Liquid Liquid everywhere but not a drop to drink!

[Matg28]

Very wierd experience today....

Drove to work A-OK.

Left car all day, hi-ho hi-ho off to work we go, back to the carpark, to drive back home, and all I could hear was a 'sloshing' sound from under the dashboard/bonnet. (I think I've heard this before, but didn't acknowledge it)

Kinda like the sound a 2l plastic coke bottle makes if you turn it end-to-end half full.

Now, I know it's hot here in the uk (well for the Uk it is!), but I haven't used the air-con for the last couple of days, so I'm pretty much discounting that.....


Anyone got any clues ?

Don't like the idea of any stray fluids !

[Matg28]

hmmm - thanks Max, I did have a problem with the power steering dumping some fluid all over the filler-bottle.... might be related !

And, no, I didn't have a curry..... (pharp...)

[EBMCS03]

I think i know what u are talking aobut... i've heard it before... I think its gas... hahahahaha NO NO not that kinda gas... its petro... its when u hit the accelerator and the clutch is still down (disengaged) and its the gasoline whooshing around getting pumped up. Thats what i figured it was.

[Matg28]

Max - I've got work commitments Thursday night, so it'll be a no-show I'm afraid......

Pity, as is would have been good !

Hope all goes well, and watch out for the rozzers.....

[Matg28]

UCSDxB0i:

I thought it might be the gas - it's done it again today, full tank - straight after filling up.... Hmmmm.... - noise is definately on the left hand side of the car at the front fire-wall (if you know what I mean)...... It must be loud outside too, as 2 people turned their heads....

Back to the dealership tomorrow..... (well, can't let mini get homesick now can I !!)

[Paul]

Hello,

This problem has been reported on here several times before, I had a BMW press car that had this 'feature', it's like rushing or running water by the 'glovebox' area. It seems to only be cars with aircon that are affected, and it doesn't appear to cause any other problems, but it's not right.

A search for gushing sound or rushing noice or a few other words like that 'running water' will probably dig up the old posts for you, and maybe find you a solution.

Paul

[Matg28]

Thanks Paul

[EBMCS03]

Quote: Originally Posted by Matg28

UCSDxB0i:
Hmmmm.... - noise is definately on the left hand side of the car at the front fire-wall (if you know what I mean)...... It must be loud outside too, as 2 people turned their heads....

Hummm left hand side... meaning drivers side or passenger side?? is yours a right hand drive or left? Well doenst matter... when i heard mine it was comming down the middle of the car like right under the shifter that area... and it did make that sound that u are talking about only when i gas it a tad and havent released the clutch enough for it to catch... i dont hear it anymore cuz i'm not new in driving clutch anymore hehe Report back what u find out tho. I'm interested to know.

[StevePSB]

My car had the same problem and eventually got quite loud every time I accelerated.

It must be a known problem with BMW as although I don't know how it is fixed, I mentioned it when my car went in for some warranty work and it was fixed and has been fine since.

[EBMCS03]

Humm I gotta keep note of that then. make sure the sound isnt still there for me.

[liznewman]

Yes I had this it seemed to come from the centre underneath the bonnet. I dismissed it until my fan came on and would not go off and the car overheated. Had to have a new water pump fitted! do not get it now. Hope this helps.

[wmd]

Quote: Originally Posted by Matg28

Very wierd experience today....

I could hear was a 'sloshing' sound from under the dashboard/bonnet. (I think I've heard this before, but didn't acknowledge it)

Kinda like the sound a 2l plastic coke bottle makes if you turn it end-to-end half full.

Anyone got any clues ?

Don't like the idea of any stray fluids !

I've got two clues--one starts with "S" and the other one with "W" Give Up?


It's probably either the Screenwash or the Windshield Washer Reservoir. The reservoir sits just outside the driver's footwell/dashboard area. If you have headlight washers then there's one on the O/S as well. The only other possibility is the fuel tank like UCSDxB0i already mentioned. I never heard sloshing from my fuel tank until I removed the back seats. Then I discovered the fuel sloshing was more prevalent when full than it was on a partially full tank.

[Matg28]

No - definately not the screen wash (it's empty !) - and it was empty when the noise occured.

It's more of a 'transfer of fluid' sound (gurgling, running from UK passenger side to the middle of the bonnet under the dash)

Mind you, I haven't heard it for the last week - aircon I belive, as I haven't run it recently.

[MINImeat]

Maybe a partially clogged or kinked AC condensate drain tube?