I had a metal on metal pinging sound - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

yellowboxster01 · 02-24-2010, 10:54 AM

I was on my way to my nephew's bday party on Sunday and there was this slight pinging sound at first, then it got louder and quit altogether. I got off the highway and about a mile from my sisters house my car starts smoking, white smoke though. I pull into her neighborhood and my power steering completely gives out. I high tale it to her house and shut off the car. All of the lights lit up on the dash right before I shut it down. There's white smoke pouring out from the passenger side of the car.

My dad told me it was probably a busted antifreeze line and it was leaking onto the power steering belt. I left it there and had it towed into the shop Monday afternoon. Turns out it wasn't a busted line but, the water pump completely caved and basically blew up.

My mechanic told me it was pretty rare for that happen on a Boxster that only has 60K miles. It shredded the belts also. I'll take a pic of the mess and post it later.

That repair was pretty heavy on the wallet...

Anyone else have this happen?

Boxtaboy · 02-24-2010, 10:58 AM

The water pump imploded on my 01 Boxster at 59k miles, and I was lucky I made it to the dealer without having to get a tow. By the time I got there, the coolant resevoir was about empty and I had a nice puddle under the car. The water pumps installed in the 01 models must have been made to croak at 60k miles.

yellowboxster01 · 02-24-2010, 11:20 AM

Luckily my car never over heated. It never got above normal operating temperature and I got no CEL. When it was just sitting it never leaked any coolant but, when they pulled it up on the flat bed it started pouring out.

Boxtaboy · 02-24-2010, 11:35 AM

Yeh...mine didn't overheat either. I should say my coolant tank read at the minimum mark by the time I got to the stealer, so there was obviously still a lot of coolant in the engine. Regardless, with plastic impellers in the water pump, it's no surprise that they don't last all that long.

Jake Raby · 02-24-2010, 12:20 PM

Water pumps fail... at 60K they are done with their service life.

Paul · 02-24-2010, 04:06 PM

I guess I'd better think about replacing mine in my 01 with 82,000 miles. What's the best pump available?

23109VC · 02-24-2010, 09:41 PM

my pump went out at 75k.

it started leaking at about 74k....i never heard any noises...i used the boxster to go out and grab take out and when I got to the restaurant and got out of my car i heard the sound of water dripping..looked under car and a huge puddle was forming...i was only a half mile fromm home so I got right back in car and headed straight home...drove it easy...car never overheated... once home it just dumped all over my driveway. towed to mechanic. $600 later I had a new OEM pump. i don't even want to know what the "stealer" wants for that job...

my 1999 Volvo had 150k on it when I sold the car. stock pump. why can't my Porsche pump go as long?? it's not like the water pump is a high performance part is it????? i'm cool with my tires wearing out FAST...they're supposed to..but c'mon...the water pump?

Paul · 03-11-2010, 06:44 PM

Does anyone have any experience with a non OEM new pump?

Flavor 987S · 03-12-2010, 03:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Does anyone have any experience with a non OEM new pump?

Paul, why bother with non OEM? You turn your own wrenches, so no crazy labor charge. A new OEM pump and gasket (part codes: 99610634054 and 99610601155) runs about $210. How much can you save on non OEM and at what "cost"?

Paul · 03-12-2010, 05:46 PM

I usually use Porsche parts, but Jake seems to be making some good parts for other repairs. I'm looking for a recommendation.

I've taken my 01 on several 2000 mile one way trips and want to get it ready for several more. So far the cooling system has not been opened.