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My '07 with 56k just started running hot, small coolant smell. Temp usually ran bang on 175 marker now it's creeping up to 220'ish. Oil temps are also up to 240 or so.
Since I just went through changing Cam sensors and fuel pumps/FPR/filter on my Cayenne I'm not in the mood to slap in this water pump I just bought. If you have done those you know what I mean. Here's what I know:
- Low speed front fans come on when a/c is switched on. Air blasts out of wheel well.
- When car get s hot, front fans go to high speed, both sides. The jet turbine sound.
- When I turn heater on, blows hot, really hot, so no missing coolant in the heater core.
- When real hot slight coolant smell and coolant tank purge valve is lifted. I assume it's burping itself.
- Can't see any leaks on hoses or on water pump while car is running and hot while up on the rack.
- Cleaned front intakes and removed a ton of trash, leaves, track rubber, paper etc.(i really hoped that was it, just helped a little)
Do I quit whining and replace the pump, put in the LN low temp thermo, new belt, and all will be better? Or is there a secret problem that I am missing.
Well, you got ore time and milage out of yours that I did.
My 06 had the pump replaced about five years and 40k miles ago and I'm considering doing it again.
I put in my third WP several months ago. Actually did it myself with some guidance from another Rennlister. It's not that hard if you have some skill and tools. The smell symptom suggests that you peek under the car for a tell-tale drip or two of coolant (pink) under the rear of the car. Also, a bad reservoir can create the same smell. They can also be problematic.
Damn Hella. I just knew that someone was going to say that!
I guess I know you know I know what the answer is. Thanks for posting.
And I'll say the same thing . I only got 42K miles on the water pump on my -09 C4S. Froze up and took the serpentine belt with it too. The 40K to 50K range seems to be common for these failures. I'm at 56K on my current GTS with the original pump so I'm ready for it. If I didn't have warranty I probably would have replaced it already . The -09 repair came to just shy of $2,000. The busted belt obviously added to that tab.
You havent mentioned coolant leaking, noise from pump, or gurgling which would be sx of a bad pump. You have mentioned sx of a bad thermostat or temp sensor.
The water temperature should never move off 175 as it's heavily buffered. You're either very low on coolant and risking head damage from overheating or as another suggested, your thermostat has gone bad and isn't opening enough or opening too late. Waterpump should be changed preventatively between 45,000 and 60,000 miles if you want to do it yourself and on your timetable, so you're in the window at 56k miles.
Also look for coolant residue under the weep hole on the waterpump as a very slow leak might show this evidence even before a floor drip, but I it gas already started to seep, it could fail and dump all the coolant during your next trip - my wife's did. Also, carefully inspect your reservoir for cracking along the main seam - a Google search will show you where to look. That's not a very fun job as you have to lower the motor slightly to have enough space to get the reservoir out.
Make sure you get a pump with a plastic impeller, not a metal one. Just buy everything from LN Engineering and you'll be good to go, including the LTT.
I didn't know LN had a metal impeller water pump. Didn't see it on their site.
They don't and you don't want one - plastic impeller only or as the bearing wears the impeller will start milling into your aluminum block destroying the shape of the cavity.
Mine pump was "low coolant" on dash 300 feet from the house.
Then a wet floor. I would imagine a slightly high gauge could be missing fins.
Check the coolant tank too...
You havent mentioned coolant leaking, noise from pump, or gurgling which would be sx of a bad pump. You have mentioned sx of a bad thermostat or temp sensor.
mike
FWIW......I had no warnings prior to my failure. Zero. It just seized up and came apart.
04-08-2018, 09:31 PM
Symptoms - Time for a New Water Pump?
. I only got 42K miles on the water pump on my -09 C4S. Froze up and took the serpentine belt with it too. The 40K to 50K range seems to be common for these failures. I'm at 56K on my current GTS with the original pump so I'm ready for it. If I didn't have warranty I probably would have replaced it already . The -09 repair came to just shy of $2,000. The busted belt obviously added to that tab.
