Hot as hell! (Cooling issues)

[mechanism]

Hello Everyone,

I am new to this forum but am a long-time car enthusiast/home mechanic. My father gave me his 2003 base model Boxster to me as a gift. I had it shipped up to me from NC to PA via trucking service. Less than a year ago he replaced the thermostat, water pump, all coolant hoses and of course coolant. I took shipment of the car today and it is running really hot now (red light on the temp gauge). It was just fine before he shipped it. I doubt that it has anything to do with the trucking company so don't mistake that for a "red herring". I have checked all of the radiators for blockages (leaves, plastic bags,etc.) and all of the fans are running. My Dad told me that the engine "ran cold" even after he replaced the thermostat. So why the sudden hot running? If anyone can help me solve this mystery I would be greatly appreciative. Thanks.

[JFP in PA]

If you have already run the engine in to the red overheat light, you probably bigger issues than why it is running hot..................................good luck!

[mechanism]

I hear you. I did stop the car as soon as the red light came on and let it cool down for 20 minutes before getting it home (3 min. drive) with no additional light. Thanks for the reply.

[Babalu]

You probably got air into the system crack the bleed valve on the expansion tank and there are a couple up by the radiators

[mechanism]

Good news! The problem was the water pump. It had a plastic impeller that disintegrated. I checked the receipts and my frugal dad bought the pump from the company that starts with rock and ends with auto for the low, low price of $89. I replaced it with a genuine Porsche pump with the metal impeller. The best news is that the the head isn't cracked. I stopped it in time to keep from going into full meltdown mode. I checked the coolant for exhaust gasses twice and it passed both times. Plus, there is no coolant in the oil...thanks to the Porsche gods. Anyway I just wanted to give some closure to this post since I hate when people don't get back with their solution/conclusions. Lesson for the day. Don't cheap out on parts. Especially when you have to take out the seats and remove the firewall to replace them. Thanks for the input folks.

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by mechanism

Good news! The problem was the water pump. It had a plastic impeller that disintegrated. I checked the receipts and my frugal dad bought the pump from the company that starts with rock and ends with auto for the low, low price of $89. I replaced it with a genuine Porsche pump with the metal impeller. The best news is that the the head isn't cracked. I stopped it in time to keep from going into full meltdown mode. I checked the coolant for exhaust gasses twice and it passed both times. Plus, there is no coolant in the oil...thanks to the Porsche gods. Anyway I just wanted to give some closure to this post since I hate when people don't get back with their solution/conclusions. Lesson for the day. Don't cheap out on parts. Especially when you have to take out the seats and remove the firewall to replace them. Thanks for the input folks.

You might be interested in the fact the Porsche NEVER used a metal impeller style water pump, and for very good reasons....................

[M. Murphy]

Like perhaps the metal impeller chewing into the aluminum block when the pump bearings fail?