Last night I saw some drips under the left side of my engine. Looks like coolant seemed to be dripping down from above somewhere. It hadn't been dripping that I've noticed before that, so I took note of it but wasn't too concerned, but planned on taking it in in the next few days.

Today at work I drove to lunch and after I parked I saw white smoke coming from my engine compartment. I popped the hood and hoped to see if it was spraying or leaking heavily from a certain spot but I couldn't see where from. It dripped for a little while, and the smoke disappated after less than a minute.

I called and set up an appointment with All German Auto on Monday morning.

Does this sound familiar? Is my engine about to explode, or is the symptom of a cracked coolant expansion tank or some common hose issue? Of course immediately I get scared it is something huge- should I be concerned?

 

Coolant tank is a very high probability on your 99 - it splits and leaks under pressure

Replacement will be in the region of $500-$600

AGA will be able to diagnose/fix with no issues I'm sure

Just watch your levels on your way there!

 

+1

 

Very possible it is the tank, but my 02 just had the water pump go out. I saw a leak, etc...same type of scenario...needless to say, it was a grand to have it fixed

 

Where should I check to see if it is the water pump? I'm not familiar with where many things are on my engine. Is it easy to see if it was something more serious like this? I'll be able to inspect my engine more closely tonight, and I would like to put my mind at ease hopefully.

 

Coolant tank

 

You're looking for this:



Still have my $$$ on the tank - it's soooooo common

 

Is it dripping on the driver's side of the car down on to or next to the exhaust? If so, 99% it's the expansion tank. Unfortunately the tank goes so far back in the engine compartment you can only see a small part of it.
Anyone know why all the original tanks crack?

 

The water pump usually fails due to the water pump shaft seal leaking.

Simply locate the waterpump, and take your finger, slide it behind the water pump pulley and see if the water pump is wet. If it is, you will need to replace the water pump immediately.

Just follow the timing belt to the pump pulley.

 

The tank material is not up to the heat expansion and then cooling contraction cycles in the enclosed engine bay.

They split and slowly leak under pressure until either you notice, or it fails in a big way and you notice.

Not sure if new tanks have the same issues, or are just too new to have failed yet!

 

I think the tanks cracking is a problem on many cars... they all look somewhat similar.
It leaked on my NSX and my old Jeep
When the 996 one leaked i couldnt see where it was coming from at all
It cracked way at the backside and as others have said drips onto the exhaust manifold.
I did the DIY replacement with a $76 dollar tank from Sunset (01's are much cheaper than 99-00's??)

 

Every since I brought my car home from the dealer(60k service) I've been smelling antifreeze. I'm really getting tired of these repetitive problems.

 

It's just extended mileage issues - **** happens I guess

get it checked/fixed before it goes all the way

 

Following is a link to a DIY for replacing the coolant tank. I wish I found this before forking out $900 to replace mine! In my case the cracked tank leaked down onto the left exhaust tip. http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=8024

Good luck,

 

I don't have enough light to look at my engine, but when I got home it was REALLY starting to leak. It was smoking for a good 10minutes after I parked, and pretty fast dripping on on the ground.

I looked underneath and the coolant didn't seem isolated to any one part. There was coolant on the left-rear header pipe, and there was also a couple hoses right around there that were wet with coolant, and the drips came from a few different places. I popped the hood and I could see a couple spots where coolant was on top of the engine- perhaps splashed or sprayed there (?). The leak put coolant on the left side of the engine, but I can't be certain where it was from. If the water pump is on the left side, also- it seems like it could be just as likely a candidate. I thought I located the water pump, but it was dark - is it toward the bottom of the engine on the left?

Now I don't think I make it to AGA safely, considering how much it was leaking tonight. I don't want to risk it, so I may just take it to the dealer or A1 auto (they sell and fix porsches and other imports- can't remember their exact name, but it's right up the street on Mira Mesa).