Okay, I have no idea where to post this or what the exact problem is. I tried searching but I don't know what to put in the search box. I tried 'popping.' Ughhhhhh...

Here is the car: '90 Civic DX Sedan (4 dr); approx. 296 kms

Here is the scenario:
I started my car (cold start - was sitting for about 8 hrs) at work. Within a few seconds after it turns over, I hear a loud popping sound coming from inside the hood. Well, it sure sounded like it came from underneath the hood. The car starts and it sounds like the engine is running normally. So, I go out driving and later (after the car was sitting again for an hour), I hear what sounds like swishing fluid. What the h***?!? It sounded like a jug of water moving. This happens once (so far?!?) and doesn't last long, maybe a few seconds.

Can anyone tell me what is going on or offer any ideas/guesses? I thought of the rad but couldn't think of anything else. It is almost as if something burst?

Anyway, these are the most recent problems/repairs:
1) replaced battery and starter (from a wreckers')
2) hood; new latch, new cable installed (at a garage)
3) ball joint, reman. cv axle (passenger side) (myself and a friend)
4) alternator (reman.) (myself and a friend)

Next planned repair:
Oil Change, tune-up (sparkplug change etc.), axle/ball joint replacement on driver's side (not emergency but I plan to check to see if it needs to be done)

Any ideas about today's problem? The battery, starter and now the alternator seemed to result in the car running okay. But, I'm not sure what just happened today. Thanks in advance for any advice and ideas.

 

is there any loss of power?

 

The swishing water noise might be water running through your heater core after purging out an air pocket. I've had a small leak from my radiator recently (maybe a cup/week) and air finds it's way into my heater core and I can hear fluid running through it when I first start up my car.

Not sure on the popping, although every couple of months mine does that once or twice between shifting gears, and I hear it out the exhaust like it's a backfire, but it's not that. Weird, but I haven't figured it out either.

 

Well, an older 90s civic doesn't have a whole lot of power to begin with but I don't know if there is any loss. I am concerned about the engine, though. I guess I need to post a new message about my oil light? Do I count how many times it flashes or? I am going to change the oil soon. I bought synthetic 5W30 oil and a FRAM oil filter.

I am not sure about the 'swishing sound' but I found a water bottle on the floor beside the front passenger seat. I am hoping that was it. But, if I hear it again, then it will be bad because everything has been cleaned out. I don't know what would cause something under the hood to vibrate (the popping) like it did so that concerns me the most. I might take the car to a mechanic after the oil change. I don't think I'll have any luck in diagnosing this problem unless it happens again. Thanks for the replies, guys!!!

 

Check your engine mounts too. My front one blew out and made some loud noises. I have since replaced it. Worth checking to see if any of the bolts have stripped or busted out.