Opinionated Gurus Unite!- 3rd Gen water "sounds" Trioubleshooting

[SLO_Rob]

Hello...Help.

I've found conflicting answers online and in parking lots.

-Subject: Supersweet Desert Dune 2000 T4R SR5.

-Problem: When accelerating, I hear water sloshing behind my dashboard. Water has been found in/on front passenger floorboard carpet after heavy rains. Connected? Maybe. I hear it long after it rains, however.

-What I've heard on the streets: Possible heater element leaking. Possible clogged drainage from hood cowl (black plastic thing under windshield).

-What I tried: Heater element seems fine, no leaks to be seen. Took off hood cowl and I don't see where water would go, nor can I reach anything. I tried searching here, youtoobs, I even cheated on this forum with other forums, which taught me a lesson, and that lesson is FJ80 owners don't care, nothing breaks unless they break it.

-Environment:Truck is not garaged, and is subject to all weather and has seen all weather.

-What I think it may be: I think after being parked outside for a couple of decades, especially during lots of rain lately, SOMEWHERE there is a drain clogged with fine dirt and debris. (If you've never taken that cowl off, it's just a truck-wide empty metal cavity, (I even wondered if this would be a cool hiding spot should I ever need to smuggle things) and I can't reach into the sides to see if there are drains. I assume there has to be. There has to be, right?

-Question: WTH? Are there drains I can't find? Where ARE they? I can find this issue online with fixes in other vehicles, but not mine! Water off the windshield has to go somewhere!!

-Request: Someone point me to the problem's location and tell me how to fix it. Please.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Devbot]

Sunroof drains commonly clog and leak, if your car is equipped with one.

 

[SLO_Rob]

I don’t have one, but I appreciate the help. The sounds of water moving seem to be behind the A/C controls- middle of the console/ asteroid etc.

Because the floorboard wetness occurs when it rains, (yes, my windows were up) I’m thinking it’s a clogged drain I never knew about.

 

[verooka]

Hi, I can't offer a solution but I have the same thing. Mainly when starting and pulling off, weird water sound in the dashboard but no water leaks inside that I can see and I'm in Cali so not that rainy to gather a lot of water in the body.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Is your heat on max when you hear the water noise?

I speculate you may have two problems….

Water leaks into the cab.

Air in your cooling system you hear rushing through your heater core accelerating.


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[JZiggy]

Hey, it's probably your AC condensate drain backing up. On the firewall on the passenger side you'll see a black grommet that may possibly have a little aluminum elbow in it:

Try sticking something in there to break loose any crud. I'd also suggest pulling out your AC fan and cleaning out the evaporator coils. This made a huge difference for me in terms of airflow and cooling the first time I did it. I now do it occasionally to keep things fresh.

Evap clean writeup

You can also add a nice extended drain tube to allow the water to drip right onto the ground rather than on top of your pass side swaybar mount.

 

[phattyduck]

Is your heat on max when you hear the water noise?

I speculate you may have two problems….

Water leaks into the cab.

Air in your cooling system you hear rushing through your heater core accelerating.

Gonna agree with this.

With no sunroof, it'll either be a rust issue around a replaced windshield or one of the two harnesses that runs from the engine bay into the cab.

Accelerating means higher RPM which means higher coolant flow - and bubbles moving through the cooling system. Make sure the radiator is full (when cold!) and consider getting a new OEM radiator cap.

-Charlie

 

[SLO_Rob]

Is your heat on max when you hear the water noise?

I speculate you may have two problems….

Water leaks into the cab.

Air in your cooling system you hear rushing through your heater core accelerating.


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So, this is with the heat nor a/c running. I’ll have to see how much it changes when I’m accelerating or not.

 

[SLO_Rob]

Gonna agree with this.

With no sunroof, it'll either be a rust issue around a replaced windshield or one of the two harnesses that runs from the engine bay into the cab.

Accelerating means higher RPM which means higher coolant flow - and bubbles moving through the cooling system. Make sure the radiator is full (when cold!) and consider getting a new OEM radiator cap.

-Charlie

So, I just replaced the windshield during this. No rust (dry California area). I’m wondering if it’s bubbles in the cooking system. I never use it. I’ll try the radiator level too! Thank you.

 

[SLO_Rob]

Hey, it's probably your AC condensate drain backing up. On the firewall on the passenger side you'll see a black grommet that may possibly have a little aluminum elbow in it:

Try sticking something in there to break loose any crud. I'd also suggest pulling out your AC fan and cleaning out the evaporator coils. This made a huge difference for me in terms of airflow and cooling the first time I did it. I now do it occasionally to keep things fresh.



Evap clean writeup
.

Ok! Thanks! I’ll try this also! Thanks for the links and sending a picture. I’m appreciate it all.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

So, this is with the heat nor a/c running. I’ll have to see how much it changes when I’m accelerating or not.

Do you have the noise in the cab with the temp selector all the way to cold?

Get a new rad cap and drive around with your temp control to max heat. You can leave the fan off. That will purge any air out of the heater core.


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[SLO_Rob]

Do you have the noise in the cab with the temp selector all the way to cold?

Get a new rad cap and drive around with your temp control to max heat. You can leave the fan off. That will purge any air out of the heater core.


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New radiator cap and on max heat. I'll try that as well. Thank you very much.

 

[SLO_Rob]

Hi, I can't offer a solution but I have the same thing. Mainly when starting and pulling off, weird water sound in the dashboard but no water leaks inside that I can see and I'm in Cali so not that rainy to gather a lot of water in the body.

Well, we're in the right place! There are a few things we can try below. Let me know which works for you. I'll be trying all these this weekend.

 

[gamefreakgc]

We all have the water sound when first driving the engine. On a cold engine start, once you shift to D and press the gas you'll hear a water rushing noise 100% of the time. If it sounds like a gurgling fountain that takes several seconds to go away, that's the sound of air bubbles in the system that are trapped and you can try to get them out but unless it is excessive, it usually finds it way out eventually anyway.

I agree with others and saying it's not a coolant leak. Coolant feels a little greasy/thick if you touch it with your hand. Water feels like, well, water. If you mop it up with a paper towel it should also be colorless if water and have pink/red tint (you are using pick or red coolant right?) if coolant.

 

[vegask]

I would find the AC drain and blow some compressed air into it, maybe it will dislodge a blockage.

Other idea (and this is random). My 4th gen 4runner had a washer wooshing noise for a few months that drove me crazy, turned out the radiator was nearly a gallon low once it warmed up.

 

[SLO_Rob]

Is your heat on max when you hear the water noise?

I speculate you may have two problemsÂ….

Water leaks into the cab.

Air in your cooling system you hear rushing through your heater core accelerating.


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Ok, so I have tried many things. There is a possibility that my truck had two issues. The water on the passenger floorboard hasn't happened since I cleaned out the condensation "valve/tube". Now, its just the water sounds, which, I believe, is air bubbles in my lines...I think. It is not when the heat nor AC is on. Its while accelerating.
That being said...I'm now researching how to fix those possibilities.

I REALLY appreciate everyone's input.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Ok, so I have tried many things. There is a possibility that my truck had two issues. The water on the passenger floorboard hasn't happened since I cleaned out the condensation "valve/tube". Now, its just the water sounds, which, I believe, is air bubbles in my lines...I think. It is not when the heat nor AC is on. Its while accelerating.
That being said...I'm now researching how to fix those possibilities.

I REALLY appreciate everyone's input.

If your heat lever is on max weather or not the fan is on you will have coolant flowing through your air box.

If you put the heat to max cold, which closes the heat valve, and still hear water circulating in the air box……..

If all your hose clamps on your cooling system are tight, including the hose between the rad and overflow tank. You don’t have a bad head gasket pushing air / combustion gasses into the system. And your cap works properly, you shouldn’t be having this problem, that air should be working its way out.

Only coolant leaks I’ve ever had were the hoses behind the engine going to and from the heat valve. Also had a leak on the coolant line going to the throttle body.

Good luck.


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[96RedRunner]

[MENTION=119497]SLO_Rob[/MENTION] Read OP some 1st pg. posts then your last. Sounds on the right track.
The Cowl does have a drain on each side have your checked those? Water hose running into cowl water should
drain out at lower fender mounting bolt area.
Water can enter through the fresh air vent that area were to hold enough water. I'd bet the foam seal has seen better days on top of it.

 

[SLO_Rob]

Finally found it

[MENTION=119497]SLO_Rob[/MENTION] Read OP some 1st pg. posts then your last. Sounds on the right track.
The Cowl does have a drain on each side have your checked those? Water hose running into cowl water should
drain out at lower fender mounting bolt area.
Water can enter through the fresh air vent that area were to hold enough water. I'd bet the foam seal has seen better days on top of it.

Ok...The air was finding its way in through a deteriorated heat sensor, just on the other side of the firewall. My 2000 began to overheat and leak coolant, but I kept looking too low for the leak. After a pressure test, it was up in the center against the firewall. When I removed to two very short hose sections coming off the sensor, the sensor littlerally crumbled into pieces. Under the hose that was clamped down, it had fallen apart and allowed air in through a gap, and leak. Thats why many times I heard bubbles cycling around behind the dash.

 

[SLO_Rob]

You were on it...but I didn't see anything wrong with the heat sensor until a pressure check!