north east firm that will remove Pre-cats

[ChrisHumes]

would anyone have a map of where s-cars in, im going there tomorrow!

[Anonymous]

No map I found it OK. One word of warning, it is actually inside a big compound which has lots of Electrolux (I think) signs on it. So you actually need to talk to the bloke on the gate to get let in.

I'm assuming its still in the same place. They were talking about moving somewhere else when I was there.

[Anonymous]

S-cars is still in the same place and your right northum it is on the electrolux site, spenny moor ind est , between spennymoor and a small village called kirk merrington .

[ChrisHumes]

just to let you guys know I went there last friday to have pre-cats removed.

S-cars knows toyota's and had my car finished in hour and a half. top guys.

i really recommend getting this done, car now sounds fantastic with H&S, Apexi intake and precats removed, its backfiring and rumbling away nicely!

He told me the garage was moving out of the industrial estate, and next to the main road in the next two weeks so ring before you go.

hope this helps people!

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

Just spoke to Chris at S-CARS. They have now re-located to just down the road behind the Frog and Ferret pub on the roundabout. If you are coming from the A1M then take the Durham services turn off at junction 61 and follow Spennymoor/Bishop Auckland. At 1st roundabout take a right, at 2nd roundabout go straight over ( there is a McDonalds on the roundabout ) 300 yards and there is a mini roundabout - keep left, 300 yards and you will come to a big roundabout - at this roundabout you will see the Frog and Ferret on the left, white and green pub, S-CARS is behind the pub.
I've got my MR-S booked in for Monday morning - will let you know how I get on. Quoted me £45 for the job...... Cracking value that considering the price of a new engine..!!

Cheers
Michael

[MR-S Turbo]

Aye deffo worth it for 45 quid.  It isnt worth getting your hands dirty for that type of money.  He does a top job.

[evileye_wrx]

Been down to S-Cars this morning for my TRD Quick Shifter fitted. They did a really good job and at a reasonable price too.

Michael's directions were spot on getting there.I found it no problem. It was coming back I got lost  s:roll: :roll: s:roll:  

Phil

[bigfootisblurry]

I know this is a real zombie thread but does anyone know if these cars are still working on/knowledgable about these cars?

[Carolyn]

These are quite simple cars  that mostly use parts that are in common with other Toyotas of the same period.

A well recommended local family-run garage will be able to do almost all jobs on one of these.

You really don't need a 'specialist'.

What special knowledge you might need is readily available right here, and it can be passed on to the mechanic of your choice.

[bigfootisblurry]

These are quite simple cars  that mostly use parts that are in common with other Toyotas of the same period.

A well recommended local family-run garage will be able to do almost all jobs on one of these.

You really don't need a 'specialist'.

What special knowledge you might need is readily available right here, and it can be passed on to the mechanic of your choice.

Thanks for that. To be honest, I was mostly wondering if they're still prepared to bash the living hell out of a manfiold with a chisel, my usual friendly mechanic is a little too "proper" for that job I suspect.

Just thinking ahead for buying a car as I don't have a driveway so DIY isn't really viable.

[tricky1138]

These are quite simple cars  that mostly use parts that are in common with other Toyotas of the same period.

A well recommended local family-run garage will be able to do almost all jobs on one of these.

You really don't need a 'specialist'.

What special knowledge you might need is readily available right here, and it can be passed on to the mechanic of your choice.

Thanks for that. To be honest, I was mostly wondering if they're still prepared to bash the living hell out of a manfiold with a chisel, my usual friendly mechanic is a little too "proper" for that job I suspect.

Just thinking ahead for buying a car as I don't have a driveway so DIY isn't really viable.

Bashing out is not recommended these days, replacing with a non precat manifold is the way forward.

Ask your friendly garage if they will do that?

[Ardent]

Same as the above 2 posts.

Option 3. Leave it be.

I would be more inclined to see the subframe is in good condition before worrying about pre cats.

[Joesson]

I bought my 2002 in June 2011, then it was considered correct to remove the precats. That is what I did and retained the OE manifold which again was not considered incorrect.
Then my car was 9 years old, the precats were perfect.
Today, the youngest of our cars is 14.
So, if the precats are still perfect (and that is considered to be an indicator of correct and regular oil and filter changes) as @ Ardent suggests an "Option 3" why not leave them in?
If they are less than perfect you have other things to consider.
Be aware that replacing the exhaust system is considered as a modification by car insurance companies.

[Ardent]

@bigfootisblurry
Quote
my usual friendly mechanic is a little too "proper" for that job I suspect.

Sounds exactly like the mechanic you want.

[bigfootisblurry]

All good points, well made. I'm perhaps getting ahead of myself here, I don't have a car yet.

[Ardent]

 

[Call the midlife!]

The law of averages now would probably work out in favour of you finding a car that had already had the manifold replaced or the precats knocked out of the original anyway.
And if it hadn't then chances are any garage would charge you the same to remove the original and fit a replacement so if you do the man maths you might as well pay another £120 or so for such as the toyosport manifold and some fresh crush rings and call it a job well done.
Or alternatively ask them to remove the original and then go for dinner while you nip home with it and remove the precats.

[AdamR28]

I'm about to remove my standard manifold and swap it for an eBay jobby, so there is an OE manifold going spare if you need one. Removing the pre-cats is really easy, literally smash them out and clean up.

However, as has been said, they don't all grenade themselves so maybe leave it be. My car has done 130k now and the service history is non existent, yet on inspection (lambda sensors out, peer in the hole) the pre-cats look just fine.

[Ardent]

I'm about to remove my standard manifold and swap it for an eBay jobby, so there is an OE manifold going spare if you need one. Removing the pre-cats is really easy, literally smash them out and clean up.

However, as has been said, they don't all grenade themselves so maybe leave it be. My car has done 130k now and the service history is non existent, yet on inspection (lambda sensors out, peer in the hole) the pre-cats look just fine.

Well well well.
That 2nd paragraph warms my heart. If only that info could get spread the same as pre cats = spontaneous implosion.

[Call the midlife!]

I'm about to remove my standard manifold and swap it for an eBay jobby, so there is an OE manifold going spare if you need one. Removing the pre-cats is really easy, literally smash them out and clean up.

However, as has been said, they don't all grenade themselves so maybe leave it be. My car has done 130k now and the service history is non existent, yet on inspection (lambda sensors out, peer in the hole) the pre-cats look just fine.

Well well well.
That 2nd paragraph warms my heart. If only that info could get spread the same as pre cats = spontaneous implosion.

Although this is indeed true, we should also bear in mind that they tend to fall out bottom first, even if they look reasonable from the top...😆

[Joesson]

I'm about to remove my standard manifold and swap it for an eBay jobby, so there is an OE manifold going spare if you need one. Removing the pre-cats is really easy, literally smash them out and clean up.

However, as has been said, they don't all grenade themselves so maybe leave it be. My car has done 130k now and the service history is non existent, yet on inspection (lambda sensors out, peer in the hole) the pre-cats look just fine.

Well well well.
That 2nd paragraph warms my heart. If only that info could get spread the same as pre cats = spontaneous implosion.

Although this is indeed true, we should also bear in mind that they tend to fall out bottom first, even if they look reasonable from the top...😆

Having had just the one 2 a 2002 with around 45k mileage when I bought it in 2011, this was before my finding the ROC, but there was plentiful mention about precats, on Spyderchat and elsewhere that I found at the time.
The consensus then was they are better out than in. Also that deterioration could be seen via the sensor ports, the top.
I removed my precats although perfectly healthy, all the way through.
I have not read previously of any failure being from "bottom first", nor do I understand how that would be possible. My understanding being that the pre cat material is damaged by excessive oil particles exiting the engine, this being top down.
NB
At the time of my "operation" it was widely mentioned that the pre cat material was likely injurious to health and a mask should be worn and care taken. I also found that the material is robust and takes some persuasion to be removed.

[Ardent]

I'm about to remove my standard manifold and swap it for an eBay jobby, so there is an OE manifold going spare if you need one. Removing the pre-cats is really easy, literally smash them out and clean up.

However, as has been said, they don't all grenade themselves so maybe leave it be. My car has done 130k now and the service history is non existent, yet on inspection (lambda sensors out, peer in the hole) the pre-cats look just fine.

Well well well.
That 2nd paragraph warms my heart. If only that info could get spread the same as pre cats = spontaneous implosion.

Although this is indeed true, we should also bear in mind that they tend to fall out bottom first, even if they look reasonable from the top...😆

Everyday is a school day.
That's new to me. From where does that belief come and what evidence backs it up? As per @Joesson surely the tops would have to fail before the lower.

[shnazzle]

I'm about to remove my standard manifold and swap it for an eBay jobby, so there is an OE manifold going spare if you need one. Removing the pre-cats is really easy, literally smash them out and clean up.

However, as has been said, they don't all grenade themselves so maybe leave it be. My car has done 130k now and the service history is non existent, yet on inspection (lambda sensors out, peer in the hole) the pre-cats look just fine.

Well well well.
That 2nd paragraph warms my heart. If only that info could get spread the same as pre cats = spontaneous implosion.

Although this is indeed true, we should also bear in mind that they tend to fall out bottom first, even if they look reasonable from the top...😆

Everyday is a school day.
That's new to me. From where does that belief come and what evidence backs it up? As per @Joesson surely the tops would have to fail before the lower.

I'm surprised this is news tbh. I thought it was common knowledge by now

It's been seen a good few times by Dick Sloan. He's taken a fair few of these apart as you know  
I saw the same on mine. Crack at the bottom. A couple of cells looked broken from the top is all

[Ardent]

Nope.
Never heard of pre cats failing bottom up.

[Call the midlife!]

The ones that fail and end up blocking the cat HAVE to fail from the bottom if you think about it logically, if they failed from the top it wouldn't pass through the wadding and the lower comb and end up in the main cat.
The deterioration in the upper comb is what can harm the cylinders and cause the supposed oval bore syndrome but it's the vibrations that break them from the bottom. Apparently.