commenced. 10 miles later low fuel light comes on, totally new experience for me in van. So, I make it to station & she takes 61 ltrs, another 1st, but having now found out tank capacity is 70 ltrs I am brimming with knowledge. Not that I’m going to make it a habit but I reckon a 2.4 petrol should give you 40-50 miles after low fuel lamp comes on.

Greetings, I’m a semi local to the area mentioned & I went to Drymen at the east side of Loch Lomond today failing to check my tank before setting out 🙄 Be warned, fuel stations are few and far between, nearest would be Dumbarton or Balloch if you come up the A82, if coming from the east Stirling would do although the village of Buchlyvie has a small garage. Aberfoyle has a community station. I got the low fuel light on and after a sweat got filled up near home, 61ltrs 😳 weat

My 2002 A10 petrol 2.4 is not ULEZ compliant in Glasgow.

Good luck🤞Should be an ‘open & shut’ case.

Have to disagree, on slow (engine)speed motor ships heavy oil could be 3,000 secs redwood spec. Usually burned when at sea clear of port. Fuel would be changed over to lower (< 1500 secs redwood spec) for entering port to make engine manoeuvring reliable, ie starting and stopping for going ahead & astern. No gearboxes or variable pitch propellors, engine motion could be reversed. On old Doxford powered tankers I was on we stayed on 1500 sec Redwood all the time as we did loads of short trips between UK & Scandinavian ports. Happy days 😉 (A pal sailed on LNG carriers which could burn the ‘boil off’ gas from cargo tanks. He said engine internals were spotless, no carbon deposits at all.)

Heavy oil is usually a marine fuel in large motor ships! It looks like crude oil and has to be heated to keep it moving😂 I agree 100%, somebody’s dropped a clanger

Many thanks!

How does this look to the experts? Local garage is going to do oil change for me. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/395621035104?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=PHlmyqLlRQm&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=inFbBs81TL6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165010260366?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=1g6e52n0RZW&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=inFbBs81TL6&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Try AA for advice?

Anyone use Gendan diagnostic gear. I have old software from them on an old windows laptop bought just for resetting a DPF on our previous motorhome. (known fault on Bosch sensor) When I bought Gendans cables for m/h they advised that with the cable a had for a previous vehicle I’d enough to check anything🤔 I’m curious to know what, if any, gear Alphard folks use for checking faults

£40 for 4? Good price compared to eBay.

All is well! Went out expecting major investigations & the van is back to normal! Did the Alphard fairies pay a visit? Door locking by switches all ok, (after resetting), interior lights working, fired her up, couple of manoeuvres on the drive & all seems ok. Battery connections checked, all good, 12.3v. Self fixing vehicles are great.

Michael, the heater works but only if you select max ie ‘Hi’ Apparently theres a disc type controller (shown on YouTube Alphard repairs) that has 3 arms like a mini record player, they can wear out causing heater malfunction. My water levels fine.

Release button had already vanished when I bought the van. I was already planning to get in behind the panel you suggest as the heater control has stopped working too. To get heat it has to be at max, anything below that gives no heat 😬

In this case the battery was not disconnected. I’d arrived home, parked up all as normal, operated driver door interior ’all doors locked switch & nothing happened, all electrical power seemed to failed, no interior lights, no panel lights on insertion of ignition key, auto gear shift locked. Anyway, investigations postponed until SWMBO gets diy done to her satisfaction 🙄

Got this guide which will be followed as soon as the rain stops🙄 Why Does My Car Not Have Any Electrical Power At All?.pdf

They checked the battery condition which showed up ok. I’m guessing they thought the alternator must be doing its job. As battery voltage increased after run yesterday I’m assuming alternator is ok. I waited a while to check it. It had risen to 12.45v from 12.25v after run. I’m guessing there’s something re the jamming gear shift and the loss of electrics, but 1st job will be remove all battery terminals & clean them. I won’t be allowed to touch van until I complete loft flooring job😂

Thanks, let me do a thorough check of all battery connections. I did have an issue with one (not the main +ve) a long time ago when it was very slightly loose. (I lost daylight when it all happened today)

Battery charged in van.

Voltage on return from run (after 30 mins cool down) 12.45 by Fluke straight onto battery posts. The thing that’s puzzled me most is door interior locking switches, courtesy lights, ignition lights all not coming on, plus this issue with gear shift sticking in ‘park’ Daylight was fading so I give up after establishing I could release gear stick with cunningly placed chopstick 😎

Out for a warm up run today after charging battery over 24 hours. Battery tested as ok at Halfords but suspected our weeks of <5 Deg had dragged it down. Tested at 12.25v before run, 12.45 a while after getting back but…… Parked up at house, operated drivers door lock switch to lock all doors, no clicks 😳 Tried ignoring key back in, no inst panel lights, tried moving gear shift out of P, locked! Got gizmo to poke down where missing manual lock button should be, got on to gear shift release, tried ignition with gear change in all positions, still no joy + it locked in P every time it was moved there. Nothing electrical is coming on including interior lights. I don’t have a remote key, only manual . Kinda stumped! Van ran perfectly earlier. HELP 🙏

Wire hiding can be a satisfying job😂 On our car I needed an extra 12v socket for dashcam, there was one available in the boot. I got a set of rubber seal release plastic tools and after 30 mins job done. 99% hidden.