Mk3 Cavalier Owners Club | Vauxhall Cavalier Dot Com

I have put this in here because I think it's related to the cooling system.

When revving at standstill or pulling away a sound like someone squirting water into a plastic container can be heard from behind the dash (driver's side).

I originally thought it was coming from the engine bay but it cannot be heard from that side of the bulkhead.

That's me stumped then - cant figure it at all. I know it's a crap description but if anyone has had this in their V6 they will know what I mean straight away.

HELP!!!!!

Probably air in the cooling system going through the heater matrix, in itself usually nothing to worry about as long as the system is kept topped up.

I have had this, both with low oil level, and with low coolant level.

Keeping them topped up (and sorting out the cause of the fluid loss) has returned the car to it's usual quiet operation.

Robsey wrote:I have had this, with low oil level,

planetc wrote:

Robsey wrote:I have had this, with low oil level,

Yes, I cooked the engine, the oil went really thin and runny, and pee'd out of my rear crank seal.

Just about stayed above the Min mark...when I revved (gently of course), I could hear the oil "shwooshing" and splashing around the engine.

Robsey wrote: Yes, I cooked the engine, the oil went really thin and runny, and pee'd out of my rear crank seal.

Just about stayed above the Min mark...when I revved (gently of course), I could hear the oil "shwooshing" and splashing around the engine.

If it was that hot then what you probably heard was the bubbles moving around the cooling system from the hottest spots that were boiling, not the oil.
The only noise I have ever experienced that was oil related but not a knackered engine was a damaged sump, squashed against the pickup pipe in such a way that it squealed with the suction, rather like a balloon does if you deflate it slowly by stretching the end.

Makes sense.... the car has randomly started losing water.
There seems to be no pattern to when it will do it. The bottle will stay full for a couple of days then suddenly empty out. Thankfully I can be sure it's not going into the oil so the exchanger seems fine... for now.

The water seems to be finding its way out somewhere behind the passenger side wheel so I reckon it'll be a pipe.

This week I will be mostly investigating!

get the car red hot its so much easier to find leaks when its all under pressure.

should find a coloured powdery residue, which has dried on around the area of the leak.

I use the orangey / red coolant, so leaks show up as a bright pink powdery residue...

Most other blue fluids dry with a blue / green residue.


If it is on the passenger side, then I would look around -
Possible Core Plug near No 4 cylinder, or
a leak near the heater matrix stubs, or
the rigid pipe near the starter motor...

My money is on the pipe from back of the block to the rad... I'll let y'all know.

Gaz wrote:get the car red hot its so much easier to find leaks when its all under pressure.

When my rad failed, it leaked far worse when cold (how I found it in the end)

Sometimes the pressure keeps everything in check, and the heat closed gaps. Not in every case, but just a thought.

Murph wrote:My money is on the pipe from back of the block to the rad... I'll let y'all know.

What's the mileage?

Dieselicious wrote:

Gaz wrote:get the car red hot its so much easier to find leaks when its all under pressure.

When my rad failed, it leaked far worse when cold (how I found it in the end)

Sometimes the pressure keeps everything in check, and the heat closed gaps. Not in every case, but just a thought.

Had a Cav in the garage years ago that leaked from the water pump gland, about 100ml overnight when cold. Wouldn't leak under pressure at all, nor when hot, took a while to figure it out.

I found the leak last night - it's coming from the heater matrix pipes at the bulkhead so I'm hoping for a simple fix.
Just gotta get up the gumption to get undeneath it on freezing concrete - not easy for me!

Mileage is about 93k.

Took the offending heater pipe off and it's definately split.
Vauxhall can supply one for £11+VAT but it'll take 2 weeks to get here from Germany so I picked up a metre of hose from the local factor for £6.

I'm out of daylight now so I'll get it fitted tomorrow afternoon.

Thanks for all the idea's guys.

Whilst the pipes are off.. why not give the matrix a flush out with some clean water.

It may improve the interior heating of the car over the winter months.

No need - it's had loads of fresh water over the last week or two and the heaters will dry your face out quite nicely!

All sorted!
I had a little trouble getting the pipe to route without any kinks but eventually got it.

All is well in the land of Cav again!

its nice when a plan comes together.

Well it's happening again - only this time the inside of the car is steaming up too.

There is also a leak from underneath again so I suspect the other heater pipe has gone the same way as the first one.

Just in case - how hard is it to change out a matrix on a non aircon Cavvy?

Nope, 4-8 screws, remove centre console entirely - see the black heater box? remove 6 6mm bolts, remove the lower casing,in the engine bay 2 jubliee clips, and work the hoses off - remove the heater matrix

Cheers - nice and easy then.
I took both the hoses off the bulkhead today and looped the new one I fitted back to the engine. The other pipe was leaking so that'll be replaced.

The Matrix is definately leaking too so that will also be replaced.

Just loop em for now, least the cav will be usable

That's what I did.
Mrs Murph is hard as nails so she doesnt need heating anyway!

Murph wrote:That's what I did.
Mrs Murph is hard as nails so she doesnt need heating anyway!

Lol.