Semi-overheating?

[Ckrikos]

I know its not exactly the same but the results should be similar. I recently cleaned my radiators on my 996TT and now my temperature needle no longer goes into the 0 rather it sits to the left of it. When cleaning the radiators i noticed i had a small leak so ordered a set of cfs all aluminum radiators I'm hoping they do the job.

Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk

[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.

[CoBeerToad]

Air!!!!
Air in the lines might have caused this. Kinda makes sense to me. I was about a quart or two low on coolant. I did a spectacular launch on the e-way from 0 to 100 in what I think was about 3 seconds. Perhaps the coolant sloshed and sucked some air up in the line.

The thump I heard? Could have been an unrelated problem that I have not discovered yet. Or perhaps the belt slipped. (The sound did resemble the belt falling off). I replaced the pump and thermostat and will be flushing the system with distilled water before purging again and filling with proper Porsche coolant.

I'm feeling better thinking that the problem has been discovered. (I hope)

[CoBeerToad]

Finally got the car off the jack stands and was able to take a drive. Temp is still sitting on the zero. I'm going to re-bleed it again tonight, as I have run out of options. About the only thing I haven't done yet is to replace the temperature sending unit, which since I came this far, I might as well go all the way.

[runjmc2]

Radiators getting old, clogged, and less efficient? Sometimes it's the simple things… You could use a durametric to see if it is really running hot or just the guage.

[CoBeerToad]

I really need to get me one of those.

[epapp]

Or if you know anyone with an android device, you can get the free torque app, and one of these:

Amazon.com: iSaddle Super Mini ELM327 V1.5 OBD2 OBD-II Bluetooth CAN-BUS Auto Diagnostic Tool for Windows XP, Vista, Win7, OSX and Android: Automotive

and check all kinds of generic types of OBD2 data. It won't display cam deviation or overrevvs or anything porsche specific, but all the good things are there: actual water temp, engine fuel trim and loads, timing, maf reading etc..I and many others can attest it works great

[jmccjr]

I definitely agree with Eppap. I love my Bluetooth OBDII adapter and the torque app. Its great to have all the data at you fingertips right on you android device.

[CoBeerToad]

I'm definitely getting that app, but I figured it out finally. After putting in a new water pump and thermostat and double flushing the cooling system and bleeding and bleeding the air, I finally figured it out. When I first tested prior to doing anything and when i tested after I replaced everything, I put the A/C on to get the fans going. Both fans worked great both times. I've been driving it to work the past couple days because it's amazing in Chicago. Today when I got home, I heard the fans going so for the heck of it, I felt if they were blowing. Passenger fan was inop. I put the A/C on and they both worked perfectly. I feel equally stupid and relieved.

Now to try and figure out why one fan don't work on lo...

[epapp]

Could just be the low speed fan relay.

If the fans are not on due to temp and you turn on the AC, both fans should activate to the low setting.

I haven't tested turning on the AC when both fans are on low due to temp. Do they go to high speed operation if AC engaged when low speed fans are already on?

If your car is cold and you turn on the AC and the passenger fan still is dead, then your relay for passenger low speed is dead, which is simple and easy to fix.

If you do the above and the passenger fan comes on low speed, then I have no idea.

[CoBeerToad]

They both work fine at hi speed. At lo speed only the drivers side operates.

I'm going to have to take the bumper off again ain't I?

Probably for the best. I misaligned the underneath part of the bumper when I put it back on and said screw it. This gives me a good excuse to fix that I guess.

[amitmishra4]

epapp et all,

Sorry I'm I am straying from the conversation here but since CoBeerToad has found his issue, I figured I would ask real quick - I am reading that this particular OBDII sensor does not play well with the iphone? Is there a better sensor with an app for the iphone please? Thanks

[epapp]

*Most* of the cheap (~10$) bluetooth obd2 readers dont work well with the iphone because they arent *approved* by apple to be able to connect with the phone.

There are a few expensive bluetooth obd2 readers that can pair with the iphone, but they are $70-80.

I use my android dashboard tablet to read data from my $10 obd2 reader (the one I linked) and it works exactly the same as Shehadehd's bluetooth reader that is linked to his ipad (the $70 reader).

I suppose if your iphone is your only option, you have to get the expensive reader, and then use the 'dashcommand' app instead of 'torque'.

Cobeertoad- no not at all. Since they both work fine at high speed, your fans and resistors are fine. All you need is a new $4 relay.

The 4 fan relays are in the relay bank near the clutch pedal (by the fuse panel). There are diagrams floating around here. Two relays control low speed L and R fans, same for high speed. Just figure out which low speed relay is not working and replace

[RandallNeighbour]

It is worth mentioning that the temp gauge in older boxsters (1997-2004) are actually working gauges... in other words, they indicate cooler temps when driving fast (more air through the radiators) and will move to the hotter side when one sits in traffic on a hot day.

The 2005 and up Boxsters have a dummy gauge. It very quickly goes straight to where it will stay no matter what's going on with the actual temperature until it reaches a threshold and WHAM! it snaps to the right and the overheated light illuminates.

Lots of new Porsche owners who've never owned a car with a real temp gauge get freaked out when it moves around.

BTW, I realize the OP may have a failing water pump... I just thought I'd add this information for those in the future who read this thread.

[CoBeerToad]

I swore that this whole thing started this spring with me noticing my temp gauge sitting on the zero. Looked at the Time Hop thing on Facebook and saw this little picture. Not sure what I was taking a picture of, but notice the temp gauge from a year ago today.



I'm never trying to diagnose another problem ever again.

[epapp]

Haha...hahaha..theres always that possibility