Gamith

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.

On the same wavelength - the car will be out of action for x time, with greater access (than normal) to a lot of kit that will mostly be what 22 years old? it makes sense to do as many extra jobs that would be needed sooner or later anyway. Also if you are spending £n on the engine gasket a few more £ now is still better than having to do a lot of the same work again.

If you are effectively taking the engine to pieces then maybe: the water pump (someone is selling one on here), flush out any gunge in the oil pan at the bottom, check maintenance schedule for anything associated any other gaskets or seals. umm there's probably other items. Oh, and as far as doing a head gasket change in situ I suspect with the 2.4 it should be possible, though if you have access to a winch, lots of room, time, and a few extra hands it would make it a simpler task to remove the engine first.

Ok - I have bought the AliExpress option and will have to wait for a week or so before I can get a chance to fit it - in the meantime ... prep work. So far I have the following: Test the Green (port 14) and Purple (port 13) wires for mirror Extend / Retract then cut Green and Purple wires (*) Colour Comment Wire Location Yellow Accessory feed Probably cigarette lighter feed or similar Grey Switch On of side mirror (+) I14/14 Green(*) wire connected to switch White Switch Off of side mirror (+) I14/13 Purple(*) wire connected to switch Black Ground Any Ground point Red 12v Any Permanent feed - probably behind radio Green Door Open signal from actuator can be left unconnected Blue Door Close signal from actuator can be left unconnected Orange Output for Closed side mirror (+) I14/14 Green(*) wire from switch Brown Output for Open side mirror (+) I14/13 Purple(*) wire from switch (*or whichever wires trigger the Extend / Retract!) In the meantime I have fitted a TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitor System), again fromAliExpress (https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005005905465911.html?spm=a2g0o.productlist.main.1.6b865283JLGH4i&algo_pvid=75d0a259-ba67-497b-825c-cf67009b0b56&algo_exp_id=75d0a259-ba67-497b-825c-cf67009b0b56-0&pdp_npi=4%40dis!GBP!28.12!12.09!!!250.40!107.66!%40211b80f717320535596441749e2186!12000034790308000!sea!UK!6132551462!X&curPageLogUid=dukR9zIg0r63&utparam-url=scene%3Asearch|query_from%3A) which installed really easily and seems to do the job, lets see whether the caps fall off or get nicked.

I suspect that every generation of dash will have the same cutouts for any function, whether there is a bulb behind it, let alone the actual functionality is another matter. If you're not sure about having 4WD take a look at your rear suspension - can you see a differential and driveshafts?

I have found the Autolite reference, which is probably the one. I will have to take a look at my engine bay when I get a chance - I assume there must have been an extension to the battery tray. I have asked on the original post as to how the second battery is mounted. Thanks for reminding me of that post.

Is the leisure battery on it's own tray, an extension or what? It looks like a good use of space. I have a leisure battery left over from un-converting mine from a crude camper and am keen to reuse it if at all possible.

Doh - you gave the details above, sorry for wasting time 🙂 Ah - this looks to be the battery you are using, which is designed 'specifically to [fit] under the seat base area of the Sevel X250/X290 based chassis. ie. the front seats of the Fiat Ducato, Peugeot Boxer or Citroen Relay chassis base that is favoured by many British and European motorhome / campervan manufacturers.' (from: https://www.rhinoinstalls.co.uk/KS-Energy-12V-200AH-Seat-Base-lithium-battery-with-Bluetooth-BMS). I will measure up my under-seat area but I suspect that, even with the insulation removed, a normal leisure battery won't fit under the drivers seat of a 2005 Alphard. I would need 22cm room.

Cool - I was thinking of putting a leisure battery under the drivers seat but wasn't sure there would be enough room - is that one a special size or anything and does the bottom of the seat touch it at all?

I have these pages from a manual for a 2002 to 2008 Alphard which looks to have been translated from Russian. I don't know how much help they might be as they can be quite difficult to read. Toyota Alphard 2002 - 2008 Manual translated from Russian - suspension.pdf

Nice, which dealer did you use? It might be useful for others 🙂

Still awaiting a Cruise Control topic (though a search shows a couple already - see https://uk.alphardclub.com/forums/topic/8214-cruise-control-for-2006-model-alphard/ Does yours have a little double mirror on the near-side of the bonnet? As can be seen here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Alphard#/media/File:Toyota_Alphard_(rear).jpg

No worries, just glad to get it cleared up. So a 2005 with a kerb mirror is a Gen 1 Face-lift after all 🙂 I think I used a Wikipedia page as a reference, so I would not be too surprised for that to be wrong.

I must admit to being a bit confused. >If you have a 4 speed auto box you have a Gen 1 >If you have a 5 speed auto box you have a Gen 1 Facelift. Mine is a May 2005 2.4l with the kerb mirror and the split lights at the back but it also has a 4 speed box (the 'manual' numbers go up to 3) >I have the fly by wire system also. I assumed mine was a Gen1 Facelift but the info above seems to contradict that.

There is a normally a permanent power as well as an ignition detect - so it's most likely to be a blown fuse or broken connection on the permanent power feed. When the car gets started the ignition detect will power up the car. I had one radio where the permanent and ignition detect were fed from the same source - the ignition detect. So in the sample pic below you would be checking the yellow wire, the red would be working Ok:

Alphard: 1. 2005 2. ANH10W 2.4l 3. Mostly Motorway 4. 29.57 Only used Tesco unleaded so far. First long trip, mostly motorways with some country roads early in the morning, so fairly light traffic and consistent. There was a little urban driving. Went from top-up to top-up a a trip reset and got: Metric Imperial Kilometers 525.00 326.22 Miles top up 66.66 price per litre 1.33 litres bought 50.16 11.03 Gallons KpL 10.47 29.57 MpG Which is probably close to a best case scenario. I have removed the rather messy camper conversion and it's now basically a 5 seat van. I tried to use the cruise control when I could but on the journey back the traffic was a little too busy to allow that a lot of the time. Still - I'm quite pleased that a long journey isn't too far down on the economy scale.

Yep, a picture might help, and I'm not fussed about my carpets - they fit well and don't move around.

I can't say that I have - I have no issues with my pedals - I assume yours are like mine?

If you are handy (if not take it to a garage) I would put it up on axle stands (so the front wheels are off the ground and it's all stable) and then see what you can find that might be moving, I would suspect that it's probably one or more worn bearings but it might take some finding. See whether the wheels move when you shake then left-right, up-down or clockwise-anti-clockwise. Do the driveshafts move in and out Does the steering rack rattle (try the steering wheel first - maybe the steering column is loose somewhere) Are the brake calipers bolted on check the anti-roll bar for movement. Basically take a small crowbar and see what moves - you would need to emulate a 2-ton vehicle going over a bump so good luck. That's all I can think of off-hand.

Have you tried https://www.amayama.com/en/genuine-catalogs/toyota/alphard?

I have found the attached which may be of help (though there is no indication of years covered). Automatic light control.pdf

Ah it turns out that: 'Car Cruise Switch Dust Cover For Toyota Brevis / Land Cruiser Prado/ Lexus GX470' - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394985766079 - £12.88 + p&p = £15.46' is black rather than grey (which is entirely my fault for not noticing) so it doesn't quite match, but it does fit at least.

Looks like mine is not ULEZ compliant 😞

One of my scanned manuals has this: