MR2 Roadster

[Craikeybaby]

Yesterday I gave the MR2 a clean and applied some stickers for the trip to Le Mans next week:

MR2 stickered up for Le Mans by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

As I've got builders round, building a garage for the MR2, I've been driving to work so I can get home quickly if needed and I've found myself not bothering to drop the hood - which would have never happened on my MX-5s, the hood mechanism is just that bit more awkward, which means I don't really drop the hood as much, which is a shame.

[Craikeybaby]

I'm back from a brilliant weekend at Le Mans, we managed to fit all our camping kit & luggage in the car, so I'm fairly sure I'd be able to do a decent European tour next.

The MR2 didn't miss a beat for the 1000 mile trip, except for the check engine light illuminating on the way back to the campsite from Arnage. I checked the engine, as much as I could in a French field and as it seemed fine I drove the 500 miles home. Performance, economy and temperatures all seemed fine, so I'm not too worried.

I've been meaning to get a fault code reader for a while, so this is the kick I need to buy one.

I wonder if it is something linked to the emissions fail at MOT time.

[Craikeybaby]

I think if was more it didn't go out when I started the car, but can't be sure. You're the second person to have said O2 sensor - are they a DIY fix?

[Craikeybaby]

Interesting, you seem to be having a lot of the same problems as me - my radiator was shot, but caught it before it leaked.

What took are you using for the fault code reads?

[Craikeybaby]

Thanks, I'll have a look later, do the fault code readers say which of the 3 sensors it is?

[Craikeybaby]

Thanks, I've ordered a fault code reader, so will see how I get on.

Last night I worked out the fuel economy from the last tank and it hit 36mpg - which is the highests I've had it, although I'm guessing that is more to do with the journey being all motorway, rather than whatever fault is on the engine.

[Craikeybaby]

Hi! My Dad did find that amusing!

[Craikeybaby]

The fault code reader has arried and as predicted by deadmau5, it is an O2 sensor:

DTC on the MR2 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

From what I can tell it should be an easy fix, so that is going to be the first job to do when my garage is finished next week!

[Craikeybaby]

Thanks, we're used to wild camping, so tend to travel quite light - not having to cook etc helped.

[Craikeybaby]

Thanks, I've ordered one and the sensor socket to go with it and a 1/2" to 3/8" adaptor as the 1/2" sockets all looked a bit cheap and nasty and I don't have a 3/8" ratchet

I had a quick look in the engine bay and the sensors seem surprisingly easy to access, so when the bits arrive I'll give it a go.

[Craikeybaby]

Finally got the bits together today, after ordering from a useless eBay seller who was listing items he didn't have in stock, then unfortunately his alter ego, who surprisingly also didn't have the item in stock. I got the items on the third attempt, but by then I was already on holiday

In the end it took me longer to drive to the post office to collect the parcel than it did to swap the sensors over. Of course I had to take the MR2 out for a hoon to make sure everything was working right. I noticed straight away that the steering was off, so went back home to check the tyre pressures - one was 6psi low, so I'll need to keep an eye on that. After topping up the tyres I had a great drive, and fell in love with the MR2 again.

[Craikeybaby]

fk! fk! fk!


Doh! by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

MR2 spent its first night tucked up in the garage, but it turns out that I can't turn left out of my garage onto the road and ended up scraping a concrete fence post mid 5 point turn. Gutted. *hands in man card*

[Craikeybaby]

Took the MR2 to a local well regarded body shop and they said £400 to repair the damage to the door and 3/4 panel, which isn't as bad as I was expecting.

Although the M2 seems to be showing its displeasure at being scraped on a fence post, as the clutch is now slipping.

[Craikeybaby]

That's good to know! Mine is only on 45k, but the last year has either been town driving, or hooning, which I guess isn't best for the clutch.

Just tried to look at my local specialist, but it seems he temporarily closed down at the end of last month while he looks of new premises. Hopefully he'll be back up and running by the time I can afford to have the work done.

[Craikeybaby]

MR2 dropped off at the body shop to have the scrapes on the near side sorted out. I left it parked up with a Boxster, a 997 and an SL Pagoda, so in good company!

[Craikeybaby]

I've heard of a few going at under 50k too.

[Craikeybaby]

What should I be worried about?

[Craikeybaby]

Thanks! I'd read about the precat issue, hence getting a facelift. Cross member is on my list of things to check, as are squeaky brakes, which hopefully isn't a sticking caliper - I had enough of them to deal with on my first MX-5 (before it rusted away ).

Edited by Craikeybaby on Friday 3rd October 12:49

[Craikeybaby]

I've not updated this for a while, but the MR2 has had a varied September, whilst I was away on holiday it went to Manhattan Motors in Coventry to have the passenger door and rear 3/4 panel resprayed, after I scraped it on my garage.

After that I did about 1,000 miles in it over a week, going to the PHSS at Silverstone:

PistonHeads Sunday Service Silverstone September 2014 by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

Then up to Yorkshire for a long weekend. We managed to fit our weekend bags in - and had enough space that the missus could do some shopping too. I had been looking forward to taking it for a hoon over the North York Moors, but the weather was pretty crap, so couldn't see much:

MR2 North York Moors by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

Since then it has been parked on my drive, as I have been in Japan for business. The reason it is on my drive is that it's space in the garage is occupied by an Elise (unfortunately not mine):

Lotus in the garage by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

[Craikeybaby]

I really like it, I've also had a couple of MX-5s and they would still be my choice for a daily driver, but as a fun weekend car the MR2 feels more special. The handling limits are higher, but it is snappier and of course, they aren't particularly partical without a boot.

The pre-facelift models are meant to have engine issues, hence I went for a facelifted one.