Toyota MR2 - MR2 Pre Cats

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Mon 12 Feb 2018 23:53
Toyota MR2 - MR2 Pre Cats - macski

Approached a garage to remove the pre cats on my 2001 MR2 and the garage refused saying it would effect the MoT. The post I have read on line says it does not but they tend to be older posts, is it stil the true or has this changed.

Anyone know how long it takes, is it a hard DIY job?

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Tue 13 Feb 2018 00:27
Toyota MR2 - MR2 Pre Cats - SLO76
It’s illegal to remove any of the emissions control equipment fitted from new. It’s an Mot fail (if spotted) and an offence if the police somehow find out unless the car is for track day use only I’d leave well alone. The garage is right to refuse to do it.
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Tue 13 Feb 2018 01:09
Toyota MR2 - MR2 Pre Cats - macski

Aparently there is a fault with the MR2s in that the pre cat deteriates and blows the engine.

Would you still leave it alone?

Edited by macski on 13/02/2018 at 01:11

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Tue 13 Feb 2018 07:09
Toyota MR2 - MR2 Pre Cats - RobJP

Aparently there is a fault with the MR2s in that the pre cat deteriates and blows the engine.

Would you still leave it alone?

I'd not have purchased it in the first place. So yes, I'd have left it well alone, with the person who was trying to sell it !

As already said, it is illegal to remove any of the emissions control equipment.

It's always a great idea to do your research on something before you buy it, not after.

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Wed 14 Feb 2018 12:15
Toyota MR2 - MR2 Pre Cats - edlithgow

Sounds like this has tightened up since I left the UK. Surprise!

There certainly used to be cars from which it was legal to remove catalytic converters, though I doubt a 2001 MR2 was one of them.

For example, on the Honest John Review pages, for the Volvo 740

"Cats are £600, but can be ditched because all 740s are pre-August '92."

Should this be changed?

I've read somewhere that a car running on LPG doesn't have to meet the same emissions standards as the same car running on petrol, but if OEM emmissions kit is now mandatory it may have to have the same kit fitted.

IF this is true, the cats could perhaps be de-gutted (which should render them harmless, IIRC the engine ingests internal debris via the exhaust valves) and it MIGHT be a work-around, though an MR2 is probably a fairly unusual LPG conversion and you might have trouble finding room for the tank.

Edited by edlithgow on 14/02/2018 at 12:31

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