My local shop is also doing a 996TT this weekend. They also recommend the pinning method opposed to welding. I'll be doing mine this summer.

 

My tech that did the repair work discovered the leak before re-installing it (I provided the welded part). I never even thought about the possibility of it leaking, but he was aware that a repair of this nature often has a pin hole leak, as they have seen it occur previously in other similar applications. I'm not sure how he tested it, but probably like you described. I was surprised because the weld looked perfect, then relieved that he had the foresight to test it. He just said "Yea, we always pressure test repairs like this before installing them". Obviously, they had seen it before in 30 years of service work.

 

I find OVR to be strict, but my observation is that they embrace important safety issues like this one in a sensible way. I haven't found them to be arbitrary or capricious about unimportant things. And I cannot argue with them on this. I had a coolant dump on track last year from a split hose. It caused me to spin, but fortunately in the slowest corner on the track. Others haven't been so fortunate.

I will pose the question to them about pinning vs welding. I have already had my water pump fittings pinned, but I'm having the engine dropped to do the rest. I'll post when I get a response.

I would like to see an answer to JPflip's question giving the exact fittings that ned to be addressed.

Jon

 

Hi I'm your Porsche glued in coolant fitting named Mayhem. You're going down the freeway and I just bust loose and dump all your coolant out for everyone behind you to skid all over the place and crash into each other. Don't bother calling PCNA, they'll just put you on hold with muzak. Hope your cut rate insurance is going to cover this freeway pile up because it's your fault.

 

This is actually serious stuff...really sucks....especially if you have to pay to have this issue resolved....I heard $2,500+....ouch!

 

I'd be willing to chip in for a retainer. I'm not going to wait for it to happen to me to get fixed, but I want some compensation.

Massive loss of coolant over the rear wheels at high speeds is a really easy case. You put you, anyone else in the car, and anyone else on the highway at risk.

Yeah, picky to me is like Goldcoast (I think) PCA that were going to require you to be able to heel toe to drive in the advanced group or something like that. When cars are just driving around dumping coolant all over, I see where they are coming from.

I'd have to question what they do about Corvette's, I'd bet the number of Corvette's blowing up has to be equal or greater than the number of coolant spillages considering the production numbers. I saw a guy crash his new GT2 at the track from following a Z06 that went boom. And been at the track when at least 5-6 other Corvette's (7 including my old C5, but no spillage) went boom.

 

BTW I had a leaky coolant fixture in 2010 so I replaced mine, and with it also the adhesive. I do slightly recall him saying something about the fittings being loose and that he was using something MUCH stronger, but I wasn't paying attention much at the time because I didn't think it was a serious issue. I'm going to call and ask, but I'm still getting mine pinned.

 

Dunno about Corvettes Dez. This was a communication that came from OVR via Club Registration, and I am pretty sure that it went only to owners of 996/997 TT, GT2 and GT3 vehicles.

Like you, I can't say that I blame them. Mid-Ohio is a pretty fast track, and there are some concrete walls.

I sent the query about allowing the pinned fittings. Will post when I hear back.

Jon

 

If you use the pinning method I suspect a small thread bolt (4 or 5 mm) is used, but what type of thread sealant should be used on the bolt threads? Can all of the weak spots be easily pinned by dropping the motor?

 

Here is the link to the original post by Sharkwerks. Looks like they use red Loctite to secure and seal.
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ark-werks.html

There is another recent thread started by JPflip that identifies the 8 pipes that need this repair:
https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ts-needed.html

 

I heard back from the OVR guys. It looks like they are amenable to the pinning method as a legit fix as well. Let me not speak for them, however, and wait until they make the final decision.

Jon

 

lol!

 

 

When you look at it like that, it seems to be lots of work
and there is a couple missing on that picture.....

 

I can only count 6 fittings. I thought there were a couple of curved ones, no? Also, why not just weld the original fittings instead of buying the kit?