Gurgle or Fizz?

[Mark.S]

Well we've been getting on famously since meeting on Friday but she had to do something to get me wondering.

Pulled up after a drive this evening and once the engine was off noticed a strange noise from the passenger footwell. Couldn't be sure if it was a gurgle or an electrical 'fizz' - heard it two or three times for just a few seconds each.

Went out again later and heard nothing more. Any ideas or can I get back to staring lovingly out of the window?

[beljames]

"...Couldn't be sure if it was a gurgle.."

Mark,

STOP THE CAR. DO NOT MOVE IT.

You may well have run over a small child.

Check very carefully behind the passenger side front road wheel. They can get tangled up behind the chassis tubes and in the springs, and their zips and things remove the powder coating which will cause problems in years to come.

I had the same problem after one week of owning the Chimaera. I found six of the little critters in there, all packed up in the suspension, as well as one very scared Jack Russell.

Extract them gently and bury them under your shed.

[beljames]

If however, it proves not to be a small child then it could be some of the following.

There's loads of stuff in that footwell. I was amazed when I looked. The battery, fuse box, umpteen cooling hoses, big wires and the ECU are all packed in there. I found an inflatable life-raft behind my battery.

In short - there are a lot of things that can gurgle and fizz. I would suspect that if it is a gurgle, it is likely to be a little bit of air trapped in the tubes that feed the matrix for the laughably inconsistent heater. Others will probably disagree, but I would solve by turning up the stereo.

Just to be on the safe side, have a look around there. On mine there are a whole host of precarious pipe unions in the area that could spring a leak (creating a fizz or gurgle?). You don't really want that around your ECU / fuse box, or they might, well, fizz...

[bellerophon]

i Always find a deserted woodland or building site more appropriate. much less likely to be able to match the tyre marks.....

[Mark.S]

Thanks James

I've thrown a couple of sandwiches under the car to keep them quiet till morning - can't be bothered to prise them out now

[Jason F]

If it ain't squashed brats, then it could also be the old fuel sloshing about.. Mine seems to do that sometimes a few times after I fill up.. Makes a water trickling thru the pipes type of noise in the passenger footwell, which I am led to believe is the fuel pump

[Pedestrian]

What!! Passengers feet have to do the pumping?!

Or do you leave small children in there?



>> Edited by Pedestrian on Tuesday 16th April 15:27

[L10 TVR]

When you say fizz could it be an electrical fizz?

Have you checked the battery connections. My battery connectors used to fizz until I coppereased them.

[beljames]

quote:
Makes a water trickling thru the pipes type of noise in the passenger footwell, which I am led to believe is the fuel pump

Nah - fuel pump is bolted to the offside chassis rear behind the wheel. Makes a kind of 'weeeeeeee' sound for a few seconds when ignition is turned on. Definately not a gurgle or a fizz!!

What you are describing is likely to be those pesky heater hoses again.

[chrischimaera]

If it does it each time the ignition is switched off (more noticeable if the engine is not running) it could be the stepper motor closing, although that is in the engine bay not the footwell. It does make that sort of noise, though.

[Mark.S]

quote:
When you say fizz could it be an electrical fizz?

Could have been, just couldn't put my finger on it being liquid gurgle or electric fizz!

Hasn't happened again yet and I've been for plenty of drives since yesterday... this is certainly proving to be an entertaining first car

[ATG]

My money is on coolant and air sloshing around in the heater matrix. Standard behaviour. Might be worth checking the swirl pot is topped up.

Then again, your car might be haunted.

[RobM]

the heater pipes run by the passenger footwell. If the water level has been low & you get air in the system, this will cause curgle'y passenger footwell sounds. I think keeping the heater on for a good while may help. As well as checking the water level that is

[Mark.S]

Trip to Halfwitords for supplies and my first rummage around under the bonnet tomorrow then!

[Leadfoot]

My Griff sometimes makes a 'fizz' noise from the footwell. It's the heater valve opening/closing slightly - guess one of the rheostats that control it is dirty or out of adjustment a bit & the valve won't settle in a steady position.

[paulu]

When my Alternator was on the way out it used to over charge my battery, and that made a fizzing sound when I stopped until the alternator completly went!

>> Edited by paulu on Wednesday 17th April 16:19