Precat removal - How I did it...

[Tem]

Just to be sure :
can somebody confirms that removing them doesn't make the car run louder ?

I currently have a TRD header, and with my Remus exhaust, the sound is too high for my wife

Cat=Muffler

Things will get louder, if you remove a cat. I suppose a catless stock header should sound about the same as a TRD header...

[markiii]

I would argue boomier than the TRD as you have 2 resonance chambers.

[dieamond]

The main problem (I've had it with the PPE ehader, so I think the Remus exhaust is just not header compliant :p) is a very bass loud sound around 3000 RPM which disturbs her...

I'm really affraid that it will be the same with a gutted stock header
The sound on liz car, which has an aftermarket exhaust goes in this direction...

GSB > you can find TRD headers for a good price somewhere close to me

[Tem]

a very bass loud sound around 3000 RPM which disturbs her...

Then keep revving above that and if she nags, tell her she wanted it

Problem solved

[dieamond]

Thanks Tem

[c_a_r_t_e_r]

The main problem (I've had it with the PPE ehader, so I think the Remus exhaust is just not header compliant :p) is a very bass loud sound around 3000 RPM which disturbs her...

I have the Remus, (but still have pre-cats.. ) and it makes a fantastic very loud bass sound at about 1600 rpm.. which co-incidentally is almost exactly 30mph in 4th gear!

I'm just hoping it'll get louder when I eventually gut my pre-cats!

Tim

[John Woodward]

Yup, definately louder on mine, but definately in a good way.......

[dieamond]

I'm just hoping it'll get louder when I eventually gut my pre-cats!

You will

Sound is really beautifull with a freed header

[MR2 Nut]

Hi everyone,
I am new to your website and after reading all the information written about the precat problem, I decided to take the proactive approach and remove mine early on. My spyder is an 03 with 1555 miles on it.

I used the detained instructiions written here and everything came apart quite easily. I did have to use an off-set 12mm wrench for the upper left-hand nut on the exhaust manifold ( A deep-well socket will not fit in there). I used lots of PB Blaster on the nuts/bolts and let this sit awhile before I started. Pretty easy job, if I can do it most anyone can.

I was really suprised at how easily the material crumbled when I was gutting the thing. Scarry!!!! Maybe Toyota could put a wire mesh screen on both ends of the precat. That may help some but given the fact that this material crumbles into very small particles, the screen may not help either.

I took my spyder on a short (95 mile, country roads, 100-110 mph) test drive after I finished and I noticed that the car did seem to breathe/tach easier. The exhaust note is a little louder and to my ears quite pleasent.

Since this mod was done on a new car I will keep everyone posted on how things turn out.

Again, thanks everyone.
Ron

[odub]

Right, who wants to gut my pre-cats for me?

I have no mechanical knowledge, non of the apparatus and a good awfull fear of ruining my car.

I'm willing to pay.

go on, who wants it?

[John Woodward]

Right, who wants to gut my pre-cats for me?

I have no mechanical knowledge, non of the apparatus and a good awfull fear of ruining my car.

I'm willing to pay.

go on, who wants it?

Heh heh.......I was and am exactly the same. I went to the pre-cat gutting meet and the Grant, the star did mine, but I reckon he might be a bit peed off with doing them now!!!

I am sure someone might be willing to chip in!!!

[MR2 Nut]

Right, who wants to gut my pre-cats for me?

I have no mechanical knowledge, non of the apparatus and a good awfull fear of ruining my car.

I'm willing to pay.

go on, who wants it?

I could help but I think shipping would be kinda pricy

Oh by the way, both upper and lower surfaces of my '03 precats were flat. I used a 2 foot breaker bar to loosen the lower precat manifold bolts. Those suckers are tight even on a new car.

[Slacey]

You're a bit far away from me for my services to be of any use, but if anyone in the Midlands wants a hand, I'd be willing to help.

[dieamond]

Did mine tonight

I'm waiting for some DEI tape tio put around the header before putting it back in, installation wednesday next week I would say.

[Tomr2]

gonna get myself a pair of the gaskets that you need tommorrow and *hopefully* be attempting it friday - if the whethers nice!

[Bongo]

My O2's still stuck - still i should have time for a visit to Mr T tomorrow

[dieamond]

Tip's of the day :
don't do this with bare arms and wear some gloves

I'm scratching like an old dog even after 2 showers :/

[GSB]

Tip's of the day :
don't do this with bare arms and wear some gloves

I'm scratching like an old dog even after 2 showers :/

Oops, I suppose I should have written something like that into the original instructions, but several years of exposure to the stuff mean that I dont really feel it anymore!

[Tem]

Tip's of the day :
don't do this with bare arms and wear some gloves

I'm scratching like an old dog even after 2 showers :/

I didn't have an issue with hands But I figured it can't be a good idea to breath that stuff, so I used a mask...

[j80rjo]

Guys, could just getting a performance manifold fitted take all the worry away.

Plus you get a bit more bhp ?

james

[Slacey]

Guys, could just getting a performance manifold fitted take all the worry away.

Plus you get a bit more bhp ?

Yes... but it will cost you in the region of £300+

Gutting is free, and if you look at the TRD header, you now have something VERY similar

[Tem]

Yes... but it will cost you in the region of £300+

The PPE manifold was about £240 shipped to Finland Made the rest of the pipe myself paying ~£50 for the parts...I think that's a great value for money. Where else could you get nice extra power and significant weight reduction far away from the centre for that kind of money

(had already killed my precats earlier for £0)

[sonar]

anyone in US have their pre-cats gutted? how much to they cost if u take it to a shop to do it? what type of shop should i take to? a muffler shop?
i just got mine 00' MR-2 last week and Im worried about this problem. is the pre-cat failure problem noticeable or it is a "instant death" problem that will blow the engine?
thanks!

Richard

[Tem]

anyone in US have their pre-cats gutted? how much to they cost if u take it to a shop to do it? what type of shop should i take to? a muffler shop?

There are several people on www.spyderchat.com (US based Spydersite) who have done this. Apparently you can't find a shop in US to do this, cause it's illegal...or at least anyone won't name any shops out loud

is the pre-cat failure problem noticeable or it is a "instant death" problem that will blow the engine?

Once you notice it, it's already too far. Probably the only way to catch this in time is to check the precats regularly, like every time you fill up. It just gets very boring very fast

[Noble]

Is there a quick fix for an engine that has just started to suffer as a consequence of pre-cat failure?

[markiii]

no fix, you can band aid it, but ultimately if thats the proble, by by engine

[Noble]

no fix, you can band aid it, but ultimately if thats the proble, by by engine

Band aid it? Like how? I suppose once it's in its further stages of breakdown its a new block job or at least a rebore and pistons...

[markiii]

band aid, gut the precats so it can't get worse, the just keep an eye on the oil level and top up as appropriate. You will get through increasing large amounts of oil as it gets worse, but get those precats out ASAP.

none of this will be anything other than an excersise in putting of the inevitable, new engine or at least short block.

if you gut the precats though you may at least save you main cat.

[GSB]

Of course this is assuming your engine is already suffering "The Symptoms"

Correct me if I'm wrong, but havent you only had the car about 5 minutes? Is it possible you're just reading all this and expecting the worst?

Seeing as your car is out of warranty, I'd gut the cats anyway... You may not have a problem with them at all, but, in my experience, it certainly stops you worrying about them...

If your cats have broken down, and your car is consuming vast quantities of oil, then "band aid" is about right. But some cars do use more oil that others, mines never used a drop, whilst some owners have reported that they do have to top up now and again. Both are normal.

[Noble]

No I haven't had the car long and I don't actually know for sure if it is burning oil, it's just that I can smell it every now and then. As I said in another post, it's not often but a couple of times per day I'll smell the burnt oil. I'm sure I've got nothing to worry about but I will definately be gutting the pre-cats as soon as the weather clears up just as a preventative measure.

cheers