You want to make sure you check the easy parts first... I don't reccomend jumping straight to draining the coolant... In fact, I don't have any idea what draining/flushing the coolant would accomplish if you do indeed have an airlock in your system.
Try what the others have suggested: underneath the spare tire as there is a slight recess below it (although if you already lifted the cover I would have thought you'd spot it) Another place that water tends to collect on these cars is in the lower rear quarter panels. There is two access doors on either side of the rear trunk area, Pop these plastic panels out and reach down to see if its wet. If it is, there is a rubber plug on either side...
If you have decided that that noise is comming from the front of the engine I would suggest squeezing your upper and lower rad hoses a couple times.... You can also try parking on a steep hill facing upwards for a short period of time.
As for a blown headgasket, are you going through oil or antifreeze? Is there a milky film under your rad cap, or a frothy white in your oil? When you pop the rad cap (while its cool of course) and have the car idling is there any trace of bubbles?
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