Toyota MR2 Roadster
2000 Toyota MR2 Roadster
Owned by Sam Dawson (sam.dawson@bauermedia.co.uk) Time owned 14 months Latest/total mileage 28/89,955 Latest/total costs £170/£1883 Previously Took to the track at Castle Combe
It’s probably time to do something about the timebomb sitting in the MR2’S engine bay. You see, in order to pass Californian emissions tests, Toyota fitted the MR2’S 1ZZ-FE engine with a pre-catalyser. This loop of pipework and ceramics recirculates exhaust gases on the fast-idle cycle. However, heating and cooling has a habit, over time, of causing the ceramic rings in the catalysers to crack, sending shards into the combustion chambers. Not ideal if it would be making regular assaults on the rev limiter in future. Thankfully the pre-cats aren’t essential for UK MOT tests, and Japanese sports car specialist Gravity Performance sells a kit to replace the system with a more straightforward manifold. Automaster, a local independent exhaust specialist, confirmed that it would be able to fit it.
I jumped in the MR2 to drive it over, turned the ignition key and nothing happened. Admittedly, because of sub-zero temperatures and the gritters being out in force, I hadn’t used the MR2 for two weeks, so I figured it just needed jump-starting. I hooked it up to my Honda Civic, but all it mustered was a couple of slow crawls of the rotor arm round the distributor and a few clicks from the fuel pump before the car gave up. I called out the AA.
‘What have you killed this time?’ asked Ian, my yellow-jacketed saviour. He attached his diagnostic equipment; the MR2’S eight-month-old battery contained just one amp of starting power. There must be a parasitic drain in the electrical system.
Thankfully, the MR2 started following more industrial intervention with Ian’s jump-pack, and I drove straight round to Automaster. However, rather than enjoying judicious throttle prods safe in the knowledge that there’s no longer any ceramic nasties threatening to pebbledash the inlet valves, it looks like some day soon will be spent with a multimeter, working out what’s eating all my electricity.
My last MR2 did this to me too, if you remember? Last time it turned out to be the stereo amp that refused to switch off. This time I suspect it’s either that or the highly effective but slightly hyperactive aftermarket Sigma alarm and immobiliser system. Either way, trusted electricians Grimwood’s will no doubt get a call soon. As will I, from Automaster, probably telling me that yes, the MR2 has its new manifold, and is ready to be pushed home…