Help - Coolant Leak on Garage Floor?

Anyone know where a coolant leak would come from and what the cause might be? I have a big puddle on my garage floor.

If its the back left side problem a cracked coolant tank.

What are the chances it's the water pump? The puddle seems to be around where the center of the car is located in the garage. Recently I asked on the forum what the issue might be with a load rattle upon a cold start and some suggested it might be related to a loose baffle. It only does it on cold start though. I just noticed this when I took the car out and notice the red light flashing on the temperature gauge but it wasn't hot so I figured it was the sensor for low coolant. When I drove into the garage I noticed the puddle. I called the dealer and they said it sounded like the pump based on the description above (noise) but they said they'd have to look at it. They also said pump and labor would be in the area of $850 - $900. Does this sound right? Wouldn't the coolant tank leak towards the rear and not the center?

I just looked under it again and it's more in the front around the left side. Perhaps a line? I'm hoping that's the case.

THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE IT.THERE ARE A FEW LINES ON THAT SIDE OF THE CAR.

I'm wondering what happened there? Is this fairly common? Also, how difficult is it to work on that on should I leave it to a mechanic?

If you're looking at the front side then it can be your radiator.... not likely but a chance.... It can also be one of the small lines that plugs on the rear top portion of the radiator, that if cracked can do it.... YOU HAVE COOLING LINES THROUGHOUT THE CAR, down the middle if you pull away the plates you'll see two HUGE lines that carry most of the fluid from and to the radiators. I would suspect that you have a "old" line that has gone bad.... Bring it by and I'll take a look.... wait, where are you? -Eli

Coolant tank leaks are very common. I had the same problem with my 2001, I think they fixed the problem with my2003... I found out after my wife came in the house and said "your $90,000 car is leaking fluid all over our garage" and continued to walk past me. That's cold.

"Yah, man that's cold"..... -Eli

Eli, Thanks for the response. I guess I'm going for a 20-mile drive early in the morning before traffic picks up and then I'll wait for my wrench to get in. Would love to drive by your place but I live in Minnesota (haha). This thing really freaked me out but better that than oil (e.g., rms). Riad, that's totally cold. Funny though, my wife just looked at me and said she doesn't understand the "Porsche thing". I told her yeah, if I have to explain it forget about it! Anyway, I'm going to take a gallon of Prestone with me in case she doesn't it make it before getting hot. I've now learned it's going to rain buckets tonight into tomorrow so perhaps that'll keep the stuff from flying up my back end. I'm going to invest in some ramps and a really good floor jack so I can do this stuff myself in the future. Thanks for the response.

If you were local I would give you a FREE set of ramps..... I have a couple of sets that are doing me no good..... I was under my car for a day and a half this weekend trying to trouble shoot a problem I had. After the 1/2 a day with the tank gutts out and the filter out along with all the other stuff I gave up..... I then went into "I'M GOING TO FIX IT TODAY MODE", once I found the stupid problem I lifted the car back up and installed the GHL system..... The "little lady" said that I didn't take her any where and she hated my stupid-junky car..... "?????" Thanks for saving us at least $500.00 or whatever they would have charged and changed in the process..... -Eli

Thanks for the sentiment Eli!

Whoa - Jim, that's tough man! Mine doesn't get it either and my recent talk about mods got her pretty upset. I was ready to order my desired IForged 19" wheels and the RUF Aero kit and she complained about the cost and wanting the vacation first, new kitchen and three-season porch. Anyway, I got in touch with a contractor for the house mods first. HA! And to think I just spent $10k on a new living room set. Thanks for the response.

I think we need a new thread...

That's cool. Thanks. By the way, your 4S is too cool. Gerardo

I was just thinking this topic deserves it's own attention... so I started another thread. Didn't mean that it shouldn't be discussed here! Thanks for the kind words!

Riad -- no offense taken, really. Thanks!

Hey Gonz911: I don't believe Prestone is a "Porsche Approved" coolant. Per the service manager at my dealership, you're better off using plain water in case of emergencies. This has been covered at length in this forum. Also you may want to reconsider driving the car to the dealership if the leak is so extensive, better to get it towed IMHO. Last thing you want is a melted engine. Hope all works out well for ya!

Hey bud, Just a quick note. On my99 and my00 the coolant tank seems always to be the problem. I have looked at many vehicles that are leaking some sort of antifreeze and the culprit is that 99/100. I recently had to change mine and I recommend not doing it yourself. I thought they had fixed this issue in newer years, guess I was wrong. Just so you know guys, my fix to the wife walking by you problem. Show her the door... or... Tell her you are an artist and this is the way you express yourself emotionally. They will buy that bull anyday. Raymond

Morad, I ended up having the car towed this morning since I didn't want to take a chance on damaging it. Regarding the tank, if that's what it is would it leak from the front? The idea that oil is in the bottom of the tank and a small amount even on the hoses and even on the frame area around the tank. I'm hoping it's not something more severe. Thanks for the response. Gerard

Sorry dude.... The coolant tank is located in the rear right above the left rear tire..... very far from the front. -Eli

Eli, Yeah I know and I also know it's one of the lines (at least that makes sense). My biggest worry is the small amount of oil in the coolant tank. Thanks. Gerard

The source of the leak has been found and it's a y-pipe in the front. I am told what I thought was oil is residue at the bottom of the tank form coolant, not oil. Assuming this is accurate I couldn't be happier! I've been up since 2:30 AM steaming over thinking the worse case scenario.

Good deal, glad to hear it was minor.

Too bad you're soo far away.... this would have been an easy fix..... Hope they are not taking advantage of you out there.... -Eli BTW: Glad to hear that oil wasn't involved...

Thanks guys for your support. Actually, Leighton Reese is working on it for me. He races in the Gran Am and Speed series with a Vette -- a really great guy and super shop with Porsche wrenches! Gerard

Hey, Glad to hear it was a minor issue. All the coolant leaks I had seen were from the Driver Side Rear of the car. Antifreeze leaking onto the muffler. Good, now back to mods...

Morad - thanks! Yeah it wasn't that bad especially after reading some of the posts about slipped cylinder sleeves which really, really freaked me out.

Now you can get some sleep before something else breaks ;-)

Yeah, but I took the day off from work and when the shop called with their diagnosis and cost I hit the sack. RELIEF! Thanks man.