850 Gurgling passenger-side dash

Jan 3rd, 2003, 15:36

In the last 2 weeks I've started to notice a gurgling (sounds like air in the central heating)when I have the fan on at least setting 1. Does it need bleeding or could there be a bigger prob - maybe associated with man AC. The AC was not on. Can cold weather have brought this on? Any basic tips would be appreciated but I'm not used to major work (yet)!

Chris_Rogers · Jan 4th, 2003, 07:12

Guessing here, but the fan is in the pass side dash. If the drain tube out of the base of the heater is blocked there will be water in the heater unit, maybe this is your gurgling.

Jan 4th, 2003, 09:24

Hi,
It sounds like the 2 large round drain pipes that attach to the black cover that wraps around the car and sits directly underneath the windscreen are blocked which means that if there is heavy rain it will not drain away and consequently runs into the fan housing causing the gurglind sound.The sound will often get worse as you turn right?
Try checking them out by pouring a large quantity of water into them and see if it drains away?

Let us know how you got on.
Regards Giles.

Jan 4th, 2003, 10:15

Thanks for the clues - yes the car is parked under a huge oak tree that drops acorns by the bucket load - perfect size for blocking the pipes. I regularly empty the tubes but maybe with the deluges we 've had the rain has overflowed into the heater inlets as you suggest. Also I am a keen car washer and may have been overkeen??? So any way of getting the water out of the housing or will it drain overtime naturally? Really appreciate the tips thx

Jan 4th, 2003, 12:31

Hi,
You could undo the trim under the glovebox, 3 torx screws,very easy and you'll see the fan housing.Turn on the aircon with engine running and hold a container underneath the white housing and any water collected will run out down the housing and into the container.

Try it and let us know.Incidentally I had this idetical problem with my T5 very recently.
Regards Giles.

Jan 4th, 2003, 13:44

Thanks Giles - tried it (freezing day for working on the car!)but the gurgling has stopped - maybe its drained itself. Easy job and thanks for the tip. For the future do I hold the container towards the heat outlet nearer the centre console or the door hinge side? Would the water have found its way into the footwell? Maybe its just me but I always feel the carpet is slightly damp/cold on the passenger side floor??? Nice one!

Chris_Rogers · Jan 4th, 2003, 20:35

The drain tube from the heater unit(inside the car) is blocked, I think it's on the drivers side from memory.
You need to clean this out as well.

Jan 3rd, 2003, 15:36	#1
ChrisWT5 Guest Location:	850 Gurgling passenger-side dash In the last 2 weeks I've started to notice a gurgling (sounds like air in the central heating)when I have the fan on at least setting 1. Does it need bleeding or could there be a bigger prob - maybe associated with man AC. The AC was not on. Can cold weather have brought this on? Any basic tips would be appreciated but I'm not used to major work (yet)!

Jan 4th, 2003, 07:12	#2
Chris_Rogers VOC Member Last Online: Apr 10th, 2017 16:55 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: South Kent Coast	RE: 850 Gurgling passenger-side dash Guessing here, but the fan is in the pass side dash. If the drain tube out of the base of the heater is blocked there will be water in the heater unit, maybe this is your gurgling.

Jan 4th, 2003, 09:24	#3
giles Guest Location:	RE: 850 Gurgling passenger-side dash Hi, It sounds like the 2 large round drain pipes that attach to the black cover that wraps around the car and sits directly underneath the windscreen are blocked which means that if there is heavy rain it will not drain away and consequently runs into the fan housing causing the gurglind sound.The sound will often get worse as you turn right? Try checking them out by pouring a large quantity of water into them and see if it drains away? Let us know how you got on. Regards Giles.

Jan 4th, 2003, 10:15	#4
ChrisWT5 Guest Location:	RE: 850 Gurgling passenger-side dash Thanks for the clues - yes the car is parked under a huge oak tree that drops acorns by the bucket load - perfect size for blocking the pipes. I regularly empty the tubes but maybe with the deluges we 've had the rain has overflowed into the heater inlets as you suggest. Also I am a keen car washer and may have been overkeen??? So any way of getting the water out of the housing or will it drain overtime naturally? Really appreciate the tips thx

Jan 4th, 2003, 12:31	#5
giles Guest Location:	RE: 850 Gurgling passenger-side dash Hi, You could undo the trim under the glovebox, 3 torx screws,very easy and you'll see the fan housing.Turn on the aircon with engine running and hold a container underneath the white housing and any water collected will run out down the housing and into the container. Try it and let us know.Incidentally I had this idetical problem with my T5 very recently. Regards Giles.

Jan 4th, 2003, 13:44	#6
ChrisWT5 Guest Location:	RE: 850 Gurgling passenger-side dash Thanks Giles - tried it (freezing day for working on the car!)but the gurgling has stopped - maybe its drained itself. Easy job and thanks for the tip. For the future do I hold the container towards the heat outlet nearer the centre console or the door hinge side? Would the water have found its way into the footwell? Maybe its just me but I always feel the carpet is slightly damp/cold on the passenger side floor??? Nice one!

Jan 4th, 2003, 20:35	#7
Chris_Rogers VOC Member Last Online: Apr 10th, 2017 16:55 Join Date: Jan 1970 Location: South Kent Coast	RE: 850 Gurgling passenger-side dash The drain tube from the heater unit(inside the car) is blocked, I think it's on the drivers side from memory. You need to clean this out as well.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)