How to Remove the Toyota MR2 Spyder Gas Tank & Replace the Parking Brake Cables 

This is rather a common problem I'm afraid. The mild steel has zero corrosion resistivity treatments - no phosphate or cadmium, just bare steel. When a small amount of moisture gets in there, they start to rust. The inner diameter of the housing gets obstructed with corrosion products and start grabbing the inner cable. ​ This was a huge effort on your part to film, edit, and fix the problem. The MR2 community in forever in your debt.

The best tutorial i have ever seen. Congratulations!

I have watched hundreds of instructional videos for many varied cars (eg. Mk2 Renault Clio, M100 Lotus Elan, SE4 Reliant Scimitar GT, A70 Toyota Supra, Ford Puma, B5 VW Passat, TVR Tuscan Speed6...) This is the most detailed, clearly explained, comprehensive guide I've ever seen. You sir, are bloody exceptional. Edited to add: Liked, Subscribed, and will share on various UK MR2 Facebook and Reddit groups.

Brilliant detailed video. Shows me exactly what I need to do. I only wish that my MR2 was as clean and rust free as yours! Many thanks for the content.

It took me 11 hours to do the replacement. Did it all based on your video. Thanks! A couple tips for those attempting it. 1. Try to drain your gas as much as possible. I did it with 5 gallons remaining and it was a total pain. 2. The hardest part is probably the grommets for the cable. Don't connect the cables to the E-brake at the center console until you've inserted the grommets. 2. The fuel line on the passenger side of the rear compartment, can squirt gas at you. So watch out. 3. Take your time.

You are the man! Thanks for posting part numbers and torque specs. Also helpful that you show the orientation of what's nearby. I'll have to do this on my Spyder and it doesn't seem too bad! Thanks for being so detailed.

Another set of cables replaced thanks to your video! Thank you for taking the time to make a thorough tutorial.

Very well done. I love that constantly inform the viewer which direction you are looking. A lot of channels don't do that and it definitely can be confusing at times with a limited camera view. Thanks. I'll be doing this soon to clear the dreaded P0440 code.

I appreciate your accuracy, when it comes to bolts. I’m always surprised by the number of people who try to describe a bolt size. By the socket size required to turn it, lol.

This is a fantastic guide but I'll just add a couple points from having done it today. I have a UK facelift MR2 (no A/C) for what its worth. @9.35 my fuel tank didn't have the top connector (with the toyota sticker) the hole was blanked off, however I did have an additional hose going into the fuel tank on the top near the middle of the tank attached via jubilee clamp which isn't accessible through the access panel until the tank is lowered down 5-10cm. A 1/4inch drive 10mm socket on a long extension was very useful. @14.55 I couldn't see those 2 evap hoses, but unlike your guide I disconnected the leftmost hose on the top of the tank @9.35 and in disconnecting the additional hose I've just mentioned (+ the others on top of the tank and the filler tube) there was no issues removing the tank completely. Just wanted others to know it may be slightly different than pictured here. I don't recall having the dip on the left side of my tank like the one pictured at @18.27 and also I did not have the evap unit under the door bin, which is likely why the above was different, wonder if this a US spec thing. Thanks again!

Aj this is the cleanest underside of a car I have ever seen. All the ones i have seen are all full of rust and crud! Great tutorial! Always look forward to your content!

Your car so clean, even underneath, too

Another great video. Thanks for all your helpful videos.

Great video. My old car had the cables replaced twice with aftermarket and the handbrake is still poor. Going to buy some genuine Toyota cables but just trying to weigh up whether to tackle it myself this time. The lack of road grime/rust on USA vehicles versus UK, is noticeable

I asked for this video and the man delivered! HERO!

Thanks for doing these videos!

Super great production value. Came to the vid hunting dropping the tank.

Fantastic video! The parking brake cables fail due to rust. Water settles in the area you mentioned. The spiral outer cable is untreated steel, it rusts and seizes the inner cable. Preventive maintenance is to slice through all the heavy rubber sleeves and coat the steel outer housing with corrosion preventive spray. Regularly.

Just used this video to change mine. Thank you so much man

excellent tutorial! need to replace my parking cables and shift cables and this video will make it a breeze. thanks!

Excellent video, just what I was looking for since I am going to replace right side brake saddle too 😍 I guess it is impossible replace the parking brake cable without removing the gas tank completely eh... 🤔

Why do you make it look so easy 😮 😅

Brilliant video, very detailed so that anybody could follow this. Thank you.

Good video. Was surprised to see the Evap unit you have on the left side. I don't have any of that. Just the ECU.

An excellent tutorial, thank you very much for putting in the effort to film the process. I will be doing this in a few days time, and thanks to you it does not seem so daunting. Liked and subscribed 👍

Thanks for the great instructions!

Thank you very much , things like this video make it easy good work

He makes it look so easy all of my connectors won’t come off

Thanks for the very detailed video all needed informations

Thank you very much. It's just what I've been looking for!

I know this is an older video, but did you notice whether either of the parking brake cables were longer than the other? My driver's side parking brake cable barely reaches the caliper and the passenger side has a lot of slack. I didn't notice in this video any detail regarding lengths apart from each being marked "L" and "R". Thanks!

Very well explained, indeed. Thank you....

Subscribed...so details..like it.

Wow. That was a lot of work.. can you do a video on clutch pedal adjustment. I have to floor mine to disengaged and haven't seen any available videos. Thanks.

Awesome vid. Im doing the job now. You much have titanium fingers to get those plugs off the evap thingy

Hat off ! Is there any way to buy you a coffee (basically a tips) ? Great for the community. Cheers from France.

Superb video, thank you. Did I spot that the brake booster pipe has a straight piece of hose under the tank that can be replaced?

Hey sir, how do you "loosen the cables" so that the pawl makes contact with the caliper stop? My driver side looks fine, but the other one is not touching. Is the adjustment made at the lever side? The cable itself? Or on the caliper? I kinda see that you twist or push it but it's not very clear what you're doing. Thanks in advance

Thanks for the video, My 2 needs the cable replacing and the garage have quoted me about £5/600 to do the job. I can see why now. A very informative video which has convinced me to pay the money and let them do it. Im sure when they get under mine, it will not be as clean as yours and Im just hoping bolts come free as easily as they do on yours's. I simply want to sell the car but without this work it is just a pile of scrap, so Hey Ho

Great detail on this video! Do you have any tips for draining the fuel before removing the tank? I didn't have any success going through the filler neck, so I tried attaching some hose to the fuel line nipple coming out of the firewall (above the front motor mount). I then connected the other end of the hose to a 3rd party fuel pump and still am not getting much out. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Hello sir nice video can you tell me if I can get to the check valve and pump seals to replace without removing tank?

Great video!! I am in the middle of doing this right now. How do you like your lift ?

But where did you buy the replacement emergency brake cable?

Thank you for the video.. do you think changing the cables will be enough to lock the rear wheels during autocross?

Also if it is possible to replace seals without tank removed do I need to remove seats and console to get to them thanx

Hi, I need to empty the gas tank and put in new gas to restart my car after about eight years sitting. I've tried to use a fluid pump form the gas filler door but failed. I saw in this video the gas tank has a rubber hose attached to it. I wonder if I can remove the hose from tank side to pump the gas out from there. Please help!

How long did this take for you? I’m going to do my shift cable and the procedure is somewhat similar

@28:00 mins , I think this scene was taken from lord of the rings !!!!!! lol

Subscribed..

I did this to mine last July, how is the under side of yours so clean?