RickLS7 Posted April 2, 2023 Report Share Posted April 2, 2023 Noticed coolant dripping from the drivers side front, removed the wheel and wheel arch liner and this is what I saw. The hose was well and truly coroded into the pipe so looks like new cossover pipes and hoses. This is a well known problem on the 997 & 987 and looks like they did nothing to improve the situation with the 981. I'm going to ask Dovehouse Motors to fix this, the front subframe needs removing to replace the pipes which means a wheel alignment is required too. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daz05 Posted April 2, 2023 Report Share Posted April 2, 2023 I thought they had improved the design on the 981, that's a pain. Unlucky. What year and mileage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickLS7 Posted April 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 No, it's the same. The steel collar on the rubber hose reacts with the aluminium transfer pipes, dissimilar metals cause galvanic corrosion. Even though the pipes are behind the wheel arch liners, spray off the road still gets in. Previous owner was from Scotland so with greater salt use in winter comes more corrosion. I wouldn't mind so much but the car has been stored in the garage for the last three winters. Just spoke to Dovehouse Motors, they are fully booked until the 18th May. My old 986 was sooooo much easier to work on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMA Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 14 minutes ago, RickLS7 said: Just spoke to Dovehouse Motors, they are fully booked until the 18th May. My old 986 was sooooo much easier to work on. What's the expected cost for the repair? Interested in case I might need the same work in the future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 That's sad still on a 981. Could there be an aftermarket solution, like pipes with stainless steel collars, would they still react? (Or be too brittle?) Even if Porsche aren't interested, can't be beyond the wit of man to think of a better design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickLS7 Posted April 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 The parts (2 transfer pipes, 4 rubber hoses to the radiators and the 2 that connect the plastic connectors to the transfer pipes) are around £300. It's impossible to remove the transfer pipes with the sub frame in situ, this needs removing and fuel tank has to be supported. Saw a good YouTube vid, will have a look and see if I can find it. I've not seen an alternative and Porsche aren't the only ones using this type pipe connection. The cheapest option would be to replace the 4 radiator hoses on a fairly regular interval before they start corroding badly, this would entail a coolant drain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickLS7 Posted April 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 That was easy: 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 It's the need for the subframe dropping etc which makes this a "preferably not too often" job, for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattman42 Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 Just now, Menoporsche said: It's the need for the subframe dropping etc which makes this a "preferably not too often" job, for me. Was going to say the same - the chances of fuk-up-a-bility are high and combined with working on the driveway, no way would it be a job i would attempt to do myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickLS7 Posted April 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 Me too, at no time did I contemplate doing it myself. Will let you know the total bill, shame I have to wait until mid May before they can fit me in. Bet it’s not cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iborguk Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 1 minute ago, RickLS7 said: Me too, at no time did I contemplate doing it myself. Will let you know the total bill, shame I have to wait until mid May before they can fit me in. Bet it’s not cheap. As per @daz05 what's the age and mileage on the car please ? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickLS7 Posted April 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 It’s 2013, 55k. I should add that it’s not possible to carry on using the car, it’s not a small leak. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iborguk Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 (edited) Mine were done at 10 years and 32k miles on a 2011 987.2 Edited April 3, 2023 by iborguk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Menoporsche Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 So both of you at 10 years, with comparatively insignificant mileage. Maybe a standard “8 year service” item? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iborguk Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 Mine was done at pre-prep on purchase of the car. I think ballpark at that time in 2020 it was £800-£1K on paper which included the alignment. YMMV of course. @RickLS7 Good luck sorting. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMA Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 21 minutes ago, RickLS7 said: It’s 2013, 55k. I should add that it’s not possible to carry on using the car, it’s not a small leak. Similar age and mileage to mine. The video makes it look pretty straight forward and tempting to try.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey P Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 I seem to remember this being a painfully expensive job on my previous Boxster, so hope it goes OK for the OP and anyone else who needs it (Typical of Porsche to make this job reassuringly expensive, even by an Indy) On a separate note: Just spoke to Dovehouse Motors, they are fully booked until the 18th May - Is that for any work, including normal routine servicing? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickLS7 Posted April 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 These jobs always look ok with a ramp, nowhere as easy with axle stands. I guessed at around £1000 from a specialist, not the sort of bill you normally expect from a leaking hose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickLS7 Posted April 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 1 minute ago, Davey P said: On a separate note: Just spoke to Dovehouse Motors, they are fully booked until the 18th May - Is that for any work, including normal routine servicing? Im guessing just for this job as it’s a whole day, might be able to squeeze you in. Their number is 01933 354144. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davey P Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 4 minutes ago, RickLS7 said: I guessed at around £1000 from a specialist, not the sort of bill you normally expect from a leaking hose. Yep, I seem to remember mine was about 1200 quid using a local Indy (not Dovehouse), but can't remember if that included other work at the time, and I'm too lazy to hunt through my old posts to check (and it won't be relevant anyway after a few years) 2 minutes ago, RickLS7 said: Im guessing just for this job as it’s a whole day, might be able to squeeze you in. Their number is 01933 354144. Cheers, I've already got their number, as I've used them for all my servicing on the Cayman so far, and they are brilliant 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMA Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 12 minutes ago, RickLS7 said: These jobs always look ok with a ramp, nowhere as easy with axle stands. I guessed at around £1000 from a specialist, not the sort of bill you normally expect from a leaking hose. Yes, I wouldn't attempt it on axle stands, luckily I have a scissor lift, so possible to do if I felt brave. For me the worrying part would be refilling the coolant correctly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
½cwt Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 @bally4563 DIY-able but only lowering on sub-frame on the bolts, not totally dropping it??? Still needs tracking afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickLS7 Posted April 3, 2023 Author Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 (edited) With no ramp (or scissor lift), I'm not trying. It's one of those jobs that if you start and fail, you need a trailer to get it to a specialist/OPC. Edited April 3, 2023 by RickLS7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bally4563 Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 1 hour ago, ½cwt said: @bally4563 DIY-able but only lowering on sub-frame on the bolts, not totally dropping it??? Still needs tracking afterwards. Yes I lowered down on studs, forgot thread pitch and size, and I am working away again, so can’t nip into my garage what size , and if I can find them !! Didnt take me long , from memory the securing clips were the most frustrating, the fact you will be replacing pipes and hoses, any seized in pipes , just collapse in with a screwdriver Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
½cwt Posted April 3, 2023 Report Share Posted April 3, 2023 1 minute ago, bally4563 said: Yes I lowered down on studs, forgot thread pitch and size, and I am working away again, so can’t nip into my garage what size , and if I can find them !! Didnt take me long , from memory the securing clips were the most frustrating, the fact you will be replacing pipes and hoses, any seized in pipes , just collapse in with a screwdriver M10 x 1.5 IIRC i.e. M10 fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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