Water/Fluid Sloshing Noise

[NC91]

Hello everyone! I was hoping to get some assistance with an odd noise I’ve been hearing. I’ve been hearing a water/fluid sloshing noise from what sounds like the front passenger side when I first start driving. It appears to go away shortly after I start driving but it might just be fading into the road noise. The noise seems to have started when I had the coolant system flushed and air was introduced into the system. This issue caused my heat not to work as well. I’m wondering if that’s the culprit and I either need to take the car back to have the system checked again for air, if adding coolant will help/correct the issue, or water is getting stuck somewhere on the passenger side of the sunroof or in the sills. The weird thing is this has been occurring if when it’s bone dry out...Any help would be greatly appreciated as after other noise issues I think my dealer has had enough of me...

 

[heyheyal]

My wife’s Mazda does that every now and again. I have to get under the car and suck out the clogged condensate line with a shop vac. Water literally pours out once the clog is cleared. Not saying that’s what it is, but maybe a start?

 

[CKeeler]

That’s interesting. Double check the carpet on the passenger side. Make sure none of what you are hearing is making its way into the passenger floor board

 

[nhcowboy28]

I get this after a shower...

usually clears up if I bang my head sideways a few times.

 

[mandasol]

I had the same noise, and it went on for a while so wasn't sure if it was the engine cooling system or the AC drainage system. Then I got an engine overheating warning and took it in for service. Dealer said that I had air in the engine cooling system and they removed it. Two weeks later it's happening again so they are trying to identify a leak but having trouble. It's been in the shop for several days and I don't know when it will be fixed. Following this thread to see if anyone else had this issue.

 

[NC91]

Hey everyone,
I haven’t had a chance to check to see if the A/C system is the culprit. But the interior is dry. I did get a chance to check the coolant tank. I know this could be a sore topic based off other treads, but it was completely empty while the engine was stone cold. There doesn’t appear to be a leak as I haven’t seen any puddles, but I filled the tank up to H. I’ll keep an ear out for the noise when I drive the car today. I am starting to think my dealer did not properly correct the air in the system issue...

 

[mandasol]

My car is at the dealership now for the second time for this same issue. They said they checked for leaks and couldn't find any in the radiator (pressure tested), hoses or any other areas you would suspect but when they go on a test drive air gets into the cooling system. They are consulting with Kia what to do, but they think it may be a head gasket or a leak inside the turbo.

 

[Candy Girl]

Hello everyone! I was hoping to get some assistance with an odd noise I’ve been hearing. I’ve been hearing a water/fluid sloshing noise from what sounds like the front passenger side when I first start driving. It appears to go away shortly after I start driving but it might just be fading into the road noise. The noise seems to have started when I had the coolant system flushed and air was introduced into the system. This issue caused my heat not to work as well. I’m wondering if that’s the culprit and I either need to take the car back to have the system checked again for air, if adding coolant will help/correct the issue, or water is getting stuck somewhere on the passenger side of the sunroof or in the sills. The weird thing is this has been occurring if when it’s bone dry out...Any help would be greatly appreciated as after other noise issues I think my dealer has had enough of me...

Did you ever find out what was going on?? I'm having the same issue. Noticed this happened a few years back to you

 

[JSolo]

^^What's the level if your coolant reservoir?

 

[ghodge]

Wow! This started happening to me as well. There may be some sort of drain tube that might be clogged.

 

[Candy Girl]

^^What's the level if your coolant reservoir?

I can't check just yet the car is hot. But would it being low cause that??

 

[JSolo]

^^You can't look at the reservoir??

 

[Candy Girl]

LMAO I did but it's dusty. It kinda looks like it's a little bit under the OK mark

 

[JSolo]

There's a F and L mark. Should be no lower than L, ideally at F when cold. Assuming your sloshing sound is coming from air in the cooling system that is.

 

[Candy Girl]

I'll go check, take a picture

 

[Ohiocruiser]

Most likely you have an air in the system. Since the radiator sits low on stinger, the regular method won't work. Just replaced the radiator on mine yesterday. That was what i used to bleed it.

 

[JSolo]

^^That's why I was asking her to check the reservoir..... and radiator (when cold) next.

Experienced this phenomenon in an early 2000's pontiac grand prix. When making a turn, one could hear water sloshing around. There was some intake leak that was covered under extended warranty.

I don't believe in those burp funnels. Use this instead https://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-Airlift-Cooling-Checker/dp/B0002SRH5G .

 

[Ohiocruiser]

^^That's why I was asking her to check the reservoir..... and radiator (when cold) next.

Experienced this phenomenon in an early 2000's pontiac grand prix. When making a turn, one could hear water sloshing around. There was some intake leak that was covered under extended warranty.

I don't believe in those burp funnels. Use this instead https://www.amazon.com/UView-550000-Airlift-Cooling-Checker/dp/B0002SRH5G .

I guess, i am just old school. Have you ever used that before? Looks like, it requires an air compressor.

 

[JSolo]

^^Yes, used it twice on the g37 and once on the accord. It does require a compressor, but even my shitty craftsman 12gal did the job. Makes refilling literally effortless; sucks in the fluid in less than a minute.

Speaking of fluid, how much did you need to refill yours, more than 2 gals? I tend to stick to a ~4yr drain/fill schedule on my cars.

 

[Ohiocruiser]

^^Yes, used it twice on the g37 and once on the accord. It does require a compressor, but even my shitty craftsman 12gal did the job. Makes refilling literally effortless; sucks in the fluid in less than a minute.

Speaking of fluid, how much did you need to refill yours, more than 2 gals? I tend to stick to a ~4yr drain/fill schedule on my cars.

Took me little less than 2 gallons. Might have a closer look at that tool, once i need to deal with cooling systems again.