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- - Is this normal? Radiator cap...uh oh? (http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/18717-normal-radiator-cap-uh-oh.html)

Is this normal? Radiator cap...uh oh?

In a word.... no.

The cooling system is sealed (pressurized). So you really shouldn't be smelling any coolant. If you are, and haven't spilled/added any recently, you might have a leak someplace.

Couple things to check...
- level of the coolant - has it dropped?
- noticed any puddles in front of the right rear wheel?
- any moisture/condensation on inside of trunk lid above coolant cap?
- feel the carpet in trunk. is it wet?
- what are the last 2 digits on your coolant cap (.01 is revised version but they are on .02) Could be a bad cap
- any crusty white residue on black filler plate below cap?
- remove the filler plate (take off oil filler cap too and pry up plate. There is a black cap w/ 8-10 bolts and a bent paperclip looking thing in the middle. Any white crusty residue around it?

Report back your findings and we can steer you in the right direction which probably includes a pressure test if you have the updated .01 or .02 cap

Good luck :)

EDIT:

Sorry, I didn't see your pictures the first time around. For future reference, you can post them w/in your thread by using the img tag '[img]picture-web-location.jpg[/img]

Anyhow, you'll want to get the updated coolant cap ~ $20. Same p/n as existing but w/ .01 (or .02) on end. Still, I recommend you pull up the filler panel and check out the pressure relief valve/cap (black thing w/ lots of bolts and bent paperclip thing in middle). Also check your carpet in the trunk for moisture. I'd just go ahead and have a pressure test done on the system. If it checks out ok, then your issue was just the bad cap.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burg Boxster

- level of the coolant - has it dropped? - Not really...but Ive only had it for a few weeks
- noticed any puddles in front of the right rear wheel? no
- any moisture/condensation on inside of trunk lid above coolant cap? See pic links below
- feel the carpet in trunk. is it wet? no
- what are the last 2 digits on your coolant cap (.01 is revised version but they are on .02) Could be a bad cap See the pics for the cap. The only numbers I see on the cap are PA66GF30
- any crusty white residue on black filler plate below cap? Not really but if you look close you will see on the cap in the pics below there is some white residue on the very bottom of the cap
- remove the filler plate (take off oil filler cap too and pry up plate. There is a black cap w/ 8-10 bolts and a bent paperclip looking thing in the middle. Any white crusty residue around it? No the Previous Owner had changed out the overflow tank and must have cleaned that all up

Report back your findings and we can steer you in the right direction which probably includes a pressure test if you have the updated .01 or .02 cap

Good luck :)

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/EcxYU_ykukHrsLIoeaiXnA
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/1n163sGev1ubA5cqXlrb4Q
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/iIw0s9lGJk5q0TyimdlFfw

Hmmm. I haven't seen that cap before.

Typically, the older ones are black but have P/N 996.106.447.00 stamped in them.

The newer ones are p/n 996.106.447.01 (or .02 and are usually blue).

What does the underside of your cap look like? Here's a shot showing the two OEM caps. Original on left, revised on right which creates a better seal.
http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/bo...oolantcaps.jpg

No crust around the bleeder valve?
http://img299.imageshack.us/img299/6474/dsc00613vn7.jpg
If no, good sign it's most likely the cap.

Start w/a new cap and possible a pressure test.

> Hmmm. I haven't seen that cap before.

That was my first thought. There is a black version of the second generation coolant cap, but I don't think it has that print on the outside. I would guess that this is an aftermarket cap.

If that's right, then I would certainly go pickup the latest revision cap from your Porsche dealer. It's not too expensive and should fix your problem. I didn't have a bad leak, but I had the white crusty stuff with my original cap. After I cleaned that up and changed to the latest revision cap I haven' t had any problems.

Kirk

Could the problem be I didnt have the cap torqued down tight enough?

Now with pics of under the flap:

http://picasaweb.google.com/GDrawdy/BoxsterRadiatorCap#

As long as it's threaded straight and tightened (hand tight to stop) then no issue would not be torque. Just in case, you might want to have your girlfriend/wife/partner tighten it down for you ;) j/k

http://lh5.ggpht.com/_E72UCuqA-GI/SR...6/DSC02451.JPG

Looks good to me, except all coolant below. Without residue on bleeder valve I definitely suspect it's the cap leaking it. Get a new one and it should solve your problem. If you buy from local dealer it'll probably run ~ $35. If you buy online from Sunset or Suncoast Porsche it'll run much less (it was ~ $15 in '06 when I replaced mine).

BTW, what does your cap look like underneath? Like the one on the left or right from my pix above?

:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burg Boxster

BTW, what does your cap look like underneath? Like the one on the left or right from my pix above?

:)

It looks like the one on the right....except all black