[ether_joe]

what it is guys?!?!! and gals. . .



. . . so I'm leaking coolant *inside* the car . . . go figure. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> I guess there's coolant that circulates to the HVAC system? Anyhow, so when the car's running it's actually dripping now. . . from a plastic tube in the center console, above and to the left of where the passenger's left foot would be.



I'm thinking I'll have to drain the coolant and replace some seal or something? Any ideas out there?

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[Anchorman]

Are you SURE it's coolant - as opposed to liquid? Is it all of the time, or only when the A/C is on? The reason for the questions - there's a condensate drain hose behind the center console that is known to plug up and then leak condensate into the passenger compartment - although it should be to the left of your passenger's left foot.

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[ether_joe]

well I'm using prestone pre-mixed coolant, and the drips are greenish in hue, and it smells like coolant. . . so pretty sure.



but that does sound like the right location. You're right, it's to the left of the passengers left foot.



I almost never have the A/C on up here. . . gotta love Norcal <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> it's happening all the time, but when the car is hot it drips about one drop a second, whereas when teh car is cold it doesn't really drip at all.

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[bob blackwell]

I just had to replace my heater core and the problem presented just as yours did. Good luck, Bob Blackwell.

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[968rz]

+1 on the heater core

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[ether_joe]

[quote name='bob blackwell' post='41680' date='Sep 25 2007, 11:28 AM']I just had to replace my heater core and the problem presented just as yours did. Good luck, Bob Blackwell.[/quote]





thanks bob. . . looking at clarks-garage.com right now for info. How difficult is this on the DIYometer?

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[bob blackwell]

Not sure about DIY difficulty. My independent garage charged $432 for parts and $350 for labor, a total of $782. This included all new heater hoses, the new core, a couple of clips and O rings and the antifreeze to refill the system. Since than it has been completely dry and tidy.

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[Anchorman]

From my experience of working on/under these dashboards, Bob got a DEAL!! If you can get something like that, I wouldn't even think of DIY.

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[ether_joe]

yeah I am thinking of taking it to the mechanic for this one.

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[tloof]

Mine just started leaking recently, and it appears to be condensate since it only leaks when operating the AC system (+ it doesn't smell or feel like antifreeze). What is the easiest way to clear out the condensate drain hose...do I have to pull the dash out?

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[ether_joe]

woof. . . well good news the part isn't horrible, $340 from Sunset.



the bad news . . . 10 hours labor. @ $90. . . so I'm looking at ~ $1500 tax shipping etc.





ah, well. the joys of owning a 15-year-old euro sports car. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Anchorman]

Ether, is that an OPC labor quote or an independent? Either way, you should tell them about Bob Blackwell's quote and see if you can get some improvement.



Tloof - no, there is no dashboard removal involved. The center console has to come out (which is surprisingly easy). The condensate line is in the center of the car behind where the radio/storage box is. It's a line with two 90 degree bends that take the condensate from the exchanger to an outlet in the "tranny" hump. Usually the line clogs where it enter the outlet, or the outlet may also be clogged. It's a bit of a pain, as there's not a lot of hand room. If it was me (and, not too long ago, it was), I'd have a new line in hand before starting the job. The first time I did it, I did not have a new line, and I found the the end of the line that extends into the outlet had disintegrated. I used putty to hold the line to the outlet and it worked OK until I replaced the line when I replaced my dashboard last summer.

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[tloof]

Anchorman,



Thanks for the info! I have to go in there anyway to replace my odometer gear, replace the outside air temp unit, as well as install a new radio so it will be no big deal for me to do all of this. I've already replaced virtually all of the engine seals, timing & balance shaft belts, and variocam chain & sliders myself (I did have to custom make a few special tools to do all of this though) so I'll have no problem doing the latest fixes myself either.



In my opinion everyone that owns a 968 should do all of the repair work themselves or these older Porsche vehicles will get real expensive to own. Once you've done such work it gets easier to understand & work on them in the future and keeps the cost of these little jewels lower than upgrading to any newer vehicle. Ultimately when the stock 4 cyl engine requires either major work or a rebuild, then I will swap out to a bone stock 350 HP LS1 V8 from a GM Camaro/Firebird which will also keep the maintenace & repair costs to a bare minimum for owning a 968!!



By the way, if any of you want some good advice on how to change out your variocam drive chain & sliders (and also the simplest way to depress the timing belt tensioner) then I can detail out the special tools that you will need to make in order to simplify the task!

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[rhudeboye]

I now have the same issue. Coolant leaking onto the passenger floor.



This post is pretty old and Joe never mentioned the end result. Has anyone encountered this problem and DIYd it recently?

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[AJG]

[quote name='ether_joe' timestamp='1190763990' post='41700']

woof. . . well good news the part isn't horrible, $340 from Sunset.



the bad news . . . 10 hours labor. @ $90. . . so I'm looking at ~ $1500 tax shipping etc.





ah, well. the joys of owning a 15-year-old euro sports car. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/rolleyes.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

[/quote]

Wait a minute, how can your car be just 15 years old! You sound like Joan Collins fibbing about her age!

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[tamathumper]

Back in '07 when that was posted it could have been true.

[quote name='tloof' timestamp='1190819184' post='41735']

By the way, if any of you want some good advice on how to change out your variocam drive chain & sliders (and also the simplest way to depress the timing belt tensioner) then I can detail out the special tools that you will need to make in order to simplify the task![/quote]



Do tell, if you're still around. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />

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