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I was out on a spirited run yesterday, and about a mile from my house I got a 'Coolant Level Low' message. Oil temp slowly increased from around 200 to about 240 when the Engine Overheating light then appeared.
I was able to limp home and get the car into the garage, only to find the engine bay smoking and the rear of the car covered in liquid. I presume that this was coolant burning off the engine. The coolant bay was also almost completely dry.
I should have noted the lines were never pinned/welded. I presume this is the culprit, but is there any way to confirm prior to shipping to a shop? If anyone recalls my issue, my local STL shops are all idiots so I have to flat bed it to Isringhausen in Springfield.
Also, while the engine is out, other things to have worked on? Spark plus, clutch, etc??
Enjoy a Sunday full of football and a Dodgers win tonight! Unfortunately I won't be out driving today
i think you can see 3 or 4 of the 6 fittings just looking in the bay. i'd start there.
but you certainly give a good story consistent with coolant line failure. there seems to be alot of things that can done "while you're in there" with the engine out.
i am undertaking the same service, but pre-emptively as track day "insurance". i'm gonna be addressing the rear main seals, clutch inspection, and rear differential rebuild.
aside from the coolant lines, I'd also do the coolant elbows and replace with sharkwerks peices.
If Alex is out of his coolant pipes PM me and I'll ship you a set, I think I just bought his last two sets. Mine is not urgent so I can buy another set when there back instock.
There's a very good mechanic in Champaign who has a lot of experience with pinning coolant lines. He did two of mine for me. Probably a lot less expensive than Isringhausen, if this is an option for you.
Sounds like a coolant fitting popped. Symptoms are just like when one of mine went.
Consider replacing the water pump while the engine is out. Your mileage is fairly low but water pumps are relatively cheap. They have a plastic impeller that gets brittle over time. You don't want little bits of plastic circulating if it fails.
I had mine replaced when I had the fittings welded. I think I was at about 25,000 miles.
It's a good time to look at the serpentine belt too.
Plugs and coil packs could be inspected and easily replaced if needed.
a friend, driving cupcake, told me he spent much of a lap squirming around in the coolant left by that 996..........
yeah i think it was towards end of session, i'd come in a lap or 2 early so I missed it luckily. i've hit coolant a couple times, luckily at slow speeds, and it's not pleasant. I know the owner of the car casually from the club, i think he's on here but will let him discuss it. Again, pretty sure he was pinned so not sure what happened. He's a really good/fast driver.
10-16-2016, 11:26 AM
Coolant line failure
