996TT
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I was driving along the highway at 65mph and I noticed that the temperature gauge started increasing and that there was steam bellowing out of the engine. Pulled off highway and coolant was pouring out from the left rear engine compartment - Had car towed home to inspect and upon removing the airbox it became very apparent that it was the dreaded epoxy coolant pipe failure on the pipe just below the alternator.

I know the long term solution is to have the pipes welded or pinned but does anyone have experience / write up on using JB weld to solidify the pipe? It seems like it could be a simple fix for the interm until I do a clutch + gt2 slave later this year.

Any info?

 

65 mph..( shaking head ). bad news. sorry. i don't have anything to offer.. but when you have time.. report it to the open ntsb(?) investigation. who knows. you may get a repair reimbursement eventually. gl w it.

 

Same thing happened to me by the alternator also seems to be the problem there for everyone i had it jb welded and so far its been great for 4 months now.

 

I bet JB weld does the trick

 

HAHA worked for me but you have to let it dry at the shop for a full 24 hours or it will not work.

 

good grief. much as i love me some jb weld. i dunno man... but it probably is as strong as their f'in glue is....WAS. that is an expensive pinning/welding whatever fix for sure, i'd try the stuff too. i just would never feel safe at any speed, and tracking is out. didn't they outlaw unpinned cars now?

failed at 65 mph! incredible.

 

When mine failed originally I had it JB welded. It lasted a few months and then started seeping a bit of coolant out. Not wanting a replay of the first problem I had the motor pulled and all the fittings welded. Looking back on it, I wish I would've had it welded straight away. I paid some extra labor because getting all the jb weld off was a *****. But as a bonus treat to me, I also had the GT2 slave conversion done. If I were in your shoes I'd get them pinned or welded and never worry again.

James

 

Lots of people done the jd weld and it never leaked again you must have not mixed it right or let it sit for 24 hours or not put it on right. Yes the simple way is to get them welded....

 

Thanks for the responses - I have filed a complaint, we'll see where that goes...

Two questions for the JB weld fix - Does using this fix inhibit the ability to weld the pipe in at a later time? How would a shop weld this after the JB weld is there? As for applying the JB weld are you coating the outside of the pipe and inserting it in or are you inserting the pipe and coating around the pipe with it? Combination of both?

Really incredible that this issue continues to plague the community and Porsche had turned a blind eye - Has anyone tried to bring a class action lawsuit against this?

 

would you mind saying your costs.. and what you think might've been extra? i agree though about jb. it's like glue on top of glue..?

porsche turbo? i dunno man.

 

Well The initial quote was 1400 or so to pull the motor and weld the fittings. It ended up being like 16-700 though because it took a lot of work to get all the JB weld off. It may have started to fail because it didn't sit for a full 24 hours, but I'm pretty sure it sat for 24. I'm not sure, and it was only seeping a drop or two a night, but that was one drop more than I wanted to risk. Total cost for pulling the motor, welding fittings, replacing every single o-ring and gasket possible, all new expansion tank, new boost hoses, etc. was about 4500. Best money I have spent to date.

 

Yes you are right just one drop could be deadly on a highway good call.

 

i'd say if 15-1700 i'd be pissed but happy if that's all it was. not so sure i'd share the joy at 4500. but thx for the info. the way this keeps looking, there are a few more potential victims out here

 

I had 3 people come up to me at octane and said they all had it happen in the past months same area tho by the alternator.

 

that's not good. but meanwhile i'll turn over 105k tomorrow. my cars like yours. not much is still stock.. 'cept maybe the glue