Semi-overheating?

[teleski]

Just to add another data point. 2000 base. Fans operate correctly on Lo and Hi. I sit in LA traffic alot and so know my temp gauge like my watch. Lo fans turn on when needle is just before the right side of the '0', turn off when it drops to about 1/4 from the left side of the zero. The reported temp at turn on via either the OBD data or the climate control hack is 104-105 C. This is perfectly normal behavior by all accounts. I have actually never had the fans kick up to Hi when driving, even in summer traffic and my temps run in the low 90s when cruising at speed and not pushing the car particularly hard.

I no longer worry about this. I leave it to you newbies....

[Ebell914]

Originally Posted by teleski

Just to add another data point. 2000 base. Fans operate correctly on Lo and Hi. I sit in LA traffic alot and so know my temp gauge like my watch. Lo fans turn on when needle is just before the right side of the '0', turn off when it drops to about 1/4 from the left side of the zero. The reported temp at turn on via either the OBD data or the climate control hack is 104-105 C. This is perfectly normal behavior by all accounts. I have actually never had the fans kick up to Hi when driving, even in summer traffic and my temps run in the low 90s when cruising at speed and not pushing the car particularly hard.

I no longer worry about this. I leave it to you newbies....

Mine, 2000S, is EXACTLY the same! Thanks Teleski for the confirmation. I guess my local dealer is pretty spot on. After all, I was going to pay to have the problem diagnosed and he talked me out of spending money...and then gave me a discount on my oil change...

[sixpact]

Ebell914 I am in Charlotte also. Where do you go for service. I also noticed my gauge getting close to the zero but not reaching it.

[CoBeerToad]

Finally was able to pull the pump and thermostat. Pump looks and sounds good. Tested the thermostat and it started opening at 182 degrees and from what I could tell, was fully open at 195. (Not easy to tell what is "fully open" in a pot of water.

Radiators are cleaned and both fans operate at low and hi speed. Radiator cap is the 04 series and coolant level has stayed right where it supposed to be.

What could be causing my needle to sit on zero instead of 8 like it used to? I'm running out of ideas. Because it happened all of a sudden, I'm doubtful that the coolant all of a sudden decided to quit working. (I'm really running out of ideas obviously.) All I can think of is there is a minor blockage in the motor, but where it is and what caused it is beyond me.

The thump I heard was not caused by the center mount. Pulled that also, and it appears to be in good shape after 92,000 miles. Seems a bit odd as according to the well documented history of the car, this was never replaced.

I'm open to any ideas. I'm replacing the thermostat with the upgrade so while that may make the needle sit on 8 again, there obviously must be some other issue somewhere and I'd rather not leave it to chance.

[CoBeerToad]

Also, when I replace the pump and thermostat, should I use some sort of sealant? There did not appear to be any to begin with. I have the metal gasket.

[Ebell914]

Originally Posted by sixpact

Ebell914 I am in Charlotte also. Where do you go for service. I also noticed my gauge getting close to the zero but not reaching it.

Sixpact - I took it to Hendrick Porsche. Talked to Scott - he is really helpful. I am used to doing all my own work, so I am extremely skeptical of shops, but I hate doing oil changes these days, too messy. Hendrick sales guys are annoying
(went to them many times in my 18 month search for my Box), but their service guys seem ok.

One thing I realized with all this talk of where the needle sits, on the 0 or 8 or whatnot - gauges have subtle differences over the years...I am no expert on these, maybe someone else can chime in on this, but the my gauge being on the zero is still well before the second to last tick mark (which is like 215, I gather). My thought is as long as it is between the two middle ticks, it is within spec. I have confirmed this with the climate display diagnostic readout.

[CoBeerToad]

My only concern is that my needle was always on the 8. Then all of a sudden, now it sits on the zero. So something had to have changed.