Porsche 996 Overheating: Electric Pump Problem?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2002 911 Carrera (also had this on a Boxster). I've got some experience working on cars as a hobby mechanic. The symptoms you described sound exactly like what I dealt with. Turned out the cable connecting to the auxiliary water pump was damaged. My mechanic at Auto-Tech spotted it during inspection, it was causing intermittent pump failure. Total fix was around €95, mainly for replacing the cable and labor. What's your coolant level like, and are you getting any specific error codes? Might help narrow things down if you can share those details.

Thanks for sharing that experience! My coolant level is actually fine, and I'm getting the P2181 code. Last service was about 2 months ago at 149573 KM, and everything was perfect then. Really hoping it's just the cable like in your case and not the entire pump. I can hear the pump running but it seems weaker than usual. Did you notice any similar sound changes before your repair?

Yeah, now that you mention the sound, I definitely noticed something similar with my 911! The pump had this sort of weak, struggling sound before it completely acted up. In my case, the damaged cable was causing the pump to get inconsistent power, which made it sound like it was running at half-strength sometimes. The P2181 code is exactly what I got too, it's that "Cooling System Performance" warning. What's interesting is that even though my coolant level was perfect (just like yours), the system wasn't circulating properly because of that faulty connection. The cable damage wasn't super obvious at first glance either, my mechanic at Auto-Tech had to really get in there to spot it. Since your service history is recent and you're getting the same symptoms I had, I'd bet you're dealing with the same issue. You might want to check the wiring first before replacing the whole pump, could save you a bunch of money. The full pump replacement on these 996s can get pretty pricey! Let me know what you find out, I'm curious if it turns out to be the same problem. These Porsches can be tricky sometimes, but at least they're pretty consistent with their issues across models!

That's super helpful info, thanks! You've actually made me feel a lot better about this situation. I'll definitely get my mechanic to check the wiring first before jumping into a full pump replacement. The similar symptoms and especially that P2181 code matching up really makes me think we're looking at the same issue. I'm gonna schedule an appointment for next week and specifically ask them to inspect the pump's wiring. Will probably save me a ton of money if it turns out to be just a cable issue like yours. Really appreciate you sharing your experience, it's exactly the kind of real-world insight I was hoping for when I posted this question!