bmatic01

When the weather isn't below freezing I drive my car and hear this running water noise. It seems to be coming from behind the passenger side of the dash board. I don't know if it's trapped condensation or what. I was just curious if this has happened to anyone else and what the problem could be. My greatest fear is rust.

Kris9884

iTrader: (7)

It's coolant running through the heater core, that's normal. You've got some good ears to even hear it.

VOrteneau

Seriously, my little brother heard it in mine after I'd had it for a year and it FREAKED ME OUT that his ears were that good.

soloist3

The only time you hear coolant flowing is when there are air bubbles in it. If you can hear a bubbling sound behind the dash that likely indicates a leak in the cooling system or a blown head gasket. These things can start VERY slowly and take months, sometimes even a year, to develop. Now, sometimes you can hear the actual flow of coolant but it is a steady hum, not a gurgling/bubbling sound, the cooling system is a closed system, the only way you get bubbling is when air has displaced coolant.

1997Soarer

iTrader: (1)

You might have some air trapped in the heater core. I suggest parking you car on a steep incline (hood facing up).Let the car cool down. Take the radiator cap off, and let the car warm up (with heat ON) until coolant starts to run out of the radiator neck. Turn off car. Then put rad cap on, and drive off. Keep adding coolant to the overflow tank until it's above the hot line when running.

bmatic01

Cool I will try this in the near future. I was hoping it wasn't anything critical that would destroy the car. I'll try to remember to post how it went.

jdmsoarers

soloist3 - is on the right track... Did you recently do anything with the cooling system .... Oil looks clean and at the right level... Heater core is the direction I would be looking

JohnnyGee

How can I confirm that this is a head gasket issue? Should I replace the head gasket myself or do I need to have the mating surfaces refinished? Thanks!