PaulS_

Hi all, I'm thinking of adding a 4G/5G router somewhere inside the car, so my Apple TV can connect to it for Internet access rather than faffing around with my phone. The Apple TV is powered from the 100V socket in the centre console, out of sight. I'd like to put the router somewhere out of the way... perhaps under the dash, or in the boot, and it will be a small USB-powered one. Are there any electrical connections that I can grab hold of and connect a USB socket to, other than those in the dash / centre console?

Hi all, Firstly, thanks to the mods for upgrading the forum. The new style looks great and love the dark mode. Now onto the matter in hand and, yes, it's another head unit question. I'm looking for a new head unit to replace the original one in my AH20. Ideally, I'd like it to do everything - that is, be controllable from the steering wheel, control the rear ceiling screen, and show the reversing camera. I don't know if any of the units do all of that, or whether I need to sacrifice a function or two. I've been looking at these three, just for reference / capability: Pioneer https://www.roadradio.com/product/car-audio/androidauto/pioneer/sph-evo98dab/b628ba95-5a8a-4a88-af1c-ae4272e98d96 Sony https://www.sony.co.uk/store/product/xavax8150ant.ei/XAV-AX8150-7C-22-7-cm-288-95-27-27-29-DAB-Media-Receiver-with-WebLink-E2-84-A2-Cast Xtrons https://xtrons.co.uk/product/toyota-prius-android-iphone-octa-core-4gb-ram-64gb-rom-global-4g-lte-solution-iap92psts/ I'm unclear as to whether any of these tick all of the boxes, and I want to stick to a well-known brand. Does anyone know if such a unit exists that does everything, and whether any of the above three would fit the bill? Thanks, Paul

Thanks both - exactly Steve - I'll take a look in the manual but haven't found it yet. I had turned up the microphone in the bluetooth/phone settings but no joy.

Hi all, If I connect my phone to Bluetooth, where does the microphone input come from? Is it the little grilles on the ceiling by the interior lights, or somewhere else? Wherever they are, is it possible to clean them up? My callers are reporting that they just can't hear me at all. Thanks 🙂

What's the name of the diagnostic tool which you used?

Well spotted. It's basically the victim of a dodgy bodyshop. I'd like to get it done properly but there's nowhere near me that would sort it.

Many thanks all! My Alphard has spoilers so I didn't want to mess with those or undo them, so I bought some suction cups from Amazon - 6 quid and after a bit of pulling... they worked! Thanks again folks

Hi all, the driver-side rear wing has "popped in". Is it something that I can fix, or should I take it to a body shop...?

Thanks all. I have been looking at exactly that product - is it easy to install?

I should know this but I don't... If I use the button on the tailgate to open the boot, should it open itself by a motor? Pressing the "open boot" button in the ceiling console does indeed to that - motorised open - but opening the boot directly is not motorised on my Alphard.

+1 for Northstar. Bought a set of headrests from them a while ago. Absolutely brilliant service - so polite.

Nice one! Same here with Listers Toyota. Taken the Alphard in a couple of times now for a full service then MOT and they have always offered great service. The last chap who served me said "Now -that- is a lovely car" and we were talking about Alphards for about 15 minutes, and he questioned why Toyota doesn't offer it as a UK market model - a question I'm sure we'd all like to know the answer to 😄

That is brilliant. I'd love it if someone could offer that in the UK. I have been looking at head units (I still have the OEM unit) and was concerned that I would lose functionality such as the camera tracking and auto parking. This looks like those functions would be restored. Which Android unit did you get OP?

That's a beautiful-looking Alphard! Hope that you and the family love it.

I've mentioned this before but wondered if anyone has had a solution since... I have a TV box powered by the 100w socket in the centre console (front centre armrest). The 3x RCA inputs at the back of the console connect to a USB-powered analogue-digital converter (powered by the USB also inside the centre console). The converter has an HDMI socket, so I connect to that to the TV box using a standard HDMI lead. As such, I have a few cables coming out of the centre console to make this work. The analogue-digital converter is outside, so I have the USB power lead and the HDMI lead going into the centre console. This inevitably makes it near-impossible to close the top flap. It does close with a bit of persuasion (well, slamming it) but I don't want to break the locking mechanism. My thinking is to drill a hole somewhere in the side of the console and put a grommet in there, and feed the leads into the inside through that. However, I'm worried that I will bugger it up and possibly crack the hard plastic. Has anyone come up with a solution regarding how to get cables into the centre console box? Thanks as ever all, and happy new year to the Alphard community 🙂

Lovely car! Congratulations on the purchase. Re head unit, I have kept the original but am strongly considering a replacement from Cartronics - their fitting retains the steering wheel controls, phone controls, and rear TV screen - https://www.cartronics.co.uk/case-studies/toyota-alphard-import-pioneer-apple-carplay

Hi all, does anyone have any recommendations for mudflaps? It's for a 2.4 Hybrid with a TRD bodykit. Cheers!

Hi all, I have an Apple TV box in the centre console, between the two front seats, which is viewed through the VTR input option (pull-down TV etc). I'm using the 100v input from inside the console, as well as using USB power from a cigarette lighter converter to drive an HDMI-RCA converter. The RCA (phono) leads then go out to the three inputs at the back of the console. It works, but is really fiddly, in that to make it work, the console top flap needs to be open to let the cables out. I bought a flat HDMI cable so the flap can now be closed, but it can just about be closed and isn't an elegant solution (the HDMI converter box needs to be outside for this solution to work, and just dangles around). I was thinking about drilling a hole somewhere in the centre console to allow for cables to get in and out of it. I can't think of any other way to permanently allow cables into the centre console. Has anyone tried this or has a more effective/nicer solution at all?

Yup. Aldermaston.

It's a great question. I thought long and hard about what to buy and from where - it took me about 6 months to find the right mix of vehicle, mileage, price, and reputation of the dealer. I bought earlier this year from Lakeview - here's their Toyota stock on eBay. I went in thinking "Over 1000 reviews with an average 100% ranking, they can't be that bad" and sure enough, the vehicle was absolutely spotless (including engine and underside), and 6 months in, all has been well. Obviously everyone will have different views of good and bad dealers - but definitely take your time, have a good look around first, and don't be afraid to walk away.

Throttler / remapper?

Hi all, Does anyone have a good contact for getting some minor scratch/scuff/bodywork repairs done on a 2014 Alphard? Nothing major but I'd love the vehicle to look good all over once again. South midlands ideally, but happy to go a bit further afield of a good recommendation. I have tried 5 local contacts so far (including my local Toyota dealer) and no-one is available!

I reckon you'll be fine Johnno. Don't be afraid to ask the dealer for a test drive and ask a friend (ideally with mechanical knowledge) to join you when visiting the dealer. If it's a new import then check CarVX, the car history checker for JDM https://carvx.jp/?gad_source=1 I have a very similar vehicle to the one that you're interested in, bought a few months ago. Shout if you need anything.

Does it set at around 50mph? I wasn't sure about mine for a while, only to discover that the control only works in a given speed range (can't remember what, but it's below 70mph).