With a fair amount of trepidation I was getting ready to tackle the dreaded coolant tank replacement project and had some questions. This is on an ‘01S with 109k miles on the clock.
For starters, do most people just routinely do this at this age and mileage? Or does it sometimes happen that people inspect them and find that they look pretty good and just leave them alone? I’m inclined to just go ahead and replace it, but was curious what people thought.
The terribly difficult to reach hose connections: Are they easier to reach from below, ie from a standing position (I have access to a lift)? Or is that equally difficult as compared with reaching down from the top with the car in service position?
For those who have done this project, what are your thoughts on the Dremel-the-old-tank out approach?
http://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/56326-how-replace-coolant-tank-under-2-hours.html
It’s funny: in the 101 Projects book I have, for this project under “Tools” they say “None.”
I understand my task will be made much easier if I pick up one of those cable-driven hose clamp pliers. My problem is that there’s lots of them available on Amazon, eBay, etc, and I’m trying to decide on just ONE. As is so typically the case, for most of them they have lots of 4 & 5 star ratings, but then always the handful of 1 stars as well. You know, the “Don’t buy! This is junk. Broke the first time I used it” testimonials. I don’t want to spend $180 on a Snap-On version, but I’d like to get something that is highly unlikely to break the first time or two I use it. Anybody have a shout-out recommendation for the one they have? Also, have any of you had good luck with the boxed sets of hose clamp tools? Here’s an example:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082PVWSV3/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=vs-autoguide-hose-clamp-pliers-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B082PVWSV3&linkId=482127a22fe9fc05926fa19b93419796
Finally, when it comes to clamps, both 101 and Bentley point out that we should not reuse them. Problem is, until I get in there and pull some of this apart I don’t even know what I need clamp-wise. I’ve read (and tend to believe) that using the hardware store-sourced worm-drive clamps isn’t the best solution on coolant hoses. I’ve seen some clamp sources online that would seem to be more suitable/reliable (examples:
https://store.pyiinc.com/products/worm-gear-hose-clamp?variant=28648814706748
and
https://www.amazon.com/PEROMI-32-35mm-Stainless-Intercooler-Adjustable/dp/B09NCYZWYT/ref=sr_1_4?c=ts&keywords=T-Bolt+Hose+Clamps&qid=1656603300&s=industrial&sr=1-4&ts_id=979131011
But again, what to buy? It would be helpful if the shop manuals would tell you right there in the description (right after the advice to “Use new hose clamps on coolant lines”)
what size clamps are called for. Don’t think the nicer versions of these kinds of clamps are easily found locally, and I don’t really want to wait a week for shipment in the middle of a project..
TIA.
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