hi all, another first timer on the site... which considering I have had my H reg Royal Lounge for over 3 years is a bit odd, but I only found the site a couple of days ago when we discovered a pool of fluid under the van (a real bummer 'cos I am only just getting back into driving after a couple of bad years with knee, back and shoulder trouble _ right side affected so even auto is hard to manage). Topped resovoir up, still full next morning, but when leaving a T**** store only got a few yards before horrendous noise (to me where my 'baby' is involved) and the resovoir was empty... this is no more than mile from home... so toppped up again and got about halfway home and it started again..... nursed last few yards and it was empty again...... pouring out of 'both sides' according to my 'better half', and with the limited access to see what is happening it looks as if she is off the road for a couple of weeks before we can ge her into local (on T) garage (he does all our MOT's and other work) AND not sure he is going to really know what to look for/do with her..... please is there ANYONE out there who has ANY dea what we should be looking for/at to get her going again ??
Have to admit that ageand "infirmaties" make DIY very difficult for us nowadays.... but ANY little bit of info. or help would be grately appreciated, also does anyone else ever have problems with starting... she has an immobiliser fitted and I used to think that was to blame, new battery does not even solve problem.. and it starts after being left alone for 5 to 10 mins. usually with no way of tracing any fault.
Other than that I love her to bits, she got me driving again when I had been "off the road" for 3 years after a stupid, slow speed, rear end shunt (I was actually stationary!) on the m/way sliproad in Slough in June '98 which damaged my shoulder and neck/back (I was driving a Mondeo Estate - I like 'larger' vehicles - prev. into Peugot 504/5 estates I had only had for 6 weeks - without the towbar it would have been written off !!)...so HELP, please, before I 'lose it' again and can't face driving and end up "house bound".... at 48 !! Cheers, and thanks in advance for ANY help.

- (#12865) Mitch, 19 Aug 04 03:11

Noise likely to be the pump trying to pump air and/or the rack. Suspect a seal gone or one of the hose/pipes leaking. Should not be a major job to fix and get you moving again.

- (#12865) Clive (Bristol), 19 Aug 04 07:26

Thanks for your input Clive, gave other half courage to see if he could get the offending hose off. After fighting seat, floorpan and alternator etc. he finally managed it, (dodgy back not helping) and what a hose.. with all its added bits and shaping.. still local Toyota dealer went thru' comp. and pics. to find right one (Yeomans in Worthing) only unpleasant bit is the £94 to get part from Japan, due in 1/9.. Youth would have been an advantage in this case, but we are well past that, still job half done so far, just praying it goes back together a lot easier than getting it off. Will update later.. cheers for a brilliant site... at least it is not just us having odd probs. Would ask how to replace rear aircon. belt... but do NOT think I could face that... too many things in the way and the pulley is seized... lots of smoke from underneath when it went a couple of years ago, we cope without it so... Sticking to "easy" jobs in future. Mitch

- (#12865) mitch, 24 Aug 04 07:14