Technical Water running/sloshing sound

[Mr Mosky]

It can sometimes be misleading if you just peer through the plastic reservoir - as Ahmett says, the plastic becomes more opaque and stained over time & the viewing angle isn't conducive to accurate measurement.

A homemade disposable cardboard dipstick is easy to use and works well .

I checked the coolant using a torch, and sure enough, the level was below the min mark. I topped it up and then removed the bleed screw on the heater hose. There was definitely air in there. I started the engine and waited until clear water was dripping out. So hopefully that will have sorted it. I'll keep an eye on the level to see if it goes down again.
Cheers, Geoff

 

[Craikeybaby]

I'm wondering if the noise you're hearing is caused by a lack of coolant in the cooling system. When did you last check the coolant level?

Checked the cooling system just now (first time I've had access to the car during daylight) - it is slightly below the low mark. So will top it up and see if that makes a difference.

 

[Craikeybaby]

Does the car have A/C? You can get some odd gurgles from this, especially at start-up. Once again, something I've heard in an older vehicle, perhaps due to low refrigerant.

Yes, the car does have A/C - getting it checked/topped up was on my to do list before next summer anyway.

 

[Craikeybaby]

Thanks for all the advice guys, it seems like I need to top up the coolant and bleed the air out. Typically I've only got blue coolant in, so will need to buy some pink coolant.

From the posts above it also looks like the system will need bleeding too, is this an easy task? I don't remember doing that before when I've done cooling system work old MX-5.

Also, any ideas on where the coolant could be leaking from? I'm assuming the Fiat dealer did put enough in when it was serviced in the summer and I haven't checked it since then as I've only started driving it again as my car is in hibernation.

 

[Craikeybaby]

I've topped up the coolant and had a go at bleeding the air out of the system, but I left the bleed screw open for a good 5 minutes with the engine on but no fluid came out. I there a second bleed screw I need to open too?

With the coolant topped up and possibly some air bled out of the system the noise seems to have quietened down a bit, so I think I must be on the right track.

I did notice that one of the coolant pipe looked like it may be leaking, it was hard to photograph, but the pipe looks wet and there's green stuff growing on it. Any ideas?

That might be where the coolant went. by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

 

[varesecrazy]

I've topped up the coolant and had a go at bleeding the air out of the system, but I left the bleed screw open for a good 5 minutes with the engine on but no fluid came out. I there a second bleed screw I need to open too?

With the coolant topped up and possibly some air bled out of the system the noise seems to have quietened down a bit, so I think I must be on the right track.

I did notice that one of the coolant pipe looked like it may be leaking, it was hard to photograph, but the pip looks wet and there's green stuff growing on it. Any ideas?

That might be where the coolant went. by Lewis Craik, on Flickr

Hi, the metal pipes are aircon lines,
hence the different colour,

it's the rubber hoses above / behind inlet manifold ( into bulkhead you need to concetrate on.

LOW level.. - chances are the dealer rushed the job ( time is money)

so just rebuilt it , restored level and gave you the keys,
not driving around the block to shift airlocks,THEN top up to FULL:bang:

another reason to do it/ check it yourself,
Charlie

 

[Craikeybaby]

Thanks Charlie. Is the metal to rubber pipe in the spot light the aircon? Or the metal one above it? Or both?

I'll have another look behind the inlet manifold next time it is in the garage, but all of that looked fine when I looked.

Should it be topped up to full when cold? I only went to halfway between the lines to give it some expansion room...

 

[jrkitching]

Should it be topped up to full when cold? I only went to halfway between the lines to give it some expansion room...

Always top up to the maximum line when cold. The maximum line is set where it is to allow space for expansion when topped up to that level.

Drive the car for a few miles to get the thermostat open and the coolant circulating, then leave it to cool down. Check again when cold (preferably next morning), and refill back up to the maximum. Repeat this process, checking every day, until the level stays constant.

If it's still going down after a week of this, you most likely have a leak, in which case it needs to be found and fixed.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Thanks Charlie. Is the metal to rubber pipe in the spot light the aircon? Or the metal one above it? Or both?

Both are AC pipes

 

[Craikeybaby]

Both are AC pipes

Thanks.

Always top up to the maximum line when cold. The maximum line is set where it is to allow space for expansion when topped up to that level.

Drive the car for a few miles to get the thermostat open and the coolant circulating, then leave it to cool down. Check again when cold (preferably next morning), and refill back up to the maximum. Repeat this process, checking every day, until the level stays constant.

If it's still going down after a week of this, you most likely have a leak, in which case it needs to be found and fixed.

Thanks, I'll start a cycle of that. Where does bleeding coming into it?

 

[jrkitching]

Where does bleeding coming into it?

When you find it's weeping from a rusted on hose clip in an inaccessible place and the clip pliers slip, trapping your finger between the jaws .

Seriously, I've found that, even if you never touch the bleed screw, all the air will purge out after about six cycles, provided you keep topping up to the max mark when cold. Alternatively, you can open the bleed, and then it'll take about half a dozen cycles to purge all the air.

 

[Craikeybaby]

After a couple of cycles of topping up/driving as mentioned above I left the car in the garage overnight to find a patch of coolant on the floor, so it is going into the garage tomorrow.

 

[Craikeybaby]

The verdict from the dealer is cracked thermostat housing. Should be collecting it tomorrow, I wasn't impressed that problems with the 500 meant my summer car (MR2) had to go out in the snow.

 

[zanes]

The verdict from the dealer is cracked thermostat housing. Should be collecting it tomorrow, I wasn't impressed that problems with the 500 meant my summer car (MR2) had to go out in the snow.

This is starting to look like a "common" problem.

 

[Craikeybaby]

This is starting to look like a "common" problem.

Yes, as soon as I ment coolant leak to the service manager, he said it would be the thermostat housing.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Forgive me if its been mentioned, which engine is this out of interest?

 

[Craikeybaby]

1.2.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

1.2.

Interesting that they've said its a common issue then, they must have changed the thermostat housing at some point, as normally its the same on all FIRE engines.

 

[John202020]

Over the last few weeks I've noticed this noise too, at start up, you can also hear "something" just after switch off when its quiet outside, I replaced the exhaust cat front pipe, engine to pipe bracket, that had completely disappeared due to rusting and noticed "a" drop of water on the bottom of the gearbox, though the weather has been rotten lately but suspect a new thermostat(housing) is required, just another thing to replace,,,,,,,,,,,