Coolant smell in cabin - Again?!
 

Hello folks,

My story is somehow weird, since last year my Boxster 986 2.7(2004) started losing coolant and having the smell inside cabin. Went to Dealer and got charged ~$500 for new central heat exchanger (the one under the central dash).

Now the car is losing coolant again, and the smell is slowly/slightly coming back in the cabin from the vents.

How is it possible that it failed again after 1 year?! If it was the water pump leaking coolant, then there should be no smelly cabin, right ?

Thanks in advance!

When my water pump failed it smelled like coolant in the cabin.

Oh okay, thanks. Any Cost estimation for doing the "repair" in the dealer ?

Hmm...I don't remember exactly what I paid cause I had my Indy mechanic do other items while he had the car but I believe it was $800 to $900 for the water pump and new coolant. I'm guessing the dealer would charge me roughly $1000 to $1500. I'm assuming the rates are similar in Europe. But of course I'm just guessing :)

I put a new water pump in mine. Wasn't the most easy thing in the world. Doesnt leak anymore but every once in awhile I will still get that coolant smell too

Thanks but i still cannot get it, how is the water pump related with the smell inside the cabin ? How does the smell get into the air vent ?

It could be some left over coolant. When my heater core failed shortly after the water pump failed it leaked into the cabin passenger side floor. I never shampood the carpet as suggested by my mechanic. The smell lingered for a week or so.

the heater core is replaced from the outside under the frunk area by the battery. is that what they replaced 1 year ago?

Yes thats what they replaced. And it stopped the smell of the coolant in the cabin. After 1.5 year or so now, the smell is slowly coming back at random times.

My water pump may be failing also but last time i checked the engine compartment (by the panel behind the seats) i didnt see any leaks in the water pump.

But again, even if the water pump is failing, how would the smell get inside the cabin ?

Porsche dealer should have a warranty in this repair they did, right ?

Thanks

heater core's seem to fail when the water pump does for some reason I don't yet understand. so if your water pump is now going bad, it could mean your heater core is as well. its easy to open up the area and see if there is antifreeze in the heater core box.

Hmm i doubt that the core heater fails too. Most probably its malfunctioning (rather than failing), until i fix the water pump ?
So, maybe when the WP is failing, the Core heater is not working as it should.

In the US Porsche dealers have a 2 year warranty on dealer replaced parts.

Water pump failure
 

When your water pump fails, does it make any noise? Like the bearing going bad?