coolant leak?
 

So had our first 90 degree day here in New England and it seems that its a good day for my coolant system to have an issue. I have a 2001 Boxster base and today I started it cold (cold but sitting in the sun so the cabin was roasting hot) and the temp gauge light was flashing. I know this means add coolant and I checked but I couldn't see the coolant well in the sun. After I opened the coolant cap looked in and then shut it and started the car again the light didn't flash nor has it overheated. In fact after driving for a short trip the radiator fans kicked in and the temp went down. The car temp never went above 190. Under the car I noticed a ton of dripping right behind the passenger seat area. I have put cups to collect the fluid. The color of the liquid is pretty clear but I can't tell if its coolant or not. Thoughts?

Probably a cracked reservoir tank. Pull the carpet in the trunk and see if there's fluid there too.

Will do but wouldn't it leak under the trunk not near the engine? I am seeing engine leakage.

If the dripping is from in front of the right rear tire, it's the coolant reservoir. you might even see drops hanging from the front edge of the long diagonal brace.
Mine is doing this exact thing, and bingo!
A puddle in the trunk after pulling up the carpet. :(
Time to skin some knuckles, dammmit.

The trunk seems dry just checked. But yes that is where the dripping is coming from front of the right rear tire!

The drain hose from the reservoir overflow dumps just forward and inboard of the passenger tire. Check your coolant reservoir cap and the purge valve cap, the one with the 8 cap screws. Also make sure the coolant cap is the latest version and is screwed on correctly.

How do I know if my coolant cap is the latest version? Also purge valve cap???

Coolant cap # should end in 04. Mine did the same loss of coolant. I replaced the pressure valve assembly and that fixed it. Get the Porsche part not aftermarket. About $80.

The coolant cap has a part number on it. Latest might be 004 but do a search to confirm. The purge valve has some o-rings and a rubber gasket in it. It can leak and can be replaced.

Water stain and wet insulation under tank. Tank is out.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...ps2srxb1sk.jpg

Purge valve leak.

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...psqshkui90.jpg

Any fluid you catch should be the color of you coolant in the tank, so if your finding clear liquid, it's not coolant. The drain hose for the upper area of the tank is in front of the wheel, but if the tank is leaking, then the coolant will be all over that area around the wheel as it runs down. The tank in the trunk is the key to leakage found under the carpet under the tank and towards the tail light.

Ok I think it's just a hose, here are some pics of the cap and the dripping is coming from this smaller hose in this picture. The cap serial seems fine and no leakage in the trunk or bleed valve area.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1464531829.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1464531849.jpg
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1464531867.jpg

You have the original cap. It ends in .00. The original was prone to issues. The latest version ends in .04.

996.106.447.04 is the latest rev.

Suncoast Porsche Parts & Accessories Coolant Cap

right and I can replace that but the dripping is from that hose nothing near the cap or tank.

Have you pulled both the oil and the coolant caps off yet and looked under the cover?

Your purge valve may be leaking also. This valve is hidden under a flat plastic plate that cannot be seen until you pull both caps and the plate off first.

Look at the second pic from jcslocum. The green circle is the purge valve.

Your bottom pic shows liquid over towards the thermostat housing, which is the curved pipe thing with 2 bolts and a larger hose clamp and hose going to it. This area would indicate a water pump leak which is also bad. The water pump has a hole in it and this is where I would expect to see water appear.

Water pump is behind the pass seat and you need small hands!

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...pslxgykbbd.jpg

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...psruegaxm6.jpg

This is how you get small hands to do your work!!

http://i70.photobucket.com/albums/i1...ps0dyeynhs.jpg

Allie does all her own work on her cars; 944, 911 and Boxster. The small hands pay off for this job.

the purge valve is fine not a single crack or drip of liquid. So take off the back cover and check the water pump.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads02...1464539838.jpg

Well there is the water pump and there is a ton of coolant below it! lol.

Any idea what this should cost for a shop to do?

local shop quoted $911 for the entire job if its the pump that includes replacing the drive belt.

That sounds expensive, but if its a Porsche water pump, Porsche belt, and Porsche coolant, that price is not unreasonable. You may be able to get it done for about 1/2 that cost with inferior parts, your choice. It can be a dirty/wet job to DIY, but is not overly difficult.

Consider:
-Running the car with a failing water pump can quickly damage the engine (A search of the subject will reveal several horrors).
-Mixing Porsche coolant with brand X can lead to the equivalent of strawberry flavored Jello throughout your cooling system (Make sure that the shop is flushing the system for that price).
-A great opportunity to have a 160 degree thermostat installed in your car (More efficient cooling and little additional labor).

The water pump is easier to remove from the bottom by removing the front motor mount first, which should be swapped as well because the bushings wear out really fast. When I needed to swap out my front motor mount, I replaced my water pump even though it wasn't leaking... These aren't a bad pair to replace whenever the other one needs it.