legacycentral bbs

I just got a 94 touring wagon last night. I've noticed that there is a trickling water sound that comes from the passenger side area some times. Searching around the forum, I've found that this is caused from air in the coolant system or low coolant levels. I checked the coolant reservoir (with the overfill tube) and it wasn't completely full, so I filled it up. I've seen several posts about the system needing to be 'birped' which in-tails opening the coolant tank (the one on top) while the engine is warmed up and operating. I looked around mine and didn't see a bleedoff screw, like some mentioned. Am I missing it or how is this accomplished?

How do I get rid of the water trickling noise?

i will bet that you need a new heater core.

Not necessarily, it just means that your cooling system is not 'burped' properly.

Do this when your car is cool of course... take the radiator cap off and take the little plastic square-headed screw on the other side of your radiator off. That's the bleeder screw. Fill up your radiator with coolant until you see coolant start coming out the hole for the bleeder screw. Replace the bleeder screw, replace the radiator cap, and you're done.

I used to have the same gurgling sound on occasion, until I removed my radiator for a front seal change, then once I reinstalled the radiator and filled it properly using this procedure, I've yet to hear that sound again.

Be sure you do this properly.

When I bought my car, the PO hadn't burped it properly, and I had a panic attack as I thought I had blown a headgasket. Instead it was a massive air bubble from changing the heater core hoses. Once I refilled the system, all was fine, until the radiator broke. then I simply poured coolant in the upper rad hose until it started coming out, then added it to the reservoir.

my 92 owners manual says a NA vehicle has a bleed screw and a turbo does not.

quicklook wrote:my 92 owners manual says a NA vehicle has a bleed screw and a turbo does not.

Ah was just about to ask exactly where that bleed screw was, since I checked the coolant tank (the one by the throttle cables) and didn't see any bleed screws.

That being the case, whats the proper way of getting the air bubble(s) out?

There is a little line that goes into the radiator just above the upper rad hose. It's in basically the same spot as the n/a bleed screw, so it would probably serve the same purpose if you pull it off.

Are you hearing the water inside or outside of the cabin of the car?

Legacy777 wrote:Are you hearing the water inside or outside of the cabin of the car?

Inside. Sounds like it's coming from the passenger side. I typically notice it after sitting at a stop and then accelerating.

Is it wet inside?

I noticed a gurgling sound when I was low on coolant. fill & burp the system, and then see how things go.

IronMonkeyL255 wrote:There is a little line that goes into the radiator just above the upper rad hose.

You talking about the hose that goes from the coolant tank by the throttle body (what IS that called exactly?) to the coolant overflow tank? I already topped off that coolant tank this morning and still heard the water sounds.

Legacy777 wrote:Is it wet inside?

Nope, not from any water from under the dash. Just found out today my sunroof leaks a little *sigh*.

I'm quite sure I'm full on coolant -- the overflow tank is almost full. If it was truly air trapped in the system, why wouldn't normal operation work its way out? At least with the h20 cooling on my computer, the air bubbles slowly work their way out...