Strange sound from dash

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Jun 23, 2006 | 09:14 AM

okst1

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From: Houston

Strange sound from dash

I have a 1995 Bronco. About a week ago, I started hearing what sounds like water flowing through the heater core behind the dash. I hear the sound upon startup in the morning and when accelerating until the engine warms up. I've owned the Bronco for about 2 years and have never heard this sound before now. My questions are: 1) if it is indeed water flowing through the heater core, shouldn't the water only be flowing if the heater is turned on? 2) is there anything else I should be looking for or could this sound be indicative of another problem looming over the horizon? thanks

Jun 23, 2006 | 01:04 PM

greystreak92

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Joined: Sep 2002

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From: Gateway to the West

The heater core gets coolant through it all the time... its part of the cooling system. The control over the heat is a vane in the dashboard that opens and closes across the face of the heater core to let the hot air in or block it out. If you can hear fluid moving though, the system is low and needs to be serviced. Air bubbles or gaps in the cooling system leave hot spots that can cause overheating or cracked heads, block etc. Have the cooling system flushed and filled and make sure you don't have any leaks.

Jun 23, 2006 | 05:31 PM

okst1

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From: Houston

Greystreak92, thanks for your help. I checked the coolant level and it was almost 1/2 gallon low. I flushed the system last year when I replaced the water pump. I'll continue to keep an eye on the coolant level. My assumption is that if I continue to lose coolant, I must have a leak in the head gasket. The radiator cap is pretty new.

Jun 23, 2006 | 06:04 PM

b4hntn

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Joined: Apr 2005

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From: Longview, TX

About a year after first hearing my babbling brook the heater core finally developed a decent leak. Changing the core was easy and no more sounds.

Jun 24, 2006 | 08:56 AM

FLEALAMI

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Joined: Jun 2006

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b4hntn, when I bought my 89 Bronco, the heater was already bypassed, I have to assume that they did it instead of replacing the heater core since we almost never turn on the heater down in So. Fl. I would like to replace the heater core for the few occassions when I do need it. You say it was an easy job. Great. Any details on the job you might want to share would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Flea