KrazyK

Last night I saw the dreaded coolant leak from the #3 area, inspected from below and can see a tiny pin hole coolant spray leak from one of the AOS coolant lines/connections. Guess its time anyway at 58,000 miles.

What sucks is that a few months ago I had the trans out for the IMSB, clutch, etc. and probably should have done it then for PM. My question for you guys is should I just drop the engine and do the other things too (water pump, T-stat, hoses, etc. (engine detailing!) or replace from the top?

Please feel free to make suggestions I just didnt feel like doing this so soon after the trans drop so cheer me up. My wife is now officially referring to the 996 as "the money pit" which I do somewhat agree (cant wait to post my 1 year of ownership parts replaced list).

Hurdigurdiman

Drop the engine and change everything you can KK. Then send all your parts to my house haha. No joking apart. It all depends on if you DIY and if you have the time and money available to do what ever you decide needs changing. I for one love working on my car. I have the time and the money and if I could, would have that engine out in a heart beat and change everything I felt a need to change. I am retired with lots of free time on my hands. Taking the opportunity doesn't add up in my mind if it doesn't need changing. PM can be taken overboard and from your posting and the 'money pit' statement from your wife, I would only do the stuff that really needs doing. Don't let 'could have' or 'should have' sway your decisions. How were you supposed to know something would go wrong? WE are dealing with teenage cars and teenagers can be so temperamental. PM can be a guessing game as several posters have confirmed. ie (bearings changed and nothing wrong with them. Not one or two but almost every one I read). The same with water pumps, AOS etc. I mean where do we stop? Repair the stuff as it happens and don't be too hard on yourself. You are not a psychic for Gods sake.

DBJoe996

KK - you're thinking you have to now drop the engine and replace everything...over a pin hole coolant leak from a hose? Do yourself a favor, identify the hose and just replace it. You gave no indication of a bad AOS so why go through all that? I know you love to tear your car apart and do stuff, but to me if the wife starts complaining it is time to give it a rest and pay more attention to her!

alpine003

First off I'm pretty disappointed in you. This has been like your second slip up within a month(not replacing those ugly rotors, your first).

Secondly if you are gonna drop the motor, do the rest as you mentioned. That way your nice clean tranny will match the engine.

As for the wife give her the same scare speech you give here. If you already told her, remind her again that you'd rather spend a little now than a lot later.

Gonzo911

I'm just shocked he hasn't replaced his wife.

redridge

yes, I would change all the parts mentioned, when its time to change the newer parts you will have the older parts as spare... parts price are increasing on these machines, so you are already saving money keeping your old parts. little trick I learned from these boards....

M3BimmerBilly

You should tally the amount of hours you spend driving this car vs. working on it/posting about it.

alpine003

Good point. Between working on your car and posting here on these forums, how is it that you're even still married? And don't tell me she's a quiet gal but has a big mouth.

KrazyK

So it seems most of you are inclined to drop the engine for the AOS and take care of the other issues at the same time. Thats what I'm leaning towards doing as well.

Theres no big hurry and it will give me a chance to seriously clean and detail the engine. For reference, look at the diagram below (older style). I suspect that the plastic nipple where hose #13 connects is the culprit. The nipple probably has a pin hole leak/crack and may even break off soon. Really poor design IMHO.

Sneaky Pete

Good lord........

sandersd

I considered not replacing mine even though I had the transmission out and the part in hand, just because it had no problems with it so why replace it. I decided to tug gently on the hoses and when I did the coolant nipple snapped off in my hand - the plastic was very brittle. So I had to replace it anyway. Words are incapable of describing how badly that job sucked...

5CHN3LL

Yeah, I live for opportunities to "seriously clean and detail the engine."

alpine003

I take off my rotors and clean the insides and also between the vanes when I wash my car. I'm hoping one day I can take out the engine too to give it a good clean but that's a little more involved. I was slacking the other day though as I didn't wipe off my wiper blades after I used it in the rain.

redridge

you used your car in the rain, and with the wipers on.... good lord!

Kalashnikov

Part of me really wants to drive to TX to see KK in person.

From his posts, it seems he never drives his car and despite never moving his car is constantly being "fixed".

He must be busting the ***** here. Cleaninig engine on 996? Because it is always in full view with trunk lid open?

Or, his car is like an under-fooked beautiful woman. She never gets taken out, she never gets sweaty and dirty, and she never feels like she was manhandled to the point of passing out. So, naturally she is bored beyond belief and engages in passive aggressive sabotage. Now when KK gets tired and sells the car, he will wonder why all that PM and care didn't pay off (nice guy syndrome).

While his car will go to someone who abuses it, drives it weekly for 500+ miles and never bothers with washing it more than once a month. Next owner will have no issues until 300k miles and will thank KK for the gift.