BigNev

Hi there! Have you checked to see if you're lucky, and it's in the seat back pocket of the rear row drivers side seat?

Hi there! Have you still got the old plugs, to swap back in, in case you've got some fakes in the engine now?

Hi there! My guess is the battery is dying. Voltage is not a full indicator of its condition. Poor electrical health will cause lots of strange electrical communication faults on "new" cars. And my other guess, on the low charge voltage when running, is that it had just been fully charged off the car, so the charging system may have "thought" it was good, so not pulling in the alternator. Could well be wrong on that. If you try it again, then put the lights and all other electrical kit on, it should make the alternator work - or not - then you'll have a bit more info. I've got an old battery from my work van, still holds a good voltage, but when tested its cranking amps are down at 550 from the rated 900. Still plenty enough for tests and a standby jump start for most cars though!

If the "engine light" is on, then there's something electrical gone South, probably, but by no means definitely, related to the lack of gear selection. A solenoid failure, not too likely as it won't do forward or reverse, or if you're lucky it could just simply be the plug connector to the gearbox! So the rest of the car can't "see" it. So it needs code reading, and I know even a cheap one will see some codes, I have the Car Scanner app and ELM327 box. I've tried it on ours and it sees it. It had no current codes so therefore I can't know how deep it can read it. If it comes up with really odd codes, then it could, as was said, be interference from dodgy wiring, or poor earth connections - as these are a communication path nowadays, not just electrical.

Confused.com did recognise the Alphard / Vellfire models, and got me a "good" price with Admiral insurance. But absolutely positively definitely shop around!

Sadly no idea, I just put your part number in and that's what came up. I didn't research it any further, just pointed in a direction that may help, as you said you hadn't been able to find one.

Yes, Amayama have alternative manufacturers listed, quite a few, including Febest! As well as the original, but at £512 I would certainly be looking at one of the others, round figures £40 plus £35 shipping in just over 2 weeks. And at that cost, from what I've had from them, no VAT on arrival.

Hi there @Malcontents did you get further on your investigations? Just so we can all share in the knowledge?

Ah yes of course! Well then, its not impossible I'm wrong! But, into the mix, the DSG gearbox cars we've hired on holiday the last 2 years both drove like a "normal auto", and they aren't. I'll be watching for @Clutha response after checking on the actual vehicle!! As that's the ultimate test report! Or anyone else with the correct model of course! We learn something new everyday! About 15 years ago I did a supercar driving experience as a present, and a Ferrari had a gearbox that didn't creep, but was therefore very jerky on take off. So maybe it's "engineered in" for the masses?

Yep. All creep forward. Stuck brakes? Etc Etc Etc

I did the filter as well, if you take the sump off be aware there is still about a litre and a half of fluid, have a bowl under there!

No worries mate! Yes, my best guess is an an air leak. Check for any loose connections on the intake system, cracked hoses, and anything else like that. It's beyond my abilities, but as you said the car was running lean, do you have the kit to see the long term fuel trims? And are they still lean? Not that I know what the figures should be! Possibly, if there aren't any obvious leaks, try some fuel system / injector cleaner, in case it's that side of the system.

I'd say at about 15 years old or when I just bought it 😄 As that's what I did personally. It's not too hard at all, but you do need to be able to see transmission fluid temp to get the level right with the "overflow tube" method it uses.

If I've read what you said correctly, it can happen at any time apart from when the engine is cold and running enriched fuelling? And a "gasp" sound. That sounds like a possible unmetered air leak somewhere. Extra air getting in that isn't measured by the Mass Air Flow sensor so the fuelling isn't adjusted for it. Could be anywhere along the air intake after the MAF - assuming it has one of course!

Also, if you really actually need to change your battery, if you can do it yourself, try two companies I've used, they do do delivery, Tayna Batteries in Bodelwyddan, and Advanced Battery Supplies in Stockport. You may not necessarily need them, but more amps equals more "in the reserve bank" to still start the engine - after successive starts, lights left on, charging phones etc Both great people to deal with! Good luck getting it sorted out!

Gorgeous that one!

Heck of a job you're into there mate! Good luck with progress, I'll keep watching out for updates!

Very nice indeed!

Bargain! Obviously though, run it through the comparison sites, some don't know what an Alphie is, or Vellfire, but some do. Follow the order advised by martin Lewis - Money Saving Expert. We ended up with Admiral, from Confused.com, when we bought it, for our first year insurance, as our (current at that time) car insurer eSure (who were garbage as an "on line only" company) "didn't insure imports" so couldn't do a vehicle change. Hopefully, as is common, the longer you have a vehicle it counts as a minor positive score.

Surely not .......... hmmm well, actually, I reckon it's more than a little likely!

American companies..... surely not anything to do with maximum profits....

Hello there!! Well, I do now have a Vellfire! And it was on lpg when we bought it, saved me a job and a chunk of money too! I have noticed a drop off of mpg on the Subaru, since the end of 2023, which hasn't changed with new coils, and LPG specific NGK plugs. The Vellfire runs GREAT, but not had it a full 2 months yet, so I've not had any real opportunity to compare petrol to gas! How has the situation been with your car?

Hi Ross! From your location you have a lovely stretch of motorway to go at. you don't have to speed, use the gear selector to keep the engine revs up to get the catalytic converters nice and blooming hot. As Picasso says, jolly good results can be had from some of the cleaners. The one I have used in the past is Cataclean, but there's plenty of choices! Good luck with it, keep us updated please, and let us know which cleaner you go for! Cheers!

Wow! It's more than a bit steep for my pocket that! But if I actually bothered to buy a ticket, and won the lottery.... as luxurious as it may be, I'd still not do it 😂

Hi Ed! Mine is a 2 wheel drive, bought it with LPG already fitted, saved me the job! So looking under ours I would GUESS that no, a tank that size may not fit, ours is only about 70 litres total and the front is rather close to the centre line of the wheels. But it may be possible, if the tank was further back than ours is! I want to try to get more capacity, if necessary with an extra tank under there somewhere, but the first guy we tried was very dismissive, I very much got the impression he just couldn't be bothered, only interested in easy fits. He also said that he couldn't swap the big filler under the bumper to a hidden fill point, the one that is standard fit on Dacia, so I just gave up and left at that. My Subaru has that filler type fitted, when I had the BRC installation done, so it can be.