smurf

The exhaust is visibility moving, and the noise sounds like the exhaust is tapping against something or a loose heat shield, if it has heat shields anywhere.

Not a clue as I haven't run it on. I would assume 40mpg is achievable based upon 31 on LPG. Mine is full camper conversion and I rarely push above 60mph on the motorway.

I'm getting 31mpg on a long motorway run on a gen 1 hybrid running LPG

Did they give the print out from the emissions test with the readings on?

An issue you may come up against by fitting a 15mm spacer is whether there is enough thread available on the studs for the bolts to engage. Have you investigated other Toyota's of the same era? It is likely that compatible wheels were fitted to other big Toyota/Lexus cars of the same time as manufacturers love to standardise sizes, and the wheels might be plentiful if they were UK spec cars.

I've got techstream, but if there was one of the secret button dance procedures it would save me the hassle of waiting for techstream to come alive.

Does anyone know how to program a new gen 1 door fob like the one in the opening post?

Have you tired contacting this seller on eBay? From their listings it looks like they have broken a hybrid Alphard. https://www.ebay.co.uk/str/nipponautospares?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=uJUhQDGBSfe&sssrc=3418065&ssuid=ql8_keC9RJe&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

10 miles should be plenty to get some heat into the engine. A compression test is easy, and cheap.

Using for lots of short journeys, or occasionally for longer trips? The reason lots short trips can cause it in winter is water vapour condenses in the breather pipes when they are cold and doesn't get evaporated again by the heat from the engine, then it builds up and emulsifiers with the oil vapours. Excessive oil vapours will also accelerate this mayo building up. That is why the engine needs testing to be sure.

Mayo in breather pipes can be caused by lots of short journeys in the colder months. Does this sound like your journeys? I'd suggest a compression or blow by test be done before condemning the engine.

The cables seem to be a bit of minefield with no guaranteed way of getting a "good" one. Price seems to be no guarantee of sucess. I bought one from Amazon and tried it on two different computers, one in a virtual machine and one directly on Windows Vista, and on both it had an update time of 11 seconds and kept dropping comms when getting data. That one is going back to Amazon and I've ordered a V2.0.4 lead from AliExpress to see if that is any better. In terms of getting a copy of techstream that isn't rammed full of malware, this is the best method of getting a virtual machine with techstream inside it. https://forum.ih8mud.com/threads/how-to-techstream-in-5-minutes.1034923/

Sounds like the inverter is overheating, but without some diagnostic information being taken from the car it is impossible to say for sure. If the inverter is overheating the possible culprit is the inverter coolant pump.

That must be a different manual to what I bought. There is several hundred pages of information on absolutely everything, and all the wiring diagrams in English.

I've sent you a PM about it

Is the info just a few posts above any help to you? Sounds like it could be the same situation that might have a similar solution.

This should help https://uk.alphardclub.com/forums/topic/2866-video-link-heater-flap-solenoid-motor-replacement/

Are you saying that you get no heat out of the vents unless you put the temp above 28? If so, that sounda like a problem with your flap actuator not operating correctly and not a coolant issue.

Has there a benefit to doing this such as becoming ULEZ compliant or getting road tax based upon CO2 emissions? I have a 2003 and whilst not being ULEZ compliant isn't the end of the world, nor paying a little over the odds for tax, it would be nice to able to gain a little of something for not much effort.

It is possible that it will go that way in London, but then in Manchester they have gone in the opposite direction and found that restrictions aren't necessary as improvements in air quality are happening anyway as older vehicles are replaced at the end of their life, especially buses and lorries.

ULEZ is more about emissions that directly affect human health, such as Nox and particulates. CO2 from a car exhaust into the open air isn't an issue for human health.

@FrenchDJ Hi David. How have you gone about translating the wiring diagrams? Could it be something that could be done piecemeal by various people to speed it the task?

Just sounds like any old Vellfire to me 😉

What does say the model is on the V5? If it is vague, then use that to your advantage. If it says 2.4Z and you insure it as a different model it could come back to bite you.

So they have changed their advice from "not permitted to tow" to "recommend that you do not tow". They clearly haven't a clue what the answer is, which is hardly a surprise because the law isn't clear and they aren't in a position to create a clear definition without some case law. They are not right about the VIN plate as well, as SR Tech issue new plates all the time to show the changed weights that they have done the calculations for. Frankly, I'd trust SV tech over the DVSA. It is just a shame SV Tech aren't able to help.