Re: 2000 boxster - leak - need some help please!

Hello folks - I have a 2000 Boxster w/ about 70k on it. Today when driving earlier in the day I thought I had heard a new (and not a good sounding "new") noise never heard before - something like a bit of a clang sound - nothing horribly bad, but it didn't sound normal either. When getting home, after shutting off the car and getting out, I noticed the following:
1) some smoke (or vapor at least) coming out of the right-side air vent (thing between the door and rear wheel)
2) trail of liquid marking the spot to my garage....and a steady stream of liquid dripping out (for about 15 min). Location of the "leak" was about 8" to the right of the center of the car, and about halfway between the rear wheel and back of the seats......from looking/feeling the fluid it doesn't look like oil.....it's almost clear like water but feels a lit oily.

Below are a couple photos (tire visible in first photo is front/left). I have an idea what this is.... but want to check w/ others.



So any ideas what has failed? And what my options are to deal w/ it? The drive to the dealer is quite a distance so I am guessing I have to get it towed to wherever I have fix it.
Thanks

Was coolant temp normal when you heard the noise?

Is the liquid pink?

Have you checked the coolant level?

Could be coolant tank or pressure relief valve.

Don't have your Boxster towed. It has to be flat bedded.

Although official Porsche coolant is pink, other brands of coolant can be different colours.

Hi - From the first picture you can see a shade of green in the liquid. Coolant temp was not anything glaringly off. But it wasn't that hot out, and I think something failed pretty quick as when driving the car earlier in the day it didn't leak.

Sure looks and sounds like a coolant leak to me. I am guessing the water pump gave out.

... today, but it has been green and yellow at one point.



This is what was in my '98 (green)



Some of he early Boxsters and Carreras came with the green stuff.

Happy Porsche'ing,
Pedro

Pedro Bonilla
1998 Boxster 986 - 311,000+ miles: [www.PedrosGarage.com]
PCA National Club Racing Scrutineer - PCA National HPDE Instructor - PCA Technical Committee (Boxster/Cayman)

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Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar

"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting" ... Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney in "LeMans"

"If you wait, all that happens is that you get older"... Mario Andretti

"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose" ... Ayrton Senna

Grant

gee-lenahan-at-gee-mail-dot-com

... Here's the DIY: [pedrosgarage.com]

Happy Boxstering
Pedro

Pedro Bonilla
1998 Boxster 986 - 311,000+ miles: [www.PedrosGarage.com]
PCA National Club Racing Scrutineer - PCA National HPDE Instructor - PCA Technical Committee (Boxster/Cayman)

---

Racecar spelled backwards is Racecar

"Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting" ... Steve McQueen as Michael Delaney in "LeMans"

"If you wait, all that happens is that you get older"... Mario Andretti

"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose" ... Ayrton Senna




Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/09/2014 11:10PM by Pedro (Weston, FL). (view changes)

Quote
Pedro (Weston, FL)
... Here's the DIY: [pedrosgarage.com]

Happy Boxstering
Pedro

The voice of experience.

I guess the water pump would also account for the "clanging" noise.

While some have reported much longer life for their water pump, after 130K+, we are on our forth.
It will run you about $1K at the dealer...less at an independent shop.

Just make sure whoever does the work does a good job bleeding your coolant once refilled. The boxster cooling system is not the easiest to fill correctly. If your mechanic is looking for a quick job you'll end up driving home with the coolant boiling over due to air bubbles trapped in the system.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/12/2014 08:50PM by CK in Chatham NJ. (view changes)