Water pump failure?? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Tool Pants · 08-09-2008, 09:26 AM

If it is the pump.

http://www.986forum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16490&page=2&pp=20&highlight=impeller

Went to a cooling tech session at an independent shop last year and Bob the owner said he sees a lot of these at around 60,000 miles.

Marvin who also has an independent shop has replaced 2 this week.

As far as buying a replacement that is the same as what just failed. Why? Crappy oem pump as far as I'm concerned. I have a 1988 Toyota truck with 156,000 miles with the original pump. Porsche also sells a crappy plastic coolant tank made by Geiger. I say go aftermarket. $110 on ebay or your local parts place like Kragen.

Marvin has a press. Last week I asked him to press off the pulley to see who makes the pump. As soon as the press started pressing on the shaft the pump broke. I want to see behind the pulley to determine who makes the pump.

Tool Pants · 08-09-2008, 09:28 AM

Broke on the press.

Tool Pants · 08-09-2008, 09:30 AM

Made in France, apparently by SEM but I could not find this company if SEM means the company. I may have Marvin try to get the pulley off another pump.

FrayAdjacent · 08-09-2008, 10:49 AM

It's DEFINITELY the water pump:

I appreciate you posting, TP. Got any suggestions on a better more durable pump? I want to get the part ordered today so I can get it in this week. For now, I'm borrowing a buddy's Saab 9-3, so it's no rush. Figure I might as well also flush the system and get some fresh coolant in, as well as do an oil change.

Thanks for the input. It really doesn't look very tough at all to remove the pump unit.

FrayAdjacent · 08-09-2008, 10:59 AM

Found this on ebay:

Water pump and seal

Looks like a winner? says it has a heavy duty metal impeller. Is that different than OEM?

FrayAdjacent · 08-09-2008, 01:24 PM

Got the pump off... the darn seal sliced me up while trying to get it off! Looks like it extended under a couple parts that are not the water pump. Guess that's how they got it to stay in place?

Looks like the impeller broke into at least three pieces, and the vanes were ground to pulp. Everything on the inside end of the shaft was no longer attached to the shaft. What a mess!

Gotta order the part, and get a belt. Might also get an oil filter and the kit I need to do that job as well. Pick up oil and coolant locally.

What fun. I was not planning on wrenching today!!

Jaxonalden · 08-09-2008, 06:46 PM

Plastic impeller? WTF? The plastic would have to be something special because I could just see the pressure those blades are under, bending and warping until the whole assembly comes apart (as in the photos below). I'm all for saving weight and making power, but doing it and sacrificing internal engine components and reliability?

I read the burping procedure when refilling the coolant after a complete draining. What a pain in the ass! If I remember right you fill what you can and start it revving to a certain RPM then shut down allowing the engine to cool and repeat about 100 times! Unbelievable!