smoke from passenger vent

[ultimate1]

Do you guys think I should change the thermostat and the hoses too?

[Lil bastard]

Personally, I would swap the 'T'stat, and at least check the hoses...

[Tool Pants]

By chance I was talking to a mechanic today about the use of a plastic vs. metal impeller.

This mechanic works at a dealership so he has never seen a metal impeller pump on a Boxster, as that is not what Porsche uses or sells.

He did say that VW use to use a metal impeller and when the bearings failed the impeller would grind away at the aluminum engine case, and perhaps that is why Porsche uses plastic.

I like the idea of using quality aftermarket parts that cost less then what Porsche charges. I'll bet that ebay pump is aftermarket with a metal impeller. Take some pictures of it and your old pump. If the Porsche water pump was so great to begin with, then it would not have failed so soon. I say put it in.

This mechanic gave me a pump he had just replaced. You can see the plastic impeller broke when it hit the case when the shaft wobbled due to failed bearings.

As you can see a chunk of the impeller is missing. When I see your pictures I will tell you more.

He does not replace the thermostat or hoses unless there is a reason to do so.

[jmatta]

Toolpants, are the blades sheared off on that impeller or are they designed that way? I hope I never need to look at one in person, as my car just broke through 13k miles.

[Tool Pants]

The vanes for the impeller broke off. The middle of the impeller, or what is left of it, is still on the shaft. The bearing on this pump is much worse than the bearing on the pump on the left.

The owner of the pump on the left is a local owner. He heard noises and saw coolant on the ground. I told him is most likely the pump. He took it in right away before the bearing got worse, and before the impeller could break into pieces. Since he caught it quick enough he did not throw the belt.