Graham Albert

Thanks! Cheers Graham 

1 hour ago, dezufo said:

Put 38psi in all round, google the 4psi rule, follow the instructions and adjust accordingly

I'm struggling to get the correct tyre pressure for 225/55R17  95W wheels and tyres. 

Front and rear state 230 (2.3)  is this 2.3 bar? Can you help please?

I have just had our Alphard serviced at our local garage.  Been with them for decades and have a great relationship.

No issues and pleasantly surprised at the comments.....engine nice and tight etc.  I queried the service interval at 7k-8k miles as it seems 

short compared to the 12k-15k which is the norm these days.

"for a 2.4l engine the sump is quite small, only 4l, hence the shorter service interval" 

Enough said!  I thought this info might be of use to others.

Cheers Graham

Thanks Roger.

This is not really a servicing topic but we have a campervan conversion and the windscreen blinds are internal; which is a bit of a faff and creates a lot of condensation.  There are external wrap around blinds on the market.  Does anyone have experience of these and a supplier?

Cheers and kind regards Graham

Renewed with Adrian Flux a couple of weeks ago.   £40 less than my first year (last year)

That was a surprise!

Graham

I have just had my first service at my local garage.  We have been with them for several decades and I was interested to hear their

opinion on our campervan conversion.  I was pleasantly surprised to get the positive reactions I did.  

The headlamp discolouring is being dealt with with advice from yourselves on this forum and also local advice.

I am now aware why the service (oil change in particular} 6k-7k intervals is  important.

Quote "the sump is small for the engine size Graham, only 4 litres of oil.  Change it and the filter every 6k or so" unquote.

Thanks for your help here everyone.

Kind regards Graham

Thanks Lee, that's very helpful.

Kind regards Graham

Thanks for that Lee.  I have heard of that. Calders Campers have already done this process before we bought the campervan from them.

Can the process be done more than once?

Cheers Graham

Good afternoon, I am looking for replacement headlamp units due to an advisory on my MOT.  my vehicle is 2006 and  it's age decolourisation.

Thanks for the info that you need to replace the whole unit.  I'm reluctant to use ebay as the units advertised there may well be similarly discoloured.

Have any of you used a reliable Toyota dealer in Scotland?

Thanks and regards Graham

Thanks to you both.  Kind regards Graham

I have minor damage to the nearside front valance which has been repaired but I need touch up paint.  Where do I find the paint code on my 2006 Alphard please?

Thanks Graham

Hi, I wonder if it is worth buying a reader as an Alphard owner, just in case? How does one attach it to the vehicle?  Sorry I'm displaying complete ignorance here but grateful for the advice.

On 5/2/2024 at 5:37 PM, smurf said:

You need diagnostics that are capable of reading JOBD, or Techstream and a minivci cable. Most garages aren't going to have the equipment to read any codes on a Japanese market only vehicle sadly. 

Many thanks to Lee and Paul. There is one other button that I will photograph later.  Thanks again Regards Graham

Any ideas? Tanks Graham 

Thanks Rojie, I have spoken to Calders and they had never had such a request before!  The only possible way to do this, according to their workshop, is to fabricate a frame to fix to the bed frame and then fix a conventional headrest to it.  This would then need to be removed every time the bed was needed.  The whole idea is on the backburner for now!

Good morning, we have a 2006 Alphard converted by Calders Campers.  This is a very new venture for us!  We noticed that if an adult is sitting in the back seat on the rock and roll bed the headrest is not really that.  Is there any slip on type that I can get to perform as a standard headrest similar to the front seats?

Thanks Graham

Thanks everyone for replying to this.  I have tried 3 Timpsons branches now and none will do this.  There is a local 'Locdoc' who is to get back to me and Calders (the campervan dealers) have said they use Cheap Car Keys Scotland for all their keys and I am waiting for a reply from them.  I probably should have gone back to Calders first!

Thanks again.  Graham

Thanks I've just ordered the manual from Amazon!

On 9/16/2021 at 8:57 AM, Pritch said:

Hi all, well we are now happy owners of our side conversion, pop top with the wider 120cm bed Alph.

 

We chose Calder Campers in Livingstone, and whilst nowhere near 'local' for us, we liked the way they did things. 

We went for the side conversion, as this suited our needs, and also went for the wider R&R bed (wasn't aware this was available and was offered by Calder), which again suited our needs.

We found our vehicle beginning of June - 05 3.0 V6 with low mileage and was spotless outside and inside.

We chose our interior fit out, colour, style, seat covers etc on our 2nd visit, which they 'preferred' we went in person to do. Looking back, this was very much the best option, as we changed our minds about 4 times lol. Angela was brilliant in helping us choose the final options, and have to say got it right.

It then took about 5 weeks to collection, and picked up end of August.

 

I am now going to be a little critical of them when it came to collection.......

I am fairly sure that before handover a proper PDI was not done, as the interior was 'grubby', the new front seats had stains on them, and the trim around the units had a couple of 'chips' in them. The curtains behind the passenger seat had holes in them (yes they were replaced immediately). The table leg literally came apart in my hand, as the screws barely pierced the table top (and were fixed with more substantial screws there and then)

In our opinion, quite major in terms of handover, and if were honest just took the edge of it.

The next major issue we encountered (but not till we got home), was the awning rail we paid to have added on.

We were told it was 2.6l, but was only 1.7, no use nor ornament, so we had to return to Livingstone to have it fitted to the correct length, which CANNOT be 260. 

The max we got was 2.2, better, but when youve already bought an awning with a 2.6l.....does make it a bit harder.

The rails themselves have to fit inside the pop top (which makes sense), and as the front of the vehicle slopes downwards, isn't able to take the rail.

Yes, they sorted it (and compensated me for my petrol) but again, left a taste.

 

In terms of the quality of the fit out though, we cannot fault them, it has been done very professionally, and the units are solid and look great.

The re-cover of the seats/R&R bed is also excellent, and cannot fault it.

From start to finish they have been helpful, gave great guidance on what we wanted/couldn't have, so no complaints there.

Also we have a 3 year Guarantee on both the fit out, and the vehicle, so some peace of mind there.

 

Would we recommend them, despite the issues mentioned - YES definately as the quality of the fit out is 1st class.

 

HTH

Hi, we have just bought  one from Calders.  Really the only way we could afford a campervan having havered for years !  Are you still pleased with yours?  The fit out is excellent as you say and we didn't have the issues you did at handover. Ours is a hard top deliberately so because of west coast Scotlands weather! Ours is only a week old to us so hopefully any niggles will be small.  Cheers Graham

Hmm, Timsons don't do imports generally. Toyota appear not to be able to, at least on the west coast of Scotland.

Thanks to Pete anyway.

Graham Revill, here.  Thanks for that I have the same issue.  Only one key.  I understand Timsons at Braehead Paisley can do it.

I am looking for a 'workshop manual' for my 2006 Alphard.  Haynes don't appear to issue one.  I don't expect to do much, if any, of my own maintenance but a manual would be useful to learn more about the vehicle.

Questions like is it rear wheel drive?  Does the engine share oil with the gearbox? Etc. 

Thanks and kind regards Graham