33 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHcoolant reservoir
Reported or suspected cause
material, design or manufacturing defect
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
1
Identified cause
0
Suspected cause
0
Reported fixes
Read evidence and context
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Discussions that report identifying a cause
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Reported cause · Original poster
Being a non moving part it is clear to me the frequency of failure is due to a material, design or manufacturing defect.
Leading evidence: 'material, design or manufacturing defect' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'material, design or manufacturing defect' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Repair issue i had' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
BTW - the part for the Mk II is exactly the same as used on the 997 as well.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that suspect a cause
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Suspected cause
Thieving stealerships, or perhaps those with less technically competent engineers, have been known to charge you for a water pump first, only then to discover 'it was the tank all along....'
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Suggestion
The coolant tank was the first repair issue I had with my car at about 30k miles.
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion
2000 C4 still on original tank but had to replace the cap.
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suspected cause
Thieving stealerships, or perhaps those with less technically competent engineers, have been known to charge you for a water pump first, only then to discover 'it was the tank all along....'
Counts describe captured discussions, not unique people or a diagnosis. Author identities are not reliably stored. Exact duplicate evidence is counted once across matching discussions; one discussion counts at most once per action/state. Multiple repairs reported together remain a combination. Suggestions and failed attempts do not establish a fix. Matches cover whole discussions and can include related faults, model variants and incomplete threads.
33 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
0 evidence records excluded for query context · 0 excluded by outcome qualification · 0 adjusted by outcome qualification.
0 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Generation: 20261026T142254Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Has anyone had to replace the coolant reservoir in their 996 and if so what was the mileage on the car at the time. I've replaced two, one at 27,000 miles and one at 44,000 miles. Robert
i did mine when it began to weep at around 45,000 miles. Took a few hours and needed to take the fuel rail off but not a bad job overall. Question is what question are you trying to answer exactly? Just a poll?
Roblin: what you experienced is "normal". I once asked my service advisor if I should replace the coolant every few yrs just to be safe. His reply: No need since you would need a new coolant tank every now and then anyway at which time the coolant will be relpaced (partially at least)...and I believe him.
It leaks. I think it gets a crack in it. Also could be the cap is bad.
Make sure you have it checked out. I was SURE mine was the coolant tank and it ended up being the water pump. All I knew was I kept having to add water and I couldn't figure out where it was going.
yes... if they effed up the temp prob underneath the tank thats another 20 bucks or so....
If the tank is yellowish in color... its prob gonna go
edit... not a temp probe, but a level probe.
The tank fails so consistently I think it should be called a feature!
Not the only cars to have this issue - just something to watch for.
The split is usually away round the back side, so not visible from the engine hatch - go figure!
Thieving stealerships, or perhaps those with less technically competent engineers, have been known to charge you for a water pump first, only then to discover 'it was the tank all along....'
Ask me how I know!
Other coolant related issues have been reported with the old model coolant tank caps, which have been superseded once or even twice - and even a new cap is easy to cross thread, leading to leaking under pressure.
You'd have thought that Porsche would have worked out how to make a 911 that didn't need coolant by now!
I just had mine done but more important than mileage is age. My car is a 2000. It's the first time the tank's been replaced.
Incidentally, does car generally smell of coolant for a little bit after a replacement? I think the odor has gone away now, but I do remember noticing a lingering aroma when the procedure was first undertaken.
As for the smell - yes it will still smell for a while after you do the job as some coolant is invariably still pooled in hard to get to spots. The insidious part of how the tank fails is that it only leakes when warm! As the tank cools the cracks seal again thus making it hard to see where exactly it has gone bad. As soon as mine gets a decent shade of yellow I will replace it again.
BTW - the part for the Mk II is exactly the same as used on the 997 as well. Are they having the same issues?
Same here, first failure was the coolant tank with tiny cracks in it and would only leak when the car was running and outside temp hot. I had it replaced at dealer under extended warranty. So far so good but you never know when it will happen again, hopefully not as often as before with the newer design tank and cap. Cheers,
Thanks to all who responed about their coolant tank problems. The replacement cost me $650 at the local dealer. I have since sent letters to PCNA about this problem, not that they haven't known about it for years. But just to let them know that not all of us are stupid. Being a non moving part it is clear to me the frequency of failure is due to a material, design or manufacturing defect.
It will be intersting to see what they say.
Robert
The tanks will often get a crack in the area of where the level sensor is located. I would only use a tank that is OEM Porsche. There is an aftermarket tank out there that cost less, but once again I would only use the OEM tank.
99 996....the tank cracked at 28.000 miles. Replaced it myself using the DIY with pictures from this site. Even with marginal mechanical skills, if you can read and look at pictures, you can do it yourself and save an easy $500. Bought the tank from Sunset for $168 and the new temperature probe (in case I broke it when replacing the tank) for $20. Still have the new probe because I never broke the original one. Anyone need a probe?
