So, our beloved "check engine light once a week", (my nickname for our Panamera), has been sitting for about a month now. Maybe 2 weeks in I put a battery charger/maintainer on it to protect the battery from dying. Now I'm starting to look for the specialized tools for the work I need done on the car. I have a lot of parts and fluids ready. My biggest concern is the coolant loss that occurs every time the car is driven. I pulled some, (hoping all but not certain), coolant replacement instructions, more specifically drain, fill, including bleeding. There is one special service tool that is listed:

Filling device, tool number 9696, and part number is 000 721 969 60.
Googling this item shows it as an A/C recharge device, but that does not make sense to me. It is on top of that a whopping $400 or so dollars, already factoring online store discounts.

I am interested in a more universal unit, Mercedes and BMW come to mind as other brands I may need this for.

Does anyone have any advice on what may work well? I notice that the filling device has two valves, one in, and one out, and I guess the substitute should have these input AND output valves as well. I saw a Schwaben unit that looks nice so far....

Thank you in advance.

 

So far my research has led me to a Mastercool 43301. Have yet to conifrm/verify it will work, nor found the best pricing.....

 

I used the UView successfully on my 996TT and also intend to use it on my Pannie.

 

Thank you. I've been looking at Amazon and there are a whole bunch of different ones to choose from...

For bleeding suspected air:
After filling with the vacuum filling device, (bleeder valve still in service position)
remove complete filling tool including adapter connected to the reservoir
if necessary fill reservoir to max marking
start engine and let idle, selector lever to "P", allow engine to warm up
switch on cabin heating, blower setting 1 bar
Press "Sport button" to activate "Sport" mode
Press accelerator pedal to engine speed of 3500 RPM during warm up.

(I actually tried to post this earlier but the forum sometimes logs me out before I can click post and it was lost!)

 

I got one from eBay for $75 shipped.
LIKE THIS ONE.
It has attachment for many cars, including #9 I think for Porsche. Also has the fill attachments for vacuum purge and fill when you need to fill the car after work.
Works perfect for all my Pcars and others too. Do not spend 400 dollars, its overkill for sure.

 

Thank you! That’s even cheaper than the ones that look the same listed on Amazon...

 

To be honest I’m really OC when it comes to following the shop manual instructions on repairing a car. Sadly the Mercedes coolant filling machine for later models is around $2k. I was already happy that the official Porsche one is 1/4 that. But heck, the official bleeding of air instructions does not mention any fancy devices, just setting the bleeder valve, climate control to heat at one bar fan speed, Sport Mode, and revving to 3500 RPM. Gotta love the Porsche for ease of maintenance....

 

To properly fill any modern car, you not only have heater on, etc, but must have coolant evacuation and fill venturing kit.

the kit assumes you have a compressor that you will use for this system. Not doing this way increases chances of air in system that can cause cooling system not to work right.

if u want to get the kit, make sure u have air compressor too.

 

Thank you ciaka! That's some great advice. I really appreciate it. I ended up purchasing a kit from Amazon. It went on sale today and I couldn't resist:


They claim to help the ASPCA so that's nice, and provide a good warranty. I hope it works well....

 

Any updates? How was the tool? I'm about to tap the coolant pipe and the thermostat housing.

 

I honestly had trouble with the tool set. It has a pressure gauge device for you to test for leaks. I could not get it to make a proper seal and lost pressure within maybe 10 seconds. The manufacturer ended up refunding my money. To prove I had an issue I bought another set similar to CIAKA's and that one pressure stayed constant/no leak. But I still lost coolant every drive and recently (a few days ago) changed the o-ring on the cap. If this finally stops the coolant loss I will then invest in the 30L coolant container to try if I can fit it with the cheap adapter set.

I can so far say the thermostat coolant hose has not become detached that I am aware. I'm the one who cut a soda can and JB Welded it. So far so good....

 

LOL I'm fully aware of ”that guy” who used the soda can. You're famous! I see reference to you all the time on the internet.

 

​​​​​​I just popped the hood this morning to top off the battery. (Not driving the Panamera much because of COVID). I checked the metal tube and it's still firmly in place. I checked the coolant level and it's low. The cap sits very snugly with the VITEON o-ring, but still see coolant bypassing the cap into the overflow. I'll give it maybe another week and then I'll start seriously looking at completing my toolkit and attempt to do the coolant flush. I already have the (20L I believe) flush.

 

Have you done pressure test on the car? The pressure test (make sure you dont over pressure), will show you where the coolant is leaking from for sure. Thats what the pump is for in the kit. You put in the cap adapter, attach the pump, get it up to say 15psi, and any place where coolant can come out, it will (since system is under pressure where driving). I used couple times already on the Cayenne. Each time got the leak fixed. It seems to be holding well on the CTT. Panamera (knock on wood), has no coolant leak issues.
Hope you get this sorted out.

 

​​​​​​Hi ciaka. Thank you for sharing it works. I was scratching my head because if I recall correctly I left it pressurized over night and no sign of leak! Coolant is still passing from the cap. I've now ruled out the o-ring because it is really quite tight. I suspect the K-Seal is causing abnormal high pressure so coolant is forcing it's way past the relief valve in the cap.