TurboCup87

But they're not constantly heat cycled to 250F + and bathed in two kinds of solvent.

Gofishracing

Don't neglect other aging items in your cars. That's expected but this glue issue failure has pissed me off since the begining.

sithot

Of course they're not. It's just a statement of fact.

I use constructive epoxies that are able to withstand real structural stress. This stuff wasn't around 20 years ago. Glue in the automotive industry is evolving as well.

I've been playing these cars for nearly 40 years. One thing that stands the test of time is that nothing is perfect. Especially cars. Porsches have had issues since Gmund. You paid your money and you took your chances.

Headers/Heat exchangers broke in the 60's. Valve guides were always questionable. Broken head studs? Since the beginning. Worse in some. Mag cases pulled their studs. I have a book of 60's TSB's or factory bulletins with all the "issues". Carburetors? Sure. Solex cars were notorious.
The aftermarket offered the 1st hi-cap discharge ignition that Porsche actually recommended to the dealer network. (technical service bulletin) They had a part number and were sold to customers so the cars would run better. Look for a Delta Mark 10 or Sydmur Fireball.

The 996 GT3 is a tour de force of technology without being a "nanny car". That was reason enough for me to own one. I like to drive. When they take the driver out of the equation I'll take the bus or train.

To that point as a driving instructor I'm sure you've been in the dumb seat with a jockey who used the skills of the car to overcome his or her lack of skills. I wouldn't teach a newbie how to parallel park a car.

PS: At least the cars don't rust anymore. I almost forgot.

Shadetree930

Deleted. I had bad info.

30vQuattro

Any updates on this guys?? It's looking like PNA isn't going to do anything...

0396

Some one posted that it's ongoing-. I firmly believe they are weathering the current inquiry and push / asked to have it excused in the future.

sithot

http://www.autoblog.com/2014/03/13/n...coolant-leaks/

Summary:

On April 26, 2013, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE13-009 to investigate 10 complaints alleging incidents of sudden coolant loss while traveling on public roadways in certain model year (MY) 2001 through 2007 Porsche 911 vehicles. The complaints alleged that pipe ends joined by epoxy to certain cooling system components may fail suddenly and separate, resulting in large volumes of coolant leakage. The investigation was opened to assess evidence of a design or manufacturing defect in the coolant pipe fittings and any related safety consequences. In response to ODI?s Information Request letter, Porsche identified a manufacturing quality issue with the supplier?s application of adhesive to coolant pipe fittings that resulted in elevated failure rates in approximately 6,800 early production 997 generation vehicles (MY 2007 and early MY 2008). ODI?s analysis of field data showed that the age-adjusted failure rate for these vehicles was approximately six times greater than MY 2001 through 2005 996 generation vehicles and MY 2008 through 2011 997 generation vehicles built after a process improvement for adhesive application was implemented by the supplier. Most of the leak complaints reviewed by ODI did not appear to involve complete separation of the fittings and many were detected when the vehicle was parked. There were no crashes or injuries reported to be related to the alleged defect in any of the subject vehicles. ODI identified two allegations that coolant leakage resulted in loss of control incidents, but neither involved vehicles affected by the assembly process quality issue. A third loss of control allegation involving a vehicle built during the period affected by the supplier process concern is not counted since ODI was unable to contact the owner to confirm the incident. See the full closing resume in the document file for PE13-009 for additional information about the subject cooling system and ODI?s analysis of field data related to the alleged defect. A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted. Accordingly, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency will monitor this issue and reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

996tnz

(Cross-post from 'Any Rennlisters in New Zealand' below but just found this thread)

The most curious aspect of the NHTSA investigation is this:

(Out of 10 cars reported) "ODI identified two allegations that coolant leakage resulted in loss of control incidents, but neither involved vehicles affected by the assembly process quality issue. A third loss of control allegation involving a vehicle built during the period affected by the supplier process concern is not counted since ODI was unable to contact the owner to confirm the incident" ... a safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted...

In short, the NHTSA investigators believed Porsche when Porsche said that the problem only applied to cars built in the 2007-early 2008 period that Porsche themselves suggested as being the only one of concern.

The fact that the bulk of related alleged loss of control incidents reported to the NHTSA concerned cars built outside that period didn't seem to wake them up to the likelihood that the problem was much bigger than a temporary 'process control' issue. IMCO it is a design fault, pure and simple, found in all 996/997 Turbos, GT2s and GT3 variants built from 1999 through to 2010. Porsche don't make many of these mistakes, but when they do, they are often pretty epic.

My own 2002 996 Turbo has twice blown different coolant fittings out of the block in the last 15000 or so miles - once on the freeway, once on track, both with following traffic taken by surprise, one with it drenching my right rear wheel on track. Others here in the small NZ Porsche community have also had (non 2007-2008 build) coolant fittings blow out.

sprbxr

I just tigged 6 fittings on a low mileage 996 twin turbo. One failed dumping coolant. Out of the six fittings on the engine, only one was extremely hard to remove. All of the others were probably not far behind.

waweeks

I Mistakenly posted in 997gt3 forum on 3/18:

engine pulled last week to weld fittings. 2 fittings had started to move.

2004 GT3
44k mi
moderately tracked

Fittings welded / coolant hoses replaced.

Gofishracing

Scarey when you find them starting to move. Scared me .

Qwickrick

Speedsport did mine...better safe than.......

Gofishracing

How many were coming loose ? Ask Spencer

almsdriver

After reading the above posts, it looks like Porsche won't fix the potential coolant loss on my 997.1 07 GT3. My engine is out, and I'm thinking to replace the two Tube Necks and/or purchasing them from SharkWerks. I'm in the process of researching exactly what parts need to be re-epoxied to prevent coolant loss, anyone has a link handy? I'm still unsure if the lines/tubes need to be replaced or epoxy to be re-applied? This is what Suncoast quoted me:

997-106-313-72 TUBE NECK 2
Special order 2-3 days

996-106-139-71 WATER SOCKET 1
Special order 3-4 days

996-106-140-71 WATER SOCKET 1
Special order 3-4 days

Thanks in advance folks

P.S. I just realized my comment might belong in a different post?

Nugget

I wouldn't be satisfied with simply re-epoxying. You're just forestalling the issue by another 5 or 6 years. Drill and pin those connectors.

http://sharkwerks.com/porsche/techni...urbo-cars.html