Strange Sloshing Sound??

Shkodrani · Postby **Shkodrani** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 12:20 am

Hello gang,
Firstly I'd like to thank you for taking the time to read this and appreciate any help you may be able to give. I have recently purchashed a 1991 Na6 5sp man with roughly 280k on the clock.
Last night I turned on the car whilst it was cold and I was shocked to her a sloshing sound like water was moving in between the dash and firewall. At about bellow speedo cluster height. Also may be unrelated but at the start of that same day I heard tapping in the engine but this disappeared when warmed. The slushing sound does leave when warmed up but when cold on startup it comes back.
Thanks in advance.

spikes · Postby **spikes** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 12:24 am

checked your coolant level and bled your coolant system? open up your radiator cap and see if its full or not?
could possibly be coolant sloshing around in the heater core

Hjt · Postby **Hjt** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:18 am

I bet you have water trapped in and around your seals.

Jack the car up, get a screw driver and open up the drains that run along your lower door sills.

Google miata mx5 drain etc. Common issue.

aka_juffa · Postby **aka_juffa** » Sun Jan 13, 2013 9:44 am

Shkodrani wrote:Hello gang,
Also may be unrelated but at the start of that same day I heard tapping in the engine but this disappeared when warmed. The slushing sound does leave when warmed up but when cold on startup it comes back.
Thanks in advance.

Welcome to the obsession,

The tapping sound is the tappets. The tapping sound is used by many of us as an indication that the engine oil (and filter) needs to be changed.

More can be found here ==>> http://www.miata.net/garage/

J.

Shkodrani · Postby **Shkodrani** » Mon Jan 14, 2013 4:49 pm

Hey All
After reading your responses I first did what Hayden suggested and checked the drains but they had already been opened up (by the previous owner I'm assuming) and not blocked.
I proceeded to check Coolant level as Spikes advised only to discover it was low so I proceeded by topping up and Bleeding the system as recommended.
I can happily say the noise has stopped and all is good!
I also got around to an oil and filter change and tappets also can no longer be heard.
Thank you kindly gentlemen for you valuable advice and prompt responses.
Ari

mrbrossnan · Postby **mrbrossnan** » Thu Jan 17, 2013 11:46 am

yeah i had the same sloshing sound that you described. turned out there was air pockets trapped on heater core lines when i flushed my radiator. ran the heater, took it for a drive & it dissapeared