Radiator Seals & Cracked header tank

Hi I'm in the middle of looking for a 996 and have recently found that many have a problem with both radiators needing replacing and the cracked header tank. Is there an underlying engine problem that causes this? Alex

Not at all. Rads corrode because they collect loads of cr*p which turns into a mush that sticks, and it rots the bottom of the matrix. Regular vacuuming will slow down the process a huge amount. Get yourself a long crevis tool for the vacuum cleaner. Coolant tanks have always been an issue, but it's just the material and design. I think they are on the 3rd design revision for the original tank, and the second for the later tank.

So with all these header tank and radiator issues, does this result in a lot of overcooked engines, or have people generally caught the problem early?

Generally they are caught early - they tend to crack or pinhole, so the leaks are slow. You get the level warning light a long time before it gets serious. I have never heard of one erupting and dumping a lot of water in one go.

OK, so it sounds like new header tanks and radiators are a good thing when looking to buy. What I'd like to see is plenty of receipts and history with these cars but it's amazing how many people havent' got it, did you have this problem when looking for yours Richard?

The problem with wanting a handful of receipts is that if a Porsche is under warranty (extended or not) you don't get receipts for any work done as it's free (well I haven't anyway) unless it's picked up as part of the service. I only have receipts for work not covered under the warranty (eg header tank).

I didn't get very many receipts with mine - just a year's worth from the previous owner. I'm fastidious about keeping any scraps of paper related to the work I have had done, but you'll find that there aren't many 'modern Porsche' owners who felt the same way when it was new or nearly new. A fair anount were company cars, and the receipts got lost in the company paperwork. It isn't until the car gets into 'private' hands that the owners seem to care a bit more about documentation. Expect the service book to show stamps from an OPC for the first two or three years, and then you will probably see the independents' stamps creep in if the car hasn't had the Porsche warranty. Check that they are known specialists though. I wouldn't be too put off if you haven't got the early history. Let's face it, some of the parts changed in the first couple of years could be ready for replacement by now! Buy it on current condition - if the previous owner (or two) have cherished the car it will have had anything fixed that needed fixing.

Yes, I dont mean all the receipts, but at least the ones from the current owner. I've spoken to several owners who have either none at all, or have just the one from the last service, and one guy today said he doesn't bother to keep them because he can always call up the Main Dealer who has all the records on computer. With cars like these though, a lot of the value is in the history, both the stamps and the paperwork I think.

If you're planning to get a Porsche warranty, then I wouldn't be concerned about receipts. Once it's passed its 111 point inspection and you get the warranty, previous receipts become almost irrelevant. As Richard said, buy on current condition. Even if you find a car with a wedge of receipts and a FPSH, doesn't mean it won't have any more/less problems than a car with few receipts, and that's really all you're interested in - future expenses. I keep my receipts for everything from tyres and pads to petrol, but does that mean my car has been more or less reliable than the next car, just because I am fastidious about such things?

Today I requested a printout of the work carried out under the extended warrenty over the last couple of years - Porsche will not release this information. they will only release the paid for work carried out for the owner.

Interesting. So if a potential purchaser of a car with FPSH and warranty contacted Porsche to find out the car's history, Porsche could potentially tell them:- A) 'No work has been done to the car' (even if, for example, it was at the OPC having a gearbox replaced yesterday) or B) 'Plenty of work has been carried out, but we can't give you any details' (even with the owner's permission)? That's so stupid.

Don't know if this helps or not but here goes. I bought my car a year ago which had FPSH. [ ] However, when asking for receipts, all i was able to obtain from the previous owner was the last three print outs of the services that had taken place. [:'(] However, as the last one was a major service, i was more than happy. [ ] I also requested past MOT certificates and asked if there was any evidence of insurance policies taken out. 'YES i am a pain when buying something'. I received none. [:'(] I won't go into everything else but simply say that there are a lot of people who simply do not keep paperwork. On the other hand, when i sold my 944 last year i had 14 years of receipts, MOT certificates and YES....all my insurance certificates. The buyer was more than happy. I sound like a goody goody now!!! I would also like to say that when i was looking for a 996, i looked at some which i have to say....'were somewhat off putting' with the serious amounts of work that had been done...receipts or not. [&:] I was also led to believe by Porsche that if you contact the dealer (Porsche) where the car originated from, that you can get a full print out of your cars service records for a small fee!!!!! I don't know if this is still true. [8|] Good luck, David

I have just had all my radiators replaced under warranty on a 2003 TT. I was very suprised that they only lasted 4 years before letting go but even more suprised that the OPC replaced them all together with other minor bits and pieces and it didn't cost me anything other than the warranty which has now fully paid for itself within a few months of purchasing. I obviously have no receipts but I do have the OPC inspection report which details the work performed which I will add to my file of paperwork.

Ghia70, Maybe its the information you were asking for... An OPC cannot provide personal details relating to the owner or how work was paid for - as a print-out may contain this information they won't provide just in case. However they will be able to confirm any work done verbally. /Peter

I'd have to disagree somewhat. Evidence of things replaced that aren't covered by the warranty are worth knowing about. e.g. I replaced my clutch when having the RMS done at 36500 miles (the car is currently on 58000). Also replaced discs and brake pads. New aircon radiators and underbody piping. Away to do all the front brake pipes. Ignition coils, etc. All non-warranty I believe and it all adds up.

The state of the pads/disks/radiators/brake lines/clutch etc are all covered under the 111 point inspection..(ie even items that aren't covered by the warranty are still inspected)..the ignition coils are covered under warranty. Personally I would prefer to see receipts, but I wouldn't be too hung up on them if I were to get a 111 point inspection and a warranty.

When it comes to renewing the Porsche Waranty, do you need to have a 111 point check done? or is it just a matter of sending them your cash ? P.

If your car is already under warranty, then you just send them cash....if not, then you have to have the 111 point inspection undertaken, and it also has to pass. If it doesn't pass you can get any remedial work undertaken at an indi (using Porsche approved parts).

I fear that the Data Protection Act might be responsible for the refusal of an OPC to release inforamtion held on a computer! Of course, that was not the primary object of the legislation but, you know what happens when civil servants deal with issues that they do not understand and of which they have no experience...

Hi Rod, 1 point of clarification on renewing warranties: my understanding is that if you were to service your car outside the OPC network, you do need to prove that it's been serviced to Porsche standards in order to avoid having to undertake a further 111-point inspection. Potentially a bit of a grey area, hence many recommendations to have the fixed price servicing from the OPCs and additional work done at independents. Let me know if I've misquoted

Hi Sanjib, Hope Miami was good! A few owners on PCGB have the warranties but also have their car's serviced at indis....according to them, their OPCs have had no problems with that. Maybe, if during the 111 point inspection, they noted non-approved parts used, they would ask for them to be replaced, but I have not heard of that happening yet...maybe you have?