Lost the left side coolant hose while on track this weekend. This is the hose from the water pump that sits right over the left rear wheel. Fortunately, I was going into the slowest corner on the track when it went.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RBOJkH0FEI

 

This is really starting to annoy me. Porsche did a poor job of engineering on the coolant systems reliability.

Maybe you have read the thread, but class action may need to take place for Porsche to do something.

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...-registry.html
My front coolant hose blew off at an Autocross not long after I got my car.

 

make sure you file a complaint listed on page 4

 

OP, thank god no one was behind you...or else they might have plowed into you during the spin-out.

 

Sorry to hear about this. Looks like this was a hose failure (rather than at the coupling). Is there any way to inspect the condition of the hoses -- or do they just need to be replaced at some time/mileage interval? Also, any idea if these failures are really happening more at the track than out on the street (or is it only reported more from track events). If it's happening more at the track, I'd be interested in knowing the likely cause -- higher G forces, higher RPMs, engine temps, etc....

 

Read the thread on rennlist, this is happening on the street too. Mostly 2004 GT3's into the 997 GT3's but some 01 turbos mixed in there too. Low mileage, high mileage newer and older cars.

 

Actually, there were two guys fairly close behind. Fortunately, this was an experienced group, but they got caught up in the coolant dumped in the braking zone. One of them ended up in the grass, and the other one was able to stop in time. The really fortunate thing is that this is the slowest corner on the track (~50 mph). Six turns earlier I was doing 140 entering the braking zone.

Jon

 

Lost my coolant coupling at track two weeks ago and have only had it partially fixed. It goes back in tomorrow to finish the job. There was a car behind me that DID spin and nearly lost it. Pretty scary- and expensive!

Thanks for the link will check it out.

 

Most of the posts in that thread are for the epoxied fittings blowing out, whereas mine was the hose itself splitting. There are a few of those too. I was planning to have the fittings drilled this winter (Sharkwerks solution), and maybe my tech would have told me to replace this hose when he inspected it. Didn't quite make it.

There are certainly a lot of things poorly designed in this cooling system. The really surprising thing is that they are still using those press/epoxy fittings. The replacement for the hose has an updated 997 part number, but I haven't seen the part yet.

I filed an NHTSA complaint. Thanks for the link Dez. Here it is for anyone else who might have had cooling system issues:
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/Vehicl...nt/index.xhtml

Jon

 

Was the hose the original or an aftermarket?

How often are people swapping their hoses out?

Stock or aftermarket hoses as a replacement?

Sorry for all the questions.

Glad no major damage to your car.

 

This was one of the hoses Kevin recommended I change during my 30k service. The new PN is 997-106-502-00.

There were 2 others that he recommended, I have a thread on Rennlist that lists the other two.

http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforum...ferrerid=77464

 

omg, what a dramatic video clip! Glad no-one was hurt.

 

Luck was on your side Jon. Not only was it the slowest corner but probably the last event for the year. Now you have the winter to sort it out. Glad you didn't hit anything.

I had my tech change a bunch of hoses while the other mods were being done, along with welding all the coolant fittings. Hopefully my cooling system is taken care of.

 

Good idea to take those precautions. You should be good to go - hope so!!

Jon

 

FAST FWD,
Out of curiosity have you ever lowered you motor via the 2 rear mounts (to do DVs, plugs or the like)?