Overheating 996

[Peter T]

I've only had my car for a couple of weeks now, a 99 model with low milage 26000mls, it has been maintained by an opc garage since new as i have all the bills, including a new rms at 2000mls ! That does not worry me but the heating issue does. Initially it ran very hot and i could smell coolant, the temperature gauge read around 98-99 degrees all the time, so after clearing 3 years worth of crap from the radiators it ran a little cooler but not by much, so i renewed the coolant pressure cap, this solved nothing so i booked it in to my local opc dealer who then said that the stat was sticking closed! Several hundred pounds later it still runs fairly hot in the 90s now, but i still can smell coolant and in traffic it rises to 100 degrees. Any thoughts?

[t urbo]

Get it checked again . Temp shouldnt rise above 82-85 even in traffic. In the summer i had mine flat out on a track day and the temp stayed at 80, it was the brakes that ended up failing through cooking the brake fluid.

[clorenzen]

You need to check this again - it does not sound right. I went for a 2000 mile trip round Tuscany in 35 degrees last summer blasting up and down of all mountain roads and the temp gauge never went over 80 degrees.

[spenny_b]

Hi Peter, I've also just got my first 911, so to everyone!

..edited to say...also similar age to yours, 98/S C2 Coupe....

When I test drove my car a couple of weeks ago, I noticed the coolant warning light on, althought the journey wasn't *really* long enough to notice overheating probs...BUT, from my research so far, the 996's are prone to cracking header-tanks.

My car went to GT-One in Chertsey for a PPI, and to cut a long story short, the tank was replaced before I collected the car last Sat....this sounds to me as if this could be the root-cause of your prob, ie., air ingress via the crack, possibly?...try and push for it to be done under any warranty you may have, as I think it's over the £150 mark to get it changed, possibly nearer £200?

Hope this helps,

Spencer

>> Edited by spenny_b on Thursday 24th February 14:04

[rubystone]

Peter, it isn't a head gasket problem is it (oh sorry, we're talking about your 996, not your Caterham aren't we)

[Peter T]

Ok so it's not my caterham, no problems there.
Yes i have heard that the coolant tanks can split but it is loosing no coolant. The other issue is the coolant low warnig light flashes even if i only give it a few revs. I will get it pressure tested, won't bother going back to OPC as they can't be bothered, and neither can i.