Liquid swishing sound in 05 Astra

masterK

I've a 05 Astra Sxi, for ages you could here a swishing noise like water swishing around when you broke or moved off. It went away eventually roughly the same time as a ticking noise started (which was the timing chain). I've just had the timing chain fixed and all of a sudden a couple of weeks later the swishing noise is back. It sounded like it was coming from just in front of the passenger side front door.

When I got the timing chain fixed I was told the gear box was on it's last legs and would need reconditioning, the mechanic asked had I ever had the car serviced due to the amount of oil in the engine. The car only does about 7k KMs a year and is serviced every year. I worried that there is some sort of leakage of liquid somewhere in the engine. The mechanic who fixed said he didn't see anything that could be causing the swishing noise.

Any ideas?

masterK

Could a mod move this to the Maintenance & repair sub-forum, posted here by mistake. Thanks

E39MSport

An 05 on 7k per year sounds low for gearbox troubles. Whats the total mileage?

I can often hear diesel swishing about in my tank when movng off / stopping. You can also get a swishing noise from the heater matrix if there are air bubbles in the cooling system (cooling system may have been dismantled to get at the chain).

You should check your oil levels throughout the year if not doing so

masterK

It has 58k, we've only had it 3 years so most of that was put on before we bought it.

egan007

I had a similar noise in Fiat Bravo before, I think it may have been the Heater Matrix. Is your heater working?

Anan1

Can you make the swishing noise appear by bouncing a corner of the car up and down? If so it'll help to pinpoint it.

Re the oil, I presume you check and top it up between services? You can't just leave it unchecked for a whole year.