Worried new buyer, help please..

[fantasque]

Hello everyone,

Hopefully I have posted in the right area, I am a newbie to MR2's and am looking to buy a 2000/2001 with a budget of about £3500. I have been reading all the threads about potential problems and what to look out for when buying the pre-cat problem has especially alarmed me somewhat as one car I nearly bought nearly seized up on the test run due to no oil in the engine which I suspect was initially caused by pre-cat failure. My question is, how can you tell if the engine is already damaged. if as stated in other technical threads, synthetic engine oil does not burn with a blue haze. What should I be looking for as a buyer???  Any help would be most appreciated.

Thanks,

Robin,

[inert2k3]

Hi mate,

I can understand your concern as the cost of buying a car... only to have to fork out again for a new engine is a scary idea   s:shock: :shock: s:shock:  

As far as I know, a stock MR2 engine should feel very smooth and have a normal hum as you drive along. Id stay away from anything that sounds or drives rough or unusually rattley (like an old diesel engine)

Go for a decent test drive in anything that you view as a ruined engine will drink oil. Im sure that more techy members out there will give you much more detailed advice

Good luck

Mohammed   s:D s:D

[muffdan]

If you can, whip out the O2 sensors and check if the pre-cat is still there. If it's gone (and hasn't been gutted by the owner) then definitely stay away from it.

When test driving, give it the full rev range once it's warm! If the pre-cats have failed previously then the main cat could be blocked if it wasn't replaced after the failure. If it's blocked, the car will bog down as the revs rise rather than take off as it should! Test drive a few of them and you'll get a feel for what a good engine should drive like.

The 3 1zz engines I've had have not been quiet compared to my wife's passat. There's always a rattle coming from them, not to the point of it sounding like a desiel but they are not a quiet engine. This is largely to do with it having a timing chain rather than a cam belt I believe. Probably other factors for the noise too but the point is it's not a quiet engine.

Jason

[Silverman]

Welcome to the furrowed brow and broad smilers gang.  I'm sure you wouldn't buy a car with an almost seized engine due
lack of oil!??   So, if you've got to buy pre facelift, look at as many '2's as possible, whether for sale or not, and learn to spot the clean, well looked after
examples, under frunk, in cockpit and in de engine bay.  Then, having learned from a thinking previous owner how to do it, check the
engine oil level.  This is partly an art and partly a science of surgical delicacy, believe me!  I have seen MrT Peeps get it totally wrong.
Given a reasonably full sump, get in, start it, go for a run listening for all the good and bad things - then stop and have a good look
round the engine for noises, smells, leaks, shakes and birds/rats nests.  All clear?  Then give it a bit of a go for at least one hour
watching for anything untoward, anywhere on the car.  If all is well - IT'S DECISION TIME!  Good luck.  S'man.

[cclarke99]

It's certainly worth looking at any old MOT test records. If the owner has kept the data from the emissions test the HC reading will give a clue, it should be near zero (my car (50K miles) has read 4ppm, 1ppm and 0 at the last test). If the owners "lost" the paperwork be suspicious. If you're buying from a dealer get it tested and ask for the record before you buy.

[spit]

Welcome to the ROC, and thanks for reading before posting  s8) s8) .

Firstly, try not to worry too much. This is a known problem but there are plenty of very good '2s out there. If you post up where you are, perhaps a local member will take you for a drive in theirs and then you'll have something to compare with (or get out there and test a few yourself before parting with your cash).

All of the comments above are sound. Its a tricky one this, as your test drive will hint at signs of a problem (or not) rather than a clear diagnosis.

I'm not as techy as most on here but the most definitive pointer I've come across to confirm that you should stay away is poor or uneven compression across the cylinders. If you can get a mechanic friend to help out with a comp.test in exchange for a drink or two, you should go for it. An oil consumption test is also handy but may require you to put on more miles than a test drive will allow!

Also, check documentation to see if the engine has been replaced - if it has, you should expect either a solid explanation or evidence that the main cat has also been renewed during rebuild.

Finally, if you remain worried, stick with a reputable dealer and/or invest in a mechanical check. (Oh, and many cars for sale in the ROC forum will usually have a recorded history somewhere on these pages too).

Absolutely finally, if anything seems suspicious, walk away. Its a buyer's market and there are plenty of 2's out there to choose from.

Best of luck in your search.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes the engines rattle from a loose heat sheild on the exhaust which is an easy fix so may be best to get  a mechanic or AA man to give it a once over before you buy.

[fantasque]

Wow what a great club and fantastic bunch of people, thanks very much for all the really good advice, I am feeling much more confident now about buying a MR2. Just to compound matters further I live in South West France so the offer of a ride in a local club members car is much appreciated but probably not very practical. I have short listed about 5 cars to view at the end of the month, 4 are from dealers and 1 is privately for sale with a club member. I will keep you posted and again thanks for all the time and effort everyone has taken to post their replies.

Slightly less worried than before,

Robin,

PS) Anyone know where I can some LHD (right dipping) headlight units from?

[uktotty]

PS) Anyone know where I can some LHD (right dipping) headlight units from?

Ebay will have some cars being broken

[philster_d]

bonne chance with that Robin.    s:D s:D

[StuM]

PS) Anyone know where I can some LHD (right dipping) headlight units from?

Hi Robin,

Try over on SpyderChat - it is the American equivalent of this site and there would likely be more chance of getting LHD lights on there..

Good luck,
Stu

[NickNJ]

It's still quite rare for pre-cat troubles, for piece of mind myabe get the get checked out by a local specialist or the AA w/ warranty.

Better still, post the location up of the car you're looking at and i'm sure there will be some local owners who'd be willing to have a look at the car with you.

[fantasque]

Just like to thank everyone for all their help and suggestions, I have now bought an MR2 from another club member and am very pleased with the car. It has already had a new engine and CAT fitted by Toyota and also has the dreaded pre-cats removed.

Very happy new roadster owner,

Robin,   s:D s:D    s:D s:D

[markiii]

good to here

idle curiosity, whos car did you buy?

[fantasque]

What's the current last post in "vehicles for sale"