Coolant leak

[kcretors]

2000 996 Carrera Cabriolet

6 speed

Dark blue / tan interior

A month or so ago I noticed for the first time a small amount of coolant leaking from what I thought was the rubber overflow tube of the plastic coolant fill. I attributed it to parking in my brothers drieway which is at a slight uphill angle. Since then, the coolant leak has become more and more regular and I thought I'd post a thread to see if you, the renntechs, had any ideas.

I have filled the coolant to midway between min and max...I have done it when the car is cold and warm...makes no real difference...if I drive it anywhere hard...I come back and park it and you can smell the coolant and soon a stream will appear that lands on teh driver's side exhaust and eventually pools under the car.

Ask me any questions and I'll do my best to get answers. Your insight and suggested course of action are greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!!

Edited November 12, 2008 by kcretors

[Loren]

:welcome:

Check the part number on your coolant tank cap. If it ends in "00" replace it.

If the leak continues it is likely a cracked coolant tank. A fairly common problem and Porsche has revised the tank at least six times.

The is a full DIY in the 996 DIY - Common Fixes and Repairs section.

[londoner06]

:welcome:

I had the same problem a few weeks back. I changed the tank cap to no avail. It just got worse until the coolant tank was bone dry after just one drive. I took it to my local Porsche® dealer and they replaced the coolant tank. Everything works perfectly now.

Alex

[kcretors]

Thank you. I must be lame...I go to the DIY tab and I cannot find the 996 - Common Fixes & Repairs section. Suggestions?

:welcome:

Check the part number on your coolant tank cap. If it ends in "00" replace it.

If the leak continues it is likely a cracked coolant tank. A fairly common problem and Porsche has revised the tank at least six times.

The is a full DIY in the 996 DIY - Common Fixes and Repairs section.

[kcretors]

:welcome:

I had the same problem a few weeks back. I changed the tank cap to no avail. It just got worse until the coolant tank was bone dry after just one drive. I took it to my local Porsche® dealer and they replaced the coolant tank. Everything works perfectly now.

Alex

Alex,

How much did the dealer charge you to replace the coolant tank?

[Loren]

Thank you. I must be lame...I go to the DIY tab and I cannot find the 996 - Common Fixes & Repairs section. Suggestions?

:welcome:

Check the part number on your coolant tank cap. If it ends in "00" replace it.

If the leak continues it is likely a cracked coolant tank. A fairly common problem and Porsche has revised the tank at least six times.

The is a full DIY in the 996 DIY - Common Fixes and Repairs section.

Replacing the Coolant Reservoir on a MY99 996

[londoner06]

:welcome:

I had the same problem a few weeks back. I changed the tank cap to no avail. It just got worse until the coolant tank was bone dry after just one drive. I took it to my local Porsche® dealer and they replaced the coolant tank. Everything works perfectly now.

Alex

Alex,

How much did the dealer charge you to replace the coolant tank?

$282.79 coolant tank

$ 30.52 coolant

$ 19.95 shop supplies

$300.00 Labor (3 hrs. @ $100.00/hr.

TOTAL: $633.26

[Loren]

Sunset Imports (Porsche Parts at Dealer Cost) sells the coolant tank for $182.11.

[kcretors]

:D

Thank you. I must be lame...I go to the DIY tab and I cannot find the 996 - Common Fixes & Repairs section. Suggestions?

:welcome:

Check the part number on your coolant tank cap. If it ends in "00" replace it.

If the leak continues it is likely a cracked coolant tank. A fairly common problem and Porsche has revised the tank at least six times.

The is a full DIY in the 996 DIY - Common Fixes and Repairs section.

Replacing the Coolant Reservoir on a MY99 996

THANK YOU!

[KevinMac]

Same problem here, did the cap first, it was the tank. If you replace the tank change out the down level cap.

I just did mine two weeks ago. Suncoast Porsche has tanks for 99 thru 01 for $192 and coolant for about 28 gal. They were offering 10% off of those prices. Check with them to see if the offer is still valid.

Replacing the tank was not too bad. The key is putting a jack under the engine pad, just rear of the oil pan, jack up the engine to take the weight off the motor mounts, remove the left motor mount bolt, and lower the jack while still maintaining support. Remove the air pump, snorkel. You should be able to remove and install the new tank. Just be careful of the sending unit on the bottom of the tank. In addition, I removed the Porsche hose clamps and replaced them with full stainless steel clamps. The only place I could find full SS clamps was at Home Depot. Auto stores usually only cary the ones only with SS straps. I did not find the job too difficult, The hardest part is snaking the tank in and out. Total time was about 2 hrs. This is because it was my first. I can say after the first time it would be less than 2 hrs.

Edited November 13, 2008 by KevinMac