Noticed a few days ago a slight puddle under my car on drivers side near rear. I was getting ready to do plugs coils gt2rs ics. Got the car on jack stands and got it hot. I thought it was the water pump originally. But doesn't look like it's that. It looks like the large hose that goes into thermostat housing is weeping. Expansion tank looks good. I also notice a collection on the rubber piece shown near the drain point. Is this a leak point. If so how hard to fix? I know I'll need to refill and bleed my coolant system.

I think this hose has failed at tstat. It has been superseded by 997 part I believe. The leak on the rubber under the car I'm not sure of.

 

Anyone?

 

Given the info you presented, my bet is on the water pump. Unless there is a tear in the hose, it wouldn't just start to weep. The hose in your picture looks to be in good shape. There is a tiny little hole on the water pump that will allow water to escape when the pump goes bad - there is often no other indication when the pump starts to fail.

Check my DIY to replace your pump here - Water pump replacement diy

 

Hi there, live in Campbell River, recently purchased a 996tt after 20 years of air cooled ownership.Will keep your contact info as I plan to go through the whole car this winter....may want to pick your brain for advice if you're OK with questions

 

Hey. I originally thought it was the water pump. The pump is 2 years old. Was replaced when coolant lines were getting welded. It seems to be coming from the retaining clip hole in the housing. Making me think the boring was bad on that hose. I might replace the hose and pump. Just didn't want to spend money if it wasn't needed.

 

Questions welcome any time...

 

Ah, you didn't say you had pinned coolant lines... That could be a source of failure as well - but, if you have a hole in the housing, that sounds like it could be trouble. The only hole in the housing I know of is the one that is made to leak when the pump goes bad.

 

Not pinned but welded apparently. Sure hope that isn't what's leaking!

 

It doesn't look like it. Only place up high I see any collection is right at the retaining clip hole seen here

 

Coolant leaks can be hard to pinpoint. One has to carefully check areas above and away from where the obvious signs of a leak are to ensure the actual leak source is not some distance removed from that location.

My leak finding is improved by thoroughly rinsing the area to rinse way the leak sign, the dried coolant residue, then with the A/C off start the engine and drive the car around until the engine is hot enough, the coolant is hot enough to trigger the radiator fans.

What you want to do is arrange to -- ideally -- have the car in a lift bay and raise the idle speed so say 1K and hold until radiator fans come on then shut off the engine and raise the car.

I have also just backed the car onto a set of Rhino ramps to at least get the rear of the car in the air as most of the time the leak is confined to the rear of the car.

The hot engine will heat the coolant and raise its pressure. The fact that everything is warm (hot) and the coolant is hot and under increasing pressure will almost certainly manifest a leak and if you are prepared you will see its source.

You have to be careful. One time I did this with my Boxster and the coolant tank gushed hot coolant to the ground and did so unexpectedly.

To give you an idea of what a difference temperature and pressure makes, I let the car cool overnight then the next morning added around a gallon of distilled water to the coolant tank and started the engine. With no signs of any leak I drove the car to the dealer -- a few miles away -- and even after that drive the coolant tank was not leaking. But it was certainly bad as once the old one was removed the signs were clear the thing had been leaking under some conditions for a while.

 

Similar thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago ended up being a tiny hole in that coolant hose with the clip.

Easy to fix only need to replace the hose which looks harder than it is to remove and replac.

Just make sure you use the original clips as the new oem clips they will give you are too fat and dont fit correctly.

Cheers

 

Well got the hose ordered and took the old one off. Here was the problem.

Then took the front bumper off to clean the leaves and saw this.

So it looks like to me I need a new radiator.
Where's the best place to buy it?

There is also a picture of the superseded 997 part number for the hose installed.

 

Think that a rad shop could remove the gasket and recrimp if the core is in good shape....just a thought

 

Do you all replace all three radiators while you are doing it or just replace the one that is leaking and wait for the others to go.

 

if it ain't broke don't fix it......