Coolant leak - possible water pump issue?

[Windymiller]

So, despite sitting in the garage since March 27th the car seems to have developed a drip-leak from the rear most end of the rear plastic undertray. 
 

some photos attached. 3rd photo is of the reflection looking back in an inspection mirror. 
 

it seems like the drip is originating (or certainly coming down over) what I believe is the water pump pulley wheel and ‘serpentine’ poly belt. 
 

there is a layer of dried out pink coolant residue all over the underside of the engine sump ‘pan’ - I’m assuming it got ‘splattered’ onto here when the car was driven and then dried out to leave the pink dusty residue. You can see the pink residue on a pipe in some of the photos below. 
 

I removed the passenger compartment engine access cover and can see patches of dried coolant on the lower pulleys and edges of the drive belt, but nothing higher up. 

I did >1000miles after the service during which I also had the ‘engine compartment blower failure’ dash warning (despite the fan blowing like crazy) - could the 2 issues be linked?  Eg, leaking coolant = insufficient coolant to sufficiently cool engine = Engine compartment over warm = car brain thinking compartment fan not doing its job?
 

i had the front coolant pipes and hoses replaced in early March, so the whole system would have been emptied and refilled/recharged with that work, but would anything in the engine bay have been disturbed as part of that work?

 

🤔

[Dougle_turbo]

I'd have the engine cover of and check the engine bay coolant lid has been secured properly, the flap/lever on the air/coolant bleed tank is in the down position, and check the bleed lines (there are two) on the air/coolant bleed tank are properly connected. The amount of dry pink coolant on that pipe suggests either a very large leak, or more likely overflow from the refill procedure.

[Windymiller]

Thanks Doug, I’ve got both covers off last night, did check the flippy-over lever on the bleed tank, but will check the bleed lines also. 
 

it does seem odd that this has only occurred since having the front coolant pipes replaced. 😒
 

I did have to top up the coolant a couple of times (during the 1000miles to/from Scotland) after the works were done, but put this down to airlocks in the system releasing. 🤔

[Windymiller]

Just ran engine with both covers off in the garage for 10 minutes - no obvious signs of leakage from expansion tank / ‘burb’ valve / hoses / water pump....
 

Think I’ll go for a Local drive And then look again and see what’s what. 🤔🤷‍♂️

[extanker]

take it for a local ride to a garage with a lift 

[Aaron]

8 hours ago, Windymiller said:

Thanks Doug, I’ve got both covers off last night, did check the flippy-over lever on the bleed tank, but will check the bleed lines also. 
 

it does seem odd that this has only occurred since having the front coolant pipes replaced. 😒
 

I did have to top up the coolant a couple of times (during the 1000miles to/from Scotland) after the works were done, but put this down to airlocks in the system releasing. 🤔

 

This would be setting alarm bells off for me.  It should have been bled properly before it's handed back to you and driven away.  Definitely related to the work - sounds like something is amiss.  Check over each component that would have been interacted with by the change.  You'll need to get the lower covers off to check it bottom to top.

 

It does look like too much coolant in each area to be a weeping pump.  You would expect more of an obvious stream as it drips down, not the splashes that you've pictured.

 

I would start with the expansion tank as dougle_turbo suggested.  Check the caps are tight, etc., it may be something simple.  Fingers crossed it's just a loose hose/clamp.

[Dougle_turbo]

Also check every circlip you can get your hands and eyes on (the ones holding the pipes on). They are sneaky bastards, and they can look properly in place when they aren't. They also only leak once up to temperature and at full engine speed.

[Windymiller]

Thanks for all inputs guys. 
 

I went for a short drive last night to get the coolant up to temp, then took the covers off again once home. No obvious signs of leaks ‘under pressure’ from expansion tank, cap, hoses, thermostat etc, but there was a small ‘puddle’ on the floor in the same place (beneath water pump area) this morning, so I’ve dropped it in to DS Automotive in Aylesbury to take a look next week.
 

They did my clutch last year - was happy with their work then. 
 

Will report back once diagnosed.  

[sevenfourate]

‘Normal’ stuff on any used car I guess. A bind; but far from terminal ! I don’t think a water pump change is a huge issue on these per-se is it.....?

 

The only thing I have read is to make sure any pump you get has a plastic impeller as per the OEM item (Around £200 I believe) as if / when these fo fail with a metal impeller; the ensuing free play from worm bearings can mean the metal impeller causing ‘carnage from rubbing’......

 

GOOD LUCK.

Edited May 8, 2020 by sevenfourate

[Windymiller]

Aye 748, if it’s ‘just’ the pump I’ll be relieved as a relatively quick (ergo ‘cheap’) fix. 
 

id not read that re plastic vs metal impeller. Funny, when I had an Alfa GTA and GTV the perceived wisdom on those cars was swap for a metal impeller as the plastic ones had a tendency to crack and break off. 
 

I’ll probably go for OE on something like the water pump, so it’ll be as Porsche specified / designed it. 👍🏻

[Windymiller]

Bit of an update.

 

it is a water pump issue, needing replacement pump. 
 

porsche offer it in 2 ‘forms’ - the pump impeller part @ £320 inc VAT, or the pump impeller and associated housing as a complete unit @ £568. 😲

 

fortunately I ‘only’ need the smaller, ‘cheaper’ component part. 
 

and the good news is that MEYLE offer a ‘better than OE’ spec version with a 4yr / 100k miles warranty for £199, which I’ve found on eBay (new & boxed) for £139!

 

bargain 👍🏻
 

should arrive between 16-19th May, so hopefully all fixed next week. 
 

in case you ever need it, here’s a link to MEYLEs Porsche parts online catalogue:

https://www.meyle.com/fileadmin/user_upload/service/downloads/kataloge/092016/Kat_Linie-Porsche_en.pdf
 

 

 

Edited May 13, 2020 by Windymiller

[sevenfourate]

3 hours ago, Windymiller said:

Bit of an update.

 

it is a water pump issue, needing replacement pump. 
 

porsche offer it in 2 ‘forms’ - the pump impeller part @ £320 inc VAT, or the pump impeller and associated housing as a complete unit @ £568. 😲

 

fortunately I ‘only’ need the smaller, ‘cheaper’ component part. 
 

and the good news is that MEYLE offer a ‘better than OE’ spec version with a 4yr / 100k miles warranty for £199, which I’ve found on eBay (new & boxed) for £139!

 

bargain 👍🏻
 

should arrive between 16-19th May, so hopefully all fixed next week. 
 

in case you ever need it, here’s a link to MEYLEs Porsche parts online catalogue:

https://www.meyle.com/fileadmin/user_upload/service/downloads/kataloge/092016/Kat_Linie-Porsche_en.pdf
 

 

 

 

Great news Jason - if that's possible ! Even better on the price. Thats a bit more 'reasonable'.

 

Good link on the Meyle catalogue too. Saved: THANKS.

 

Good luck for next week........

[FLAT STICK]

Glad you found it, my Mrs was driving mine when my water pump went and it sounded like somebody had put 1.5 tonne of hard-core in a spin dryer.

 

Dean

[Craig Bradley]

Glad you found it before any further damage was caused.

 

I had a coolant leak from the front coolant pipes, had them replaced by Autofarm but Porsche supplied one of the pipes with a securing clip that was too small, so a constant drip was coming which had me worried for a while that something bigger was damaged.

 

Thankfully the guys at Autofarm managed to eventually identify this and we had the retaining clip swapped out for the correct one.

 

Now i can pull my car out of the garage and there is no coolant on the floor

 

Shout out to Autofarm boys - Highly recommended!

 

 

[Windymiller]

Slight update. 
 

the MEYLE part was a gen1 fit item, it’s totally different to gen 2 as it has an integral inlet/outlet port (On the gen 1 pump) for a hose connection. 

so the supplier sent an alternative gen 2 pump, brand not MEYLE, but from a 3rd party multi-brand supplier called ‘First Line’. Sadly MEYLE don’t offer a gen 2 pump, despite their online catalogue indicating that the pump is suitable for all 987 Caymans 🤔
 

i provided the pump to the Indy specialist and his response was ‘I wouldn’t supply you with a first line pump, but if you’re happy to have it it fitted I’ll fit it for you’. 
 

didn't provide me with a huge degree of confidence in first line products, especially when he said if any of his suppliers sent him a ‘FL’ component he’d send it straight back... 😳

 

so returning the FL product now and have asked Indy to just order a genuine OE Porsche pump. 

I’m assuming a position of engine cooling is critical to engine life and longevity, and it’s a (high speed) piece of rotating equipment so needs to be the best quality available. I’d have happily fitted MEYLE (if it actually fitted the gen 2). 
 

Hopefully delivered and fitted before the wknd. 🤷‍♂️🤞

[sevenfourate]

Bummer. But:

 

I wouldn’t use Firstline stuff on the wife’s car. Good decision !

[Windymiller]

16 hours ago, sevenfourate said:

Bummer. But:

 

I wouldn’t use Firstline stuff on the wife’s car. Good decision !

Good to have my concerns confirmed by others too - I think I’ve made the right choice just to go OE supply, happy to save money on other components, but not ‘system critical’ 🤔😉 👍🏻

[Windymiller]

Got the car back on Tuesday with a new OE Porsche supplied pump fitted - no leaks / drips, problem solved 👍🏻
 

Supplied and fitted by DS Automotive in Aylesbury, Bucks (used previously for my clutch replacement last year), a former privateer Porsche race team mechanic, always has unique cars up on his ramps and lots of porkers. 

 

http://www.dsautomotives.co.uk/

 

£560 (incl VAT) comprised of:

pump £320

coolant £60

2.2hrs labour £180