The start of the winter season... MR2 Tips..

[Frustrated Pilot]

Hi all,

I think we should share our winter MR2 tips...so here we go

Tip 1. Leave your car in gear and handbreak off - stops the rear calipers becoming fused and melting the discs... (smoke coming from ya discs is quite un-nerving..)

Tip 2. Defrosting - dont waste time scraping our windows.. start the car early and demist.. or if you are in a rush use a watering can with VERY COLD WATER and a little salt mixed in... start pouring on the metal work and allow water flow to go over the windows... NEVER USE HOT WATER... but that may be stating the obvious..Never leave your car ticking over .. insureance wont pay out if its nicked..

Tip 3. Use washer fluid designed for -18 degrees C from halfrauds and you will be able to use your washers... dont use washing up liquid.. contains salt and will corrode the rubber systems.

Tip 4. Dont put antifreze int he windscreen washer bottle...

[roadwolf]

[quote="Paul White"]Hi all,

I think we should share our winter MR2 tips...so here we go



or if you are in a rush use a watering can with VERY COLD WATER and a little salt mixed in...

dont use washing up liquid.. contains salt and will corrode the rubber systems.


Are you really serious, telling people to pour salt water over their cars.

[Frustrated Pilot]

NO NONO...

forgot to add that you will need to rinse it over with another watering can..

but 1 tsp of salt in 1 gallon is nothing compared to the amount of rock salt solution kicked up in poor weather.

im not saying coat your car in salt lol

just salt is cheaper than all the carp they sell in Halfrauds..

plus what chemicals do you think these things contain to reduce the freezing point of water?

[freerein]

I find warm water works - just not boiling

[cantfindausername]

A stream of cold water will work, but it needs to be enough to clear the screen many times over. Helps to put the wipers on at the same time other wise the water will refreeze before its cleared.

Also, if you do have a frozen rear calipers, watch out for one coming unstuck! 180 on a roundabout aint much fu in rush hour

I've seen some people put newspaper, or a towel over the windscreen and closed through the door to stop thw windscreen from freezing.

Personally I'd just rinse heavily with water. 2 full kettles is normally enough.

[hucky]

ive always found that deicer works, plus if you know its going to freeze, last thing at night, give your window a quick squirt and you sometimes find the frost hasnt stuck.


remember to free your wiper blades before using them as frost and tree sap causes them to stick to the window and rip or burn out the motor

[Frustrated Pilot]

ahhhh I forgot my best tip... If you dont have an auto start facility...

Do what I do... an extension lead... a portable heater and switch it on inside the car before you start...

In scandinavia they use these heaters all through the winter.. they even have plugs to plug in your heater at public parking places



I like that one too

but doesnt warm up the car that well though - just the interior

[fearless]

and then when your car is defrosted you have the fun of trying to keep the car in a straight line, i came a cropper the other day turned into a very icy rd and had a nasty bit of sideways action my most frightening bit in my 2 as yet, other thing ive read on here is to leave headlights up stop them freezing shut

[dawolf]

I start the car up for a bit, turn up the front and rear window heaters. If it's very frosty I use WARM water on all the windows and doorlocks, it's never caused a problem for me.

[Steve-O 2007]

forgot to add that you will need to rinse it over with another watering can..

ahh ffs, now I have to go and buy 2 watering cans???!!??

luckilly I havent had Ice yet

Was reading ages ago to keep your headlights up in "light bulb change mode" over night as they can sometimes freeze down.

Try not hit any boost for first few minutes

Get a Aftermarket boost guage if you havent got one as cold weather = more boost, you dont want to be hitting 1.8bar on your ct26 without knowing lol

Wash it off once or twice a week to get all the road salt off.

get a 12 Volt car heated seat cover

[Dale_V]

tip 1. Put your MR2 in a garage, let it hibernate and use another car

/end of tips

[platmatt8]

as above, mines off road until march/april.

[JohnnyC]

Tip, don't drive like a loon (cheap branded tyres optional).

I await the weekly threads during the winter months of people hitting black ice / diesel whilst exiting roundabouts

[SFLee]

tip 1. Put your MR2 in a garage, let it hibernate and use another car

/end of tips

lol my done that and still not out yet

[Sol]

If you are using it as a daily car then for the ice it is simple and takes only a few seconds to get rid of.... get a large peice of cloth ie a old bed sheet and place it over windscreen and close in doors and in the morning, remove sheet and no ice job done.No mucking about with water first thing...way to sleepy for such complicated things lol

Me mine will sit on the drive and look all shiney in the snow

[Turbo97]

pour petrol all around your car and then light it in a ring of fire.....will melt right off like

[PFrazier]

tip 1. Put your MR2 in a garage, let it hibernate and use another car

/end of tips

Same here.

[fearless]

my 2 gets used everyday with no problems just have to take it easy in really cold weather, i dont have the option of another car suppose i could turf the mrs and kids out of our ford galaxy and make them walk to work and school

[redmr89]

as said earlier. be light with your right foot. and progresive through the bends. treat each corner like it may have ice on it. cos you never know, it might have.

my normal tip like some of the others here is to garage it and buy a cheap xmas runabout, unfortunatly im skint this year..

[Martin F]

as above, mines off road until march/april.

me three, its just the damage road salt does to cars, my cars spotless and i have to keep it that way

still taxed/mot'd and insured though so i'm wasting a good car/my money/probably for nothing

oh well