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YOUR RESEARCHIn the shop
Reported or suspected cause
tank or the cap they replaced
Reported cause
No successful repair reported for this finding.
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Reported cause
I just can't remember whether it was the tank or the cap they replaced.
Leading evidence: 'tank or the cap they replaced' (1 discussions report identifying this cause; no attributable repair resolution). Across 1 matching discussions, the most frequently mentioned possible cause is 'tank or the cap they replaced' (1 discussions; 1 report identifying it and 0 suggest it). The most frequently discussed action is 'Repair /replacement' (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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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
Luckily mine was replaced by the PO about 2500 miles ago at 35k miles.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
My tank was replaced while the car was under the CPO warranty.
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Suspected cause
I called my indy, assuming it was the coolant tank and he said it would be OK to drive as long as I was able to keep coolant in it.
maintainance cost between the two would be almost identical
Suggestion or failed attempt
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Suspected cause · Original poster
Under normal usage I suspect the maintainance cost between the two would be almost identical.
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30 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261026T155324Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
I was leaking coolant so I took it in. Looks like my plastic coolant tank has a crack.
No worries a warranty repair.
All in all, my two current Porsches (986 and 996) have been the most trouble free cars I have ever owned. In all of these years of ownership I have only had to to make two unexpected repairs. A wheel bearing in the Boxster (not totally unexpected considering all of the track miles) and now the coolant tank in the 996.
These really are great cars!!
Ray,
Can you give us an idea on running/maintainance costs between the 986 and 996? Like on differences with oil changes or 15K or 30K maintainance costs between the two?
I have heard that the MAF on the 986 is so sensitive that it requires replacement more often than the 996. Is that true?
Under normal usage I suspect the maintainance cost between the two would be almost identical. My actual costs for the 986 are higher only because of all the R-Compound tires, rotors, pads, brake fluid, extra oil changes, and other track related expenses that I put into the 986.
As far as MAF's go both of my cars are on the original MAF's (8 years for the 986 and 6 years for the 996). Additionally, I have had the EVO intake on my 986 for over 6 years (through multiple filter changes) with no problems.
Ray, could you please consider sharing with us all the parts that are being replaced with the coolant tank repair/replacement? I'm thinking of taking action proactively now at about 45K miles on my '02.
Why would you want to fix a coolant tank that's not leaking? I can understand changing water pumps when timing belts are changed ($30 for pump and labor's already done), but why change the coolant tank?
Sometime's I read about failures on here and assume the failure rate is higher than it probably really is. I'd like to know what % of coolant tanks never fail. Mine has 80K on it.
I did have my water pump go at 60,000 miles. I was able to drive it to the shop w/o issue. I called my indy, assuming it was the coolant tank and he said it would be OK to drive as long as I was able to keep coolant in it. Temperature never rose, but then again, I didn't drive it far.
$115 or so from an online parts seller $250 at the dealer. 2 hours to replace the first time, 45 min the second time. On the 911s the trick is to remove the black plastic mount to get enough room to unhook the lines and twist the tank out. Be careful removing and replacing the sensor. Boxsters are a 100% pure bitch even for the pros. Watch the bottom of the tank. Look for fine cracks that then grow a white crust or just the crust itself. The tanks turn yellow as they age. Compare the plastic in the far edges of the mountings to the material of the tank. If you crack a tank, open the pressure valve to go into limp mode. The tanks are not "if" they are "when".
Service Manager tells me that coolant tank is NOT covered under CPO, but just under factory warrantee. Labor to replace is around 3 hours on the 996 - up to 6-7 hours on a Boxster. Anyone know if this is correct info??
Mine was a slow leak. Just a very.....very slow drip.....drip.....drip from a crack in the tank.
I noticed it last week, made an appointment and drove it in.
My tank or the cap started leaking while still under CPO warranty. To be safe I had the car towed into the dealership courtesy of Porsche. There was no charge. I just can't remember whether it was the tank or the cap they replaced. Will have to look at my records later.
Isn't the same true about half the parts in the engine?
Also, some people say the same about the entire 3.4 engine.
I agree that it's silly to replace a part that isn't broken.
My tank was replaced while the car was under the CPO warranty. I was shown CPO documentation that listed covered/not covered items - the tank was not covered under the CPO warranty.
I paid for 3.7 hours of labour and parts came in around $450. You can probably find the parts cheaper online.
The parts I needed were...
- expansion tank (99610614756)
- tank cap (99610644701)
- thermostat (99610612552)
- gasket (99610632650)
- antifreeze
I called the dealer which just finished rebuilding my differential under the CPO. Prop to Roger Jobs Porsche in Bellingham by the way - very good patient service manger by the name of Peter Drake. For all you Vancouver Canucks needing an alternative to MCL it's worth the drive.
Anyway - he says the tank is definitely not covered. This is of course a common question since the tanks are designed to fail. He told the story of recent good customer who had her Boxster towed in for the same job.
Not covered under CPO.
Phil, it's true....the entire cost of the replacement (parts and labor) was billed to me as the CPO warranty didn't cover any part of it.
The primary symptom was a gradual, rather than acute, loss of coolant...which required replinishment(s) of coolant now and then.
Yeah, that's the way they go, apparently. Service Manager laughed when I asked why CPO wouldn't cover - he simply said because Porsche knows the design on this part is faulty and they don't want the responsibility to replace. Hopefully, mine will last.
On the 996 it REALLY does seem to be a pretty easy DIY...Renntech has a good write-up. Luckily mine was replaced by the PO about 2500 miles ago at 35k miles.
Ummm - I *just* finished this job and it was like giving birth. Absolutely horrendous piece of work which (in my case) required a partial engine drop. Even with that it was fugly.
The Renntech write up is for the Mark I car..mine is a Mark II and it's all about clearance to get the *&^$&% old tank out. The new one went in easy, once the motor was out of the way.
One good thing....the tank was cheap. $150 at my indy, plus another $25 for a new cap. Another good thing - I got to see how easy it is to drop a 996 motor.
All this hasn't diminished my affection for the 996. Damn shame I have to sell it.
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