drmull2

Greetings - my first post. I have a '99 with an odd dash noise. When accelerating from a stop a sound sort of like a cross between water gurgling and marbles rolling around comes from behind the dash - possibly in the middle. It stops when I get up to speed. It happens every time I pull away from a stop, even with very mild acceleration. Any ideas??? Thanks

Sorry, but I haven't tried it yet with my wife lending an ear to pinpoint the source.

drmull2

I read somewhere else about someone hearing a "rolling" or "bubbling" noise behind the dashboard of a 98 GS300, but only at startup. They were told it could be an coolant line that wasn't vented properly after a flush&fill. Does that sound like it could be related to my noise?

salimshah

With the engine cold (radiator cold enough to touch) open the readiator pressure cap and fill coolant all the way to the top. Close radiator cap and check that the overflow reservoir is atleast over cold level. Run for a day and inbetween run the heater (set inside temp to hot) to circulate the coolant in the heater core. Drive for a day or two and repeat process. You will know when you open the radiator and it is already full.

There is a more agressive way to purge the air but this would work ... but may take a day or two.

Salim

drmull2

I'm hoping this is really the source of my noise. You mentioned a more aggressive method. Is there a bleed valve somewhere like my Acura Legend?

Meetya

Tip: squeeze the upper radiator pipe several times while doing it. You will hear bobbling and see air coming out of radiator.

salimshah

There are two other methods,

bleeder screw (I have not explored that one yet).
&
Hot venting ... with cold radiator you you uncap it and idle the engine with heater on till the thermostat opens up (normal operating temp). Then you keep adding coolant [with engine running] till it tops off. Ensure the overflow has enough coolant that it does not allow air to be sucked back in to the radiator. I generally do not reccomend this to enthusiasts as there is a danger of getting scalded and if they add cold fresh coolant to hot radiator [with engine shut off] of craking the head.

Salim

sjpobox

there is not a bleed valve, only the ls and gx have a way to bleed air. im sure you can go to your local parts store and buy a funnel that you screw on to your radiator cap that allows you to fill the fluid above the radiator and heater core. basically the fluid needs to above your dash. let the car run until you hear the fans kick on twice then turn car off and let it cool down with the funnel on. before you start i turn the heater all the way up fan and temp then turn it off. hope this helps.