Discussion
I had a double MR2 fail today. I drove it to work in the centre of Birmingham as all the trains were cancelled today.
I got back to my car after work and it wouldn’t unlock with the remote. Which was when I realised that the key has disintegrated in my pocket. Not to worry, I could unlock the car the old-fashioned way, with the lock on the door.
The lack of alarm was the first sign that something more serious was wrong, but I only realised the seriousness of the problem when I tried to start the engine and there was nothing. Sitting in my dead car I realised that I’d left my lights on all day - I remember getting out of the car with arms full off stuff, so I had left the key in the ignition, which sounds an alarm. I think I must have heard the buzzing and thought it was the "you have left your keys in the ignition" alarm, rather than the "you have left your lights on" alarm. Before I walked to the office I grabbed the key out of the ignition and shut the door.
Of course, my battery booster pack was in my van, at home, because that had a flat battery a few months back, so I couldn't rescue myself. There was already an AA man changing a wheel for another car park customer but he couldn’t help me because he “isn’t insured to” (it was worth an ask), so I had to try my cheap AutoAid breakdown cover. I have heard a few nightmare stories about long waits for the RAC recently, so I was expecting a long evening, but they had someone out to me within 30 minutes, and it took him about 30 seconds to get my car started.
It is now tucked up in the garage, connected to the battery conditioner. And I need to sort out a spare key - which seems fairly cheap, as I can just swap the innards into a new key, and I have passed the first hurdle, which was locating the spare key, which has the serial number tag still attached to it.
I got back to my car after work and it wouldn’t unlock with the remote. Which was when I realised that the key has disintegrated in my pocket. Not to worry, I could unlock the car the old-fashioned way, with the lock on the door.
The lack of alarm was the first sign that something more serious was wrong, but I only realised the seriousness of the problem when I tried to start the engine and there was nothing. Sitting in my dead car I realised that I’d left my lights on all day - I remember getting out of the car with arms full off stuff, so I had left the key in the ignition, which sounds an alarm. I think I must have heard the buzzing and thought it was the "you have left your keys in the ignition" alarm, rather than the "you have left your lights on" alarm. Before I walked to the office I grabbed the key out of the ignition and shut the door.
Of course, my battery booster pack was in my van, at home, because that had a flat battery a few months back, so I couldn't rescue myself. There was already an AA man changing a wheel for another car park customer but he couldn’t help me because he “isn’t insured to” (it was worth an ask), so I had to try my cheap AutoAid breakdown cover. I have heard a few nightmare stories about long waits for the RAC recently, so I was expecting a long evening, but they had someone out to me within 30 minutes, and it took him about 30 seconds to get my car started.
It is now tucked up in the garage, connected to the battery conditioner. And I need to sort out a spare key - which seems fairly cheap, as I can just swap the innards into a new key, and I have passed the first hurdle, which was locating the spare key, which has the serial number tag still attached to it.
Sorting the key was easier than expected - https://www.keymoon.uk had a cut key out to me next day. I put the innards of my old key in and it just worked. For a test drive, I took the car to do the weekly shop (it is possible) and to get petrol - I had managed 339 miles on the tank, which I think is a personal record.
I also noticed that I had gone over the 2,000 mile restriction on my insurance, it is due for renewal next week, so I have upped it to 3,000 miles for next year.
I also noticed that I had gone over the 2,000 mile restriction on my insurance, it is due for renewal next week, so I have upped it to 3,000 miles for next year.
Edited by Craikeybaby on Tuesday 23 August 08:30
MR2 Roadster Peak District by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
MOT is booked for next week, so thought it best to take the MR2 for a good blast this weekend - I went up to the Peak District for breakfast and was reminded just how fun the little MR2 is!
I have my fingers crossed for the MOT - it has had new tyres and rear subframe this year, so there *shouldn't* be anything to worry about...
I should have updated this a few weeks back - but it passed, without any advisories.
MOT Passed by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Ended up using it a fair bit over the past few weeks, ending up doing a full tank of fuel in less than 10 days. I really should give it a wash/detail before the really bad weather starts.
MOT Passed by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
Ended up using it a fair bit over the past few weeks, ending up doing a full tank of fuel in less than 10 days. I really should give it a wash/detail before the really bad weather starts.
Snow and Rocks said:
We're looking for a car for my girlfriend to use as a fun runaround/station car and pretty tempted by one of these.
The rusty subframe seems to be a common issue, how much are we talking to get it sorted out (replaced?).
Also, any taller drivers tried one? I'm 6ft2 and can happily drive our Boxster 986 but an MX5 I tried in the showroom felt pretty tight. How do these compare?
It was just over £1k to get it sorted at a specialist, plus a few weeks wait for the part.The rusty subframe seems to be a common issue, how much are we talking to get it sorted out (replaced?).
Also, any taller drivers tried one? I'm 6ft2 and can happily drive our Boxster 986 but an MX5 I tried in the showroom felt pretty tight. How do these compare?
A mini update on the MR2 - with all the good weather, and mostly salt-free roads we had last month I have been using it loads (relatively speaking). Mostly for trips to Birmingham, although it has had a few Sunday morning hoons too. It is absolutely filthy at the moment though.
As the weather has turned, it will be back in the garage until the roads are clear of salt. Hopefully that will be before it is booked to go to Rogue Motorsport for a service, and to finally get the pre-cats removed.
As the weather has turned, it will be back in the garage until the roads are clear of salt. Hopefully that will be before it is booked to go to Rogue Motorsport for a service, and to finally get the pre-cats removed.
I dropped the MR2 over at Rogue Motorsport - it is the first time I have driven it in a few weeks, and it was good to take it for a blast.
It is at Rogue for:
It is at Rogue for:
- Service
- Brake fluid
- Pre-cat removal (only been on my todo list for 9 and a bit years...)
- Investigate handbrake (probably an issue with the cables)
paulguitar said:
Mine still has its pre cats. Do you know what the charge is likely to be to remove them?
2 hours work - assuming no issues with the bolts. However I know they had issues with the bolts at one end of the manifold last year when they did the subframe, so hopefully at least those ones shouldn't cause too much trouble.Gary C said:
I had an issue with my handbrake when it was about 3 months old. The self adjusters were too exposed to crap and easily got stuck meaning they didn't compensate for wear.
Dont know if they covered them in later models but I had to keep cleaning and greasing mine.
They are a notoriously crap design, I think I am lucky that I have avoided handbrake issues for the 9 and a bit years I have had the car. Or maybe it is part luck and part parking in the garage with the handbrake off.Dont know if they covered them in later models but I had to keep cleaning and greasing mine.
Craikeybaby said:
2 hours work - assuming no issues with the bolts. However I know they had issues with the bolts at one end of the manifold last year when they did the subframe, so hopefully at least those ones shouldn't cause too much trouble.
I probably shouldn't have said that - they needed to cut the heads off some of the bolts, the bill was a fair bit bigger than a usual service too. It may have been because I had the roof up (it was raining cats and dogs) but it seemed louder on the drive home. What I wasn't expecting after a fluid change was that the brakes felt even better than they did before. I was half expecting to need new handbrake cables, but after adjustment, it feels spot on again. The only point that Rogue picked up was that there is some corrosion underneath, which I'll have a look at later in the year. I guess that is the downside of having used it more this winter.Hopefully I'll be able to give it a wash before going up the hill at the Prescott PHSS as it is absolutely filthy.
I had a great trip to the Prescott PHSS earlier in the month - the MR2 was good fun up the hill climb. I think it was one of those situations where a smaller footprint was more beneficial than lots of power. It was pretty narrow!
After that I parked the Roadster in the garage and have not driven it, life was much too hectic. I could have taken it to work yesterday, but decided to take the train - and didn't get home until 8pm because of "an issue with overhead wires". Should have driven.
Or maybe not! I took my son to his swimming lesson, he loved being picked up from school in the sportscar with the roof down! As we were approaching the swimming pool I was behind a bus. I could smell a burnt brakes smell, which I just blamed on the bus. Until we parked up, and I could still smell brakes. The right rear brake calliper was smoking, and the wheel was pretty warm. It didn't seem as bad on the way home, but I will check it out tomorrow. I am meant to be going to the Bicester Scramble on Sunday, so hopefully the MR2 is fit! I suppose that I am lucky I got the train yesterday - an issue with the car through the roadworks on the M6, or on the Aston Expressway into Birmingham would not have been fun.
After that I parked the Roadster in the garage and have not driven it, life was much too hectic. I could have taken it to work yesterday, but decided to take the train - and didn't get home until 8pm because of "an issue with overhead wires". Should have driven.
Or maybe not! I took my son to his swimming lesson, he loved being picked up from school in the sportscar with the roof down! As we were approaching the swimming pool I was behind a bus. I could smell a burnt brakes smell, which I just blamed on the bus. Until we parked up, and I could still smell brakes. The right rear brake calliper was smoking, and the wheel was pretty warm. It didn't seem as bad on the way home, but I will check it out tomorrow. I am meant to be going to the Bicester Scramble on Sunday, so hopefully the MR2 is fit! I suppose that I am lucky I got the train yesterday - an issue with the car through the roadworks on the M6, or on the Aston Expressway into Birmingham would not have been fun.
The brakes have been fine since my last update - thankfully. I have just been using the MR2 to commute into Birmingham a few times a month and run errands locally. Except for last night, when I managed to have a brilliant drive. I had to pick my son up from the in-laws, and we took the long way home. It was a cool, dry evening, so naturally, we had the roof down. Somehow we managed to time it just right so we had a 1o mile stretch of B road with no traffic in front of us! It was one of the best drives I have had for years.
It is the annual MR2 event at Hatton this weekend, so will try to give the Roadster a wash and pop down for a few hours.
It is the annual MR2 event at Hatton this weekend, so will try to give the Roadster a wash and pop down for a few hours.
This is my 10,000th post on PH, so I thought I should make it on my longest running thread. Even if there is not that much to report. The MR2 keeps running nicely, although it is really only being used for commuting and local errands at the moment.
It was fun taking it down the the national MR2 show with my youngest son a few weeks back:
LRCV0081 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
We also recently went to watch the MR2 racing at Mallory Park, but as I had to take both my sons to that we went in the van.
The only other update is that someone bumped into my wife's car last week, so it is booked into a local bodyshop to get the resulting bumper scuff removed. If they do a decent job, I'll also sent the MR2 there to get a few bits tidied up.
It was fun taking it down the the national MR2 show with my youngest son a few weeks back:
LRCV0081 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr
We also recently went to watch the MR2 racing at Mallory Park, but as I had to take both my sons to that we went in the van.
The only other update is that someone bumped into my wife's car last week, so it is booked into a local bodyshop to get the resulting bumper scuff removed. If they do a decent job, I'll also sent the MR2 there to get a few bits tidied up.
It seems to be a bit feast and famine for the MR2 at the moment, I barely drove it for weeks when the weather was bad, then over the last 2 weekends I've gone through a full tank of petrol! First was PH25, via some family visits in the Cotswolds, a few local trips, a trip to the office in central Birmingham, then last weekend I was on a course up in the Peak District. It was a good drive there, and back late at night, with the roof down, but sadly seemed to spend most of the time stuck behind traffic. Still, the scenic route in the Roadster is better than the motorway route in my van.
As it is holiday time now, the MR2 is tucked up in the garage, on the trickle charger, waiting what will hopefully be an Indian summer and some hooning!
As it is holiday time now, the MR2 is tucked up in the garage, on the trickle charger, waiting what will hopefully be an Indian summer and some hooning!
Finally got a chance to de-poo the Roadster - it actually looks OK for a 19 year old car!
Whilst drying it, I noticed that the rubber seal on the scuttle panel had broken and was just flapping around. I have pushed it back in to place, but it looks like I will need to replace the while scuttle panel trim. Hopefully I can get one from a breaker.
Whilst drying it, I noticed that the rubber seal on the scuttle panel had broken and was just flapping around. I have pushed it back in to place, but it looks like I will need to replace the while scuttle panel trim. Hopefully I can get one from a breaker.
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