Question

What's that sloshing sound in my car and how can I fix it?

A sloshing noise in your car might mean there's a problem with certain parts. This could be a blown head gasket, a faulty heater core, a clogged evaporator drain, or low coolant.

Other reasons are a clogged door drain or windscreen drain. Here’s how you can fix it based on its cause:

• Low coolant levels: You can fix the sloshing sound by topping up with the correct amount of coolant. However, if the coolant is running out faster than it should, there may be a leak in the system, like a blown head gasket. You need to repair the leak before topping up the fluid.
• Air in the cooling system: To fix this problem, start by finding any spots where air might be leaking in. The most common cause is a faulty radiator cap.
• Water in the evaporator drain: The only way to fix a sloshing sound coming from a clogged evaporator drain is to clear it out. For this, compressed air needs to be passed through the evaporator drain tube, after which the clogged substance will clear out. If you don’t have compressed air, you can use a flexible wire to clear away the clogged particles.
• Blocked door drain: Again, to clear the blockage, you can either blow compressed air into the drain holes or use a wire that fits into the hole.
• Clogged windscreen drain: Try blasting it with a water hose. The force of the water should be strong enough to dislodge whatever is blocking the drain.