Hi all.

How long do 996tt water pumps last in general, and also coolant tanks?
The shop that will be doing the fix for my coolant drop mentioned that
996tt water pumps and coolant tanks go fairly early on, suggesting I
do this work proactively. What do you guys think?

 

Joe
It really depends on the car and the enviorment its in.

I have done watertanks on 996 cars as early as two years into there life.

Waterpumps have failed on turbos as early as 15k miles

My personal GT2 needed a H20 pump @15k miles on it.

Its not uncommon for the parts to fail early.

 

Mine is still going after 40K (knock knock)!

 

My 03 with 57k on the clock hasn't shown any WP issues and my coolant tank still looks new.

 

OK. I was told the coolant pumps should last 100K..
but the coolant tanks on '01 and '02 are failing, and
they are cheap, so they should be changed.

I was told that water pumps are have a built in weep
hole when they start to fail they will weep coolant and
there is usually there is a crusty white area around the
pump.

Are water pump failures gradual usually, or can they
grenade? Should I just wait till I see that crust, or
should I just change the pump every 20,000 miles?

thanks Fabryce!

 

Are the water pumps easy to get to on these motors? I have my motor out now with 55K on it and just wondering if I should replace it while its out?

 

Mine failed around 36k. It's better insurance if you get it replaced. You don't wanna get stranded on the road.

 

This is for 996NA, I hope that helps.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0L0klF8lVo

This is good to know
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Um-h2...eature=related

 

Joe, they will typically show an on-coming failure, not grenade without warning.

 

Every water pump I have seen fail has started weeping out the weep hole. I have never seen one just fail, sieze or come apart. You will have a warning sign.

 

think the coolant tank starts to turn brown as it hardens. suppose this can be used as a crude indicator of wear. pain to replace since minimum, engine needs to be lowered. Good to do if engine's out. if remember correctly cost on it is 125

 

Yup. As it starts to fade, turn brown and crack, it weeps through the small cracks.

 

Good to know, specially since I am thinking of making the jump to a 996TT.