23 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHcoolant leak?
Reported or suspected cause
water pump
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
1
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0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Leading evidence: 'water pump' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'water pump' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Check (every 4 years) $400' (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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Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
I had mine replaced almost 2 years ago at Intersport.
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Discussions that suspect a cause
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Suspected cause
Most likely the coolant tank if it leaks from underneath if you see residue around the cap then maybe just the cap.
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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Discussions that contain suggestions
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Suggestion
Cap also has been updated as pszikla mentioned - AND you can easily cross thread any cap on this tank, just need a visual check on how it sits.
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.
23 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.
1 acknowledgements have no verified action link; they do not establish a repair result.
Outcome without a verified action link
I figured he must have over tightened it or something, especially since he fixed it overnight and didn't charge me any labor.
at first I thought it was oil.. but after talking with previous owner of my 996 he already had RMS fix done. Looking at the coolant it is low and engine started to overheat... so looks like I got a coolant leak.
Is this a common problem?
I'll post some pics.. for now I make sure I fill up coolant on short drives until I get it to the shop on Monday.
Any tips?
From what I have learned on the site, there are 2 potential problems with the coolant tank.
One is a defective cap and the other can be that the coolant tank has cracked (gets overheated by exhaust on passenger side).
Both are fairly common issues but of course it is a lot easier and quicker to change a cap than the tank so hopefully that is your only problem.
Pete
Coolant tank - probably split due to the heat cycling on the car - tends to leak under pressure at first, then eventually just leaks most of the time.
Cap also has been updated as pszikla mentioned - AND you can easily cross thread any cap on this tank, just need a visual check on how it sits.
I bet it's the tank though - it's so common it's a 'feature'
PIA to replace (tight fit) - $600-700 dealer cost (here in CA any way) for part plus labor.
Definitely expansion tank. If you are handy with tools and work on car before you can DIY. Part is $120. Otherwise, if you bring to a indie cost should be in the $350. I had mine done last year. This is normal for older 996
thanks guys
So I'm hoping it's closer to the $120 hehe
HBL Porsche will take a look and we'll see what they quote me. If it's too high I might just DIY it.
Sorry to hear that your coolant tank is leaking KJ! The pics and location (driver side exhaust tip) is a definite indicator. I had mine replaced almost 2 years ago at Intersport. As others have said, sommon MK1 issue. According to book, the engine needs to be lowered for the replacement so almost all shops (dealer and indies in our area) will charge you the 5 hours labor for the replacement. There are some posts here where people did the replacement without lowering the engine as DIY; challenge for Bojan?!
KJ... Most likely the coolant tank if it leaks from underneath if you see residue around the cap then maybe just the cap. Also there is lower hose that can come loose and is easy to pop back on.
I was sure mine was the coolant tank, MY2000. Nope, it was the water pump. My indy did it for a lot less than dealer but I can't remember now how much. It wasn't as bad as I expected though. About 6 months later a pulley went bad......pretty strange, and the part was really high. I figured he must have over tightened it or something, especially since he fixed it overnight and didn't charge me any labor.
I paid $140 for the tank and replaced it in 1-1/2 hours (had to stop and have a couple of beers). If your car is a '99, you don't have to drop the motor. It just taked a little finesse to get the tank out.
so how was the DIY.. did it take several hours and were you able to do it without lowering the engine?
I'm waiting for a quote from HBL Porsche... if it's too much I might just DIY it. Could be fun.
Thanks for the link from renntech... will come in handy.
I parked my car in its normal spot - a parking garage near my home, and came back to an empty coolant tank. I note was left on my windshield saying that coolant was leaking from the back of my car. And, you could see a bit of a wet spot under the car where the tank is.
It is normal to have the entire tank empty? Could it be a hose, or just a crack at the bottom of the tank?
Assuming if I change the tank myself, I don't need to drain any fluid b/c it is already gone from the tank.
quote from HBL... OUCH !!!
WILL DO:
worn inside tires to fix:
alignment - $150
tires - $900
exhaust fix (needs to replace rusted parts) - $125
install new coolant tank - $1135
WONT DO:
RMS Leak - again! $2100
yearly service? $600
brake flush $150
airbag check (every 4 years) $400
The RMS Leak was fixed under warranty at another dealer... do you think they will insure that one? HBL says it's a wear item.. gaskets leak after a while. Is this true?
$1135 for coolant tank??
I would think it's time for a DYI.
Mine was the water pump.
Porsches are very easy to work on if you have 8" long toothpick sized fingers and LOTS of tools. If not, do like me and cuss a lot!!!
$1135! Holy crap. I paid $174 for the tank ('99-00 is the more expensive one) and it took me a little over two hours from 11pm to 1:30am Saturday night. Did not have to lower the engine. Just followed the instructions on Renntech. I did fight the tank both on the way out and on the way in but it wasn't too bad. The golden rule of German cars came true in this case..."if you can see it you can't reach it and if you can reach it you can't see it" Seriously do it yourself, no special tools needed.
Tank is not hard to replace, just a PITA. It will only come out one way. I spent quite a while getting it out but only a couple of minutes getting it back in place. I just cut off the protrusion designed to hold a fuel filter on some models. The tank slid back in a whole lot easier with the additional room. The only special tool that may come in handy is the remote pliers to get the clamps off.
$1135 is outrageous!
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