When my wife parks her car in the garage I smell a faint coolant smell. I do not see any visible leaks. She has a '07 C4S with 20k miles. Any ideas on what the issue could be?

I did a coolant system flush last year.

Thanks

 

 

When was the water pump last replaced? If more than 40,000 miles ago its time to think about that. Look for dried coolant residue at the weep hole on the pump. You might see something start there before an actual drop on the ground. Once you see something g at the hole, it won't be long before you see a big puddle under the car when you walk out to it.

 

Shove your cellphone on video with light on, in a cool engine compartment around the back of your coolant tank....as above. Your scooby sense of smell is correct, something is leaking.

 

 

Coolant tank. Let me know what I win.....

 

2009 C2S 121K miles

If you smell the coolant outside the car, I think it is your tank as others have said. If you smell it inside the cabin, and it smells a bit like maple syrup, it is probably the heater core. I replaced mine on my 2000 Boxster S and the design is all the same in our cars. It is a very easy DIY.

If it is your tank, you may want to address it quickly as it could strand you... it did me on a hot summer day in Delaware in the middle of nowhere.

http://pedrosboard.com/read.php?7,836,871
http://pedrosboard.com/read.php?7,10112,10112

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

On the 997.1 Its a real pain to get it out. You need to lower the engine some to do it. No way to get around it. I think it's about three hours labor at the dealer and the tank is about 235 or so, then coolant refill and burp. With that many miles, and coolant drain...might as well do the water pump too. I guess over 1K total, then again.....anything for a 911 the minimum seems to be 1K for something like this.....

 

Coolant is never a normal smell. That thread links to what 911s smell like, which is a mix of oil, cosmoline, brakes, and tires, primarily because the hot mufflers are near the engine and behind the tires, but not coolant. Assuming the OP knows what coolant smells like it's a different smell than the normal 911 smell.

 

Well I have the same smell this week. That combined with a coil pack throwing a code after rain means Its gonna get a spa weekend at the dealer to address both. At least I know the water pump was changed and all good there.

 

Thanks guys. The car only had 11k miles on it for the first 10 years of its life....the 12k more this year alone. We will start to poke around.

 

Also noticed a coolant smell and found this!
How much work is it to replace the water pump?

 

How's the coolant level - are you losing any?

 

This DIY thread covers the details. I replaced my water pump and thermostat in a total of about 4 - maybe 5 hours. It took several days of effort though - took an hr or so just to jack the car up in the garage as it was the first DIY task on my 997 and took it slow. I also opted to replace the reservoir tank as it was showing signs of stress cracks and I already had the car up on stands and the engine was partially dropped. Of course I changed out the serpentine belt and air filter as well. Also swapped out trans fluid for the Mobil PTX. I enlisted my wife's help dealing with the dreaded bolt in the impossible spot for the water pump.

https://rennlist.com/forums/997-foru...-part-1-a.html

 

I followed the 997 guide (here on Rennlist) and replaced my water pump. It is not for the occasional mechanic. I'm not super talented, but I did it without too much difficulty. I didn't rush, and replaced the water pump, the thermostat and all the coolant. The bolts that hold that water pump to the engine block go on in a special order--one or two bolts are longer than the others. Take plenty of time, take photos or notes, and be willing to mark things very carefully as you disassemble. If you are clever in a garage, you will prevail! Although it is supposed to take a special tool to replace the thermostat, I figured out an alternative method--just think outside the box. I also bought one of those vacuum systems for the coolant tank. Works like a charm! Get it on Amazon. That way you're not forced to keep adding coolant to the system as the bubbles migrate out during driving. I had absolutely no bubbles and have not had to add a drop since I did the job a year ago. Keep in mind that this can be done via the guide, without dropping the engine or any of that craziness. But you have to be nimble! I jacked my car up as high as my ask stands would permit and juggled approaching it from the engine compartment to from underneath the engine. Just don't rush and you will be fine. If you have been around cars a long time you don't really need an inch-pound torque wrench--you can figure out the needed torque by hand. (That's for putting the actual water pump onto the engine case). One of those bolts will take 80% of the time to remove and replace! Remember the Pareta 80-20 Rule.