For the last two months I have heard what can be best described as a “gurgling” sound, which sounds like trapped water behind the steering wheel. It is pronounced when the car accelerates or when I start up the car.

I cannot specifically locate where the “water” is trapped or a drain. At first I thought it was the air conditioner, but cannot find that drain either.

Anyone else had a similar problem? I’d appreciate it as it’s really annoying.

 

DUDE I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS YOU!! You explained it exactly how I would've said it. It only happens when I first turn on the car in the morning or if I haven't driven it for a long time. When you Rev the engine it sounds like a little water fountain behind the steering wheel i know EXACTLY what you mean. I just had my 60k service done and before that It never happened but after my service I hear it all the time in the morning. I wonder if its because everything is flushed out and it needs to recirculate over and over but i doubt it cuz that should've only happened once. If you find out what that is let me know. Anyone else have this noise?

 

The next time you hear it, see if you don't notice a pulsation in the brake pedal as well as a slight vibration in the steering wheel.

My '06 coupe does this every time it's started or has been sitting for a bit. I can't go but 100 feet before I hear it, but it only does it once, then it's quiet until I shut the engine off and let the car sit a bit.

It's normal. it's the ABS system doing a 'self check' and building pressure. The ABS master cylinder is mounted on the drivers side of the car on the firewall.

It only lasts about 1 second or so........ IF it's the same noise!

HTH

GEVO

 

I had that problem too, right after my 30,000 mile service....it was driving me crazy thinking I had water swishing around in my car...it went away after a few days though...i figured it was related to the service and it was just the fluids needing to settle/recirculate like what like the second post said....weird.

 

Same here... same noise after 96000km service, only on start up and 1st 100 ft or so.
I wanted to post but couldn't describe it. (thanks Rkane)
This was 3 weeks ago and now it's gone. I thought it was the coolant because i had it flushed. I also had new brakes an rotors installed, so it might be the brake fluid??? Not sure, but it's gone now.
I'd like to know what the heck it was.

 

sounds like theres an air pocket in the coolant system. This happens when the coolant is isnt "burped", so to speak. (that is removing the trapped air pockets within the coolant system.)

 

air pockets!!! be gone!!!!!!

 

You are correct it's an air pocket. You'll also notice that the heater won't work at idle.