I hear liquid moving around in my engine and my car doesn't move?

Question

Ill try to be as specific as possible (I know NOTHING about cars) I drive a '98 Grand-Am. Ive had it for 2 months, still getting used 2 it. I live in Illinois, our nights have been about 20 degrees (really cold) My car is good on transmission fluid, water, & coolant.
The ppl who I sold me the car from said they changd my oil, but it doesnt seem like it has been changed. Its really dark, could just be really heavy oil. This happened for the 1st time yesterday, (I had drove 2 school, come home, went inside for an hour, & then returned 2 my car and it did this) & it happened again this morning before I went 2 school: I started up my car (it rev'd, my tacometer said it was running, heat worked, all was good) I put it in reverse 2 leave my driveway & it didnt move at all. so I tapped on my accelerater a little to get it 2 go. nothing happened. after putting my car in drive, then park,then drive, so on, I finally got it 2 move. after driving for a few min, I heard a "liquidy" sound

the "liquidy" sound was a lot like the same sound a half-empty water bottle would make if you shook it up and down (just like a swishing sound) and it continued the whole time I drove my car

I would just like any explanations anyone might have...or if anyone else has had this happen to them?? My dad is the only person I know who is really good with cars and he's stumped. Our only guess is that it's cold out and my car is "cold natured" and the air bubbles in my gas might be making it act funny...thanks for any help!

Answer 1

I think the reason you have no drive straightaway is that your transmition fluid is getting low and you need to get it checked,
and the fluid like water running could be the engine coolant
flowing through your heater, not a problem as long as your engine/transmition are not leaking fluids.One way perhaps
to find out if it is coolant flowing through the heater is switch it off and see if it make the same noise,and as regards the engine oil it sounds to me like it needs changing.
Hope this may be of some help

Answer 2

Question First; Is the car Parked outside Overnight? You Ned an Oil & Filter Change! No Oil Doesn't Look Like That!

At 20 or Blow and being Outside Sounds like the Transmission is Freezing or getting to Thick to Flow and needs Time to Warm up! Sloshing Could be Fuel in your Tank Thawing and/or Coolant/Water in your Heater Core.

NOTE; Park Inside if you car or let the car Warm 3 to 5 Minutes before you leave. Something that might help, When you come home and the engine is still Warm Put a Farly Heavy Blanket Over the Hood, Will Hold In Some of the Heat?

Answer 3

If I were to guess it sounds as if water is not draining off at the base of your windshield. If possible remove the cover that goes around the wiper blades. See if there's water standing anywhere. Occasionally pine needles, tree trash, rodents nests plug the water drain holes on one or the other side of this area.
As for the shifting in reverse problem most used cars have a minimum of a 30 day warranty. Drive it back to the dealer and say to him: #1. You forgot to change the engine oil. It's supposed to have 5W-30 in the crankcase. If it had been changed it would be clear, not coal black as it is now. #2. Reverse is acting weird. I have to give it a lot of accelerator petal to make the car move.

He should be accountable to check the water splashing your'e hearing. **Do one other thing for me. Get in your car and put the key in the ignition turn the key just enough to see if all the dash warning lights are working. Specifically the temperature light and oil warning light. Some used car dealers un-hook these lights so you have no warning if there's trouble in these areas. There's an outside chance that the coolant could be boiling inside the block, cylinder heads and radiator. The next time you hear the noise, raise your hood and see if the top radiator hose is jerking or moving and or coolant is being pushed into the coolant recovery tank right beside the radiator. If it is take the car back immedistely and demand your money back to fix this type of problem would run well over $1000.00.

Any other problems you or your dad e-mail me and I'll help all I possibly can.

Answer 4

My car has made that sound for years, but it's never once affected performance. Oh, and after getting ripped off by an oil changing service company, I always change my own oil.

Answer 5

Any chance you were involved in heavy rains/flooding we recently experienced? Also, some convertables/cars with sunroofs have a drainage system...possibly blocked???