718 Boxster and Cayman Coolant Reservoir leak

[IainCameron]

I recently bought a new 718 PDK Boxster. After 500 miles the Coolant Reservoir sprung a very small leak and the Coolant Warning indication came up. I topped up with Porsche coolant and after another 50 miles the reservoir burst at the seam thus making my car immobile. I spoke to the Porsche Service technician who told me there had been quite a few "LEAKING" Reservoirs reported in the 718 Boxster and Cayman cars manufactured between March and August 2018. Obviously my car is covered by the Porsche Warranty and no cost to me. However, I was a surprised to learn that the engine/gearbox assembly had to be removed in order to gain access to the reservoir. It cannot be accessed from the luggage compartment in the 718. In previous generations of the car (including the 981) it can be removed from withing the luggage compartment. It was nice to see my engine out of the car as I have never had that privilege before in any of my Boxster.

I believe that most defectives 718's have been able to keep mobile whilst waiting for the parts to arrive by continually topping up with coolant as required. My car (with a split reservoir) was off the road for four weeks while they waited for the parts from Germany and then work to remove/replace the engine to carry out the work.

I am interested to find out if any other 718 Boxster or Caymen Club members have this issue with a leaking reservoir or know about it via their Porsche Centre.

One photo attached. Others can be found on Flickr

here >> https://flic.kr/s/aHskGgff8n

 

[daro911]

Hope you are in a nice loan car

There was a time when Porsche only made a handful of models back in the 80/90's and if they didn't have the part on the shelf it would usually be available within 24 hours was the mantra back then fortunately I never have had to test this out personally

4 weeks for a spare part is pretty poor service by any standards IMO

 

[Peter_Bull]

Thanks for the story and the pics Iain - I hope they didn't scuff the wheels with those straps.

 

[IainCameron]

Thanks for the story and the pics Iain - I hope they didn't scuff the wheels with those straps.

Peter, Thanks.

No problem. I was with the driver all the time and he was up-to-date about how to deal with alloys and especially diamond cut wheels. The straps didn't go near the rims.

 

[Probbins2000]

I have a 2019 718 with 21k miles. I just had to have the coolant tank replaced. So glad i took the extended warranty, It was a full engine out. The tank was weeping at the seam. The first warning i got was a coolant fault message. topped up with over a litre of water and then it was loosing about 1/2ltr a day. It was on a long drive returning to London from Portugal but fortunately it held up.



porsche Tonbridge were fantastic. collected car, sent a taxi out to me to collect a replacement car (Macan). Again, extended warranty was very much worth it.

[link]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZCSYbjmqc8[/url]