Gamith

Hello everyone, I recently (July 2024) bought a 2005 (19 years old, it will be having it's 20th birthday in May) Alphard - it came with a full remote key and an unlock key (no 'fob') which we have since managed to lose. I have been trying to get extra keys for it. The guys at ARC Locksmiths in Stevenage sorted me out. I visited them to find out the the frequency of the current key and then searched on Ebay for matching blanks to end up getting 2 of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386967938897 (Which have 'J636 314Mhz +67 2005-2009 printed on the packet 🙂 if that is of any help to anyone) After that the ARC guys cut the two blanks to match the current key (though they said that the blank metal was likely to be particularly tough so they hoped their machine was able to cope, but it was fine) and tested the locking / unlocking, opening / closing of the doors which all went well. It was then a matter of the programming and after some delays and too-ing and fro-ing they found they needed a cross-over box to re-wire the OBD output for their kit to read it properly. After that it was quite a 'simple' (for them - not for me 🙂 ) task to copy the settings onto the the new blanks and jobs a good'un - done in about 5 mins at the end. I got them to cut a couple of house keys while I was there. So if you are in the area and need some keys cutting / programming they know what to do for a 2005 (facelift) Alphard at least and I would recommend them. They are on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=arc locksmiths

Hopefully one of these will help:

I am thinking of modding the reflectors to add LED/COB strips - is it possible to remove them from a 2005 rear bumper by getting access from underneath or am I looking at dropping the bumper. I already have a dashboard switch and cable in place - currently it's feeding a light on a hanger under the bumper, which doesn't work too well and looks rather naff also.

I have also been struggling with the names of the different types of fuses as I was confusing 'Micro' with what looks to be 'Low Profile Mini': I am assuming that the two types of Mini aren't interchangeable - that would make things too easy.

Well done in getting so far - it sounds as though the whole engine needs to be soaked in light oil before you even start - lots of stuck bolts. I assume you have come across broken stud extractor sets such as: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/365271455086?_skw=bolt+extractor&itmmeta=01JGTSSAR4EK59KY5H0ADGDSTX&hash=item550be0156e:g:UbYAAOSw2mFlUZIp&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA0HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKkG6EKa5tVjRTqx5ve1SwAImdGHm98p%2BIA%2FgADz36B35L%2Bn2rtY5nbnJ%2Fh3rIr3OCmbsCYbk394w3uwfRDDLcBW0FU6MGkO1Lw2XquVJkKDgm9MM1dneyA%2BDdx7nAGqyg9SjqjfYYfAL3I35bxzHhzu9FKuKZ7V84zOzNBqfn%2BilIc4PqBolvLUoTOv5gGt%2BdgxYLVwKxmkl0GvpkOUvHJZUR7mLRamnDJ%2FejnUpMxcebIeldZ5cAC1WTgsmi9brss%3D|tkp%3ABk9SR56s5dmGZQ Good luck getting those stuck ones out.

I have also found these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/364658290292?_skw=Micro+Blade+Fuse+Adapter&itmmeta=01JGTP24G53WV6KM9H2VQ0BK6H&hash=item54e753ee74:g:oSMAAOSwV5BllNCw&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmxdoLQ0oMo4WJzuUWlOzgoK9fSfS4Y5b%2BwFfUl%2BTKKkulMP6XMTBwnupb8yHtMPz1Kn05MmsGsMMon%2BZZeTCAIVnP4sI4Kk8JELrKe6xi9fW33D%2BZNgK%2Bk%2FpSktSA4hsrkO4zRIAMNBz6UpWqahNU0cTv4uqgFMyWWQTUml1PbsATksCfTQn2N60RlWtnv4Bt%2FxK9TY36WxgJtiFeMJKYDY4t0Iq5nOmJUPXNpYvIy5FmB19XUpN%2FyRfL6mxfessj4%2FB3hW643uhwpTKbsr6%2BlCODV%2F42cleZ33BD3bMJC%2Bg%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBMmMiI1oZl which looks to be a good way of getting a fused 10A feed from any of the fuse boxes to whatever toys you want to fit. As my current setup is a rats-nest of extra cables clipped / spliced onto existing cables this would be a better way of doing things. The only downside (aside from a lot of work) is that you can't easily fit them back-to-back, though flipping one through 180 degrees would work you can only do that for two feeds next to each other. It would make extracting a fuse simpler though. The only thing lacking is a way of labelling the feeds.

There are others out there - for instance 1:18 Toyota Alphard Alloy MPV Car Diecast Model (Toy, Sound, Light & Pull Back): Which would command a fair bit of shelf space 🙂

True - there are different types in the various fuse boxes, so yeah they wouldn't be useful in all locations. The passenger foot-well fuses are micro while the fuses in the engine bay are mini (which I have found here: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/296789301797?_skw=Circuit+Breaker+Manual+Reset+Blade+Fuse+mini&itmmeta=01JGSDS05ND72BPY1QBA1SC3JF&hash=item451a055a25:g:68cAAOSw7GJnIazb&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAABEHoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKk9--Ax3tcGuTACybiuYm4inTmKZFaMLgO4s4oPpQjzs4QvDBsU%2BgoF%2FYw%2BWh4Xy0pzB4UBhDFji5rphRmwj1N%2FEF3%2FzT6L1UVt9y%2BcM6qVbP9doxHPkSC5xGnzTOSCERD5QIdTB9MyhmjDweX57Ic5vh7zfjYe6xc0TnfOVgkOAqk%2BEOBZq9JdXwpRtlz0uZGeG53o%2B2aGNvXRnIjVLxv0NdsdL%2BLacgv%2FQhyYqxsyTrwHmLodF0myp4G8sdHaaZQLdNm04M%2FKE4DUAiLOXQ5zhWowvx2pZQfKJ4t3PeugnsVLzYpE4ERCdBbKvbNTRUQhl6yC%2BNP8%2FwWIR5P3O67Z|tkp%3ABFBM-ILkrYZl) so they are useful for those at least. I can't find any micro versions though. I must admit that I am tempted to get a few and use them when an appropriate fuse goes.

Hi everyone, I don't know whether these are news to people but I have come across this today: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135474538300 which could mean that if a fuse blows it's a simple reset rather than finding where you have stored them from last time etc. What do people think?

I was able to fit a: CC stalk (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/184954212553), a cover (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/305765478269) and a replacement cable from a wiper stalk (https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126400441233), the one with the white connector goes to the CC stalk, to give the CC stalk some power I suspect. It worked straight away on my 2005 facelift model so I'm sure you will be fine to fit the equivalents - which may well be the same items. Good luck.

I assume that there is nothing blocking the door from closing? I would open the door and try manually 'closing' the lock with a screwdriver or something similar and see whether the lock itself works as intended. If it doesn't then I would start by checking feeds and earth connection to the lock - then check the fuses (though I can't find a reference to a fuse for the rear door lock so that may be a pointless effort).

Hi Melly - congratulations and welcome to the club. Have a good read around for ideas and peoples experiences. Not personally but mine had been imported in 2018 so it must have been sorted out then. I suspect the thing to do will be to write to DVLA to explain but I hope someone will be along with a proven idea. Only a simple one behind the second row seats to seperate our 'sleeping area' from our 'store' area. Ours came with curtains already fitted to the rear and side windows, which I assumed were standard fixtures. I needed to find some means to cover the windscreen and first row sides and ended up with a sort of umbrella for the first and magnetic screens for the latter.

I am getting the fog light sorted out on mine today as, when I pressed the button on the dash, the switch would light up but no new light would show on the back. I traced the feed to a coil of wire in the top of the boot - it had never been connected to anything though it had been through several MoTs in the UK! Anyway, I have ended up feeding the wire into the bumper area - currently it's connected to one of these: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082VH312R?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title - which is NOT an LED and also comes with no bulb or wiring, which I am currently hanging from one of the lower bumper supports as the 'strap' between it and the bumper has been broken off. I need to get the earth working but it will do the job of passing the MoT in April, and if I can get the LED reflectors sorted before then all the better, I can easily remove the hanging light. I just need to find out how to get the rear reflector strips off the bumper - it looks like I can either: 1) remove the bumper or 2) try and unscrew them from underneath Which will be easier / quicker? *** Update *** Well, that could have gone better. The fog light is working at least, so I moved onto trying to get the wing-mirror auto-retract module working but in the process I seem to have killed the sunroof, indicators and radio (at least). The whole lot is quite a tangle of extra wires accumulated over the 19 years of life it's had, as well as a very basic camper-van 'conversion' so trying to trace stuff is troublesome. If it wasn't so cold I would still be out there.

I don't like using the sill area as a jacking point and I found that putting a jack with a wood block under the sub-frame would lift the vehicle (a Citroen at the time) a treat - just being careful of pipes and not a part like the suspension arm that would move.

Thanks for the suggestion. I'm pretty sure it's in the middle but I will check tomorrow. Equally I guess it's possible that the switch is in the middle but the signal that says so isn't getting through.

I recall along time ago going over the tubes of the cooling system (of a totally different car) squeezing them to make sure the water moves around - obviously you don't want the radiator to be absolutely full at this point unless you like it bubbling out. Other items: check the tension of the water pump belt, you could try laying a sheet under the car and see if there are any water drips in case it's leaking out somewhere. It would be nice to check whether the water pump itself is working effectively but I don't know of a way. Get a sheet of cardboard or something and put it over the front of the radiator and see whether it makes a difference.

Give them a clean 🙂 apparently they run at a different voltage - 6v from what I remember from a previous post.

Update: So I have found out that lines 1 (blue) and 2 (yellow/green) are the lines that send the Mirrors Out and Mirrors In signals respectively. I proceeded to add the module, cutting the two wires and putting the module in between, feeding it a permanent 12V, the ACC 12v a ground connection . However, I seem to have blown the ACC 12v feed and somehow managed to make the touchscreen on the head unit not work also. So I have now reverted back to having to push a button to get the mirrors to (un)fold and having to not use the touchscreen. I have checked the fuses in the two boxes under the bonnet, they are ok and, reading the manual I can't see any in the passenger or drivers side that could be relevant - and as I am not an octopus I haven't been able to reach them to check. I suspect that there must be a fuse somewhere that I haven't found yet. 😞

Well - colour me surprised. I started up my Alphard on my drive (which slopes slightly) at dusk and was a little surprised to see two lights not just come on, but then move themselves up on the car parked opposite, they may then have moved down a bit. When I got back indoors I did a quick search and it looks like the Alphard has self-levelling headlights! who knew? I have been trying to fit the mirror auto open / close device and am almost there but I seem to have blown a fuse as the radio / display screen doesn't work, or the GPS HUD (and maybe some other stuff). Still tomorrow is another day, I wonder what surprises the Alphard has in store 🙂

In the grill - mine is just under the badge.

I would do a diagnostic test to see what comes out (if you have a diagnostic tester), but at a guess I would say it's likely to be a loose connection or earth - something that hasn't been put back properly after the recent work. Check battery terminals first and see whether they need tightening, then look around for loose cables.

Well a start might be here: https://www.amayama.com/en/genuine-catalogs/epc/toyota-japan/alphard/ANH10W/34483/engine/1702 but you should make sure that the model is correct. Also postage will be a factor I suspect (in this example the item is ukp 212.93 and postage is ukp 133.90 = 346.83). Getting the part number is key (in this example it would be 17430-20090) - then look on ebay or similar for any suitable matches. Expect results to come back as fitting an Estima or something as lots of parts are used in different models. I am sure you know already but just in case - Ebay has the ability to add your car and it can then find compatible items.

Currently I am trying to resolve this nice diagram: With the reality of the plug and cables that are actually at the back of the switch: It seems to me that the door mirror Return / Retraction motor must be sent a signal down the Green and Purple lines that switches between positive and negative to get it to go out and in respectively. I started testing with a Fluke to see which ones were being sent a 12v signal but just ended up confused. It seems that pins 1 (blue), 3 (grey) and 4 (white) are being used, and the polarity does change. It seems that: in 'Out' mode pin 1 is + and pin 4 is -, but in 'In' mode pin 1 is - and pin 3 is + I am now back indoors warming up. I have put everything back as it's starting to get dark now 😞 If anyone has a more useful line out for this plug / socket I would be all ears (eyes really I guess).

Would this one work? it's a post that I saw today on this very forum.

While you wait for someone more knowledgable: >3.5l v6 auto. I have a 2.4 and it's not bad I would say - the V6 seems to be preferred as it makes a nice burble noise and has more power, though it has a timing belt that needs changing every so often (the 2.4 has a chain which doesn't) >8 seats There are 7 and 8 seat options - mine has two fronts, a wide and normal middle and the rear seats taken out - though they can also (apparently) hold three people also. >Middle row can face rewards (I take it you mean rearwards 🙂 ) My 2005 (10 series facelift) version certainly can - I have heard that later ones can't but I don't know which ones I'm afraid - some models have seats like an air-liner which probably can't turn. >Reversing camera I would hazard a guess that they all have these though some head units might have been changed that might not have them connected - my 2005 has two side cameras in the grill but they don't work 😞 >Auto on lights Mine has but your mileage may vary so to speak - and currently I have a dash cover which I need to make a hole in so my car doesn't think its night all the time. >Side blind. A camera in the passenger mirror so you can see the kerb Are these two things? Mine has side blinds in the back and a secondary side-mirror so i can see the kerb - though no side camera. >Dual climate control in the front, rear climate for the rearmost seats Again mine has - there is a separate air-con for the rear above the offside rear wheel >Electric sliding passenger door Mine has the near side powered though others have both - someone recently posted they got a right dash switch and plugged it in to find their offside door was also powered. >Alloy wheels Again that will depend but I think they all might >Twin sunroof I can only speak for mine, which has a manual front sunroof and a larger electric rear sunroof >Privacy glass The glass around the back is darker, though it can be seen through if you really try. >Vellfire or Alphard? Personal choice - the Vellfire is supposed to be more sporty than the alphard but I cant really see the point 🙂 >Based on my Elgrand spec, which versions should I refine my searches to? Can't help much here I'm afraid as so much comes down to what you want and how much you want to spend. if you have UKP 100k sitting around you could probably get a brand new one imported. >What models/years/configs to avoid? They are all as, or more, reliable as you have any right to expect but I don't know of any that are worthy of any sort of an avoid label - sorry. >Is hybrid available on older Vellfires? No idea > Are they all ulez compliant, regardless of being hybrid or not? Some are - I think 2007 inwards - again you will have to await a more knowledgeable >Is the indicator stalk on the left? It's on the right in my Elgrand, they can be swapped if you are suitably skilled/confident (I am neither of these ) Umm - yes I think so. I suspect you can swap them around but I haven't taken a close enough to be sure I'm afraid. > Are the buttons and any on screen menus in English? Elgrand buttons have some in English and some in Japanese! The on screen menus can be changed on newer models with a magic box from some guys in Russia. Unfortunately, mine is too old for this. The original head units are in Japanese and offer all the functions but most people, for their own sanity, have changed them for EU versions that may not be able to do everything and usually have to play around with various adaptors to get them to work. >Do the radio's support Apple CarPlay? If it's a modern head unit then quite likely - I doubt the original japanese versions are. >Does the speedo also indicate mph? The Elgrand was kph and I had a new panel fitted. The odometer is digital and fixed at kph. Most have been converted to MPH but I have fitted a separate GPS HUD which can show both in my line of view, which I find preferable anyway. >Are most of the commonly used parts readily available? To some extent - certainly service items aren't too much of an issue at all - but things like replacement windscreens would be more of a tricky proposition, though someone was talking about their insurance company being able to source the correct windscreen without too much of an issue. >Any recommended dealers that would be open to part exchange? I live in Surrey and happy to travel for the right car. I bought my Ellie from West Yorkshire. I will let some one in surrey pick up on that one - I am in Stevenage and I don't know of any specialists in my area. >Has anyone used an importer and achieved a happy outcome? Others can answer this - we got ours from a company that was using them as campers. >I'm easily distracted by shiny things and would welcome your thoughts if this, constitutes good value? Well it's certainly shiny. If that is your budget then look around and see if there is anything that is shinier 🙂 >Is the criteria of newest model and lowest mileage the most appropriate? Or are high mileage examples likely to run and run? I can't (and won't) say for sure but generally speaking it's a good rule of thumb. Just bear in mind a well-maintained one that has been used as a taxi every day will be better than a zero miles one that has been kept in an open field for 15 years. >Do some models have twin electric sliding doors? See above >Do some models have a powered tailgate? Indeed some do - but not many. However you can get kits from the likes of aliexpress that can be fitted. I would post a link but I have been typing for a while and my wife want us to watch the TV now.