Water leaking from front (Cayman R)
Water leaking from front (Cayman R)
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iandews

Original Poster:

2,893 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
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My luck continues! Just went for a gentle drive, came back and decided to check my tyre pressures as the car felt a little light at the front. Left the car running whilst checking the tyres and thought blimey, the fans that kick out air into the front arches are hot; hot enough to make the tyres feel sticky and burn my hands if left on the vents for more than a few seconds; no idea if that is normal? Then when finishing up noticed a stream of water coming from the underneath, at the front right! It stops when I switch the engine off, then streams out again when on.

Would this likely be the radiator fluids or am I returning to air-con trouble...again!!!

(brand new car, 4 weeks ownership, 3 warranty claims already!)

Actus Reus

4,312 posts

185 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
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Hot air in the arch is normal I think - pretty sure my Gen.1 S does that. Water dripping, but only when engine's on? When engine is turning over, or just electrics? The aircon will be working fully when just electrics are on, if it's only when the motor's on, I'd guess a cooling problem?

Bad luck though - you've been incredibly unlucky with this 'R'...

iandews

Original Poster:

2,893 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
Sorry, should have checked that first. When just the ignition on no drips but when started up, drip begins and seems to get faster until nearly a steady stream. Also as soon as I fire up, the fan in the engine bay kicks in and the front radiators go on full tilt for 30 seconds before slowing down! Help!



Edited by iandews on Thursday 5th July 14:42

Mutt

1,115 posts

221 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
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Turn the air con off. What happens?

STiG911

1,210 posts

197 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
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Mutt said:
Turn the air con off. What happens?
My thoughts exactly...

iandews

Original Poster:

2,893 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
tbh, I don't know, I've just started the car again and switched the air-con off and checked, no leak, then switched back on and the same, no leak!!! If I pull down the black plastic undertray a little, water rushes out, so it is being caught in that.

Noticed the engine fan came on immediately when switching the ignition on again, even though the car hasn't been used for 1h30m, is that normal? The coolers in the front didn't kick in until I started the air-con!!!

Really don't know my way around the car so unsure of the names of things!

G105ALY

95 posts

173 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
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Not right. Back to the OPC I'm afraid, sounds like a leaky rad pipe

Actus Reus

4,312 posts

185 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
G105ALY said:
Not right. Back to the OPC I'm afraid, sounds like a leaky rad pipe
That's my guess - pretty sure not the a/c. As to the fans kicking in, depends - it's a warm day, and if it was hot before, it's not too much to worry about - it's hellishly noisy, but often normal.

iandews

Original Poster:

2,893 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
Might be wrong but would a radiator pipe not leak coolant, not water which I believe it is? Just checked my coolant and 200ml topped it up to max, so not that.

Spoke to the OPC who said that there isn't really anything in that area which could leak water other than the air-condenser, in which case it might just be gathered moisture, or rain water trapped from not being used for a few days.

Do any of these seem plasable? They have obviously offered to have the car in to check, but are a long way from me and the weather over the next few days looks terrible, so no plans on going out. They did say if needs be, test the car later, see if you get a leak on your return, and maybe call Porsche assist.

Any thoughts?

Actus Reus

4,312 posts

185 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
Why does it do it with the engine running only, and not when just the ignition is on? Under both circumstances the a/c is running, surely?

iandews

Original Poster:

2,893 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
I don't know, unless it is air-flow forcing the water out?!?! I've just done the same journey again, no problems with engine temp so I assume coolant is fine, so in a while I'm going to switch it on and leave it running again, check tyre pressures as I did before and see if the problem is replicated, as there is no water coming out at the moment.

It is as if all the water has gone, but surely there is nothing that could be totally drained enough to stop leaking? The air-con was working still. The screen wash full.

G105ALY

95 posts

173 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
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Are you sure it's not coolant?

G105ALY

95 posts

173 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
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Ps I'm in Portugal ATM with my boxster 987 and its boiling, want me to check if mine does it?

iandews

Original Poster:

2,893 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
You can do mate, though I would imagine if it was that common and meant to happen, I'd find more on Google biggrin

Just started the car up again, left it running with air-con on full power, just a few minutes and once again, water streaming out, but slowly reduces to a drip and just drips every now and again after that. Doesn't really give me much time to experiment with air-con on/off.

Any suggestions, should I maybe drive it again as before, come back, wait then power up with no air-con on; or maybe the other way around, go out without air-con on!

DSM2

3,624 posts

230 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
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Actus Reus said:
Why does it do it with the engine running only, and not when just the ignition is on? Under both circumstances the a/c is running, surely?
Of course not. How can the a/c work without the engine running? The compressor needs to compress the gas so that it can then be allowed to expand and pull heat from the air to do so. That's how it works. The engine runs the compressor.

I would bet that what you have is the a/c condensate, nothing more. High air temp, high humidity so lots of water in the air. Cool it down and you get condensate.


iandews

Original Poster:

2,893 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
G105ALY said:
Are you sure it's not coolant?
Definately not coolant, that is pink with a sweet taste (!), this is clear and tastes (yes, did try it!) of water.

DSM2

3,624 posts

230 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
G105ALY said:
Ps I'm in Portugal ATM with my boxster 987 and its boiling, want me to check if mine does it?
I very much doubt tHat you will have the same evils of humidity in Portugal as we have over here right now.

iandews

Original Poster:

2,893 posts

201 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
DSM2 said:
I would bet that what you have is the a/c condensate, nothing more. High air temp, high humidity so lots of water in the air. Cool it down and you get condensate.
Agreed, but surely it shouldn't flow out when you start the car up?

Also, it seems that once it has finished coming out, I cannot replicate it later without going out for another drive first.

Actus Reus

4,312 posts

185 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
DSM2 said:
Of course not. How can the a/c work without the engine running? The compressor needs to compress the gas so that it can then be allowed to expand and pull heat from the air to do so. That's how it works. The engine runs the compressor.

I would bet that what you have is the a/c condensate, nothing more. High air temp, high humidity so lots of water in the air. Cool it down and you get condensate.
A/C works with engine off tho?

ETA - sorry, was on phone, what I meant to say was, the AC on my car, I'm pretty sure, works with the engine off. Certainly did on previous non-Porsche cars.

Edited by Actus Reus on Thursday 5th July 17:55

Thejimreaper

3,178 posts

235 months

Thursday 5th July 2012
quotequote all
I would imagine it is just water from the Air con. Our BMWs at work leave a massive puddle if you leave them running on a warm day with the air con on. May be worth just monitoring it and see what happens. If it has a 3 year warranty then there is no point rushing to make a long trip back to OPC to get told all is fine. Very annoying for you though im sure.